Back in a few days with more photos.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Summer's Best
The beautiful shades, sights, sounds and smells of summer never fail to make me sigh. Below are a few images taken in the warmth of August.
Black-eyed Susans grow in the field across the road from Frank's place. We wandered out there one day, with cameras in tow.
Along with the Susans are Cone Flowers, also known as Echinacea. It's brilliant pink petals are very attractive to butterflies - none of which were cooperating with us that day.
Another lovely flower along with the above two, is this purple beauty. I don't know what it's called but I have faith in you fine people. One of you will inform me, I'm sure. I hope. You can make out some more Cone flowers faded into background.
And if you lean in close to this one, and maybe squint a little, you'll see the bonus insect that appeared to me when I uploaded the photo.
Another insect, easier to see this time. The bees were all over these flowers. Still, I had a hard time getting a really good shot. I still need time to get used to this macro lens. Lots and lots of time. Can you hear me, Frank? ;)
Aside from the obvious, which is well-fed birdies, another benefit of leaving quality seed out for our feathered friends is the unexpected growth of sunflowers in the yard. This beauty appeared just past the edge of my patio.
And last but never least, one of the best part of summer are delicious Rainier cherries - so sweet, so dense, so juicy. Yum!
Back in a few days with more photos.
Back in a few days with more photos.
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61 comments:
Gorgeous pictures as always... :-)
Enjoy your day !
Greetings from France,
Pierre
http://pierre-boyer.blogspot.com/
Wow! Purple flowers are great! Amazing photos!
Vera
It seems to me that you're already a pro with that macro ! Love the pic of my favorite Ranier cherries, so good...sending summer honks from The Big Cherry , errr ok, The Big Apple...but cherries are my fave. :)
Summer flowers and summer fruit are both hard to beat indeed.
Great photos! The purple one looks like what we have here and call a 'butterfly bush'. May have other names as well. :-)
These photos really carry the season. I am going to miss it.
Wonderful images you've got there, Hilary.
some gorrrrrgeous photos!
gorgeous :)
I will never forget after I moved here seeing those Rainier cherries for sale. I thought they weren't quite ripe because of the color, but once I tasted one, I was hooked for life! They are so incredibly sweet and tasty. And I too think you've got the macro lens down. Only you would look at the back side of the sunflower and get such an amazing picture.
That is a butterfly bush aka Buddleja .. butterflies love them ...
gorgeous! yes, butterfly bush. :)
the last sunflower shot is beyond incredible
the peachy fuzz is so sweet
can you hug a flower? I suppose gently
I often see things better through your photos Hil than I would with my own eye
amazing :)
LOVE the cherry!!
That is one dandy macro lens you got there!
FYI...it's a butterfly bush (and they DO attract butterflies!) We have one in our backyard.
Lovely, I am eating lots of cherries also, a favorite food.
Always a delight to see what you have captured for us! That cherry made my mouth water.
great dof :)
what delicate pictures...would not mind some cherries though...smiles.
There are lots of really lovely blooms to snap at this time of the year. beautiful!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Oh I love the cone flower...so gorgeous! Love your photos! I am not sure what that flower is but beautiful!
Hugs
SueAnn
Breathtaking flowers!!!!
I just love this time of year...and your pictures are incredible!!!
Superb pictures Hilary.
Butterfly bush ... have one right outside my window ... your macros are great Hilary! Such an eye for composition!
Excellent. Vivid colours. Greetings.
Macro lenses do take a bit of adjusting...You are doing amazing with yours. Looking forward to your next series. Your cherry got me craving for one ;-)
Love the cherry! I know that purple flower is not a lilac, but that's what it reminds me of. Wonder if it smells just as pretty. :)
Bravo.
Brilliant photos. I believe that you couldn't resist the cherry, it looks so scrumptious.
Lovely, and luscious.
Hi Hilary, nice to meet you. followed you over from a comment left on another blog, forget which now but no matter, I'm happy to be here. that purple one is a butterfly bush, a favorite food for them! it comes in many colors but this one is lovely. I like your blog. thanks for sharing these flower photos, they make me happy. happy day to you.
I am obsessed with sunflowers. I wish i had them growing wild but instead it takes great care and attention to nurture them to bloom. Evidently they are very popular with the critters. Yesterday I saw two squirrels eating one of the "precious".
Next year I am def going to plant some black-eyed Susans. Yellow flowres rock!
Definitely are summerish, as the plants hang on to impress. That's the beauty of these blogs! Need a summer fix, visit your own and those of other's you admire.
Well done Ms. H !!!
You really are inspiring me to track down a macro lens! These are beautiful!
Quite a variety. The purple flowers are buddleia.
Hilary, Hilary, Hilary. I don't know how you manage to continue to surprise me with your brilliant photos, but you do. With each succeeding image, I think I've found my favorite. But I think the winner in this set is that sunflower. What a unique perspective you chose, and what sharp detail you achieved. Gorgeous.
• Merci beaucoup, Pierre. Thanks always for stopping by. :)
• Thank you kindly, Vera. I'm glad you like them. :)
• King, thanks very much for the kind words all the way from your cab in NYC. I'll save you a few cherries next time. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Christopher, it's the best of the season. :)
• Di, thank you, and others for identifying this flower. It makes sense because it's a part of "the butterfly garden" along with some of the other flowers in this post and milkweed. :)
• Tabor, you and me both. :)
• Thanks very much, Leah. :)
• Thank you, Gary. :)
• Twain, much appreciated. :)
• Thank you kindly, DJan. I know exactly what you mean about the Rainier cherries. They look unimpressive but they have so much meat to them. Thanks always for your visit. :)
• That's it, Daryl. Thank you. :)
• Thanks, Tex. Much appreciated. :)
• Dianne, that's one of the nicest comments ever. Thank you so much for that. You've made my day. :)
• Thanks for the visit, Susan. :)
• Thanks very much, Jillsy. You and so many have come through for me. :)
• Thanks, Steve. It's one of those great parts of summer. :)
• Thank you, Bonnie. It was delicious, too! :)
• Thanks, Christine. :)
• Thanks, Brian. I'll save you a few. :)
• Thanks very much, Maggie. I'm pleased that you like them. :)
• Thanks, SueAnn. A lot of folks have identified it as a butterfly bush. I'm gad you enjoyed the photos. :)
• Thank you, Dawn. To me, no season tops it. :)
• Thanks kindly, Keith. :)
• Reena, thank you. So many kind folk have identified it for me. Your kind words are so appreciated. Thanks for that. :)
• Welcome Photonture and thanks for the kind words. :)
• Anyes, thanks so much. I'm really enjoying it but haven't had it for over a week now. But it's back today! Oh, and so is Frank. ;)
• Elizabeth, folks are telling me it's a butterfly bush. I don't think anything smells as lovely as a lilac. I'll have to save some cherries for you next time. :)
• Welcome, Me. And thank you. :)
• Thank you, Bob. And it truly was. :)
• Thank you, MessyMimi. :)
• Welcome aboard, Ms. Becky. Wherever you came from, I'm glad you found me. Thanks for letting me know what the flower is. So many have come by to my rescue me with that information. I'm glad you like my blog and thank you for telling me. I hope you'll return again soon. :)
• Gary, I wish you luck with your Black-eyed Susans next year. I never would have thought to plant sunflowers but I guess Mother Nature helped them along for me. They're not very tall, and there are only two but I'm quite pleased to have them. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks so much, Mr. D. ;) I'm enjoying this beautiful season with or without my camera. Thanks for the visit, my friend. :)
• Robin, thank you so much. Such high praise coming from a fine photographer as yourself. :)
• Cheshire Wife, thank you. I appreciate you letting me know. :)
• Linda, Linda, Linda, thank you, my dear friend. You sure know how to make someone feel good about her photos. Thank you so much for such kind praise. :)
Oh, my, such lovely images! Isn't it great when you get a bonus insect that you didn't notice through the viewfinder? I'm especially drawn to the coneflower, but you did an amazing job on all of them!
All amazing photos. I love black eyed susans and that sunflower from the back is amazing. Love the cherry too. That lens is cool.
Those photographs are just beautiful and stunning!
Another delicious post full of summer beauty! Just gorgeous.
I feel a little like I've just experienced the secret life of bees. Buzz buzz!
All juicy pics.
I tried to capture bees recently, but nothing was sharp. They flit so quickly that it's difficult to get a fix.
Beautiful, beuatiful, beuatiful. I always love your macro shots!;)
And yes indeed, I have been so thinking about you when I pass all the ducks on my morning run, they remind me of all your lake photography.;)
Have a great weekend dear Hilary,
xoxo
What beautiful and CLOSE up images!! I just got a new camera and new place, but so far I've just taken pictures of the 'deer' in my back yard. lol I need to expand this weekend and start using my 'zoom' lens too. :-)
Have a Beautiful weekend, Hilary!!!
Hugs,
Coreen XO
This may be one of my favorite posts. Black-eyed Susans and Cone Flowers are my favorites, but I love bees nearly as much :)!
These are not only close up shots, they are are large, easy on my eyes.
I don't think my camera will take such clear and close shots. I enjoy looking at all your photos so much.
Just gorgeous Hilary, amazing close ups.
Our Butterfly bush flowers are all brown and sad looking. It bloomed very early this year and now we are on the cusp of autumn already [unless we get an Indian summer]
Well, you are making me think I NEED a Macro! The Butterfly Bush is wonderful as is the Echinacea, but my fav is the Sunflower side view. I want the blooms of summer to last, but here in the mts of CO, their end is drawing near.
I really like Black Eyed Susans, I think I'm going to plant some in the front garden next spring. I only have a teeny tiny garden at this house, much smaller than the previous house. Great colours of summer in your pictures hilary!
• Gail, thank you so much. Yes, bonus critters are always a kick. They seem to happen rather often too, much to my great amusement. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks, Ellen. It's a fine lens and I know I'm going to have a lot more fun with it. :)
• Welcome, Scripts and thanks for the kind word. :)
• Lady Fi, thank you kindly. I'm glad you like them. :)
• Louciao, I guess that's good as long as you weren't part of their sting operation. ;) Thanks for the kind words. :)
• Jagdish, thank you. :)
• AC, they are indeed difficult to capture. I hope we each have many more opportunities to try for more. :)
• Thanks very much, Zuzana. I'm glad you have a lovely area for walking too. :)
• Coreen, congrats on the new place and new camera. I'm envious about the deer. I'd love to have those critters visit me. No doubt you'll be photographing all sorts of new things around you before too long. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Amy, I'm glad I could accommodate you. Thanks very much. :)
• TechnoBabe, I've been very blessed to have a great camera and the use of several fine lenses. But keep on shooting. You'll be surprised at how many wonderful shots you'll get that you never thought you would. Thanks always for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Moannie. It's not that I'm unhappy with autumn, it's just that I would love summer to last forever. Sorry your season feels like it's over. At least it's here officially for another few weeks. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Brand New Studio, thanks for stopping by. :)
• Barb, I know that feeling... every time the lens goes back home with Frank. And I know the feeling of wanting to hold onto summer. It happens like that every year.. sigh! Thanks for the visit. :)
• Shammie, I have a small garden space too, and it's grossly unattended. I'm sure you'll enjoy your black-eyed Susans. They're such a sunny, cheery plant. Thanks for the kind words. :)
Gorgeous!
A nice respite from 115 degree Arizona heat! When it's this hot, we often fail to see the beauty of summer! Glad I saw this post!!
Gorgeous images.I love how you captured the sunflower from a different angle.
• Thanks, MPM. :)
• I'm glad you did too, Michael and I hope it cools for you soon. :)
• Thanks, Ruth. I'm glad you like it. :)
~ Wow ~
The cherry shot has stolen my heart!
These are pure beauty. I love the perspective on the sunflower. Just amazing from the back.
• Kerri, I'm glad you like it. :)
• Sandy, thank you kindly. Much appreciated. :)
these summer images just blow me away. juicy and blushing.
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