Canterbury Bells

Pin It

No, this is not blooming in my garden at the moment, but it does come summer.  These winter days I have to reach back into my archives to find colorful photos.  And although today is (finally) sunny, very few flowers and foliage are photo-worthy.

I am linking this post to Macro Monday 2 where you can find more 'up close and personal' photos. 

And also to Blue Monday, a lovely blog all dressed up in blues. 

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Yellow Phalaenopsis Orchid

Pin It

I find orchid flowers difficult to photograph. It's not the taking of the picture that's hard, it's that orchid flowers, as do other flowers such as bulbs, iris, etc., have so many nuances of color and iridescence; what I see with my eyes often does not come out in a photograph.

Anyway, I put this beautiful subject against a kitchen cupboard that was suffused with morning sunlight and took about 30 photos.

These are the best of the bunch.

Monday Mellow Yellows will be aglow with yellow photos this week.  Go take a look.

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Rose in Shadow and Light

Pin It

Not many shadows at Raven Ridge Gardens these days, or, if there were, I missed them while being struck down this past week with some kind of bug (I'm all better now).

In searching my photo archives to see what shadow photos lurk there, I found this: A throwback all the way to 2010.  I kind of like it.

For more shadow photos from around the planet, visit Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Light Study of Narcissus

Pin It

I bought some paperwhite (narcissus) bulbs before Christmas, set them in a vase with the bases of the bulbs just touching water, and waited.

I was rewarded with many stems of fragrant, very white blooms.  And many opportunities to take photos.  Which I did, almost every day after the bulbs had bloomed, in all kinds of light.  Some turned out well, others not so much.  Here are four photos that I particularly like.

I have gone back to work after enjoying eighteen wonderful days off during the holidays. With our short winter days, I don't get out to take photos after I come home from work, so I don't post as much.

I really enjoyed the leisure time I had over the break, went out "shooting" almost daily, and joined a few memes (Shadow Shot Sunday Too, Sunlit Sunday, Monday Mellow Yellows, to name a few) and met some new photo bloggers, all of which I found very exciting.

Sadly, at least until the days get considerably longer, my posts will be fewer and farther between and I won't be visiting my newly-found blogger acquaintances as much.

Today I am linking this post to Monday Mellow Yellows and hope to get around to all the photographers who post there this week.

This is my way of saying I'm so glad I met you and I'll see you when I can.

Have a great week!

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Oxalis Buds on the Rise

Pin It

I have this little clump of oxalis, or Wood Sorrel, that grows just under the wisteria off the path to the greenhouse. It all but disappears during the fall and early winter, then emerges with the rain and almost immediately begins to put out buds.  As it turns brown and raggedy before disappearing entirely in the fall, I often wonder if it will come back again.  So far, I have always been rewarded.

To see a photo of the flower fully opened, click here.

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday Too: Cymbidium in Ruby

Pin It

I know I've put this Cymbidium beauty on these pages before, but it is such a beautiful orchid, never fails to bloom December through January and sometimes beyond, and, well, it just begs to be photographed, over and over again.

Today, it appears here for the meme Ruby Tuesday Too.  Like the color ruby red in all its hues and iterations?  The photographers who post their photos at Ruby Tuesday Too would love it if you would go on over and take a look.

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Yellow-Eyed Daisy for Monday Mellow Yellows

Pin It

 

As I walk around my winter garden these cold days, I am hard-pressed to find the color yellow anywhere until I stop and just let my eyes rest.  Not looking anywhere in particular, I find little bits of yellow everywhere.

Beginning with this daisy, and a brand new year, I am casting aside the "I'm-too-busy-to-post-to-this-blog" blues, and instead am turning to yellows - Monday Mellow Yellows, that is.

Head on over and take a peek!

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Post Winter Solstice Sunset

Pin It

Late December Sun

Makes an elegant starburst

Warming face and hands

Please visit Sunlit Sunday for more winter sunshine in your life!

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday 2: Water Droplets on Crocosmia

Pin It

Most of the strappy leaves of this deer-nibbled Crocosmia were in deep shadow as I walked by looking for photo shots.  But the low angle of the afternoon sun made sparkling stars in the water drops and cast a multitude of tiny shadows on the leaf, which immediately caught my eye.  As I often say, ya takes yer shadows when ya find 'em, or something of that nature.

Want to see more shadow photography?  Head on over to Shadow Shot Sunday 2. They will be pleased you did. 

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Early-Blooming Camellias

Pin It

The camellias are blooming early this year; two months earlier than "normal", a word that I feel compelled to surround with quotes these days, as nothing climate-wise seems to be what we think of as normal.

I desaturated the photo to bring out the distinct shapes of leaves, buds and blooms rather than the colors, which I found distracting.  This bush will receive more camera study as it continues to bloom.

Looks like I need to prune an errant blackberry cane, too.

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Nasturtiums for the New Year 2015

Pin It

I am so glad I took this photo two days ago to share with you today because last night's hard frost turned this semi-hardy plant to mush.  And, two days ago, it was just one of a small handful of blog-worthy blooms in my garden, which I will share with you over the weekend.

Happy New Year bloggers!!

© Copyright 2006-2015, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.