Spring
Shy Dove
I took my camera for a walk around the yard. It had been a rainy day and I thought I might get another perspective of the “normal,” since everything would still be wet.
While stooping down to take a photo of some bleeding hearts in the flowerbed, I saw something run from one clump of plants to another. It took some stalking to finally get a look at what had moved.
It’s a young mourning dove; very young and apparently too small to fly. I was able to catch this shot before it darted, again, into the brush. It must have thought it was hidden pretty well. I saw it again, the next day, hanging out with other birds, grazing under some bird feeders. When they saw me, the birds flew off…and this one ran for the safety of the flowerbed.
To view a larger version of this image, click on it.
Simple Spring
While walking through a swampy area of woods, I stumbled upon this simple, single flower. The bright area behind the flower is daylight reflecting off a wet area. I don’t know what kind of flower it was, but it was small. This bloom was only about the size of a thumbnail.
If you have a large monitor, you can view a larger version of this image by clicking on it.
Family Outing
It’s great to be able to get the kids outdoors for a little exercise. This family of Canada geese are making their way to the other side of the pond.
The “cute factor” makes this scene a winner. Beyond that, I was very pleased with the vivid green reflection on the water, created by the trees lining the shore. I’ll have to add this to my “favorites” category.
I captured this image on a recent visit to the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, located along the west shore of the Bay of Green Bay.
To view as larger version of these cuties, click on the photo.
Spring Classic
These white-accented, yellow tulips were part of the amazing spring display at West of the Lake Gardens in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
I got a lot of great photos on this visit – a couple I’ve already posted (Glorious Spring and Garden Torches) – and will be posting more in the near future.
I’m looking forward to another visit, later in the season, to see what other beauties they have blooming. There is not charge to visit the gardens.
You can see a larger version of this image by clicking on it.
Tiny Surprise
Danger lurks here! When I took this photo on a walk through the woods, I saw only a nice collection of wild violets. It wasn’t until I viewed this image on my computer that I noticed the tiny crab spider hiding in the bloom on the left.
Crab spiders don’t make webs. They hide, often in flowers, waiting for unsuspecting insects to be drawn by the flower’s nectar or pollen.
I’ve posted photos of crab spiders before – even with a short video of one trying grab lunch – that can be viewed HERE.
To view a larger image of this photo, click on it.
Morels
Low Profile
This female Red-winged Blackbird was foraging through the tall grass on an early spring morning. She’s finding seeds dropped from a feeder that hangs above this spot.
The female looks quite a bit different from the male, with his jet-black body and bright red shoulders.
To view a larger version of this image, simply click on the photo.
Glorious Spring
That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ.
And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it.~Winifred Mary Letts
I would love to be able to boast that I took this photo from a flowerbed in our yard. This stunning display is another scene from West of the Lake Gardens in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
After the long, hard winter we experienced this year, this spot of incredible beauty is healing therapy for the soul.
Take a look at the larger version by clicking on the image.
Garden Torches
After a bit of a delay, due to an unusually cold start to spring, the tulips are now in top form throughout northeast Wisconsin.
In a sea of red and yellow tulips, these orange toned specimens stood out. The color reminded me of flames – like garden torches.
These beauties were found in Manitowoc’s West of the Lake Gardens. The garden delayed their season opening by a couple of weeks due to the weather.
To view a larger version of this colorful display, click on the image.
Opening Ceremony
Early spring gives us some of it’s first blooming beauty on the trees. This bunch of blossoms, was part of springtime’s opening ceremony. They were perfectly position at the end of a low hanging branch, discovered on a walk through a local wooded area.
I decided to take on the challenge of processing these as a monochrome image. Since they were white flowers, it proved to be more of a challenge than I bargained for. It’s difficult to maintain any kind of detail with all that white.
To get a better view, click on the image.