Flowers and Nature

Magnolia Spring Blooms

Star Magnolias blooms are some of the first flowers that signals spring season is near. The Star Magnolia also known as Magnolia Stellata is the smallest of the deciduous trees. This is one of my favorite spring blooms that shows off its soft flowing white petals once the flower opens. My favorite location to photograph this star magnolia is now under construction. Unfortunately there is now limited access, and I fear the lovely magnolia shrub will be gone. This year the star magnolia shrub was full of blooms and I was able save a few blooms for this image.

Red Passion Flower

Passion flower also known as passiflora . Passion flowers are perennial climbing vine with vibrant colors. These vibrant colored flowers grow in tropical climates. These red passion flowers grow on a vine in the conservatory. The conservatory is in Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. This botanical garden is in Richmond, Virginia

Purple Alstroemeria Bloom

Alstroemeria also known as Lily of The Incas and Peruvian Lily is a perennial. Alstroemeria symbolizes devotion and friendship. This flowers grows in purple, white, pink, orange and hot pink. I've photographed this Alstroemeria on a led light box to create a translucent image. I've also added a texture.

A Field of Crocus Flowers

Late evening sun illuminated this small field of spring crocus flowers at Historic Tuckahoe. I used a vintage Helios lens to create a soft glow of these spring crocus flowers. Historic Tuckahoe is located in Goochland, Virginia

Primrose Flowers

White primrose flowers are some of the first flowers to bloom in early spring. The white primrose flowers has yellow centers with a small center, and it has bright green leaves. Although these are small beautiful flowers, they are given to someone to symbolize sadness and mourning. I photographed these small flowers with natural window light to create a hi-key appearance. I used a Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens to also create a soft dreamy glow

Pink and Orange Tulips

Tulips are perennial spring flowers that will come back annually. Pink Tulips are often an expression of friendship and caring. Orange tulips are a symbol of friendship or happiness. I photograph these pink and orange tulips at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's display of "A Million Blooms", Richmond, Virignia

Mophead Hydrangeas are the most popular hydrangea in the United States. The Mophead Hydrangea has large green leaves with large flower heads that come in purple, blue and pink. This type of hydrangea are shrubs . I photographed this pink hydrangea while the light highlighted the flowers, yet created a black background.

Flowers often have spiritual and religious meaning, because they rise from the dirt and show their beauty for time each year. The Lotus flower is no different. The Lotus is a delicate flower with many layered petals around a central core. The Lotus flowers exude beauty and grace. Most varieties grow in the water of muddy ponds and creeks. The white and pink Lotus flowers are from the Nelumbo family, and carry a meaning of purity and devotion. I photographed this white lotus flower surrounded by its green lotus leaves at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden in Washington D.C.

Morning Blooms

The pink lotus is from the Nelumbo family and seen as purity and devotion. On this rainy morning at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden, in Washington D.C. the lotus appeared to be glowing with raindrops.

Summer Dahlia

Dahlia flowers are colorful flowers that bloom from late summer into fall. Dahlias grow from tubers that are planted in late spring. I photographed this one dahlia at Historic Tuckahoe in Goochland, Virginia

Double Bloom Tulip

Double flowered tulips have several petals, which creates a fluffy look, similar to a peony flower. The extra petals of this lilac colored tulip created not only beauty, but extra depth. We planted a variety of two hundred tulips, and the double-flower tulips have lasted the longest, and they make excellent cut flowers.

Pink Dogwood Blooms

Pink dogwoods or cornus florida creates a nice floral show for two to four weeks in the spring. What appear to be four petals are actually bracts on dogwoods, and the blooms are pincushion-shaped buds, that open to small flowers. The Dogwood tree is the official flower for the State of Virginia, therefore one will see a variety of pink and white dogwood blooms in Virginia. While visiting Historic Tuckahoe, I photographed these pink dogwood blooms against a white sky to achieve a translucent look

Pink Beauty

Water Lilies are flowering plants from the Nymphaeaceae family. The water lily is a perennials that grow in aquatic bodies of water, where their leaves and the flower float on the water surface. I ventured to Kenilworth Aquatic Garden in Washington D.C., where there are acres of lotus and water lilies that display their beauty in this National Park.

Orange Poppy

Orange poppies is a perennial poppy originally from Morocco. This variety grows up to 2 feet tall, and has larger blooms that span 2 to 4 inches across. I saw this deep orange poppy growing in the garden at Tuckahoe Plantation in Goochland, Virginia.

Ornamental Peacock Kale Leaves

Ornamental Peacock Rose Kale displays rose and green colors to your fall garden. The botanical name of ornament kale is brassica oleracea peacock. This is selective focus of the peacock kale leaf with a helios vintage lens that created a blurred background

Snowdrop

Snowdrops are perennials that are among the earliest spring bulbs to bloom. Snowdrops bloom between February and March, in clusters and low to the ground. I photographed this single snowdrop at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia in mid-February. I used my Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens to give this single flower a soft glow and I've added a texture to the final image.

Red and Pink Rose

Roses come in various shades of red and pink. This rose had petals of red and pink. I was surprised to see these two different colors on this one rose bush in the gardens at Tuckahoe Plantation. Perhaps this is a hybrid rose. I used my Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens to give this image a dreamy soft, blurred look.

Star Magnolia Flower

The Star Magnolia tree has one of the smallest blooms of the magnolias with soft, snowy white petals. The Star Magnolia blooms in early spring. Every spring I find these blooms at an abandoned location, where I can admire their beauty. This image was shot with a macro lens, showing the details of the center of the flower.

Red Sun

Red Sun is a variety of sunflower that produces vibrant red petals with a dark brown center. The Red Sun sunflower is an annual that grows from seed up to 6 feet tall.

Japanese Beautyberries

The Japanese Beautyberry is a plant in the mint family, It's scientific name is Callicarpa japonica, commonly known as east Asian beautyberry. It is a deciduous shrub that explodes with small purple berries in the fall. I photographed these beautyberries at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia on an early fall evening.

Morning Haze

Lotus flowers open in response to the sunlight, and close in the afternoon. I photographed this pink lotus on a rainy, early morning light at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden, in Washington D.C. This one lotus bloom appeared to be peaking out from the surrounding large lotus green leaves. I have digitally enhanced this image to give it soft dreamy look.

Tulips and Buttercups

Red tulips are the one of the most poplular color flowers. Red tulips symbolize love. These red tulips were blooming among this field of buttercups at Historic Westover in Charles City, Virginia

Red Mexican Sunflower

Mexican Sunflowers are annuals that display fiery red, orange or yellow petals, all with a yellow center. Their botanical name is Tithonia rotundifolia; and they are drought tolerant, growing to a height of 3 to 8 feet. Mexican Sunflowers bloom from summer to fall. After several summer visits to Historic Tuckahoe, I finally found and photographed a Mexican Sunflower displaying its lovely curves

Tahitian Dreams

The double bloom Tahiti Daffodil will brighten up your garden with its soft yellow petals and bright orange center.

Blooming Daffodil

Daffodils are perennials that bloom year after year. Daffodils are deer resistant, and are cheerful flowers. I found this double bloom daffodil the had not fully opened at Maymont Park, and I used my Lensbaby Velvet 56 to achieve this soft look. I've added a texture to this image.