261: Tulip Bed

It seems I photograph flowers like most of us study the Bible. We tend to single out one little thing while most often the real beauty is when you focus on a specific thing, but not ignore what surrounds it.

Tulip Bed

260: Blossom and Buds

Well Pay day was Monday so today was shopping and bill paying. After that there was no money to go find an image so it was back to the apple tree in the back yard. I am almost about to get the hang of the new lighting set up.

Blossom and Buds

258: Apple Blossom Revisited

Apple Blossom
An Intimate Look

257: Dandelion

Had to break down and start mowing today. This was down in the grass and the mower missed it.

Dandelion Boom

252-4: Legend of the Dogwood

As the Easter Season approaches the Dogwoods bloom.

There Is A Legend

At the time of Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus nailed upon it, sensed this.
In His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering Jesus said to the tree:
" Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross--two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember."

The pink dogwood is said to be blushing
for shame because of the cruel purpose
which it served in the Crucifixion.

The red dogwood, called the Cherokee, bears
the color to remind us of the blood shed by our Savior.

AS I see it..
There is no Biblical basis for this legend but it does tell a beautiful story about a sad but wonderful event. As this legend may not be true it becomes even more amazing that God, during his creation of the world, foretold and illustrated this life saving event.
And now you know the rest of the story..

251:Tulip

I was "forced" to get out today so I decided to get a shot. Anyone tried to photograph a tulip in a hurricane? As a naturalist I prefer to shoot thing where they are.

Tulip among the Pansies

242: Sure sign of Spring

First appearing Daffodils are a sure sign spring is near. I used to judge by Crocuses but my bad gardening over the years have let them disappear. I am sure glad I have a better gardener for my life.

Sign Beside My Steps.

Note:my new close up flash arrangement does no work well (a little harsh for my taste). Either back to the drawing board or remake the old one I used last year.

233: Is Spring Comming

After a hard winter (at least for me) the days at the first of this week were a treat and then cool again. Maybe Spring will get here sometime soon.

A sign of Spring in the winter.

Tribute: this image is sort of a tribute to a friend of mine who has an obsession for photographing orange circles, especially parts of them in the lower left corner. Well this ain't yellow. It ain't perfect circle. It ain't just part of the bright color. But, it is the best I could do in a pinch.

226: By the Fence Post

By the Fence Post

Note: This is just the way it was, nothing set up or arranged.

66: Close Focus -- Imigination

This afternoon I took a little time out of my busy schedule and watched a movie, The Sound of Music. The song "Edelweiss" has always been one of my favorites. Edelweiss's are the national flower of Austria. They are small star shaped flowers. After watching the movie I discovered these right across the street.



This is not an Edelweiss but makes me thing of one.

44: Close Focus -- Flowers

My luck held again today, Another cloudy-bright day with moderate temps, so I headed out for a walk. As I started out I noticed the Crepe Myrtle in my ward was in bloom, so I took a quick capture. My walk was cut short by a rain shower, so the only thing I had for the day is this.

Crepe Myrtle Bloom on a Cloudy Day

I did try a little PhotoShop magic in an effort to add some glow, The image is not all that bad, but the PS work came up a little short

4: Some times you fail

What a day!! Got up put the coffee on. Grabbed a quick shower and got ready to take a friend to the doctor in Charlotte. Got ready to leave out and found I had forgotten to turn the coffee pot on. No coffee all morning.

While waiting at the doctor’s office, I noticed this small purple flower among the yellow ones. Being the world’s greatest photographer, I had neither macro lens nor tripod, combine that with DT’s from caffeine withdrawal, the shot lacks detail so it went into the scrap bin. By the time I got home the temp was in triple digits, too hot for an old man. As evening approached unannounced guest arrived. So it is to the trash bin as it is the only thing I shot today, and a deal is a deal.