Thursday, March 29, 2012

324,000 Bulbs!



Yup, it is that time of year again at Red Butte Garden.
Daffodils galore!
A few years back I made a point of photographing each and every daffodil at the garden (wink)...
This year I didn't try to keep track.

This year I took my tripod and three lens, include the sort of challenging 50 mm lens.
That's the one that only zooms as much as you move yourself closer to whatever it is you are trying to photograph.

This year I had my telephoto lens too.
It made quite a difference when taking more distant views.

OK...all together now...lonely cloud...wandering...host of golden daffodils.
Yes, thanks to my Mom, that poem played in my mind as I viewed the blooming masses.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There are still flower beds in the garden where the daffodils have yet to open.
Right now I would venture to say there were around 10 varieties in bloom.
The long "nosed" daffodils are so interesting.
I am at a loss to declare which variety of daffodils I like best. 

Red Butte is surrounded by snow capped mountains.
The garden is spectacular nearly year around due to thoughtful textural planting that manages to look great even in winter snow.
 
 

Overnight rain had left jewel like droplets on the daffodils; the rain was not heavy so none of the flowers were pounded down.

I did make a point of getting to the garden early to catch the morning sunshine doing a back light on the blossoms.
I arrived at ten; the garden opens at 9, and I noted a Japanese gentleman leaving the garden with his substantial looking camera as I was arriving.
Yeah, the light was probably amazing at nine...
 

A little self portrait there in the glass work...

So there I was, loving the daffodils.
Then I was loving the tulip tree...especially with the fuzzy buds just beginning to crack open in the sunshine.
(Considering this shot for enlarging for above my fireplace mantle....)

I've mastered getting a nice out of focus background.
Somewhere along the line I have lost my ability to shoot with everything in focus though.
Need to study up on my camera settings again.
 

The crocus was sporatically in bloom around the garden.
I do wish they would last longer than the usual two weeks per plant.

My finger to demonstrate how tiny this daffodil really is.

Love striped leaves on crocus and how the flower glows when back lit.
 
 

The blue to violet to purple: thrills me every year.
Glad I can still plop myself prone on the ground to enjoy seeing it.

The flower beds will be filled with summer color in a few months.
 

The Lenten Roses were blooming, appropriately matching the Liturgical calendar.
I never cared much for the flower until I encounted them at Red Butte and learned to tip up the nodding flower to see the complex design inside the freckled petals.
 

Apparently I am not the only admirer of Lenten Rose's centers....

Oh how I tried to get a focused shot of that red and yellow stripped bumble bee!

Doesn't this look like a painting?
Weird huh?
It would make a smashing watercolor...maybe someday I will give it a shot.
 
 

Shoot...didn't get my finger in this picture.
The "mini" dutch iris is about four inches tall!
My thumb could cover the whole face of the flower.

They are just so darn cute...and come in so many colors.
I think I like the purple-deep blue variety the best.
 

One thing that I especially like about Red Butte gardens is the native trees that are allowed to just grow, and there are dirt paths that wind through them.
I can have a formal garden visit and an out-in-the-forest visit all in the same day
 
 

The mini dutch iris in white.
 

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard... 

And a nice couple that were visiting from Canada.

(The Canada goose were swinging by in pairs overhead and it was pretty easy to get a photo of them because they honked non-stop as they flew.  I just had to listen...figure out where they were headed...aim...and shoot!)

These two put up a big noisy fuss when I walked down the path towards the pond.
They flew off...and flew around and around in circles over my head and then finally landed on the amplitheater stage.
They kept looking around, then put their heads together, then looked around some more like if they were trying to decide when it would be safe to go back to the pond.
 
I've heard of Cabbage Roses.
This is Ornamental Cabbage that looks like a rose...
Pretty...I think I need to plant ornamental cabbage in my shade garden at home.

Well, thanks for tagging along on this years Red Butte Garden Daffodil Days.

I did make a slide show with additional pictures if you want to see more or just want to see the pictures full sized.
Just go ahead and click HERE

9 comments:

ellen b. said...

Oh my did you ever find a lot of wonderful color! Daffodils always make me smile. I love all the varieties...

Lovella ♥ said...

Fantastic shots Jill.
It would be interesting to know which lenses you used...in particular the challenging 55mm.
I loved the blooms. I think the magnolia you want to enlarge must be the same as the one in our back yard and the white ones are in our front just beginning to open. We've had nothing but rain which is so sad as it will turn the blossoms splotchy brown.

I can't imagine how beautiful it must be to take in.

Vee said...

I'll be wandering over to the slide show presently. Thank you for taking us along. Your photography is amazing as always. You introduced me to many new types of flowers...have never seen miniature irises before nor miniature daffodils. A delight!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Marvelous, Jill. Wish I had been there with you to enjoy all that amazing color and beauty. I think the blue to violet to purple is one of my favorites too. I like the fuzzy background, clear sharp foreground photos.

La Tea Dah said...

Absolutely stunning! Thank you SO much for sharing the pictures --- everything is beautiful! I can't believe that the Siberian iris are blooming already. It will be another month before mine bud out. Your post has given me an idea for an adventure tomorrow! So double thanks!!!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I could have been with you. Love, mom S.

Judy said...

I needed to come here for my 'spring fix' today! Beautiful.

My daff's are just beginning to think about blooming...the early rhodo's are opening...and the magnolia would be gorgeous if it quit raining for long enough to enjoy the blooms.

Becky said...

thanks for letting me experience the colours of Spring - sigh - still grey here with colour every now and then. Beautiful Pictures!!

Lovella ♥ said...

Happy Fully Baked Day! I came to see what the maternity ticker would say about Luke today.