Hike With Clouds

Bryn Coed Reserve, Natural Lands Trust area, in Chester County PA.

Spring Woods

Trout Lily and Spring Beauty wildflowers among Beech tree roots.

Tulip Poplar root mass from fallen tree, above.

Lesser Celandine invading the woods above.

The earliest leafing green shrubs, below, are often weedy invaders.

Social Distancing

Coronavirus restrictions, March 2020, to physically distance and avoid gathering.
Here, a neighborhood coffee hour on a weekend morning.

Even on a hike, people try to keep their distance.

Family outing in a city park, below.

Alan Projects, April 2020

Inside project 'Skyscraper Bookcase,' inspired by  Paul Frankel, (1886 - 1951).

Outside project, small terrace wall.

Spring Garden

Early spring, above , and later spring below.

Lawn Renovation

When confined at home, even reseeding a lawn can be beautiful.

Please note that after this 'chapter,' photographs show a trip that took place before Coronavirus restrictions were in place:  to Vietnam in February 2020, stopping first in Portland, Oregon.

Oregon Short Hike in County Park

Short walk in Mt Talbert Nature Park, Clackamas Oregon, south of Portland.

Arrive Hanoi early February 2020

In early February 2020, Vietnam was already taking precautions against the Coronavirus.
The airport was largely deserted,

people on the city bus all wore face masks (maybe that is always true,)

traffic was relatively lighter than normal.

Still, it was a surprise for us how crowded the sidewalks were with parked scooters and people  cooking, washing dishes, sitting and eating.

Hanoi Traffic

Despite schools being closed and traffic lighter than usual, for us scooter traffic was still a surprise and something we had to learn how to negotiate.  Walking was hard in Hanoi as the sidewalks were crowded with scooters, deliveries or people sitting and eating.

A Few Bright Spots

While walking around Hanoi was initially unnerving, there were interesting and  some beautiful things.  This office building had a bonsai limestone fountain landscape out front.

These buildings probably date back to the 1920's and 30's and show a touch of the French, International and Art Deco style.

The row of apartment buildings show a mix of old and new.  

Street vendor with baskets of fruit, Sugar Apple/Sweetsop (?) and Dragon Fruit.



Below, a small informal shrine on a street corner in the roots of a Fig tree.

The ancient imperial citadel of Hanoi was and is called Thang Long - 'Ascending Dragon.'