Nature Photography - Green Dogwood flowers

Spring is here !

Spring has started here in Sonoma County ;)
This week flowers are popping up everywhere , these pink Magnolias are one of my favorites
I was so glad to find them on an overcast day with no clouds or sky to distract in the background, just their lovely shapes and form.

Maui Flowers

 

 

 

 

Just got back from Maui this week visiting friends, nice to be away from the computer for 2 weeks and more time in nature.
I am starting to go through my pictures and have some favorites already... more to come :)

The last of the naked ladies

 

 

Found some more patches of Amaryllis the other day, they are starting to fade.. just like the summer....

Ready or not...

 

 

Spring is here...
the Magnolias are blooming everywhere here now, they are even starting to wilt from the heat,
they smell so divine...
the plum and cherry trees are flowering too . It was 81 degrees yesterday .
More flower pictures to come .. I wasn't ready for spring so soon
no complaints here, it's lovely !

California beauties in January - Camellias - Ripe Citrus fruits -

 

 

some camellias we just picked on our walk around the neighborhood tonight

 

  

 

All the local citrus trees are full of fruit right now , this orange orchard was a lovely sight to see this time of year. The Meyers lemons are my favorite , so fragrant and flavorful.

 

 

more flowers from our walk tonight

                                                            I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend !

late summer flowers

Towards the light

"Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun." - Kahlil Gibran

Celebrating flowers

 

 

Every year I plant poppies, and usually the same variety just different shades of purple , this patch was alot darker than I thought they would be and they are so amazing ! They are so rich with purple . I'm so glad there is still tons of buds for more flowers it really brightens up the garden.
Today is our 5th wedding anniversary. One of the things I remember about planning our wedding was my husband kept saying that he wanted was tons of flowers , flowers everywhere , and live music , no d.j.
I love that about him .. and so we did, we had a live middle eastern band, and tons of flowers.

...also wanted to share this poem by Mary Oliver that my Auntie Rosie read at our wedding ...

Happiness by Mary Oliver

In the afternoon I watched
the she-bear; she was looking
for the secret bin of sweetness -
honey, that the bees store
in the trees’ soft caves.
Black block of gloom, she climbed down
tree after tree and shuffled on
through the woods. And then
she found it! The honey-house deep
as heartwood, and dipped into it
among the swarming bees - honey and comb
she lipped and tongued and scooped out
in her black nails, until

maybe she grew full, or sleepy, or maybe
a little drunk, and sticky
down the rugs of her arms,
and began to hum and sway.
I saw her let go of the branches,
I saw her lift her honeyed muzzle
into the leaves, and her thick arms,
as though she would fly -
an enormous bee
all sweetness and wings -
down into the meadows, the perfections
of honeysuckle and roses and clover -
to float and sleep in the sheer nets
swaying from flower to flower
day after shining day.

...............................................................................................................

Thanks for letting me share a sentimental time :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend !

Beauty of Spring....

Wild current blossoms :)

Faded Queen Anns Lace

 

 

two new square prints . I'm still taking pictures of dried dead flowers along the trail even though the trees are flowering and coming alive with colors again. I love the shapes of the flowers when they are left with just structure and patterns . There's something to love in all seasons.