Friday, May 11, 2007
Scentimental

This was taken the on the same hound walk as yesterday's rose. I used to have a Scentimental Rose when I lived in the desert, but I could not keep it alive through more than one summer of 130° temperatures even with an automated dripper.

Sunday, March 4, 2007
Fourth of July Rose

We went trolling for tomato plants at all the local nurseries today. Guess it was a little too early for that. One of our favorite places (the place I shot this rose) was still using half of their outside plant area for a parking lot. Well, maybe next weekend!

Friday, March 2, 2007
More Flowers!

This is in response to the feedback I received this evening on the flower photos page. Ironically, flowers are the biggest category in the site. Of course, they are one of my favorite subjects too so I am happy to add more! It was actually a flower photo that inspired me to start the site.

Thanks for your feedback Sahana!

Friday, February 16, 2007
Evening Magnolia

One day recently we went to a nursery to look around for more interesting things for our back yard. Unfortunately, we got to the there close to closing time. (a fact which several employees pointed out repeatedly.)

We did have time to find this beauty getting ready to bloom. Unfortunately it was a little too big to fit in the trunk of the car. (it was a little too big for our little back yard too!) But I was happy, I had my camera and the sun was doing beautiful things.

Sunday, November 26, 2006
Mandevilla in the Garden

This was another one of those "break from my computer" images. I had to go out back and wander around the flowers for a while.

Saturday, September 2, 2006
Texas Blue Bell

The buds are almost as pretty as the flower!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Backyard Rose Bud

Well most of our tomatoes have faded in the hot weather. But the roses are still happy! This one is just about to burst.

I really enjoy close up photography. The green covering of the bud is made of modified leaves called bracts. But I never really appreciated the tiny little leaves sticking out from the edges of the bracts before. There is a lot of beauty out there!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Glorious Morning

Actually, it was in the afternoon. But it was a really nice day!

This was on a recent "escape the heat" trip to San Luis Obispo. Not that it was that much cooler there. But the hotel had air conditioning. :-D

Friday, August 11, 2006
Plumeria

Our Plumeria is just starting to bloom for the first time. But, this one is from La Sumida Nursery on Patterson in Goleta. I thought I would get a shot of it to try to inspire mine!

Monday, July 31, 2006
Hovering Bee

She's been busy! I am surprised she can still fly with all that pollen on her legs.

Saturday, July 29, 2006
Mandevilla Buds

We've been setting up new misters in the yard for the plants and that made for some excellent photo opportunities.

Sunday, June 11, 2006
Sharp Pear Blossom

There are pads on this cactus that are completely covered around the edge with blossoms. I have tried to get some nice shots that show the amazing quantity, but the beauty of the individual blossoms and buds keeps drawing me in closer.

Sunday, June 4, 2006
Peach... err Tomato Fuzz

The sun was beautiful this evening. My wife and I were playing with our plants in the back yard when she pointed out a few new buds on this tomato plant. (the little round things in the upper right)

I'm so excited! I just love tomatoes Most of the ones you get in the store are tasteless. But this plant passes the first test, it smells just like my grandfathers garden. (that is the way I pick a good tomato) It was my job to help him find the ripe tomatoes on his plants when I was visiting.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Rain Bud

Not usually awake very early in the morning. But once in a while I catch the good morning light!

Friday, May 19, 2006
Epiphyllum Blossom

This is one of our blooming Orchid Cacti that I mentioned the other day.

If you have one and want to know what makes them happy, we have one in full sunlight and several in the shade. (this guy is actually hanging from our patio umbrella) The full sun one is HUGE, the others are still happy. One was inside for a while. It is much happier outside, although it grew very long thin pads looking for food while it was inside. Now that it is outside it is popping out all kinds of thick little pads along the lengths of the woody thin pads. Makes for a very interesting plant. One thing they all have in common is they love water. You may think since they are cacti, they like to be dry, but they are definitely jungle plants. More about their history, and one of the reasons I love them so much see this photo of the day.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Cactus Feathers

Zoe took me for a walk today, as she has been known to do. We took a little different path than we normally do. We went past this beautiful Prickly Pear cactus up the street from us. It is about six feet tall and it is in a pot in front of a house near the street. It is pretty obvious by the health of the plant that the growth of the roots has not been slowed by the bottom of the pot!

I think the coloring on the petals makes them look like feathers.

Wednesday, April 5, 2006
The Agapanthus are Coming!

There are a lot of Agapanthus around our home and they are looking like they are about to burst! I took this one today on a walk with The Hound.

My botanist tells me that Agapanthus is derived from the Greek word "agapé" meaning love and "anthos" meaning flower.

And for those really interested in the botany, the group of flowers all radiating from the center with equal length "pedicles" (or individual flower stalks) is called an "umbel." An umbel is a kind of "inflorescence," which is a botanical term referring to a group or cluster of flowers and specifically the structure of that group. Ahhh the Internet, what can\'t it teach you?

Thursday, February 23, 2006
Satin Bud

This is another image from the same trip to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History as this one. And, like the odd lighting on that image, this one benefits from the tight quarters and strange shadows. This is pretty close to a raw scan, the deep red color is real and I love these flowers for their intense colors. This is not the first Dahlia to be the photo of the day.

Incidentally, these are named after the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl.

Thursday, December 22, 2005
Backlit Buds

This is another flower from my backyard. We got this one and a Passion Flower vine to attract butterflies. I think they liked the Passion Flowers better. The caterpillars almost them out wiped out.

Monday, September 12, 2005
Fuzzy Succulent

I like the fact that you can just make out the plant in the background, but the real focus is on the buds. This was in a shady spot where only mottled light filtered through like a spotlight on this plant.

Friday, September 2, 2005
Purple Tiger

By request! (see yesterday's feedback) This is the only purple rose I could find, and even though they are named "Purple Tiger" they are a very red purple. But, at least I grew this one myself! :-D

Thursday, September 1, 2005
Yellow Rose

This is the same rose bush from yesterday's photo, just a little different angle. I like the other rose and buds falling out of focus in the background.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Rose Bud

Sometimes the plant is as interesting as the flower! Especially in the right lighting.

Thursday, August 18, 2005
Waking Orchids

These guys look like they are about to stand up, stretch and yawn.

There used to be a great place in Carpinteria that had some amazing orchids. But they moved to Tennessee or somewhere like that. Fortunately we still have the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate!

The people at both places have always been very kind when I am interested in taking pictures. Of course I rarely leave without taking one of their babies home with me so it works out good for everyone.