Love It, Now to Learn How to Use It....

My sweet husband got me a new lens for my camera for my birthday. Since we opened up this nursery I have been having a blast shooting pictures of the butterflies, bees, dragonflies etc... along with plants, blooms, stalks and leaves. There are several photos that I was always unable to get due to my lack of skills for the most part and due to the lens I have. Well, for my birthday last week I opened up one of the best presents I think I have ever gotten- a new lens. I am having so much fun with it!!!! I will post a few shots but there is a lot I have to learn. Off to shoot!!!

The bee with the Mystic Spires Salvia and the Dragonfly perched on top of a blade of the Dianella.

Dragonflies or Avatar???

Yesterday as I walked around the nursery watching the dragonflies chasing each other it reminded me of the end of the movie Avatar- it was mesmerizing. They were swooping down, soaring high and fast, siting as if to stall mid-air. Attacking one another, hiding for the right moment to go after each other all the time making this buzzing noise and there I was right in the middle of it all. It was straight out of a scene from the movie I tell you. I found myself just staring. I went and grabbed a camera but they are so fast and to really catch it all you really need a video camera, I got a few shots but did not capture the true essence of what was happening around me. The butterflies were back yesterday as well- the Swallowtail was buzzing around the citrus trees and I got some great photos- or so I thought.... I had taken the disc out to check out my photos of the dragonflies and well, forgot to put it in. So frustrating- I had taken so many great shots and gotten a really good close up of a bright yellow grasshopper. The weather has been so pretty here in Austin the last two days that it is hard to find anything to do inside that just can't wait. (like writing this- hence blogging this morning instead). I spent the day out in the yard, planting my garden, figuring out what else to plant and weeding. It is so relaxing to just be outside. I am posting a few of the pictures of the dragonflies wars though I don't think they do it justice.

Fall Has Arrived!!

Well it is here, fall has come. I can't believe it. We just got electricity and air conditioning in the office and now we need a heater. Isn't that just how it goes??? Kinda like this morning when I am racing out the door, put down my coffee for a SPLIT second and turn around to find my dog is slurping it up. Nice. Hope she enjoyed it. I finally got to the nursery and everything just looks happy. The weather is cooler and the plants are definitely applauding. The succulents are starting to turn colors already. The bees don't seem to notice much, they are buzzing around as always and the dragonflies continue to chase each other. I have been on the lookout for the butterflies but they seem to have shrunk in numbers the last two days. It is just gorgeous out. The windows are open and the citrus are turning- little yellow lemons everywhere and a whole new round of blooms which is making the air around the office intoxicating. I went and did my morning check up and two of the sweet olives are in bloom. How such a little flower can put off such an incredible smell I don't know but I love it and don't want it to stop!!