The Beginning of a New Day (Perhaps Even a New Year)

The Beginning of a New Day, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Happy New Year!  Here's hoping that 2012 is better than 2011.

I captured this daylily on the CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/4.0, 1/80 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

So We Sat in the House, All That Cold, Cold Wet Day

So We Sat in the House, All That Cold, Cold Wet Day, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

This veronica was photographed in my neighbor's garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/5.6, 1/250sec., 400 ISO, handheld)

The Sun Did Not Shine, It Was Too Wet to Play

The Sun Did Not Shine, It Was Too Wet to Play, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

This California Poppy was photographed in my neighbor's garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/4.5, 1/640sec., 400 ISO, handheld)

Poised

Poised, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I captured this spider on the CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/6.3, 1/250 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Rose

Rose, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I've entered my dormant season where posts will be infrequent. I'll catch back up with you in the Spring. Have a good holiday season! (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/2.8, 1/250 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Dahlia Does It!

Dahlia Does It!, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I captured this dahlia at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/2.8, 1/800 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Changing of the Seasons

Changing of the Seasons, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I photographed these aspen leaves in my backyard in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/6.3, 1/320 sec., 400 ISO, handheld)

Steady

Steady, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I captured this Tiger Swallowtail at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. Please ignore the pole in the background. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/1600 sec., 500 ISO, handheld)

Make Beelieve

Make Beelieve, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I captured this honey bee at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/250 sec., 500 ISO, handheld)

Nature's Bling

Nature's Bling, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

It's 43 degrees and raining today. We might even see a little snow. It won't be long until a flower like this anemone is a distant memory.

I captured this anemone at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/200 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Blue Please

Blue Please, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I captured this blue salvia at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/5.6, 1/160 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Mr. Bumble

Mr. Bumble, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

My floral macro season is just about over, which I suppose is okay. This summer just didn't seem to have the variety of insects, or the outstanding flowers, of the past couple of summers. Hopefully next summer will be better. Cheers!

I captured this bumblebee at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/640 sec., 500 ISO, handheld)

Summer's Long Gone

Summer's Long Gone, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

I went to the perrenial garden at CSU this evening and was surprised to discover that it was about spent. There were hardly any flowers in good enough condition to photograph. I guess our hotter than usual August took its toll on the perrenials. And it started occurring to me that we didn't have many butterfies this season. As a matter of fact, I don't believe I saw one Painted Lady the entire summer. Last year they were plentiful.

I took this shot in my front yard in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/640 sec., 500 ISO, handheld)

Truly Magnificent

Truly Magnificent, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

There are some people who go through their entire lives without looking at a flower up close and appreciating the magnificence of nature. I pity them.


I captured this anemone at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/3.2, 1/2000 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

P.S. - My mission in life is to make sure that people see, recognize, and appreciate the beauty of horticulture and the beauty of nature. Now I just have to figure out how to accomplish my mission.

Racing the Clock

Racing the Clock, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Although he might not know it, this honeybee's pollen collecting days are numbered. The first hard freeze of Fall will soon be here. I captured this at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/800 sec., 500 ISO, handheld)

Cousin

Cousin, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

This guy must be closely related to a ladybug - perhaps a cousin or something. I captured this beetle at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Zuiko 50mm macro, f/8.0, 1/80 sec., 100 ISO, handheld)

Breaking Out

Breaking Out, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Filtered Light

Filtered Light, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

A Ladybug Gallery

Ladybugs (or Ladybirds) are some of the good guys in the garden.  They are typically predators of harmful garden insects such as aphids, mealybugs, mites, and scale insects.  So the next time you see one of these guys in the garden, be sure to say thanks.
 

Taking Turns

Taking Turns, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Backyard Pollinators

Here are a couple of pollinators that I captured in my backyard.     
A bumblebee on aster.


A hoverfly on aster.

Fall Aster

Fall Aster, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Fall is on its way here in Colorado. We're having a week with high temperatures in the 70's. It doesn't get much better than this!

The Enemy

Here are some enemies of the garden that I often see while on a photo shoot.

The Enemy, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Painted Lady Butterfly

In the Hundreds, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Have a colorful and happy Labor Day weekend! (Wish I had a job.)

Honeybees and Anemones

Honeybees and Anemones, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Seedhead

Seedhead, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

It's getting to the time of year when perrenials will start producing seeds such as the ones you see in this picture. I captured this on the CSU campus in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Don't Worry, Bee Happy!

Don't Worry, Bee Happy!, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

One of today's photos that I took at the CSU W. D. Holley Plant Environmental Research Center - Herbaceous Perennials & Ornamental Grasses Section.

Orange Crush

This is a simple shot of some marigolds that I captured at the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I used a very narrow depth of field to achieve the softness you see here.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Have a great weekend!

Orange Crush, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Wonderful Lupines

In case you like color, I thought I'd share these photos that I took of lupines at the CSU W. D. Holley Plant Environmental Research Center - Herbaceous Perennials & Ornamental Grasses Section.

Yesterday's Pics from the CSU Annual Flower Trial Garden

Here are a few pictures from yesterday's trip to the trial garden. More will follow over the next couple of days. Be sure to check back for updates!

Floral Abstracts

One of the neat things about using a macro lens is the opportunity to create some rather abstract pieces of art like the photos shown below.  I'm always amazed at the intricate beauty I find with the macro lens.


A winecup.


A tulip.


An anemone.


Mist on a winecup.


An aster.


A gazania.


A hibiscus.

You can find more of my abstract photos at:  Somewhat Abstract