spring colors

Spring Colors

May 8, 2013

Lew picked this week's Headbanger's theme.  We are going with "Spring Colors."  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

For me, Forsythia is what does it.  It has become to me the official announcement that Spring has arrived.  This started some years ago when I learned that the right time to put the first application of lawn product is when you see the Forsythia bloom in the same region.  That's how you know what's happening under the turf with the insidious Crabgrass, and you can catch it before it grows up and chokes out the good grasses like Fescue, Rye and Kentucky Bluegrass.  I used a polarizing filter for the header shot, because I wanted to show the deep blue in the sky in contrast to the gorgeous Forsythia in full bloom.
 

Spring offers a lot of options for this theme, and here are some other ideas.  I hope you like them.

a neighbor's tulips just before sunset

a pretty pixie hides among paper flowers

Periwinkle experiment with selective B&W

a Magnolia tree's first bloom

Crocus buds emerging from rain-drenched soil

I'm fond of this one--it's a juvenile (American) Robin up close and personal

the color purple

Header Challenge:the color purple

May 13, 2013

The Color Purple was Fishing Guy's choice for today's challenge.  This is my favorite color.  I associate it with royalty.  Purple had special significance in Bible times.  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

pollen covered bee inside the crocuses

reversed (negative) shot of the light green decoration in my home

 For some reason, I thought that I lost last year's crocus photos.  They sprouted on Saint Patrick's Day (March 17).  Up until a couple days ago, they were buried under a thick blanket of snow, so I panicked and looked for purple in the stores.  That's what I used for the vertical collage on the left.  [click to enlarge]  While visiting this particular store, I saw someone I knew, and she asked if I was "allowed" to take pics of those items in the store.  Maybe it was because I temporarily rearranged some for lighting and composition.  Maybe it was whether we must always ask permission before taking pics.  This lady was probably thinking the latter.  I figure that if I was taking purple pics one time, and not compromising store security, there is no harm in snapping a few pics.  If they didn't like it and asked me to stop, I would certainly comply.  As you can see though, I did indeed recover last year's crocus pics as well as a couple other things around the house.

another home decoration

 

tiger in my yard

The markings on this yellow crocus are so cool. It's nature's way of telling predators to stay away. They think it's a miniature tiger. It's worked out very nicely so far.