Sputnik flowers

These large sputnik type flowers were located in a small local garden. There were many of them in a bush type plant, and in this garden they were of two colors. A pinkish purple, and a very light pink. I thought they were pretty, so I got some photos, but I have no idea what they're called.

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace are just like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike. Around here there are literally fields and fields of them. This is just a solitary flower done in black and white. Simple and delicate.

Day is Done

The sun is just getting ready to set on the meadow in this image. The purple wildflowers stand tall in the foreground. The last of the sun is just slightly glowing behind and in between the trees. You can hear the chirping of birds, and insects as well as the croaking of frogs nearby.

Zig Zag Falls

In this area of the Fort Worth Water Gardens it looks as though the cement structure is in a zig zag form. The water seems to fall in the same pattern. I like the way the water contrasts with the cement. This particular day was around 106 degrees outside, so being here with the water falling towards me was a welcome relief from the heat!

Gateway Arch Side View

In this image I took a totally different approach to the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis. This is a view completely from the side. It looks more like a monolith than an arch except that you can see a slight curve.The green of the trees, the clouds against the blue of the sky, and a few city buildings round out this image.

Blue Through Green

This is the same high rise building that I showed a few posts ago, but this time you can see more of the building itself and in the foreground are trees. The great angles on this building really get me! I wish there had been a way to get this shot nearly straight up from the sharpest angle you see on the left side. That would have been awesome!

White on Color

I found a small local butterfly garden that I had never seen before. It was mostly filled with little white butterflies. They just kept flitting from one flower to another. I had a hard time getting a shot because they were moving so fast. This is the best one I got in. The flowers there were so bright and colorful, and this little guy was just thoroughly enjoying himself!

Down in the Meadow

After walking around for quite a while taking shots of different types of wildflowers, plants, and scenery. I came upon this meadow filled with beautiful purple flowers. The late afternoon sunlight was starting to fade, but still let through enough to cast some nice light, and shadow on the area. It was a gorgeous start to the evening!

Drive On In!

After stopping here for a lemon slush I stepped out of the car to see what kind of image this would make. I took several shots, and processed in color and black and white. In the end I decided to go with the B&W. Enjoy your cold drink!

The Light at the End....

A monochrome shot of a hallway with a window at the end . The lighting and shadows seemed to work well. I also liked the patterned floor and the way it leads your eye to the window.

An Impressionist Garden

To me this garden is a lovely floral masterpiece. If I were Monet I would certainly feel this worthy of an impressionistic painting!

Flowers and Bars

This shot was taken in a conservatory. Looking straight above my head there was a wooden canopy with beautiful pink flowers above it. Through and above that is the glass enclosed ceiling. Notice a bluish mist. That is a constant misty spray to keep the plants in an amazingly humid environment. If it were not for the mist you would be seeing a clear blue sky. I think the mist adds a nice cast though to this floral abstract.
    Shots of this were the last ones I took at the conservatory. By the time I left sweat was literally pouring off of my forehead,and soaking my body. I may have been miserable hot and sweaty but the plants were all happy as clams!

Afternoon Rays

I was looking at this covered garden structure in the late afternoon. I took a few shots of it, then all of a sudden from behind me, coming from the west , the sun came out from behind the clouds. When it did it cast great lines of shadows across the wood. I quickly took this shot right before the sun went behind the clouds again. Looking to the east, the sky was blue with just a few clouds.
    I didn't have the chance to set this shot up any other way, but even if I did, I don't think I would have been able to get the great shadow contrast.

Lilies Entangled

This Lily and the surrounding mass of Lilies all intertwined are part of the image posted below. This was just too beautiful to pass up!

Lily Fest in White

Yesterday I ran across many more beautiful Lily specimens. This gorgeous white one was surrounded and entangled with many others of both the same color, and of a dark pinkish color that you can see in the background . You can tell there is a major lushness going on here!

Clematis in Purple

A quick and simple image of a single clematis flower. It was nearly standing alone on it's vine, facing straight towards the bright sunlight that streamed though the trees. The blur of sun and shadow can be seen underneath the flower in the background.

Delicate in Orange

While visiting the conservatory in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens I came across so many beautiful tropical and exotic plants. This very tiny flower may not be the most unusual, but I loved the color of the flower and it's leaves against the multicolored rocks underneath it.

High Rise in Blue

While at the Fort Worth Water Gardens I kept admiring this building with it's lovely sharp angles and reflective windows. I got this shot of the upper part of it while on the kneeling on the ground of what the Water Gardens calls The Mountain. The sky that day was an amazing blue, which is reflected in the windows!