Edited to Add: If you are visiting from Donna's Photo Challenge, just read the pink words as I've decided to use this post so I don't break my own rules. Welcome! ☺
Kalanchoe: Just playing with perspectives and angles. Have long forgotten what the camera settings were on.
This photo of the azalea blooms in my front yard was taken on macro setting, overcast day, +0 lighting balance, ISO 400, F2. Later, in Photoscape, I added effects on the water drops at the top left of the photo using the deepen brush. I thought that brighten would work best, but I was surprised to find that I preferred the deepen brush option. And that, my friends, is all I know. Enjoy the party in progress *here!*
~~~
Trying different camera angles. John brought home the yellow Kalanchoe yesterday. It's an annual, a succulent that doesn't need a lot of attention.
It rained gently through the night and this morning there is still a fine mist in the air. The azalea is ever so much more happy as a result. However, I note with sadness that the small azalea at the front of the garden looking like a pile of dead leaves is hanging on by a thread. I will try to find a better home for it...perhaps pot it for the summer and baby it along. My daughter gave it to me and so I'm very attached to it. It may be for the best as it has been crowding the roses or vice versa.
Since next week is Note Card Party week with Mr. Linky going up in the afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday being left open for the actual full day of the party, and Thursday another post, I'm going to post this Sunday. I've had something planned since I found it a year ago. Ha! Anyway, there'll be no comments then.
Oh, if anyone had trouble with the "optical illusion," I'll send you the answer behind the scenes. It's way too scary to post here. ☺
A lovely day to you...
What a good guy! Beautiful flowers. Wish I lived there to see all the beauty of green.
ReplyDeleteI'm always drawn to that plant, not that I ever knew the name. They always look cheerful in the market. And I did enjoy one in our home recently as long as it was happy there. You could email me about the optical illusion as I did not get it. (But that's nothing new!) Have a good morning in such a beautiful environment as you have there!
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers...
ReplyDeleteI do hope you can baby your one azalea along...sometimes a new location is just the thing!
Enjoy your misty day!
Deanna
Oh, I love these flower photos! And different angles - I'm so proud of you trying out something new! I like that one with straight down approach, in particular, because it shows the pattern of the rustic metal basket. How sweet of John to bring home a new flower too - the color of cheerful sunshine!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the optical illusion, I'm afraid to admit. My brain must be misfiring lately because another blogging friend told a joke and I didn't get it at all. Mush, I tell you. My brain has turned to mush.
I'm glad you got some rain. it has rained here for days and days..finally drying out a little...
ReplyDeleteLove, Mona
Lovely... Lovely... Lovely...
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty is needed, this morning. Thank you for your comment, in my blog today.
"Auntie"
Your flowers are lovely. I love that big old iron pot thingy! And I would love to know more about the optical illusion! I'm curious!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely flowers! Optical illusion? Enjoy your day Vee!
ReplyDeleteWhat cheerful, yellow flowers! The azalea is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Carol
Beautiful flowers, Vee. I didn't get the optical illusion, either.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers. I love yellow flowers...so sunny, even on a rainy day.
ReplyDeleteSo your John writes poetry and buys you flowers?! You are a lucky girl! And they are so pretty! I love your "angle" photography too.
ReplyDelete(I'd love for you to send me the answer to the optical illusion. I hate to admit it, but I didn't get it either. Should I expect to be creeped out like John was?) :)
How sweet of your resident poet to bring home those cheery flowers. I've never thought to try kalanchoe outside. I bought them as a houseplant years ago and enjoyed them until they quit blooming and I was unsuccessful at getting them to re-bloom. Must now give them a try outdoors.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see I'm not the only one who didn't get the optical illusion. As far as I can tell it's a photo of your left eye. Now I'm looking forward to hearing what I'm missing.
What a sweet husband! There's just something special about receiving flowers from your 'fella'. Yesterday TGD brought home two hanging baskets for the shady end of the veranda - he knows how to make my day!
ReplyDeleteGive John a big hug from your pal at Finch Rest. Gotta love a gentleman!
ReplyDeleteAwe, what a sweetie you have. We have rain today and just in time because yesterday we put in our tomato and pepper plants.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, Vee! And I see from your profile that we share a love of small things.
ReplyDeleteWOW, when John brings you flowers, he showers you with flowers!
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that the azalea is not happy with the soil? Don't they like acidic soil? Could you amend the soil or provide a fertilizer that will make it happy? You've probably already done those things so my next step would be to go to your favorite greenhouse or county extension center and get their advice. Good luck! Keep us updated. I'm always fascinated with learning how to make plants happy.
Good thought, but since the bed is amended all the same with minor exceptions for the roses, I don't know. The larger blooming azalea is behind the smaller, dying one. Sigh. I'll see if roses and azaleas don't like one another. Thanks for the suggestion.
DeleteI always plant things too close together. Right now my 2 camelias are crowding my azaleas. I'm thankful they are all still alive but I probably should transplant the Camelias to another spot. Oye.
ReplyDeleteLove the pop of color on your porch that those plants from John add...
Hi Vee, haven't had much time for reading and commenting on other blogs but this afternoon I have MADE time. Love the yellow Kalanchoe, but not a plant I would put in the garden here in the UK, either in the house or conservatory. The azalea is beautiful, mine aren't in flower in the garden yet, we need some more sun and warmth!! They do acid soil / ericaceous compost and moist leafy conditions for their shallow roots. They thrive in light shade, but will tolerate full sun if their roots are consistently moist.
ReplyDeleteWe are having such a mixture of weather here in the UK, it has been wet and very windy here today after a lovely hot weekend.Hopefully by the weekend it will be the same as last. Jackie in Surrey UK.
Your flowers are beautiful. Would love to know the illusion story
ReplyDeleteOh, it is lovely to see all the colour in your garden, Vee - ours are way behind. Mind you, make that MINE is way behind. I popped in to see a friend a few days ago, and they have been at the garden centre and bought huge plants, so their garden is already summery. I came back to my little seedlings, and thought, hmmm. This is going to take a while. I confess that my garden is very overcrowded. I love it that way. The plants seem to survive!
ReplyDeleteI love the photos, the different angles, the beautiful flowers in the rusty iron basket, the azaleas and the rain drops, Vee. I want to know the optical illusion too. :) Have a great day. The rain has arrived.
ReplyDeleteHi Vee, I am still in non blogging mode have to get a move on, if only to post my giveaway, which is long overdue. Anyhoo, I didn't get the optical illusion, and I was just thinking that I missed your Sunday posts. So many times I wanted to comment but I got used to it. :) Your yard looks beautiful, fabulous rhododendron (sp??) xo
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful and John so thoughtful. : ) I'm not familiar with that plant.
ReplyDeleteEven with your explanation I just don't get the optical illusion!! My brain just doesn't work right!! : )
The metal basket is wonderful. And the raindrops on your azalea demand a poem.
ReplyDeleteI bet you're glad to see the rain! Beautiful flowers, XOXO
ReplyDeleteAwww - so sweet your John is to bring you those cheery flowers. Vee - your pictures are stunning! I can't figure out the optical illusion - you really have me curious about that. I saw your note about trying to find the like to when you met Anneliese and Lovella - shucks! I looked back at their first book launch (early Aug. 2011) and saw where they were holding a picture of you - YOU the person who inspired the name of their cookbook!!! If you ever find it by chance I'd love to see it. They are such lovely and gracious creatures - aren't they!! Love all ten of them and would love to meet each one someday. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy Mum's day!
ReplyDelete...trying to find the Link - not like .....
DeleteIt ooks like spring has arrived. I miss having Azalea's. I must make a note to uy and plant some here.
ReplyDeleteVee
ReplyDeleteSo sweet John still brings you flowers!
And I love that wrought iron basket
I meant to tell you how beautiful your azaleas are
the other day.
I don't see any optical illusion, unless you mean the
aerial shot of the flowers in the basket.
I'm the worlds worst spacer. If you don't believe me, ask my mom. If she is not standing there next to me, I make a hot mess.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't you think I would have learned by now?
I love that John brought your flowers, and I love the flowers he brought. He's a keeper, isn't he?
The flowers are beautiful, love the pop of yellow this time of year as everything begins to make it's way to the front. The azalea plants is stunning with the dew on the petals. I'm the first to admit I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree, not sure what you mean by optical illusion, and thankfully I see that others are agreeing with me. Unless it's the basket of flowers from above like Camp and Cottage Living mentioned. ~ Abby
ReplyDeleteNo, I am talking about yesterday's post and the optical illusion I mentioned there.
DeleteStunning!!! Is that your green door? love....
ReplyDeletexo Terri
The yellow Kalanchoe are gorgeous and look so pretty in that metal holder! I hope to buy some flowers to plant this weekend as I hope the temperatures here will stay above freezing form now on. I thought the deer had retreated back to the mountains but four of them trotted through my yard today so I have to be careful not to buy them snack flowers..lol
ReplyDeleteI hope you can rescue your daughter's gift azalea plant! I think some azaleas are hardier than others. I always threw my used coffee grounds under my azaleas, rhododendrons and hydrangeas and they seemed to love it as I think they made the soil more acidic.
Such a pretty pink azalea, especially with the raindrops on the petals. I don't think I've seen a yellow kalanchoe before and it is a nice gift from your hubby. For Mother's Day?
ReplyDeleteJudith
Beautiful flowers, Vee. Our Azaleas are just beginning to bloom. Yours is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flowers. I love Kalanchoe, usually have a few of different colors in my house, they seem to be one of the plants that I manage to keep alive hahah
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog, I so appreciate it. Going to add yours to my list so I can come visit more :)
Hello Vee. Just letting you know I've come visiting and have enjoyed your different camera angles. Love the first angle the best myself. And what a gorgeous color that azalea is!
ReplyDeleteYellow flowers...green door...purple azaleas...green grass. Lovely. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe colors on your flowers are so vivid and brilliant... mine do NOT look like that! LOVE your garden view!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up to the photo challenge, Miz Vee, and the added information! YOu took advantage of a rainy and overcast day, and those can provide some of the very best conditions for flower photography. And the top one is still my favorite, LOL, because I like the pattern of the iron work too! Wonderful job, sweetie.
ReplyDeleteI think your John is a keeper!
ReplyDeleteLove them all but that last shot is breathtaking!!!
Enjoy the weekend!
Lovely pictures...I think Kalanchoe would be perennial in another climate. (And can you believe that my spell check thought I might want to be saying "nonchalance" rather than Kalanchoe?) I bring them out in the late spring and inside in the fall...And John is wonderful! And so are you for making sure we know that!
ReplyDeleteAzaleas are total drama queen above the Mason Dixon line. I swear they swoon just to aggravate Yankee gardeners.
ReplyDeleteThe pink words mentioning having forgotten her camera's setting for that photo: Picasa has a tag to luck on with each photo that gives all the setting details. I find it really helpful when I try one scene shot on many setting the can't recall what I tried.
The article awhile back about using photos of each day to help those with memory issues: thinking more pictures with tagging would help a lot: who were those people, where was I and what was it all about instead of camera settings!
How thoughtful, I love the color!!!
ReplyDeleteYouy guy is a keeper bringing you some YELLOW flowers. Loved your photo with water drops - clever lady to capture those. Love Leanne
ReplyDeleteHi Vee -
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! Love that yellow!
Happy Mother's Day!!
Hugs, Sherry
What a thoughtful husband your John is - a gift of flowers says "I love you"!
ReplyDeleteI'm oohing and aahing at that magical green of the trees and grass - a fresh Spring green. You've waited a long time for this Vee!
I loved your Mother's Day post and the beautiful poem which I'm saving.
I'm looking forward to our Note Card party too!
hugs
Shane ♥
Love the angle in the second shot! Great post...enjoy your day!
ReplyDeletehi vee!
ReplyDeletethank you for your faithful visits!
it means the world to me. and
i pray this is the sweetest mother's
day ever !
Beautiful shots of your azaleas. I love the splash of color they show off in the Spring here.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to be late but my satellite internet was acting ugly yesterday and wouldn't let me on!
Fun and clever your shots of the metal basket. Love your yard with the open space and trees.
ReplyDelete