Blue Nile Water Lily

A beautiful Blue Nile Water Lily as I captured it on my trek to Gibbs Gardens. As I gingerly walked about the Waterlily Gardens in early August this dainty looking Blue Nile Water Lily struck my eye. I hope your week is going well. It's been too too busy for me. The holidays are fast approaching. Before I leave you today, here is a tidbit I put together to wet your whistle. ENJOY!

The 'Happy Holidays' are fast approaching. 

There will be Tom Turkey aplenty and let's wish one and all Seasons Greetings. 

Next comes the Black Friday hustle accompanied by Light Up wherever you are. 

Let's Deck the Halls and afterwards we can Shop Til You Drop. 

Kiddos await jolly Ol' St. Nick where he will Dash Away, Dash Away, Dash Away All.

LEAST WE FORGET  . . .

The Ball Drop in Times Square as we sing a chorus of Auid Lang Syne!

Using Adobe Lightroom

When you are in love with the many petals that make up a Water Lily as I am, you envision each one in intricate detail. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to capture such detail on a bright sunny day. Here is where my Adobe Lightroom enters the picture. No pun intended. I purchased Lightroom just before Adobe converted to their fee program. I wanted access to Lightroom without paying a monthly fee for the rest of my life. I am so glad I bought it then. I seldom use it, however, it was perfect for achieving the detail I wanted in this image. I use Picasa to lighten or darken images, and occasionally I tweak the highlights. I always use it to crop and sharpen all of my images. But when I use Lightroom, it is strictly to do a tad more work. I can't say I achieved exactly what I was hoping for with this image, but I did come close.

Before I leave you today, I think it bears mentioning that I have grown thoroughly sick of the weather here in Nashville. It has rained most of the past three weeks. They say, they being the meteorologists here in Nashville, that it will be sunny tomorrow. Tomorrow, just one day, seriously. There must be some rule that states in Winter months you are not allowed more than a day of sunshine at a time. Hence, Winter's dreary days have come and I believe to stay. Dare I say it here. There are only 25 days left until Christmas. Where does the time go. 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!

Water Lilies, Murfree Spring Wetlands

There's a change in the air. Can you feel it. Here in the South cooler weather is finding its way into our daylight hours, while evenings begin to shorten and a coolness envelopes the night air. I will welcome Fall as it grows closer. Summer's dog days of heat will soon vanish replaced with a change of season. Emerging colors of crimson, orange and various hues of yellow will brighten the landscape.

Fall pumpkins already grace the local markets. Soon Fall decorations in every shape and size will follow. Pumpkins, gourds and bittersweet, along with scarecrows, stacks of corn, harvest moons and pumpkin rides. After a record setting heat this Summer, I am eager for the change in the season.

Leaving the Sunflowers at Batey Farms after a brief stop, I drove over to visit the wetlands, just as the rain was diminishing. The Water Lilies were turned in for the evening. The humidity was heavy. A lone female Wood Duck was milling around in the swamp picking through the pond weeds. I would have captured a better image so I could share, but my long lens was at home. ENJOY!

Yellow Water Lily

Such a beautiful bloom as I walked around the pond that housed several types of aquatic plants at Murfree Spring Wetlands a few weeks ago. No matter that I have photographed many a Water Lily. For some reason whenever I see another one I simply have to capture an image of it.



While these beautiful blooms are usually quite large, they also have such a delicate feel to them. And the fact that they are smack dab in the middle of a pond doesn't hurt either. The Independence Day weekend is almost upon us. Are you ready to get your red, white and blue on? Have you purchased the traditional firecrackers and sparklers, perhaps readied the grill for a nice thick juicy steak or a burger or hot dog? If not, better get busy. ENJOY!