A Beautiful Waterlily and an Update

Just a quick note to let you know I am still kicking. I have been on a break while I battle this incredulous bronchitis that I've had for over 2 1/2 weeks now. Hopefully, it's on the way out. I dream of being outdoors and taking photos, but dreams are it for now as I haven't ventured out much in weeks especially since most days the pollen count is very high. I have been following your blogs and hope all is well. ENJOY!

Sunflowers, Batey Farms

Batey Farms is almost an hour from Hendersonville in Murfreesboro, here in middle Tennessee, as the locals call it so it was a trek, but I was aptly rewarded. The Sunflowers were in full bloom at the farm. The huge field they planted didn't make it through the rainy Spring, but about ten rows of Sunflowers did. I arrived right when the Sun was directly overhead giving me the best light of the day. Don't you just love when that happens. I love the huge green leaves that accompany each Sunflower.

Have you ever wondered how many Sunflower seeds each flower yields. No doubt the farmers can answer that question, but I haven't a clue. To think these gorgeous flowers bring such beauty to our world and to top it off give us delicious Sunflower seeds too. Isn't Mother Nature amazing.

Of the 200 some images I captured today, these are my favorites I am sharing. I love close ups of Sunflowers the most. One beautiful large Sunflower bloom is all I need to satify my thirst for the Sunflower, but I still tried to capture some images of numerous flowers. This is one of my favorites.

The heat and humidity today wasn't nearly to the degree of the past week which made being out in the middle of the Sunflower field a tad bit more bearable, although it was still hot. I hope you are staying cool here in the States with this 'heat wave' in full swing and no relief on the horizon. For those of you down South in the throws of a snowy Winter, stay warm. ENJOY!

Beautiful Pink Dogwood

My favorite Dogwood tree at Bernheim is this gorgeous deep pink one that sits at the very end of the arboretum. I snapped an image Saturday as I was driving into Louisville for the Easter holiday weekend. I hope you had a wonderful Easter. ENJOY!

Resplendent Waterlily

Fall is slowly creeping into our lives and perhaps, more than creeping in, at the higher altitudes. I believe I saw a snowfall on the Weather Channel this week. I wanted to close the week with this resplendent Waterlily bloom I captured while walking around the Waterlily Gardens at Gibbs Gardens a few weeks ago. I have been decorating for Fall, adding touches here and there, throughout my place in an attempt to bring the outdoors of Fall indoors. Are you knee deep in faux pumpkins and splashy wreaths adorned with Fall leaves and stalks of corn. On another note, I hope you are enjoying the cooler temps. While we have had a few hot days this week in the 90's with some humidity, we have not had stifling days like we did back in July and August. Just that slight difference in temps is a big help. Wherever you are this weekend I hope it finds you dreaming of Fall! ENJOY!

Southern Magnolia

Southern Magnolia trees are found throughout all of the Southeastern United States, although they are more common along the Gulf coast and the southern Atlantic shore. While Palm trees dot the landscape in the southeastern states, Bald Cypress trees grow in the Louisiana swamps, and rows of Georgia Peach and Florida Orange trees thrive in groves throughout Georgia and Florida, one would think one of those trees would be synonymous of the South. Not so. The Southern Magnolia holds that crown.

As images of the old Southern Plantations are conjured up, the Southern Magnolia tree undoubtedly comes to mind. I can see the Southern Belles sitting under the Magnolia trees in their long flowing dresses sipping glasses of sweet tea and chatting about their Southern gentlemen. Those are bygone days obviously. You can, however, still tour many of the old plantations around the South to this day, and no doubt, you will find a Southern Magnolia tree or two growing on the grounds.

Every Spring I would spend time at Bernheim photographing the Japanese Magnolias with their blush pink and pale yellow blooms. While there are few Japanese Magnolias here in Nashville, Southern Magnolias are plentiful. I hope to capture a few more photos before the heat browns the pedals and the gorgeous blooms wither. Have a great week all. ENJOY!

Come Summer

Come Summer there will be days upon days filled with bright blue skies and sunshine aplenty.

Come Summer there will be fields strewn with daisies and bushes laden with red and pink roses.
Come Summer there will be bees a buzzing and butterflies a flitting and birds a chirping in the breeze.
Come Summer there will be bicycle rides and dips in the lake and dusty baseball games day into night.

Come Summer there will be long Sunday afternoons whilst family and friends gather to picnic.

Come Summer there will be glasses of sweet tea, backyard barbecues and thick slices of apple pie.
Come Summer there will be red, white and blue and stars spangled nights and firecrackers popping.

Come Summer there will be. Come Summer.

Japanese Magnolia, Bernheim Arboretum

As I made my way back to Nashville from Louisville, after a brief visit with family for the Easter holiday, I stopped for a visit at Bernheim Arboretum. I love to capture images of the Japanese Magnolias in bloom in early Spring. It was sad as frost had pretty much obliterated a great deal of the blooms. I walked around the trees snapping an image here, an image there. This particular bloom, as you can see, had a bit of frost bite too. I love to photograph flowers with a beautiful blue sky in the background. Sometimes I even position myself so that the perspective includes that gorgeous blue sky. It seems to give your image a boost. Have you been enjoying the beautiful Bradford Pears that have been in bloom for the last few weeks? Here in Hendersonville they were gorgeous. The Dogwoods should be in bloom soon it not already. I hope you are having a wonderful week. We have strong storms coming through late today. ENJOY!

Purple Mexican Sage

A hearty bunch of Mexican Bush Sage was blooming next to the walkway behind the Botanical Hall at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens last weekend. Its brilliant purple hues were shining starkly in the harsh afternoon light. A woody shrub, Mexican Sage has 3-4 foot long stems covered in deep purple blooms.

If you look closely, you can make out the velvety texture on each tiny bloom. Add that velvety feel with the deep purple hue and it's a winner in my book. If I had a flower garden, this would be the first shrub I would plant. This hardy shrub blooms from Spring through Fall. And yes, you guessed it. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love these blooms. ENJOY!

Sunflower, Batey Farms

Bathed in bright evening light this beautiful Sunflower stands ready for picking at Batey Farms in Murfreesboro earlier this Summer.

I hope everyone is having a great week. I am knee deep in deadline week and busier than a bee. ENJOY!

Water Lily, Bernheim Arboretum

There were several white Water Lilies gracing the pond that sits in front of the Pavilion at Bernheim on Sunday.

I have posted a few images recently of Water Lilies at Murfree Spring Wetlands, but couldn't resist one more photo as the Water Lilies at Bernheim were gorgeous. ENJOY!

Winter Jasmine

This past Sunday I spent a brief few minutes walking around Long Hunter State Park near the shore. As I walked over to the edge of a cliff to look out over Couchville Lake, I looked down and saw a plant covered in yellow blooms. That was a shocker considering it's February and the dead of Winter.

It didn't take long to identify the bloom when I did a search online. All I did was type in 'yellow blooms in Winter' and there it was. Yellow Jasmine blooms from November to March. A typically native plant to China, Yellow Jasmine can be found scattered throughout the lower southern states in the U.S. One of the states listed was Tennessee. If you had told me I would discover a flowering Jasmine plant in Winter here in Nashville, I wouldn't have believed it. But here it is. Amazing. ENJOY!

Scarlet Cockscomb

As luck would have it on my journey today, I crossed paths with a very large scarlet Cockscomb blooming near a shop I visited. Today was the first day in many many weeks that I got outdoors to take photos.

Visiting Nashville, Indiana or as we locals call it 'Brown County' is a treat at the end of Summer and before Fall gets going in full swing. Most of the Summer's flowers are still blooming and the leaves haven't turned yet. Coupled with all of the colorful shops in the small arts and crafts town, well you guessed it. It's a fantastic place to take photos. And the icing on the cake is most of the Fall decor is out on display for fresh pickins'. The large Cockscomb plant I photographed was covered in 'bugs' in all shapes and sizes. In particular there were many 'lightning' bugs all over the blooms. Today was the first day in many weeks the temperature was a comfortable mid seventy and there was no humidity and my schedule was finally in my favor. And for that I am grateful. Back soon. ENJOY!

Black Swallowtail on Sputnik

Bernheim's typical butterfly bushes didn't make it through the winter. But I did manage to capture this Black Swallowtail feasting on, what I just found out from Google, is called Sputnik. I have to admit the name certainly fits the look of this strange looking flower. This Black Swallowtail was feasting on the bush laden with flowers just on the edge of Lake Nevin.

Have I mentioned that the past two days it has been in the 70's and low 80's with low humidity and beautiful blue skies. On the 4th of July in the hot and humid Ohio River Valley, this is basically unheard of. So needless to say, I have been thrilled. And while the humidity and heat creep back in today, I was happy to have a break from it especially on a long weekend. I hope your weekend has been a good one. Those of you in the northeastern United States and northeastern Canada surely have had enough rain to last you a while after Hurricane Arthur moved through. Have a wonderful day all. ENJOY!

Yellow Iris

Spring is slowly awakening here in the Bluegrass State. As I drive the countryside, patches of yellow Daffodils dot the landscape. The grass is slowly greening. Spring breezes bring warmth where winter's cold winds once blew. Buds stand ready to burst forth from every branch of every tree.

As I step inside each shop, fuzzy yellow ducks and chicks greet me with smiling faces. Speckled eggs and brightly colored Easter baskets are piled high on the tables. Faux grasses stand at the ready in their bright pinks and yellows and purples. Chocolate Easter bunnies and speckled eggs fill the shelves waiting patiently for candy jars overflowing.

Bygone days come back to me now of Easter's past. Bonnets adorned with flowers and long ribbons stand ready and waiting. Patent leather shoes shiny as glass sparkle in the bright sunshine. Soft pink pinafores with freshly ironed creases hang in the closet. Church bells soon give way to dinner as smells of Easter ham waif in the air. Harbingers of Spring surround us. Sorry to have been away for a bit. Such a busy schedule. ENJOY!

Happy Mother's Day

As I remember my own Mother on Mother's Day, I wish for all of you a wonderful day with your children and loved ones. ENJOY!

Yellow Magnolia Bloom

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. ENJOY!

Prayers for Boston

Yellow Magnolia

Yes, there are plenty of white and pink Japanese Magnolias blooming at Bernheim. But I think my favorite has to be the yellow Magnolia blooms.

It's because they are so cheerful and sunny. Wouldn't you agree? I'm taking a long weekend so hopefully I'll have some time to get out there and create some beautiful images. Have a great weekend. ENJOY!

Magnolia Blooms and Buds

Such beautiful blooms at Bernheim this week. The most glorious scent. If only we had smell-a-vision on our computers. ENJOY!

Magnolia Blossom

Even before I got close in proximity to the beautiful cluster of Japanese Magnolia trees at Bernheim this evening, my olfactory senses had already picked up the magnificent fragrance emitting from the blossoms.

I've been watching and waiting for Spring to bring forth these beautiful blossoms. While the Japanese Magnolias weren't quite filled to capacity with blossoms, those blossoms that were in bloom were all so beautiful. And luckily there was a tad bit of sunshine peeking through the clouds as a front is moving into the area. I hope you enjoy this image as much as I did creating it for you. ENJOY!