I hope this Saturday finds everyone healthy and happy. For myself I have been fighting off allergies, due to extra windy weather. Things seem to be settling down, so I am hoping to get outdoors today and do some gardening.
I always struggle to decide which photograph to start with, and from there the flow of photos and words. I usually start by picking out photos I want to use and narrow down to a manageable number. I then may crop a few using a free photo editor called PhotoScape I only crop the photo to center or to get rid of some thing that takes away from the photo. The words just come to me as I start to type.
My first photograph to today is a macro-photo of a Dianthis that we planted last year. Many Dianthis are perennials even with our cold winters. They come in other colors besides this bright pink.
This next one I took when we were visiting Manito gardens a couple of weeks ago. I am not sure of the name.
Here is a Japanese Maplee that was growing in the Japanese Gardens at Manito Gardens.
This next scenic shot was taken when we went on vacation last week. The field was full of wildflowers. This was on the _Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation_. I was stopping to take photographs when we got a call and had to head straight home. Next trip I will get more scenic photographs.
Here is one of our own patches of Shasta Daisies:
This next flower is a Calendula, which is related to Marigolds. I usually plant quite a few, but this year I am relying on those that self seeded. I have used them to make salves, but they also add wonderful color to a salad (I usually pull the petals off and sprinkle on top of my salad.
I have been trying for a long time to get some Macro-photograph of butterflies, although they never seem to want to "pose" for me. I finally was able to get a few pictures and today want to share one of our prettiest butterflies. This is a Swallowtail, and I believe it is a Two-tailed Swallowtail.