Study of Magnolia Flower

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While looking into old photo files today, I came across a few hundred images from 2006 that I took while on a trip to the east coast.  I had completely forgotten about these images, spent several hours going through them and was surprised that none had made it to these pages.

Taken with my old Canon PowerShot SD450, a little workhorse of a camera that I never should have parted with, I love the gentle muzziness of the images - not quite sharp yet not quite out of focus.

It's funny how my standards for photography have changed over the years.  I've gone from knowing nothing and being lucky, to knowing a little more, still lucky at times, and being a bit more fearless about it all. And throughout all that, I've striven for the sharp, clear image.  Now that I see these anew, I think less sharp, and less clear have their place, and I'm happy to give it to them.

© Copyright 2006-2014, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - The Chapel at Sea Ranch

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A trip to Sea Ranch to be with the grandboys while their parents had an anniversary outing doubled as an opportunity to re-visit this beautiful little pan-denominational chapel.

While taking the outside photos the sun "came out from behind a cloud", casting the shadows of the hand-wrought spire onto the roof.

To see more shadow shots from other shadow-chasing photographers, check out Shadow Shot Sunday each and every Sunday.

© Copyright 2006-2013, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Hydrangeas and Crocosmia

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What's blooming in my garden right now?

Hydrangea - Raven Ridge Gardens 2012

 This.

Hydrangeas and Crocosmia 'Lucifer' - Raven Ridge Gardens 2012

And these.

And tomorrow there will be more.  Maybe even that vegetable garden update I've been promising.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday 2: Cocktails anyone?

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I am often highly amused by shadows.

This one especially.

More shadow shots await your perusal here.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday 2: Shadows on Glass

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This is actually a reflection of rose leaves and redwood branches in a west-facing window, taken early this morning. The original is in color, and this is just a portion of the photo. When I started playing around with the colors, I de-saturated it and this is the result. So, a rather contrived photo for Shadow Shot Sunday, but it's mine and I offer it here to you.

Click on the icon to see all of this week's shadow shots.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday: Red Velvet Curtain

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Recently, while spending some time with one of our sons in southern California, we decided to take in a movie and found ourselves at this very cool, historic movie house in Newport Beach.

Sitting there in the softly lit theater, munching on popcorn and waiting for the lights to go down, I was taken with the different patterns that the rows of seats stretching out before us were making.

So, I took this photo.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can hear you now. Taking photos of chairs with that stupifyingly beautiful red velvet curtain staring you in the face?  I'll admit, sometimes it takes a two-by-four, or Photoshop, to show me the error of my ways.

This is my submission for this week's Ruby Tuesday. Brought to you by Magical Mystical Teacher and Gemma.  Head on over there to see all of this week's ruby red photos. And while you're at it, give MMT and Gemma a shout out for continuing this very popular blog event.

And I still think the seats are very cool.

© Copyright 2006-2012, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Autumn in my Garden - Dew-Kissed Clematis

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Clematis, early morning, several weeks ago.

At the beginning of summer I didn't realize how many distractions would, and did, take me away from posting, to say nothing of visiting my favorite bloggers.  Now that my busy summer is over, I hope to remedy both.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Crocosmia Buds

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I love the circles and swirls so had to let you see it too. 

More photos of my crocosmias can be seen here, here, here, here, and finally here.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sunny Tuscan Colors at Brick & Fire Bistro

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I've been struggling to find a shadow, any shadow, to put here for my favorite meme in the whole world, Shadot Shot Sunday, but shadows are sadly not to be found.

You're probably tired of hearing me say, rain, rain, rain - I"M tired of hearing me say it.

But, it's still raining. And it's still cold. And it's still grey. All. Day. Long.

So I've pulled a photo out of my archives to cheer me up.  This is one of my favorite local restaurants, Brick and Fire. With a sunny Tuscan-Mediterranean feel and delightful, locally-sourced fare, it will lift my spirits even on days weeks like these, when the sun just won't shine.

Tracy has got more shadow links for you over at Hey Harriet.

A shout out for our intrepid Tracy who was sick last week but is now recovered,

and we are so glad for that! 

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Another Ruby Red Hellebore

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Yes, another Hellebore.

Fixated on Hellebores, you say?  Maybe so - they're fun to photograph. And light plays so well with them.

And also, they are the only red in town, or rather, in my garden, right now and it's time for a Ruby Tuesday post.

Check out the rest of the ruby red photos over at Mary's place.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Winter in my Garden - A Nameless Rose at Sunset

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I am notorious for losing the name tags that come with my plants.  This sweet rose, blushed a rosy-orange by the setting sun the other day, is actually pink and pretty much blooms year round.  It has a sweetly citrus scent, is practically thornless, and has canes that would grow to great lengths if I didn't keep them cut back. If anyone knows its name, please chime in.
I took the photo this past Sunday, the day before the rains came back after more than four weeks of beautiful, if not bizarre for our region, sunny weather.





© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Silhouettes at Low Tide

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We walk to the beach several times a week.  This past Friday the tide was really low and folks (and their dogs) were walking waaaay out along the wave line.  This guy was taking a photo of the rocks and waves while I was taking a photo of him taking a photo - in silhouette.

This is what I do when there's not much to do in my garden. Or rather, when I'm putting off the things that need to be done in my garden.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Late Autumn in my Garden - Spider Web

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 Can you see it, way out there up there in the branches?

Here's a closeup, taken from the same spot as the photo above.

Playing with my zoom lens ...

Zoom ...   Zoom ...

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

Autumn in my Garden - Virbunum Leaf for Ruby Tuesday

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The late afternoon sun shining through a viburnum leaf, creating such a display of veins and ridges, seemed to light up the leaf from within.  Such is my offering for this week's Ruby Tuesday.

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

Autumn in My Garden - Circus Rose

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Out in the yard shooting photos, playing with camera settings.  Sometimes I get a shot that just intrigues me:  No flash; sunny blue sky overhead; haven't a clue why it turned out this way.  But I'm glad it did.

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

Sun Setting Behind Pewetole Island

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I meant to post this over a month ago.  The sun has moved since I took this photo and now sets quite to the left of the distant rock.  Autumn sliding into Winter ...

Me trying to get my groove back.

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

Autumn in My Garden - Water Everywhere

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Early morning:  I love how water droplets cling to the serrated edges of rose leaves.

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

Autumn in My Garden - Shadowplay in Penstemon

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"Mom, how're you doing?"

"Well, I haven't put up a blog post in about a month..."

"Actually, it's been exactly 35 days."

"Wow, you keep track?"

"Yes.  So, how're you doing?"

We had a wonderful, long conversation, but the upshot is:  Nothing like a call from one of your kids to remind you that you've been remiss in the blogging arena.

Besides missing visiting my favorite bloggers, I've missed taking photos for Shadow Shot Sunday. So between bouts of rain the other day, the sun shone and illuminated the stamens inside these penstemon blossoms and I was able to take my first SSS shots in quite a while.

Shadow Shot Sunday lives on Tracy's blog, Hey Harriet.  Take a look each Sunday for great shadow photos from all over the place.


PS - Thanks, Miles!

PPS - Tracy, I'll link to you as soon as Mr. Linky wakes up. ;)

© 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.