Photo of the Day - July 26, 2010 - Magnolia Part 2

Here's the second photo in our 3 part series of close ups of a magnolia. This is the stamen (I think that's the right term, if you're a botanist or just someone who knows, feel free to correct me.) Anyhow, it's the doohickey in the center of the flower. And yes, I'm pretty sure that's how you spell doohickey because believe it or not it was in my spell check. And yes, I'm aware that starting my sentences with phrases like "anyhow" and "and yes" is driving you English majors nuts. But honestly, it's how I talk, and this aint an essay so I'm gonna have fun with it. Try to pretend I'm speaking with bad grammar instead of writing with it, maybe that will ease the pain. ;-)

Back to my flower photo. Sorry for the rabbit trail. The centerpiece doohickey reminds me of wild mushrooms we used to gather in the woods when I was a kid. I'm guessing you can't eat the magnolias, but they sure are pretty and full of textures.

Photo of the Day - July 27, 2010 - Magnolia Part 3

This is the third and last in the magnolia series. This petal had caught dozens of the little seeds in it's bowl, and it was just beautiful to me. I love the creamy softness of the petal against the rough but delicate texture of the seeds. I can imagine a summer storm coming through and either blowing them away or filling the petal with rainwater until they float and eventually weigh down the petal until they trickle to the ground.

Photo of the Day - July 25, 2010 - Magnolia Part 1

I've always loved Magnolia blooms for their beauty, but had never looked at them closely. For the next 3 days I want to share some close up images with you, starting with this flower bud. It looks like some poisonous thistle should be birthed with all those spikes. Nature never ceases to fascinate me!

Photo of the Day - July 23, 2010- Hidden Beauty

This is what was left after my Irises faded and fell off a while back. They're delicate and stunning when you slow down to look at them. Makes me wonder what else I'm missing out on, you know what I mean?

Photo of the Day - April 28, 2010 - Birds of a Feather

Wow, what a difference a few days makes! These little baby robins were naked, ugly, and tiny just one week ago. (See the Photo of the Day for April 21st) and now they can barely fit in the nest and are beautiful with their feathers. I know it's not the best photo, but Mamma Robin hid her nest pretty well in the holly bush, and I'm not a big fan of pain.

Photo of the Day - April 25, 2010 - Backyard Beauties

These sweet tiny little flowers popped up in my backyard. I don't know what they are, but I hope Randy doesn't mow them until they're through blooming.

Photo of the Day --March 30, 2010 - Peach Blossoms

I was photographing the Bartlett Pears in bloom at the Archdale Public Library (one of my favoritest places) and noticed this puddle of water in the parking lot with upside-down blossoms floating along like polka dots. It was much more inter sting than the other photos I had already taken.

Photo of the Day --April 1, 2010 – Wild Violet

Seeing these little wildflowers always take me back to my childhood. The dark purple variety grew in the field near the stream close to our house, and I would pick dozens of them to make a small boquet to give Mom. When I discovered clusters of these blooming in my back yard, I was thrilled. This one's for you Mom...wish you where here.

Photo of the Day --April 7th & 8th 2010

April 7th -- Wisteria blooming in the studio garden.




April 8th--the bolt that gave me a flat tire on my birthday. ;-)

Photo of the Day --March 11, 2010 – Straw

There was a fog on this morning, so I headed out early to see what Creekside Park had to offer before going to the networking event at the Chamber of Commerce. No luck at the park--the fog was burning off fast--but on the way back this field of straw beckoned me to pull over and photograph it.

Funny thing was that the Mayor was on her way to the Chamber event as well, and said she saw me. You never know who's watching!

Photo of the Day –April 4, 2010 – Sunrise Service

Today was probably the most peaceful, beautiful Easter morning I can ever remember. I was on my families property in the mountains with camera in hand waiting for the sunrise, meditating, and remembering my Mom. I took a little hike in the woods, then on the road to get back to N.C.

My original plan was to be at Mom’s gravesite for sunrise, my plans got kinked up but it turned out I was exactly where I needed to be. Her favorite place was out on the farm with the mountains and all of nature surrounding her. If her spirit kissed the earth today, it would certainly have been at The Andy Place Farm, not the cemetery.

Photo of the Day --March 4, 2010 - Split Rail Fence

One of the best things about this Photo of the Day project is it has motivated me to stop and photograph some of the things I see and enjoy everyday. This little fenced in field is one of the joys of my drive to and from work everyday.

February 10, 2010 - Photo of the Day - Shadow Play

Sometimes I enjoy seeing the shadows more than the object. The clean lines of the siding on this building accent the natural flowing shapes of the branches and remind me that straight lines are seldom found in nature. The building is the Regan House in Archdale, NC. It's on the National Register of Historic Places, and currently serves as home to Ed Price Realty. Photographed shortly after daybreak.

Photo of the Day - February 3, 2010 - Blue Morn'

This scene was taken on the campus of Thomasville Medical Center hospital this morning. There was a wonderful blanket of fog, and the sun was just coming over the edge of the earth--breathtaking!

January 16, 2010 Photo of the Day

ALL KNOTTED UP
This beautiful gnarled tree is in the playground of a daycare center near the studio. I've admired it often because the textures on it's trunk are so intricate and rough. I'm happy to have finally slowed down to capture this image.

January 6, 2010 Photo of the Day

A rose by any other name....