Revisiting a Late Summer Garden: Part ONE

I know it is autumn.  And here...the leaves are FANTASTIC right now.

IN fact, as you are reading this, I am probably out running around like a crazy woman

in our back woods to capture photos for you.

So, while I am away from my computer,

today, I decided to post some pictures for you

of a nearby garden that I frequent.

It is called CARP RIVER GARDENS and it is located in Negaunee, Michigan.

It is run by two men and it grows every year. 

They only charge $5.00 a CARLOAD to come and look and meander around their gardens

and it is well worth every penny.

It seems like you can go there every two weeks and see completely new plants and flowers

in bloom.

I went there in late summer,

and caught some gorgeous flowers.

So, for the next few days, I am going to treat you with some views of this gorgeous place.

Enjoy!!

I completely fell in love with these crazy daisies:

Yellow flowers just uplift my spirits.

How about you?:

And those of you that know me well...know how passionately I feel about Iris's!:

They have such interesting "other things" stewn throughout their gardens too...

I loved these river rocks put on old metal candle stands....

and I just had to make this shot in black and white too!:

I don't know WHERE they got these fantastic benches...but does anyone want to help me steal them

in the middle of the night? We need a big van and lots of muscles....(LOL):

More rocks in black and white....I love how the water dripping on some made those holes!:

Stay tuned for more shots of this incredible garden and its everchanging flowers....

*********************************************************************

YOU

are dangerously close to the DEADLINE

for the Sept. FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

Get your

SHADOWS

photo into me no later than midnight on Sept. 30th, 2011

following

THESE RULES.

You don't have to be a Blogger to enter!

Wild Cala Lilies, wild flower bushes, and Water Lilies!

I am trying to learn all the wildflower names for the wildflowers 

that grow in our area.

I am not learning them as well or as fast as I wished!

Thank goodness for knowledgeable Bloggers who often help me name some of them...

So, let's see if we can find out some of them today, shall we?

I know these are yellow water lilies:

But this white flowering bush? Haven't a clue!: Anyone know??:

Also stumped on this one!: Help!!???:

Wild Cala Lily:

Another wild Cala Lily:

(I can't help myself. They are so tropical looking for way up north where we live!):

Wild rose:

Wild rose with a friend:

Another yellow water lily:

I have bought some reference books to learn about the different plants and flowers

natural to the U.P. of Michigan...

It is fun finding them, photographing them and then trying to find out what they are.

If anyone knows the names of the unknown flowering bushes I showed you above,

please let us know???

This and That from the Woods, Part TWO

I love the fact that you never know what you will find

when you go out for a trip in the woods

to take photographs.

I like to think of it as one gigantic nature treasure hunt.

Like these awesome seed pods after the blooms were all gone:

Scanning the plants with my macro lens, I literally JUMPED back when it caught THIS in the lens!:

(I have NO idea what kind of spider he was...and I didn't hang around to investigate!!)

And a little while later?  I saw THIS GUY!:

(It must have been "bug surfing day" on the pond with the lily pads!)

We came upon a pond.

As usual, my hubby stops the truck a little ways up from the pond and I get out and quietly walk up to the ponds with my camera in hand...

just in case there is wildlife in the pond.

Sure enough!

A duck!!!

But he spooked right away and took off flying:

These little white wild cala lilies

only stay in bloom for about a week...

We specifically went out to see if they were in bloom that day, and luckily they were:

A thimbleberry blossom:

By now, all the berries have formed and already are over.....

I also love sneaking up on turtles for photos.

They are particularly hard to capture as they detect vibration, noise and movement very easily

and will often jump in the water before I even get my lens up.

But that day, and he didn't hear me:

So, I considered it a lucky day to see all of this in one trip.

Besides...

we packed a picnic lunch and sat in the sun, out in nature, just enjoying life....

feeling very fortunate to be retired, feeling great, enjoying each other's company

and blessed to live in such a gorgeous area of serenity.

I  would have been happy even if we couldn't find the above subjects to photograph.

(But, somehow, I don't believe that I wouldn't have found SOMETHING to photograph! You know ME!)

We have a WINNER!!!: August's FREE PHOTO CONTEST: Theme: Lakes, Ponds, Rivers or Creeks!!

We finally have our Judge's pick for our winner of the August 2011

FREE PHOTO CONTEST!!!

The theme was: Lakes Ponds, Rivers or Creeks

It is a wonderful shot....

And?

The Judges were torn between several of the entries submitted.

But, after careful consideration of theme, color, subject, emotion-evoking feel, and general wonderful

photo criteria, 

THIS is the winning photo that was chosen:

(Drum roll, please...............)

Congratulations PAZ!!!!

This was taken in Ireland and if you get the chance to go to Paz's blog at: "Pictures of Ireland"

you will find many other photos of his pastoral land that are lovely too!

Congratulations to Paz and thanks for sharing Ireland's beauty with us!!

Special mention of other entries goes to:

--Sharon W.

--Jeanette G

--Valboy

and

--Arti

Once again, I really want to thank every single person that took the time to enter in the contest....the Judges are having such a difficult time deciding on one winner each month.  As you see, they are taking longer and longer to decide and get back to me, even though they are different judges each time....(some judges have be re-asked to do more than one contest, but I alternate several of them).  

Job well done!!!

Don't forget to get your Sept. entry in for the FREE PHOTO CONTEST....

The theme is:

SHADOWS

Get your entry in before midnight on Sept. 30, 2011

following THESE RULES.

You don't have to be a Blogger to enter.

This and That from the Woods...

From Spring until Summer I love taking trips out in the woods

to find wildlife and the beauty of nature.

Evening Nightshade:

A muskrat hut:

Fresh, green pine tree growth:

Even Picker Bushes have beauty:

A RED dragonfly!:

River foam and bubbles on rocks:

I loved this stick, poking through the river foam!:

(It looked like it was wearing a river foam tutu!)

Rushing water over river rocks:

I hope you were able to get outside this summer to see some of these things for yourself...

if not...you still have autumn to embrace!

Our leaves are changing rapidly here and by next week I hope to get out almost every day with my camera to capture their beauty.

I  hope you can get outside to breathe that crisp fall air, too!

Your spirit will thank you for it!

Butterflies, moths, flowers, ducks and turtles!!

Today...

a potpourri of images from Nature.

A "just right" landing:

Unknown wildflower:

Looking down the log at Mr. Turtle:

Mama and babies:

A young Merganser duck:

Still unaware that I was taking his photo:

Butterfly beauty:

Moth or butterfly? I think butterfly because of the shape of its antennae?:

Love the "eyes" on his wings...

I love it when I catch them walking along a road rather than flying...

maybe they get tired too?:

But I never tire

of seeing them in the woods...

Mother Nature provides us the best show in town, all the time!!!

Go out and see it whenever you can.

Ribbit, ribbit.................

I like frogs...

always have.

So, of course, when I see them, I photograph them...

Here are some shots I got in the woods the other day.

Enjoy!!

I think I will name him: Oscar:

This little guy was peeking out in the raindrops:

I loved this froggie swimming and peeking above the surface of the water:

Here is one for the froggie-butt lovers out there:

But I still heart my Oscar:

I caught the action of the rain and this frog swimming as fast as he could...

go, Froggie, GO!!:

I know, I know....

I probably need a life.

But frog watching is kind of fun!

Try it sometime!!!