Saturday, December 31, 2011

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

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)

Monday, December 26, 2011

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

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

Saturday, December 24, 2011

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

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)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Poised

Poised by phoGARDENtog
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)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Rose

Rose by phoGARDENtog
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)

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dahlia Does It!

Dahlia Does It! by phoGARDENtog
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)

Friday, October 28, 2011

Changing of the Seasons

Changing of the Seasons by phoGARDENtog
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)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Steady

Steady by phoGARDENtog
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)

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Make Beelieve

Make Beelieve by phoGARDENtog
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)

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Nature's Bling

Nature's Bling by phoGARDENtog
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)

Friday, October 7, 2011

Blue Please

Blue Please by phoGARDENtog
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)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Mr. Bumble

Mr. Bumble by phoGARDENtog
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)

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Summer's Long Gone

Summer's Long Gone by phoGARDENtog
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)

Friday, September 30, 2011

Truly Magnificent

Truly Magnificent by phoGARDENtog
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.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Racing the Clock

Racing the Clock by phoGARDENtog
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)

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Cousin

Cousin by phoGARDENtog
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)

Friday, September 23, 2011

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.
 Winding Down Got Color? Walkabout Ladybug Eating Aphids Napping The Last Ladybug of 2010 Split Personality

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Backyard Pollinators

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

Hovercraft
A hoverfly on aster.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Fall Aster

Fall Aster by phoGARDENtog
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!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Enemy

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

The Enemy by phoGARDENtog
The Enemy, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

On Top of the World

What's Up?

All-terrain Vehicle

Friday, September 2, 2011

Painted Lady Butterfly

In the Hundreds by phoGARDENtog
In the Hundreds, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

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

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Seedhead

Seedhead by phoGARDENtog
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.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Don't Worry, Bee Happy!

Don't Worry, Bee Happy! by phoGARDENtog
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.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

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 by phoGARDENtog
Orange Crush, a photo by phoGARDENtog on Flickr.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

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.

Wild Lupine

Pink Lupine

Lupine Up Close

Saturday, August 20, 2011

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!

Harmony

Bad Hair Day

It's That Head Thingy Again

My Goofy Lookin' Wasp Buddy

Just Got Out of the Shower

Beating a Dead Horse

Thursday, August 18, 2011

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.

Winecup Innards
A winecup.

Tulips (if only they were colorful)
A tulip.

The Sole Survivor
An anemone.

The Gathering
Mist on a winecup.

When Colors Prevail
An aster.

Color, dang it!
A gazania.

Hibiscus Art
A hibiscus.

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