Succlent Rose

To me the gorgeous Echevaria looks like another form of a rose.  In fact I'm convinced

that some people refer to these succulents as "desert rose" but, I may be wrong ....

 ...the shape and almost delicate look about them ....

 and not only do they remind me of a rose, I think they go well with roses too, even 

through technically speaking they are on opposite ends of the plant spectrum .... 

I was "playing" around, as I like to do... and put this collage together ..... now tell me

they don't look good together!?

A macro Monday post here and here

Flowers Today post

Mosaic Monday post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images and {Gena D Photography} for thinking aloud

Dahlias

Another Monday and time for macro's or close up images - as I adore the fine detail 

of flowers and the insects that live in and around them, so this is always a favorite 

post for me.   Today's selection is of dahlias ...

I adore the shape of the flowers, the petals, the vibrant colours and at times the 

'weathered look" and feel about them ...

Wishing you a great week ahead.  I leave you with a thought : 

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Macro Monday post here and here

A Today's Flower post here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images and {Gena D Photography}
for thinking aloud

Crab Apple Blossom

Although Spring is on it's way out here, and has yet to come for the northern 

hemisphere, to me it's one of the most beautiful times of the year.   Before it's too late

I decided to post some images from my collection of blossoms - 

this time Crab Apple blossoms... and the odd insect

And a quote from Robin Williams : 
 "Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  

A Macro Monday post here and here
Ruby Tuesday Post
Today's Flowers post
Image(s) All Rights Reserved 
Copyright 2010 Gena D Images {Gena D Photography} for thinking aloud

Bottle Brush

The bottle brush flower is truly amazing .... it starts off as these little "balls" tightly

wrapped, on a 'stalk" and slowly they start opening, stretching, as it were, in order

to open up into the specimen above.

Below are a few images of different stages of growth and of the  detail.

  

 A Macro Monday post here and here

a Flowers today post

Ruby Tuesday post here

Image(s) All Rights Reserved Copyright 2010 

Gena D Images and {Gena D Photography} for thinking aloud

Beauvais Close-ups

Hello everyone I have, admittedly been neglecting my blog, although by the same
 token, muts say that's it's not on purpose ... I'm busy with a  lot of background work
in getting {Gena D Photography}  off the ground, and sadly at times, certain things
 need to take a back seat.  
Anyway .... onto the task at hand ... here is a selection of close-up shots taken
this weekend ....

A Macro Monday post here and here

and Today's Flowers here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Wonders from a vegetable garden

would you believe that this selection of images were all taken in

mom's garden in Portugal (June this year)

I am always in awe of how the simplest things in the right lighting

can create an amazing image.

{simple things like onion, garlic, parsely, cabbage and green beans...}

This is a Macro Monday post here and here

and Today's Flowers here

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

 Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Wisteria Blues

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you have imagined.  

Henry David Thoreau

a number of weeks ago, I was lamenting how I find it so difficult

 to capture a decent  image of westeria.  in frustration I picked a piece,

placed it in a glass vessel, and then tried again.

the pics above are the product of the effort - at least now

 I feel one can see the detail little more clearly.

A flowers today post

Macro Monday here and here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Unexpected Finds

This past Saturday, I attended one of the Parktown Heritage Trust Walks - this time of

the old Johannesburg General Hospital precinct.   It was sad to see decay and run

down buildings, but at the same time, amazing to see what great work is being done

 to restore most of them.   Photographically this was a truly an exciting time - the

 contrasts, the details and the unexpected were around every corner.....

So the image above is part of the Johannesburg Hospital building with wild flowers

 growing around it and just for a Blue Monday, offset against a gorgeous blue sky.

These two images are close ups of the the wild flowers and of a dried seed head

- growing abundantly amidst apparent chaos and decay. 

Blue Monday here

Macro Monday here and here

Flowers for today here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Poppies

 I simply had to buy poppies, wait for them to open slowly, coming out

of their rather unappealing "shells" and watch in amazement

at the beauty and delicacy of each flower.    

They remind me in part of soft crinkly paper, in in others others of a

creased taffetta or even silk (fabric).  

These are some of the images captured - enjoy!

a Color Carnival post

and

Ruby Tuesday post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Springs Blooms

I am amazed at the number of flowers, plants and trees that have

crawled out of hibernation in the last week or two ..... suddenly a shrub

that looked half dead is covered in flowers or leaves.   This is why Spring

 is such a time of renewal, not only in nature but I think within ourselves too

 ..... there is a palpable energy in the air that I find so inspirational. A time

to do things, try new things, stretch our limbs and our minds ....

The picture above is of the Wild Garlic plant (Tulbaghia) indigenous to South Africa

the tiny white blooms of one of the Spirea shrubs above, and, below tiny white Erigeron daisies.

when I took this pic, the wind up up slightly, hence this image is not 100% sharp,

but I love the effect created from the subtle movement.

I wish you a great week ahead!!

A Macro Monday post here and here

and Today's Flowers here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

AbstractII

~ an abstract of a dried agapanthus flower head ~

a Wordless Wednesday Post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Wisteria Dilemma

For some reason I battle to capture a decent image of Wisteria.  I deleted most images

from  last year and don't think I have used one pic to date.   This year, no real

satisfaction, so far, no "aha" moment yet ....

I'm not sure if it's the detail (too much) of the hanging flower, or the fact that they come

out in Spring at that time when the wind is still around, making it difficult to capture

perfectly.     Anyway, I managed this shot yesterday and have "played" around with

exposure to make it less dark, and hopefully show up more detail in the process ....  

I love the simplicity of it, but am still not 100% convinced that this is it, so have picked

a branch, which I can now manipulate and am going to try a few other captures,

let's see what that brings!?

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Spring is in the Air!!!

Spring is definitely in the air .... finally!!! 

Everywhee you look their are blossoms, blooms and fresh new growth. 

Just happens to be my favorite time of year, too!  

These are but two of the pics taken in our garden, there are a few more

posted on Flickr ... click here for more

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Contrasts

I entitled this picture "contrast" because I loved the look of the 

 fragile poppies and wildflowers growing on this embankment against

a rock solid (literally) wall and old olive tree.  

The contrast is also in relation to new life and growth vs. the old, ancient and

 established - the ancient walls of the castle and the very old olive tree

under which the poppies were growing.

 This image was taken during the recent trip to Portugal outside the

St. George Castle in Lisbon.  We were in a rush and a  snapped a few images

in a hurry, wish I'd caught more of the olive tree... alas!! 

A Ruby Tuesday post

and My World Tuesday

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Blue Daisies

a couple of weeks ago I posted some pics taken of the vibrant African Daisies

which abound just before spring .....

I "played" around with colour settings and came up with these as a

different version.... perfect for a {blue} Monday .....

 

Have a great day and an awesome week everyone

a Macro Monday post here and here

and a Blue Monday post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Aloe (Flower)

These gorgeous Aloe flowers are at the end of their flowering season - this

 was a lucky find, one because you don't often see the yellow variety

(well I don't anyway) and these flower spikes show the more

advanced flowering phase, something we generally miss,
as at this stage the spring blooms, tend to be more interesting. 

As a bonus, I  managed to capture an ant (above), and a bee (image below) !!!

the bee was intentional, the ant? well just luck I guess

Macro Monday here and here
a Mellow Yellow post
a Colour Carnival post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud