The Blue Hour

Sundown after the snowstorm ends – wondering when we will be able to get into the greenhouse and start growing green things again.

Sundown after the snowstorm ends – wondering when we will be able to get into the greenhouse and start growing green things again.
It will a few weeks yet, the buds of the Magnolia tree that is touchable from the front door step will release huge flowers come spring. Even now, in a quiet way, they are enjoyable to look at.
Getting to grips with the 250 page instruction manual for my new camera I struggled through the garden snow to find this winter-dried flower head from a PG Hydrangea. Interestingly, it was better (to my eye) in monochrome than colour … anyway, colour original below.
The garden was visited briefly this morning by the neighbourhood Cooper’s hawk, undoubtedly on the lookout for a meal at our feeders. He stayed just long enough to get a couple of photographs and then departed, still hungry.
This photograph marks the return to life of my photo-specific website. I hope you enjoy whatever follows … meanwhile, the sun is shining over the garden
I have been lurking near these flowers for several days while Hummers come and go before I can grab the camera. Perseverance works – finally nailed it today as this fellow stayed long enough for his portrait to be taken and allowed retime to fiddle with the camera settings too. Feeling quite proud of this one if I do say so myself ;)
The flowers are Mexican Cigar Plants (Kuphea sp.) and seem to be even more of a Hummingbird magnet than even Monarda.
Orbweaver spider (species t.b.i.d) taking a leisurely lunch with a bee … tasty.
Monarch’s exploit many plants, not only milkweed. This specimen had just been laying eggs on milkweed leaves and had moved over to this Echinacea to stocky up on nectar.
Wild carrot (Daucus carota) after sunset