Titled as such only because the branches pierce upward into the empty blue. Spotted across the highway from a beach of cairns along the New Zealand coast where our bus broke down.

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Space Invaders, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Today’s posting is cropped from the same photo as yesterday’s. I’d love to know which of the two you prefer and why. In this one, I love the kiss of red at the bottom. In yesterday’s, I’m captured by the bombardment of one type of flower in a shallow depth of field.

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Solitary Red, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Taken somewhere on our way to Milford Sound in New Zealand.

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Sea of Purple, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

New Zealand flora and blue water.

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Web Strand, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Orchid exhibit at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

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Floral Designs, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Spinifex is a grass very unique to the Australian outback. From viewed above, it grows in halos. Up close you can see its prickly defenses.

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Spinifex, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Wild grasses and flowers at Mt. Cook Village in New Zealand. The snow-capped mountains are slightly visible in the background.

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Grass Level, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

The Manuka bush is a unique plant found in New Zealand. Its tiny, white flowers give the appearance that the bush is covered in snow. It also produces honey of very high value.

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Manuka Blossoms, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Despite the dry and desolate nature of the outback, Australia does have patches of tropical zone. Townsville, Queensland, is located in the dry tropics of the northeast coast where pineapples can grow, nestled down in these spiky leaves.

By the way, I’ve been meaning to share a link to “The First Year” photo gallery on the White House’s website. It’s a great retrospect of Obama’s first year in office.

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Pineapple Greens, originally uploaded by photo.klick.

Plant at the Como Observatory in St. Paul.

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Reaching Into Black, originally uploaded by photo.klick.