I found an interesting shaped Gerber Daisy in the new supermarket that opened in town. I also got free yogurt for letting someone carry my groceries to my car. I always check the flowers when I go into grocery stores to see if they have any interesting shapes or extraordinary features. This one had petals … [Read more…]
It has been the warmest winter so far in my 12 years of living in the Asheville area. It’s the first time I have seen crocuses blooming in February in my neighborhood. We must have put down too much mulch in our yard because we had no crocuses blooming yet, but some of my neighbors had … [Read more…]
This begins the second year of my blog. I’m starting the year the same way I did last year with with my Top Ten of the previous year. I learned this technique from one of my mentors, Martin Bailey. You can click on the link if you would like to try his process. I find … [Read more…]
I had very good luck at the conservatory today. I arrived after they had sprayed down the Calla Lilies and the water drops had begun to form larger drops in strategic places. I like how the tip of one lily is dripping into the cup of another lily. The one below had an unusual double … [Read more…]
There is always much speculation in the spring amongst photographers, botanists, and hikers as to when to visit Big Creek in the Smokies — in late March or early April. It is one of the first areas for wildflowers to bloom near Asheville. It is about an hour’s drive west on I-40 to the first … [Read more…]
When you don’t have time to drive out in the wilderness, the Botanical Garden at the University of North Carolina in Asheville is a great place for photography of native plants. They collect plants from the Appalachians and have a very pleasing display with easy access from the parking lot and a series of paths that … [Read more…]
This year was a good year for spring blooming magnolias. Many years there is what gardeners refer to as the Magnolia Frost. The blossoms come out and there is a spring freeze. We only get to enjoy the blossoms for a day or two and then the frost turns them brown. This year the Magnolia … [Read more…]
My first Lensbaby lens was a Double Glass. Lensbaby is a small company in Portland OR that makes special effects lenses. Their motto is ‘See in a new way’. Instead of customer support, they have customer happiness. Thier lenses connect to many popular camera bodies using a Composer Pro, which holds their various lenses like … [Read more…]