In anticipation of a day famous for pranks and spoofs, I offer a few garden photos that are not at first what they seem. Like this pagoda. What exactly are you looking at? If you guessed a reflection, you’re right. In fact, most of the photos below are reflections. I hope you’ll have fun with them and perhaps be fooled by a few.
Here’s the photo before I cropped it. You get bonus points if you can identify the location.
Do you see the reflection of the man? And the bird? OK, what animal is looking at YOU?
Actually, there are two.
And speaking of fish, this is a friend’s koi pond. Ever noticed that reflections on the surface of water are inverted (upside-down)?
This is the photo before I cropped it and flipped it 180 degrees.
I snapped this one summer at the Denver Botanical Gardens. I liked the photo so much, it went into Succulent Container Gardens.
Can you tell what kind of trees grow near this swimming pool?
That’s easy: palms.
OK, how about these?
Junipers.
Are you looking at sand, water, or shallow water over sand?
Pool water.
Another photo from Succulent Container Gardens. Can you tell what I was wearing that day? And here’s an even trickier question: What are the containers made of?
I was wearing a gold short-sleeved sweater and jeans. My husband, left, was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. The containers are cast concrete. (Photo taken at Molly Wood Design Studio, Costa Mesa, CA.)
Know what you’re looking at here?
If you said “Euphorbia ammak,” good for you. If you said, “Euphorbia ammak reflected in a window,” wow!
OK, Waldo, where’s the fountain?
In front of the window.
And finally, where’s the mirror?
That was fun! I wish I could have a reflecting pool in my garden, but they just end up being a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes around here.
Hi, Heather — I know. Any water feature is high-maintenance. You really have to know what you’re doing. The most I can manage is a couple of birdbaths. — Debra
Is the pagoda in the Chinese Gardens in Portland? I am sure I recognize it from there…
Very good, Alison! You’re right. — Debra
Very clever! Fun post!
Hi, Sheila — Thank you! — Debra
I think Alison’s right – the pagoda is in the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland.
Hi, Tim — And kudos to you for identifying it by name. — Debra
Good exercise for our eyes and brains!
Hi, Tatyana — And a new way of looking at reflections! Debra
That was really fun
Hi, Jayne — Thanks! It was fun for me, too. Debra
Wow, clever. Maybe Matti is slow today, but it took me a bit to wrap my mind around the first pagoda one. Matti
Hi, Matti — Good! ;+) — Debra
very cool photos.
Thanks, Stevie! I dug them out of my photo files. — Debra
Fun, and inventive! Thanks for sharing your great imagination with us!
My pleasure! Debra
Enjoyed your fun post!
I love the cast concrete containers.
Hi, Amy — I know. Don’t they look like little baskets? — Debra
Great idea Debra! Once again you showed off your creativity AND wit in one lovely package. Thank you!
Thanks, Christina, for the lovely compliment! — Debra
That was good fun. I love the concrete pots. So cute
Thanks, Lele. The designer, Molly Wood, uses a lot of cast-concrete pots. — Debra
Lovely photos, Debra. The perfect anecdote for a blustery April Fools’ Day. Best, Teresa
Hi, Teresa — It’s fun, isn’t it, to take a harmless approach to the prankster’s holiday? — Debra
What a great post! I forget that it’s April Fool’s Day EVERY SINGLE YEAR which makes me a very easy target if you catch me early in the morning. But it’s fun to be fooled by your intriguing photo trickery.
Hi, Blue-eyed Susan — Hmm. Will have to remember that for next year. Mwah-ha-ha. — Debra