Birds and Blooms

Sunflower seedling in our garden.

Willow tree Robin's nest. This is the third year in a row that they've nested in this spot.

Our Tree Swallow couple is back. They're setting up housekeeping in our garden bird house. We're hoping they have a successful nest this year!

Tree Swallow coming in for a landing.

Jackmanii Clematis

The Last Flowers of Summer

Sunflower Macros

Macro photography, also known as macrophotography, refers to taking pictures of small things at close range. Although macro photography traditionally referred to taking pictures with a sensor that is larger than the subject, it currently includes taking pictures in which the image appears at least as large as it does in reality.

 

Sunflower petals with water drops.

Bees and More Bees

I love the colors in this shot!

The Bee's Knees

Macro photography is the hardest type of photography that I've tried! Without a tripod it's almost impossible to get a good shot that isn't blurred. I've found that using the camera's manual focus instead of the auto focus, I get much better macro shots. Of course you have to get close to your subject, which makes taking macro shots of bees kind of scary. Thank goodness this one didn't seem to mind :0)

Majestic!

This is the tallest sunflower in our garden. I bet it's over 7 feet tall.

Sadly, this is what a lot of our tomatoes have looked like this year. We've had some good ones, but there have been too many to count that I've had to throw away.

I got a new wide angle lens this past Saturday. Terry took this shot on Sunday morning using the lens. I'm really enjoying my new toy so far!

Took this shot with my wide angle lens. I know it has nothing to do with nature, but I thought it was pretty cool :0)

I didn't realize there was a bee hovering in front of this sunflower until I uploaded the picture to my computer :0)

"Bee to the blossom, moth to the flame; Each to his passion; what's in a name?" ~ Helen Hunt Jackson

Sunflower Lunch

Notice the pollen on the bee's legs.

Sunflowers make me smile!

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Sunflower petal macro.

Sunflower opening.

The first sunflower of the summer :0)

Another first is the rain we got last night and this morning. This is the first measurable rainfall we've had in a long time. Thank you Lord!

Sunflower for a Stormy Day

It's been a nasty, stormy, deary day here in Middle Tennessee.
We've been under a tornado watch all day and schools here in
Smith county let out early in anticipation of the bad weather.
Hope this sunflower brings a smile to your face :0)

Color on a Grey Day

I took this picture on one of many grey days we've had this winter. It's
been so nice to see the sun shining for the past four days! Hopefully it
stays sunny for awhile.

Sunflowers before the hard freeze last night.


And after the hard freeze. Lows here got into the 20's last night
with heavy frost.

Fall Flowers

Our rose bush always gets it's second wind
in late summer and early fall.


We decided a few weeks ago to try and grow some
sunflowers in our planters since we didn't get to plant
any at the beginning of the growing season. We found
some seeds and planted three or four. This one is the
biggest of the ones we planted, but I fear they're not
long for this world with a possible freeze in the forecast.


Our Jackamanii Clematis are pretty hardy as well. I hate to see
them go. Wish we could skip winter and go directly to spring!


Our Zinnias are showing some wear and tear, but are still pretty.
They can tolerate some frost, but not a freeze.

Lone Sunflower

This lone little sunflower grew beneath our bird feeder. The
goldfinches have already been pecking on it. I plan on having
a sunflower garden next year.

Sunshine on a Stem

Sunflowers always bring a smile to my face :0)