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.
Beautiful post, such great detail on the moss photos and love the colour of the first one.
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Thank you. Yes, those orange quince blooms are one of my favorites of all the flowers I have. 🙂
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Wow Great Shot ! I love the second pic. 🙂 If you don’t mind what camera are you using in your photos?
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The second shot surprised me when I loaded it onto my computer. I thought “What is this? I was trying to photograph GREEN moss!??” ha ha I’m using a Canon Power Shot S3 IS that I’ve had for many years. I think the company doesn’t make this particular camera anymore. My favorite thing about it is the flip and swivel LCD monitor, which makes it so much easier to capture unusual angles and still see what’s in the camera frame. Love it!
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I see. I’m a fan of of that effect, the blurry effect but sometimes its really up to the camera your using to achieve that photo. I really love photography and I’m learning every photography blog that I followed. Looking forward for more of your great shots. God Bless 😉
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Thank you, Mark. I’m really enjoying learning about photography, too! God bless you, too.
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Wow, what beautiful plants and flowers. You overdid yourself on this one, but I really enjoyed all the glory of God that you displayed. Beautiful, wonderful, post. You seem to be doing well using your camera.
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Thanks so much. I’m enjoying photography. It gives me a chance to go outside and pay attention to all those little things we often don’t take time to notice.
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Those are all beautiful! I like your story about how you collected the daffodil bulbs, even from strangers who didn’t want them. Happy spring to you! Such cheerful images 🙂
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Thank you very much. One lady I asked had a field full of white daffodils and she said she shared them with people all the time. I got a few huge clumps and made a 60 foot row across my front yard. I’m glad I asked her, because the next year she moved away and someone dug up that field full of beautiful flowers and made a pond!
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What a bummer, but that’s great that you have some of them in your yard! Guess it never hurts to ask!
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