I’ve been busy documenting flowers for weeks and so far, Brittle Spineflower is by far the coolest!
I first noticed dozens of them backlit.
So I moved in closer
And closer….
And when I got really close, I saw microscopic flowers in the tubes. How cool is that?!
Why is this bee completely covered in pollen while others carry theirs in neat little bundles on their legs? That’s what I was wondering as I was taking this guy’s photo. So, I googled and found the following answer:
“Honeybees are covered with tiny hairs all over their body, even their eyes. Pollen sticks to these hairs as the bee crawls around on a bloom . The pollen particles are moistened with nectar and are then brushed down to baskets on the hind legs. The bee will collect its weight in pollen”.
Bee gathering pollen of Brittlebush bloom
Pretty cool, huh? I love learning something new. Now I want to get a photo of a bee grooming! For other interesting bee facts, check out Buzzzonin.com
I documented a new wildflower yesterday! To me, it looked like a tiny Gilia.
Thanks to botanist extraordinaire, Steve Jones, my guess was validated 🙂
Star Gilia (Gilia stellata)
Super Macro showing incredible detail of this miniature flower
Another grab shot from my yard. This time an extreme close-up of a Desert Lavender bloom. I planted this native shrub as another photo op. Not because of the blooms but because the blooms attract butterflies. I’m eager to see the first ones but it’s still too cold for them.
Actual size is less than 1/4 inch
After Combseed, one of the next wildflowers to start showing up is Fillaree (Erodium cicutarium) and they are now out in full force almost everywhere.
Fillaree
I always carry a Canon 500D Close Up Lens for the times when a lens won’t focus close enough. No reduction in exposure time makes it a better choice for a “hand holder” like me. Extension tubes or teleconverters might get me closer but besides losing an f/stop or two in light, you risk getting dust on the sensor because you have to remove the lens to attach them.
Cropped section of image shot using 500D close-up lens.
Finally, here’s an image showing red Fillaree leaves. Someone had asked me if it was a different plant but the red is a result of stress during very cold weather. Once again, I attached the 500D Close Up Lens to get this close.
(Note: the extreme close-ups were cropped from originals)
We had another gentle soaking rainstorm so things are getting greener and greener! Moss is especially interesting to check out when it’s actively growing and I spotted some beautiful specimens on a hike today. I tried my best to get an even closer look but it was on a steep crevice with crumbing rock so I didn’t risk it. However, I sure wish I had! When I zoomed in on the closest version, I saw a little green and almost transparent caterpillar!
Close
Closer
Little Glow Worm?
(REI presentation went very well, in case you wondered 🙂 )
More of my plants are showing signs of impending bloom. I and hummingbirds are eagerly waiting!
Aloe captured in my yard this morning.
Aloe Bud See? I can shoot other things besides faces 🙂
Tech stuff: Canon 180 Macro lens. ISO 400, 1/125 sec, f/5.6. (I used my dreaded tripod)
A little under the weather yesterday and today so I didn’t wander far for today’s photo.
This is a macro shot of the ribs on Golden Barrel spines. Most cactus spines have them.
Here’s a wide shot.
The next photo walk is Sunday March 8th. We will discuss tips for capturing wildflowers.
Click here for details.
I shot the above photos in my yard this morning. Our neighborhood borders the Preserve so you should be finding these on the trails now! The close-ups show two tips. 1. Fill your frame. 2. Use a large aperture. Below is an excellent video regarding photographing flowers! Her presentation is useful for both compact and SLR camera users.
Walking around the house quickly to find something to post today, I notice a small white spot on a little Mesquite I just planted. The super macro setting on my Canon S5 revealed an alien creature 🙂
