Sunrise over Death Valley:

Ah, nature's patterns! Here's another: tunnels made under the bark of a tree. Damaging, perhaps, but beautiful in its own way. And fascinating to me....why did the insect tunnel in this rather precise pattern?

Nature is full of patterns, isn't it?
Alisande, your photo looks like damage done by an Elm Bark Beetle, or rather many of them. The central line was a row of eggs laid, then as the eggs hatched the larvae tunneled away. It's a classic story of children leaving home with a path of destruction in their wake. ;-)

Ron

It took some searching but finally found the pattens in the ice picture I had in mind.

{{gwi:1597976}}

Ron

Thanks for the information, Ron! I'm not surprised that it was something damaging, but I had no idea of the sequence of events you described.

As for your picture, how amazing that the ice formed an exact map of the counties of Pennsylvania!

Love these pics and the description of kids leaving home. Their trails go both ways, don't they?

There are designated patterns in nature: the ones I remember are branching (like trees), spiral (like snails, tendrils), and meander (like rivers).

You're welcome, Susan. I had to look up a map of the counties of Pennsylavania; you're right!

Ron

Something tells me she is a member of the Red Hat Society.

Keeping with the natures patterns....dying hostas but the patterns and colous are striking.

{{gwi:1597978}}

Sculpture in downtown Sedona.

{{gwi:1597979}}

Jodi-

Death Valley sunset....

GS enjoying the snow, Breckenridge, CO ski trip!

{{gwi:1597981}}

taigen, fantastic color and texture.

Ron

Alisande-that picture is fascinating!
Ron-I wonder what happened to those "children" at the end of their tunnel? Looks like they disappeared! LOL

Lillie, I think when they reached a certain point they met their life partners, got good jobs, bought cool cars, and don't call their mother nearly often enough. :-)

LOL, Susan.
lilliepad, if you look closely at the tunnels you can see the "debris" they left in their wake. Like true children they never clean up after themselves or take all their possesions with them when they move out.

Ron

LOL