Yesterday I was working on using a flower with a black background. Yes, it is a real flower from my garden, but I cut it and used a black cloth as a background. I just wanted to try something different. And then at about 3 in the afternoon the sky opened up and the electricity went off. We were then without power until about 1:30 AM and we had about five storms go through - waves of rain, hail, and high winds. Well, it is sunny today, so now I can show off my daisy.
I have a little toad living in my garden. I have seen him probably a dozen times now, but finally got a picture of him this weekend. After all, he is a little jumpy. The first time I saw him, I almost stepped on him while shooting a flower. Now every once in awhile when I am out looking at my flowers, he just shows up and sticks around for awhile.
I have not even been inspired in quite some time. After seeing Candices previous post I was inspired! Finally. She got me itching to play with my new macro lens that I really haven't used very much. Another bonus the rain finally stopped!
Well here is what I came up with:
Here is a shot of The Beauty
I have nothing else to show, so I'm going to warn you guys ahead of time. Due to many numerous reasons (work, gas prices, time restraints) I have very little time to photograph. But I have been going out at least once a week and taking some shots of the numerous flowers we have growing in and around my house. So for the time being, you guys will just have to suffer through my flower shots (I'll try and make the posts quick, simple and hopefully bearable).
Today, Amaryllis!
Tomorrow, irises. And don't worry, this shouldn't last too long. I went to Bailey's 2nd birthday party yesterday and I hope to have those images edited for next week. Also, this weekend I'm heading down to Tallahassee for some roommate reunions and serious beach time. This is by no means the only week that I'll have flower shots, but I hope this will be the last week where I only post flower shots. Thanks for looking and bearing through this.
I found these gorgeous floaters at the Jacksonville Florida Zoo & Gardens in the botanical section called Savanna Blooms.
Savanna Blooms is styled as a South African oasis and is one of many themed pocket gardens on site.
Found this colorful little critter scoping out the orange tree.
Not much of a story, just some shots taken at a local arboretum.
The first: 
a hibiscus bud. (Not from my planting.)
The second: a daylily, background is some lavender.
The third: a butterfly on a zinnia.
And a question to ponder. Why are we, collectively, as photographers, interested in the icky? As in: spiders and bees? You really don't need to answer, just something to ponder.
It is time for me to fess up. I've taken pictures of lovely flowers but I've only done the short work of clicking the camera. The credit for creating this elegance around our home goes to my wife (and God or mother nature, of course). We have a small urban patio garden and she puts in the many hours needed to keep us surrounded in colour and beauty - and to ensure I have lovely subjects. Where photography is my art, gardening is hers. It's a match made in heaven.
Oh flap your wings. Oh start a wild tempest.
you never do talk back
oh, flap your wings once for yes.
While the prime rose picture taking time has pass, I managed to find a few last weekend.
A group of three.
A nice little bud.
A red one.
And an orange one.
I do think I'll go back next year at a better time.
Photographica Feeds
Yes more flowers!