Evey - I forgot to mention.. I'm getting new growth (already???) on the 3 irises you sent to me!! Yay! I know that these are yours in specific because I planted them clear across my yard from my iris bed... I can't WAIT to see what happens with them! They get sun from dawn until about 1pm.. I think that should be OK, don't you think? Yay! All my irises are starting to stick little pointy heads up... I think spring should be edging it's way over soon! Probably in about a month my forsythias will start blossoming! Provided we don't get another heavy freeze again.

Happy birthday, Angie.

In your latest post here, you said: "I'll pop in and out here, but since I'm still working full time at age 66, soon to be 67, time is limited indeed. Zu, I know you're in the same boat with me."

I was going to respond with "same boat, same age," but I didn't realize just how close in age we are -- 3 days apart?

Anyway, hope you have a lovely day.

Skiekitty, I'm glad you liked that photo. If you tilt your head to the right, it looks l like a three-scoop ice cream cone! Sometimes I like to put things together and photograph them for no other reason than they are interesting to look at. I also like working with black backgrounds to show off the colors of plants and petals. Here's another example -- of a young fern unfurling.

...and a macro-photograph of a yellow tulip against a dark background. Just the stamens are in focus, the rest of bloom is gently blurred.

And finally, a rose by itself - dramatic simplicity.

Fascinating, Mike. I see despair in the first one.

zuzu said:I was going to respond with "same boat, same age," but I didn't realize just how close in age we are -- 3 days apart?

That reminds me... I have tried to start a list of birthdays and anniversaries over in Clematis (http://cubits.org/Clematis/thr...). Can y'all add your info so we can send you birthday and anniversary wishes? Thanks!

Mike, your photos are so beautiful. You have an amazing view of the world. Thank you for letting us see glimpses of your "point of view". =)

Mike your pics remind of my pre-digital camera days when I use to scan my roses and flowers de jour

Roses

Vicky, those are beautiful arrangements and fantastic images. Are those scans of the flowers?! How did you do them?

Buck Rose Prairie Sunrise

Laid the flowers on my scanner and scanned them.

Did you use a cloth to withhold light from behind?

Yes, I used anything from a paper towel to fancy linens.
If you look closely you can see where some of them flowers petals are pressing against the glass.

Here's a couple more...

Sonya Rykiel

I really like the way those came out, Vicky. I'm going to have to experiment with that method this spring. They look like a hybrid of a lovely photo and botanical prints of days gone by. Thanks for the inspiration!

Here's my beloved Cressida looking so romantic.

You're welcome!
Years ago there was a gal on The Garden Web
that use to do this...I think her name was Robin
(she use to sell roses on ebay) and she told me how to do this.
Have fun!

Vicky, those really are beautiful, and so unique in the way they are done. I've never heard of scanning flowers like that, and those images are really captivating. Something about them, can't quite put my finger on it...

They remind me of the way Dorling Kindersley does many of the photos for their books. Quite lovely!