Flowers
Spring’s Serenade
According to Wikipedia… In music, a serenade (or sometimes serenata) is a musical composition, and/or performance, in someone’s honor. Serenades are typically calm, light music.
The warm background tones, combined with the vivid color of spring’s first emerging leaves, really appeals to me. It has a light and airy feel that reminds me of a classical music composition.
These are truly the first leaves of spring, photographed on a walk through some woods near my home. I posted another image from this same walk entitled: The Scarlet of Spring.
Clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.
Woodland Flora & Friend
Ladybugs all dressed in red
Strolling through the flowerbed.
If I were tiny just like you
I’d creep among the flowers too!
~Maria Fleming
This photo was taken in some woods not far from our home. It’s still early spring here and this small stand of early bloomers were a welcome sight. The ladybug was an added bonus. The surrounding trees, just starting to sprout leaves, provided a gentle filter for the afternoon sun.
To see a larger version of this image, simply click on it.
The Scarlet of Spring
We went for a walk along a trail through woods and farm fields. The very first signs of spring were bursting forth. This is the twig of a budding tree.
The unique qualities of this image were created by the camera and nature, itself. Behind the sprouting twig was a river with sunlight sparkling off the ripples, through the leafless trees on the bank. I was using a 300mm lens, so everything beyond the twig was blurred.
If you look closely, you can see a small bug resting on the left side of the top leaf.
To view a larger version, simply click on the image.
Bluebird Dawn
Just before sunrise I noticed a bluebird checking out the bluebird houses in our yard. I grabbed the camera and headed out the back door. I got a picture but not the one I was after. Here’s the story…
My goal was to snap a picture of the bluebird posed on the bluebird house, framed by a big, bright sun behind him. While I was trying to line up the shot, the bluebird flew off the house, into a nearby tree. I was able to click off a quick photo of the bird in the tree before he flew off for good. Then I turned my camera to the sunrise and snapped a couple of frames.
The image above is a combination of two different photos (shown on the right). I started with a shot of the sunrise and overlaid the silhouette of the tree branches with the bluebird. As you can see, the original photo of the bird and branches had a background of just light gray sky. Not very interesting or appealing. The sunrise was pretty on it’s own, but the branches and bird adds interest .
Both photos were taken within a minute of each other. Not quite the image I was shooting for, but I think the final result turned out well.
To see a larger version of the above image, simply click the photo.
Petals of Purple
Today, please accept my simple gift of purple.
Studies show colors can affect us mentally and physically. It’s said the color purple can be uplifting, calming to the mind and nerves, offering a sense of spirituality and encouraging creativity.
I’m sorry, I don’t know what kind of flower this is. I found it was flourishing in a flowerbed in rural Indiana.
Click the image to see a larger version of it.
Tiny Dancers
This spray of Forget Me Nots remind me of giddy, forest sprites dancing among the greenery.
With the dreary, winter weather we’ve been experiencing lately, I thought a spring-like image would be welcome. (No need to thank me.)
Forget Me Nots are some of my favorite flowers. However, they are so small, I have rarely captured an image of them that I really like. I really like this one.
I put my index finger into the photo on the right to give you a reference for how tiny these little beauties are.
According to Wikipedia:
Myosotis (maɪ.əˈsoʊtɪs; from the Greek: “mouse’s ear”, after the leaf) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae that are commonly called Forget-me-nots. Its common name was calqued from the French, ne m’oubliez pas and first used in English in c. 1532.
To see a larger version of the main photo, just click on it.
Guarding the Beauty
This is kind of a beauty-and-the-beast image. The Dianthus flowers in our yard caught my eye. As I moved in to take the shot, the little crab spider made himself known. I didn’t see him until I was right on top of him. I backed off…then moved in…then backed off…then moved in. When I moved in, he would take an aggressive stance. When I backed off, he would relax. Whatever his strategy was, it must have worked well since, judging by the girth of his tiny frame, I’d say he hadn’t missed any meals.
This photo was taken several years ago with my old Kodak camera. A little “vintage” Pops Digital for you.
For a closer look, click on the photo.
On Golden Rod
This bee was keeping busy on a patch of golden rod at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. I took a lot of photos of the bees that day. This may be the only one that was worth sharing.
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Colorful Queen Ann’s Lace
I’m not overly particular about my subjects. I take photos of anything that catches my eye. This was something that caught my eye because I found it unusual.
This is common Queen Ann’s Lace. Normally the delicate flowers are snow white and create a full bouquet – with little space between the blooms. The color and sparse display for this bunch must be due to the onset of colder weather. Normally the stems are a simple green, not the purplish-red color seen here. (This photo was take this fall.)
You can view a larger version by clicking on the photo.
The Center of Passion
There is something about this image that captivates me. I’d like to say it was taken in some exotic location, but it wasn’t. It is the center of a poppy from the flower bed beside our home.
Of course, it’s the rich, deep red of the petals that initially grab me. However, it’s the purple center, ringed by the dark seeds, that keep me staring.
I realize this is one of those images that either trips your trigger…or not. Feel free to leave a comment, either way.
Click the image to see a larger version.