Spring Macro Photo Gallery

As I’ve said before, observing and interacting with nature adds joy to my life.  I’m in awe of the complex patterns and relationships in nature, the efficient recycling through stages of decay and regrowth, the balance of interaction between each member of a local ecosystem, and the ebb and flow of the seasons.

Spring is the season currently budding out in my neck of the woods!  Let’s get up close and personal with the beauty of this wonderful season…

While intending to focus on the green moss gametophytes in the background, my camera decided to focus on the copper-colored sporophytes in the foreground. Interesting outcome, I think!

The petals are so wide on these daffodils. I had never noticed before that each bloom has exactly three curved stamens in the center.

These fuzzy little weeds don’t seem very interesting in the gravel driveway until you take a closer look.

Peach blossoms glowing in the late-afternoon sunlight display a refreshing pop of color beneath the cloudless blue sky.

Tiny moss is sheltered under the canopy of a large fall leaf that is back-lit by the afternoon sun.

The blossoms on the orange quince plant are stunning to me!

The daffodils are beautiful even from a bug’s-eye view.

Many unusual varieties of moss can exist right under our noses without us ever taking the time to enjoy their intricate beauty.

It is interesting how many white flowers start out as pink buds.

The sunshine kept popping in and out of the clouds. I think the daffodils were more spectacular in the sunshine, but this shady photo was better than most.

I have cultivated this little “weed” in my yard because I find it so delicate and beautiful. The leaves turn a brilliant red in the fall. Here…I’ll go take a photo to show you what I’ve accomplished…

…As you can see, I’ve been quite successful in encouraging these little beauties! In the background, you can see my “field” of daffodils. I’ve collected several varieties of daffodils over the years from ditches, woods, neighbors, friends, and strangers. (Yes, awkward as it is, I have even knocked on doors asking “Can I dig up those daffodils in your fence line?” One man responded, “Please! I don’t want those things and always have to weed eat them down! Take them!”) Now, back to the macro shots…

A minuscule shadow takes on the appearance of a mysterious cave in the jungle. This grass was only about two inches tall.

Trees in a wild-plum thicket were loaded with spring buds and blooms. The petals aren’t as impressive as those on its cultivated counterparts, but the wild blossoms have their own special beauty.

Crabapple blooms start out such a fiery pink but turn white by the time the petals completely unfold. Shriveled crabapples from last year still hang under the new foliage.

I tried holding the camera on the ground and shooting up at daffodils. Several times I could see my hair in the corner of the shot. ha ha

The moss sporophyte with the colored tip reminds me of a matchstick.

I captured this image when a cloud briefly covered the sun, creating soft lighting that I think suits this blossom.

There seems to be more than one variety of this wildflower. This one has wider petals and bright pink veins, and grows scattered across the lawn. Others have longer, pointed petals, almost no pink, and grow in taller, thick clumps.

While walking through a thicket, I just happened to notice the late-afternoon sunlight illuminating these plum leaves.

When I’m attempting to capture such natural beauty with my camera, I often think about how the hand of our Great Designer can be seen in His intricate creations.