Spring
Glory of the Snow
These delicate blue flowers are known as Glory of the Snow. (Formerly, Chionodoxa). They are a joy to find with their white and yellow centers blooming amidst early spring grasses.
This image was captured on an early spring visit to Krug Park in St. Joseph, Missouri. I went specifically looking for early spring blooms. There was little to find in the park, but these were a pleasant surprise. I don’t think I’ve photographed this kind of flower before. I thought they were wildflowers but later learned they are grown from bulbs…so, someone planted them at some point in the past.
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Going for Gold
While hiking a trait to a waterfall in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota, I spotted a patch of yellow wildflowers. The flowers were humming with busy bees. As I focused in on the bees, I noticed the orange area of their abdomen. While processing this image I did a quick internet search and learned these are orange-banded bumblebees. I don’t think I’ve seen this variety (Bombus ternarius) before. If you zoom in, you can see the legs of the bee covered with pollen from the flowers. You can learn more about this variety of bee at Bees Wiki.
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Behind the Bloom
This is the backside of a hibiscus bloom; with buds waiting for their turn in the foreground. This was taken in the early morning, while the dew was still lingering. This is from a hibiscus plant in the back yard of our northwest Missouri home.
I like this close-up capture because it showcases the delicate fold of the petals adorned with dewdrops. The green buds and leaves contrast beautifully with the vivid pink.
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Cleveland Flowering Pear Tree Blossoms
This is a clump of blossoms at the end of a branch of a Cleveland Flowering Pear Tree. This tree resides in our front yard and is full of springtime blossoms. The petals of white, float to the ground like snow. These trees seem abundant in our northwest Missouri neighborhood.
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Bluebird Babe on a Branch
This is a fledgling bluebird perched on a tree branch, bathed in the warm glow of early morning sunlight filtering through the leaves. At this age, the bluebird isn’t very blue, with muted brown and white plumage.
This is an image I captured in the yard of our rural Wisconsin home in the spring of 2023.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
A vibrant green tuliptree flower with a rich yellow center is in full bloom, surrounded by large, lobed leaves. Some sort of insect is nestled in the flower’s petals, possibly collecting nectar or pollen.
Also shown in this photo is one of the tuliptree’s cone-like seed clusters that sit upright on the branches. The tuliptree is one of the largest native trees in North America. It is a member of the magnolia family and has distinct tulip shaped flowers. The golden-yellow fall color of the tuliptree makes this an excellent choice for large landscapes.
I found this tuliptree in bloom while strolling the grounds at College of the Ozarks, just south of Branson, Missouri.
Getting this shot was not an easy task. The blooms are up in a tree, well above my head and reach. To get this image, I employed a monopod. I extended it the full length, set the camera’s timer and guessed at the focal distance. Then, after pressing the shutter button to activate the timer, I hoisted the camera above the bloom and waited for the “click” sound. Then I’d lower it to eye level and look at the result. It took about six or seven attempts to get the correct framing and sharpness.
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Unpretentious Beauty
A bunch of wild daisies that bloomed annually and self propagated liberally every spring. I love the simplicity of white petals and bright yellow centers standing out against a blur of green foliage.
These are from a patch of daisies that we welcomed every spring in our yard. Every year the main patch would expand a little and other little patches would pop up in the lawn nearby.
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Spring Maple Sprouts
A cluster of red maple leaves sprout out of the rough bark of the tree’s trunk. Their color gives the impression of fall, but this is new growth in April.
These are leaves that I photographed on a hike through the Bluff Woods Conservation Area, located south of St. Joseph, Missouri.
You can get a better view of the intricate veins of these young leaves by clicking on the photo to see a larger version.
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Bugleweed In Bloom
These pretty little flowers are actually considered by many to be an invasive weed. This is bugleweed, also known as Ajuga, ground pine, carpet bugle, or just bugle. It is a genus of flowering plants in the Ajugeae tribe of the mint family Lamiaceae.
This is a patch from my in-laws yard in northwest Missouri. Bugleweed is a low-maintenance perennial grown for its colorful foliage and groundcover habit. In the spring, it produces purple/blue flower spikes about 6″ tall. Sometimes it bloom again in the summer and into fall.
To get a better look at these flowers, click on the image.
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Tulip Time
Vibrant tulips in shades of white, yellow, red, and orange bloom during Tulip Time in Pella, IA.
This is a photo I found on my hard drive from a springtime visit to Pella a few years ago. If you like photographing flowers, Tulip Time in Pella offers a spectacular display of color and variety. This year, Tulip Time in Pella is May 2nd through the 4th.
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All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.