Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #101 – One Single Flower

Cee’s Len’s-Artists Photo Challenge this week features single flowers. I realized I’m spoiled for choice, but that’s not a bad problem to have.

My first photo, an iris, was taken with an iPhone and has been one of my most popular photos. Of course, the light is what makes it and I never again could get that same light. Then the older man who grew these beauties on his tree lawn died and the family dug them up.

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind.”
― Luther Burbank

Now that we live in the desert, I think it only fitting that I should include a shot of a cactus flower. Although you might not think it, the cacti have some of the most beautiful blooms you’ll ever see. Just be careful when getting a closeup!

“I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.”
― Edna St. Vincent Millay

Leave it to beaver

As my time in McDowell Forest Preserve begins to come to a close, I look back and realize I’ve seen many wonderful things. But until recently, I hadn’t seen a beaver. I’d seen their work: the gnawed on or gnawed down trees. I’d see the attempts to prevent that work: fencing around the bottoms of young trees. I’d seen what I thought were their dens, but I’d never seen an occupant.

Sunset

I tend to be up before the sun, literally, but sometimes I’m around when the sun sets. On Christmas Day, I needed a bit of time away and walked around the little lake near our house. This was the view that greeted me, perhaps photos I should have used for my December 31st post.

What light through yonder trees breaks?

for Six Word Saturday

We don’t forget.

Since I inadvertently posted my Friday flowers post on Friday New Zealand time, I’ll take this opportunity to share a wonderful Veteran’s Day display, the Healing Field of Honor, in Naperville. I was fortunate because, due to the weather, the flags weren’t taken down the day after Veteran’s Day and now I can share it with you as well.

McDowell Oct. 2019 #17

McDowell Oct. 2019 #16

Nuts!

McDowell Oct. 2019 #15

McDowell Oct. 2019 #14

Look for the beauty in small things.

McDowell Oct. 2019 #13

This handsome guy flew by me as I walked, landing in this tree, where I was fortunate enough to have him sit for a time as I slowly moved around trying to get a good shot. He was hoping for some fast food, but when nothing came along, he took off in search for a meal elsewhere.

If you like hawks, go see what my friend Madison at Wild Ozark is creating with paints she makes herself from rocks in the Ozarks. Her hawks are fiercely beautiful.