Phipps Summer Flower Show

Bright colors at the Summer Flower Show

I thought it was time for a quick update.  It’s a busy time of year.  As I have said before, one of my favorite places to visit is Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.  I missed the spring flower show this year, kinda.  I went the weekend before the opening.  I do this on purpose because most of the construction work is complete but the crowds are a minimum since most people don’t go until the official opening.  Unfortunately, this year the work was running behind schedule and very few rooms were complete.  Those that were done had small plants with minimal blooms.  So it was a bust.

I ventured back to Phipps last Sunday for the summer flower show, again the weekend before opening day.  This time I wasn’t disappointed.  A couple rooms still needed work but the majority were completed plus a few displays of the spring flowers were still in bloom.  Since there were no crowds it was a great time to take a few macros and abstracts.

I hope to get back in a couple weeks since that should give more time for the plants to bloom.  Anyone interested in making the trip with me should send me an email.

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Tucson 2012, Part II

While in Tucson I made the usual stops in Saguaro National Park, the Sonoran Desert Museum, and several other local and state parks as well as some botanical gardens.  I mention this because flowers are not the only things I like to photograph.

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Tucson 2012

Do you have a bucket list? I think that we all kinda have one as we get older. Even if we don’t admit it. One item on my photo bucket list is the desert wildflower bloom. It’s a tricky thing since it depends on rainfall, temps and fate. I hoped to get that one crossed off this spring.

I flew into Tucson only to be told I was a little late for the main events. The Mexican Poppies had bloomed early because of the unseasonable temps and early spring. Plus the stiff breezes had taken a toll on the delicate blooms. I still hoped to find some blooms since I was here and determined to visit the usual places plus a few recommended from websites.

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Glade Creek

On my last full day in Gatlinburg, TN, the weather forecast called for a snow storm to pass north of town through KY and WV.  I was a little disappointed because I hoped to get images of the streams and old cabins with some snowfall.  As usual, I was not so lucky.

When I left the next day I was surprised to see how much snow was on the trees, ground and buildings on my way home.  The closer I got to the Beckley, WV area, the more determined I was to get to the Babcock State Park and the Glade Creek Grist Mill.  Although it was a little late in the day for the best light, the snow still clung to the trees and rocks along the stream.

I had been to Glade Creek many times in the past but this was the first time with this type of significant snow fall.  As sorry as I was that there was no snow in GSMNP, I was really pleased to have made it to the Mill.

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Spring at the Great Smoky Mountains

I completed my trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The weather was great.  Flowers were starting to bloom.  I even managed a few acceptable photos.

The water was running well in the streams and waterfalls.  I found several new sections of stream to photograph as well as exploring several back roads I had not attempted before.

I’m not sure how well I did with my challenge since I have not had a lot of time to process my images but several look good initially.  I will attempt to get some more processed soon.  In the mean time, I hope you enjoy these.

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