Sunday, September 2, 2012

A Summer's Day

Yesterday's "Once in a Blue Moon" was one of my rare posts which was only up at the top of the heap for one day before moving on to this, the next post. If you didn't happen to catch it and would like to see it, you can click on "previous post" at the end of this page.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll be posting summer photos well into autumn. I have a lot of them and my posting schedule has been lagging recently. I'll do my best to keep up - starting with the images below.

Although I've titled this post A Summer's Day, the photos were not snapped within the same 24 hour period. Some are not even from the same week. Or month. Still, they depict a summer's day and that's all I'm going to say about that.



orange flower 4
There's a volunteer-attended butterfly garden at my nearby park. This lovely orange flower greeted the morning sun through much of the summer.




thistles
A pair of purple thistles strut their colourful stuff.





thistle lover
The colour on this one is just emerging but it's enough to attract this cabbage white butterfly.





burrs sunlight
Yet another prickly plant catching a few shaded rays.





squirrel munching
This squirrel found something interesting to munch on. He scarcely looked up when I snapped this shot.





spikey flower2
I don't know about you, but when I lean in toward this photo, I feel like the spikes of this flower are actually moving - 3D-style.





qal hag
And while you probably already think I'm a bit nuts, do you see a hag's face in the blooms of this Queen Anne's Lace? That gap near the bottom would be her mouth and the protrusion in the middle, her nose? No? Okay, never mind. ;)




green heron in flight 3
A Green Heron takes flight. You can't see much green in this fellow but some of his feathers have a definite teal green sheen to them in certain light.




green heron3
Well how about that! I do have a shot of him in just that right light. You can see the green in his wing, tail and a bit in his face.


 

swims with feathers
As the day and summer progressed, I enjoyed watching the groups of ducklings grow. This was taken in early July but by now, I can no longer tell the young from their parents. I wonder if this guy is dreaming of the day when he too, will have feathers as large as the one floating beside him.




twilight pass
A wander at dusk at the early part of the season. I looked up just in time to see a Great Blue Heron fly off into the the twilight-painted sky.




robin silhouette
A robin watches the night fall from atop the branches of a pine tree.

More photos in a few days.

49 comments:

Dan said...

That first image is one of a kind... just fabulous!

Mimi said...

Love the butterfly one; I've often wondered how birds and butterflies can see things like flowers and fruit from such a distance, as they're flying, but obviously the flying doesn't need their full attention.
And your sunflower gave me a much-need little burst of summer this morning! So I'm very happy to say, with regard to summer photos "keep em coming Hilary!"

June said...

You are so very good at Mood Photography!
I do love the first photo . . . it made me think of a beautiful woman with flowing hair blowing in the breeze. Happy.
I do see the face in the QA lace (POETRY!), but to me it looks like a jester's face with the silly cap tasseling over his head.

Out on the prairie said...

Very charmng shots.I have tons set aside and like to view them periodically just to remember the moment.I like the 3-D shot, quite an illusion.

Tabor said...

All are great summer memories but I really like the heron in flight. So clear.

Brian Miller said...

wow i like the richness in color of the first one....lots of cool ones...including the black squirrel....hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

stephen Hayes said...

That orange flower and the spiked 3-D one are real show stoppers. Great photographs as always.

Anvilcloud said...

Many wonderful photos. That spikey flower did seem to move, and I eventually saw the hag's face. Once I did see, it was quite clear.

ellen abbott said...

all beautiful photos as usual. I love the queen anne's lace and yes I can see her face (I'm a poet!). I know the green herons are herons, but they have such short legs!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Whether or not these were all taken on the same day does not change the beauty they show. amazing pictures,every one of them. Have a great day.

Red said...

The first shot with the red changing to yellow is a winner.
It's allowed to take pictures from different times and call it a day.

TexWisGirl said...

i love all of your images. keep 'em coming! and yes, i saw the hag's face. :)

i really liked the fence bokeh in that one thistle bundle shot!

Maggie May said...

The butterfly and the squirrel are superb and I like the black background to the flowers...... oh EVERYTHING!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

messymimi said...

Yes, i saw the hag's face, and i looked at the 3-d flower so long it made me dizzy! But i got a smile out of it, so thank you.

Kerry said...

Your vivid pics taken in low light are so clear that I don't know how you do it. Just beautiful, Hilary.

yaya said...

What a fun summer's day I've just enjoyed through your lens! I can see the hag in the flower BTW and I love the last shot...but then I'm a bit partial to pine trees!

Country Girl said...

Interesting how different green herons are from the blue, especially in shape and size. Every single photo here - every one is a joy to behold, Hilary ~

Rita said...

I love your photos. I feel like I have taken a short vacation. :)

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

A great set of images, Hilary. I especially enjoyed the 3D flower, the green heron, and the Queen Anne's Lace hag. You could do a whole series of Queen Anne's Lace pictures. You have so many wonderful ones.

MaggieGem said...

Lovely shots Hilary... always enjoy your photography!

christopher said...

Excellent.

And yes I can see the 3-D movement, the face...and I love the Heron in flight.

ZielonaMila said...

Fantastic photographs, I like to admire such a nature. Greetings

Linda said...

A lovely collection of nature and wildlife. I particularly enjoyed the shot of the black squirrel. All the ones around here are gray.

photowannabe said...

Ah, delightful.
Keep the summer treasures coming. I love them.
The 3D one is spectacular as they all are. You really find beauty all around you.

lime said...

love the colors in that first image and the optical illusion of the spiky purple flower. and yes, i do see queen ann's hag. ;)

Reena said...

That first image is just too gorgeous Hilary!

Christine said...

I kept smiling while catching up on your posts tonight, so many wonderful shots :) I feel the same way about my summer shots, so many to sort! My favorite of yours is the spike flower close up that looks like it's moving. Have you seen the graphic illusion that looks like it's moving but it's not? I have a link to it here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Create/164611986981395?ref=hl It's the blue & yellow graphic :)

Unknown said...

Love the sunflower! And, agree with you about the 3D flower...awesome shot!

Anonymous said...

Magical shots indeed!

I just had to come by and highly recommend these amazing and exquisite shots for POTW.

http://serenityspell.com/2012/08/31/the-last-rays-of-the-sun/#comment-5431

Merisi said...

The richness of a summer's day, beautifully illustrated!
I am with you on hanging on to summer images, may they last forever.

Pauline said...

big happy contented color-saturated sigh :)

Gayle said...

Your wit and wisdom=always a joy! (not to mention the phine-photog) Love the hag flower, those are some bushy eyebrows, too! It is -2.22222+C here this AM, brrrrr. Definite nip in the air!

Once again, thank you for your inspiration and great charm and wit!
Gayle
High up in the Rocky Mtns.

Mental P Mama said...

Always a treat...the flora and the fauna!

Daryl said...

love the silhouette feel in the last

Lisa Gordon said...

Oh, I know what you mean about the summer posts, Hilary! I have hundreds of summer photos that I've not even looked at yet, and I also have some from last summer. Gotta get with it!

This is a wonderful series. I especially love the butterfly and the black squirrel. We do not see them often, if at all around here.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Mage said...

Yes, moving in and moving out leave me wowing over and over again with that flower. I keep reminding myself to get closer, crop sharper any image I post.

Barbara said...

I could see the hag! And definitely had a 3-D feel from that spiky flower. We have some similar to that second spiky plant you showed - any idea what they are? I haven't been able to figure it out, but they've been prolific the past two summers! Feel free to keep sharing your summer with us!

Gail Dixon said...

That spiky flower was groovy, man! LOL Definitely messed with my eyes. :) The first shot of the orange flower is spectacular!!! I enjoyed them all, though!

Nancy said...

I can literally feel my blood pressure go down when I view your photos. And yes, I saw the hag!

snowwhite said...

The first one is a sunflower? The flower has flaming sunset color of farewell. All photos are stunning. Especially I love this orange flower.
What a graceful color the green heron has!
I missed the blue moon! I have to wait nest two or three years.
keiko

Dave said...

That spiky flower was pretty much an optical illusion the way that it tries to deceive the eye Hilary - Dave

Dawn said...

I honestly have to say...I am smitten by every one of these. Just a beautiful way to end my day. Thank you.

Sharon Wagner said...

The 3d one really sizzles. Lucky I haven't been drinking! And the bottom silohette is so pretty.

Anita said...

The butterfly stole the show until the squirrel came along. :)

I saw the hag immediately. Your description of where she is verified that we see the same thing. Only "you" can find these images within your nature photos!

The 3-d flower reminds me of a kaleidoscope. Great photo. They all are!

Kerri Farley said...

Purely Awesome!

Lisa said...

Your photography is just stunning.
Loved this blog also.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

The spiky bloom looks like a giant firework burst in the sky, and the orange & yellow in that very first photograph made me stop and stare for a long time. So beautiful!
Thank you, Hilary!

Jo said...

Nice grouping of photos...the orange-yellow flower is stunning and I love the heron against the dusky sky. Poetic as always, Hilary.

Ruby said...

The last two pictures are stunning Hilary! Can I borrow them for drawing? Thanks for sharing them. I enjoyed this post!! xoxo Ruby