Green Dragonfly

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Taken on E Street in downtown Davis on the wall of a retail store, August 28, 2010

Check out the bull's eye mark on the head, and the gossamer golden wings.  Is this critter cool or what?

Research tells me, hopefully correctly, that this is a Common Green Darner Dragonfly.  I leave it to others more informed than I, to refute or corroborate.

I didn't have a tripod handy when I took this, so I braced my arm against the wall and hoped for the best.

Clicking on the photo will give you a larger, more detailed, image.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Reflections of an Island

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Pewetole Island, Trinidad Beach

Shadow or reflection?  I think it's both.

Take a look at the shadow shots that Tracy hosts on her blog Hey Harriet. 

Click here if you want to find out how to join in the fun.

 

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

(Late) Summer in my Garden (On the Beach) - Mimulus

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Mimulus, or Monkey Flower, Trinidad Beach

It isn't just the sunshine after weeks and weeks of foggy, gray days.  The sun has come out to play, yes, and we are delighted and oh so grateful, but there is something else going on:

A small shift, a fleeting earthy perfume, here and there a few falling alder leaves, the asters coming into full bloom, the swallows slipping quietly away when nobody was looking.  Winged ants.  I saw three of them yesterday.

Can you feel it?

Fall is coming.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Blue Damselfly

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Pink and blue go so well together, don't you think?

Happy, sunny days are here again!  After writing this post, and after enduring so many dreary days of endless fog, we've got sun!  And warmth!  Be still my heart.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Little Red Pump House

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This little pump house stands out amid the natural colors of trees and grasses on the edge of our small but exceedingly fair city.

Mary has more ruby red treats for you at Work of the Poet.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Spider Imitates Poppy

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It's been a struggle to bring you shadow shots these days. Shadows simply aren't happening in our fog-ridden climate at the moment. It makes me gloomy and cranky.

So I've pulled a photo out from a while back when the sun was shining and this gorgeous cameleon spider had turned yellow and was posturing for me to please pack up my camera and go back from whence I came, its raised legs looking quite like the stamens of the poppy.

I hope it's sunny in your garden.

Tracy has some fine shadow shots from photographers all over the world down under on her blog, Hey Harriet.  Go take a look.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shots - Red on Portland Sidewalk

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Shadows cast by red balconies on an apartment highrise make for an interesting play on the sidewalk.

I thought so, anyway.  M+E will know right where this is.

It's time once again for Shadow Shot Sunday.

Take a peek at all the Shadow Shots being offered this week over at Tracy's blog, Hey Harriet.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Summer in my Garden - Wet Ladybug

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It's so foggy and wet in the mornings that even the ladybugs take refuge in the fold of a leaf.

Happy gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Summer in my Garden - Double Pink Anemone

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The Japanese Anemones are blooming and that means summer soon will give way to autumn (are we really ready for this?) and before we know it another year will come to a close.

But before I get too maudlin about it, going through some old posts reminds me of all the wonderful treasures each season brings.

Here are just a few:
Muscari
Exbury Azalea
Pacific Giant Salamander
Garter Snake
Up Close with Iris
Forsythia
Post Storm Sunset
Full Moon Rising, Winter Sun Setting
Little Green Frog
Hydrangea in Shadow
Christmas
Christmas Orchid
Autumn Zinnia
First Leaves

Happy Gardening!

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Discovered on a Walk: Creamy Yellow-Red Dahlias

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Dahlia's seen on a recent walk through town.

The flower was bigger than the span of my hand.

Of course I had to get in real close ...

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Ruby Bromeliad

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Taken at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco last year, this is my offering for today's Ruby Tuesday hosted by Mary at Work of the Poet.

I love this meme because of all the clever ways participating photographers incorporate something red into their photos.  Check it out.  (I just hope I'm not too late to join in this week.)

I've been revisiting my photo archives and realize that I've not posted one photo from the conservatory. I've got to remedy that.

© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - First Regiment Armory, Portland

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This is a trick photo.  Can anyone tell me why?  Look closely now.

It's time to share shadows again and Tracy's got a bunch of them from all over this beautiful earth of ours.

Check out this week's Shadow Shots. Join in the fun. You get to meet a lot of crazy photographers who just happen to be very nice bloggy people.


© Copyright 2006-2010, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.