Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Flower
Charmed
I found these charming wildflowers flourishing along a Lake Michigan beach. I don’t know what species they are but they seem to be rather common in our area.
To view a larger version of this flower photo, click on it.
Of Tulips Past
These tulips have long past, but their memory lives on in digital form. Long live the tulips!
As you can see from the cropped, color image of this same stand of tulips on the right, they were two-toned in color – not your typical red or yellow. Ironically, I thought the unique, contrasting colors made them good candidates for a monochrome treatment.
To me, the detail in the petals are much more interesting in a higher contrast B&W. In fact, I think this would make an impressive, large print. May have to do that.
To see more of the detail in the top image, click on it and a larger version will open in new browser tab.
Pink Pom Poms
While visiting relatives in Kansas, we enjoyed a stop at the Topeka Zoo. Along with the expected variety of animals, they had a unexpected collection of attractive flowering plants. I spotted the beautiful, unique blooms on this large tree and took a few photos. I later learned this is a Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin).
Though it is revered for its beautiful and fragrant blooms, the mimosa tree is considered an invasive species. It was brought to this continent from China as an ornamental plant about 250 years ago. Like most invasive plants, it reproduces prolifically. The flat seedpods are numerous, tough and can remain dormant for decades, even over long periods of drought.
To view a larger view of this photo click on it.
Forgotten Embrace
This red rose evokes an entirely different feeling when presented in a monochrome tone.
This started as a color image and I spent a lot of time trying to get this just right. I like it better than the image I started with but…it still seems to be lacking something.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Sisterhood
These are delicate wildflowers found on an early spring walk through the woods.
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Soft Allure
I was early for an appointment. While waiting, I pulled out my camera and snapped a few photos of the flowers in a flowerbed outside the meeting location.
This is why I advise photographers to keep their cameras close by. You never know when a photographic opportunity will present itself. You won’t be able to take advantage of an opportunity every time it arrives – I’m always seeing scenes I wish I could pause to capture. So, often circumstances don’t allow it, but occasionally they will. If you don’t have your camera with you, you will always miss it.
To get a better, larger view of this image, click on the photo.
Floral Fuzz
This is a wildflower that I found sprouting among the weeds that grow on the edges of our rural Wisconsin yard. The fuzziness of the edges caught my eye.
I don’t know what kind of flower this is, but I think it is an early version of the type you can see in aother post I titled Sun and Stars.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Japanese Lantern
Chicory Bee
On a cool, cloudy day, I caught this bumble bee in a sluggish mood. He wasn’t buzzing from bloom to bloom but seemed content to rest on this common chicory flower.
You can get a close-up look by clicking on the photo to view a larger image.
Cluster
This delicate bloom is known as Crown Vetch or Axseed. It is a summertime wildflower classified as an herb in the legume family. (The same category as peas and beans.)
These flowers seem to be popular with bees and butterflies. In the area I found this, bees were busy working the few flowers there.
On the downside, it is a serious invader of prairies and dunes and, apparently, it’s poisonous to horses.
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