I met David J.Turan where he works as General Manager, at the West Kortright Center in East Meredith, NY. With his background in Non- Profit fundraising and a passion for acting, directing, painting, photography, digital imagery and poetry, Turan and the center are a perfect match. He is also a co-founder of the Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve in Stamford, NY which hosts the Andes Sprout Society Artist-In-Residence studio. He is on the Board of Directors of Performance Plus of Stamford, as well as the Drama Club Adviser for Stamford Central School and he spent many years working for The Nature Conservancy. Turan’s photos caught my attention and I asked him to collaborate with me in several upcoming projects including, my Kaatskill Life articles, my Rooting for Ideas blog and a possible future book on the making of a local garden. Here are a few of Turan’s photographs of some of our beautiful local native plants to tickle your pallet. If, like me you are starved for color at this time of year, you will enjoy the journey Turan takes us on as he follows his passion. Please note there will be a special section of his photos permanently on this blog under ‘Categories’, on the right side of the home page.

Beech catkins

columbine

elderberry

fiddle heads

fireweed

hobble bush- Viburnum lantanoides

jewel weed

Flower of maple tree

Milk Weed Seeds

milkweed butterflies

painted trillium

lilac- non native but still pretty!

wake robin trillium