nature photography

Macro Monday: Pine tree sap

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Today I’m taking part in the Macro Monday photo challenge. You can click on each photo for a larger view. If you like what you see, I encourage you to subscribe so you can enjoy the new photos I post a few times a week.

Well, after a long summer break to enjoy my kids’ company, I am back! I’ve managed to take a few photos over the past couple of months, but my SD cards are so full of photos I’ve taken for the past year or so, I’m not sure where to start. One huge goal I have for September is to completely revamp my Zazzle nature photography store and create new photo products for sale, so that should be me busy for a while…

For today’s Macro Monday, I thought I’d share a couple of photos of solidified pine tree sap I spotted during our summer vacation in the mountains of Southern California. I love the way these drops of tree sap show reflections of their surroundings, a bit like a glass marble would.

Macro Monday: reflections in a drop of pine tree sap

This pine tree sap seems to attract insects, which then get stuck on it while it dries up. Eventually they become permanent fixtures of this art created by Mother Nature.

Now that my kids are back in school, I’ll try my best to post new photos several times a week, as well as visit other photo blogs to take a look at the beautiful shots you’ve been taking. Happy Monday!

Macro Monday: bee on a Matilija poppy

The large white poppy with a yellow center featured below is called a Matilija poppy, more technically Romneya coulteri. This giant white poppy is a native flower of California. I saw these two poppies at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and not in the middle of nature, where it’s probably too dry for these flowers to easily bloom with our ongoing drought. The bees seemed to really like them and they let me take their pictures without a fuss. Enjoy these few macros of bees on white poppies!

Bee flying in front of a white poppy (Matilija poppy)

Check out the huge bags full of pollen on this bee’s legs. That’s quite a busy bee!

Bee on a Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri)

I wonder what honey made with these Matilija poppies would taste like, but these flowers really attracted the bees.

Close-up of a bee collecting nectar on a giant white poppy with yellow center

June 1, 2014February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: Animal Photos, Bloom Photos, Flower PhotosTags: bee collecting nectar on a white poppy, bees with bags of pollen on their legs, close-up of bees, giant white poppies California, giant white poppy California, large white poppy with yellow center, Macro Monday, macros of bees, Matilija poppies, Matilija poppy, nature photography, photos of bees, photos of blooms, photos of flowers, Romneya coulteri poppy 4 Comments

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Water

Today I’m participating in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and her theme is “water”. I encourage you to click on each photo to see a larger view.

If you like what you see, please subscribe to this blog to receive updates of the new photos I post, usually 3 to 5 times a week.

We see water in many forms and amounts every day. Without water there would be no life on earth, so let’s make sure we take care of it. Water can appear in front of us powerful and in motion, as in these waves of the Pacific Ocean on a cloudy and breezy day.

Waves of the Pacific Ocean on a cloudy day

Water can also be very still and peaceful, as in this small pond that was behind the house we stayed at in Virginia.

Birds drink water, and they also use it to take baths. This iridescent grackle bird was very busy getting clean in the gardens of the Smithsonian castle.

Iridescent male common grackle taking a water bath

Water is a habitat for many animals, including this frog popping its head out of the water to keep an eye on me.

Frog's head out of the pond water — Frog’s head out of the pond water

You’ll have no idea how many turtles can hide underwater until they come out to bask in the sun. Can you guess how many turtles are sitting on these rocks?

Turtles basking in the sun on rocks in the pond

May 28, 2014February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: Animal Photos, Bird photos, Ocean photos, Water photosTags: bird taking a bath, bird with bright blue head and yellow eyes, Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Water, frog in water, Iridescent male common grackle bird, nature photography, photos of water, small pond, turtles basking in the sun, turtles in water, water photos, waves of the Pacific Ocean 13 Comments

Travel theme: Blossom

Today I’m participating in Where’s My Backpack’s Travel Theme photo challenge. This week’s theme is “blossom”. Remember you can click on each photo for a larger view. If you like what you see, feel free to subscribe and receive nature photography updates a few times a week.

I was lucky to visit Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia when every tree was in bloom this past April. Let me share just a few of the many beautiful tree blossoms the area has to offer in the spring.

Washington D.C. is known for its cherry blossoms, but once you see these pink magnolias in bloom, also known as tulip trees, you may just fall in love with them as I did. There were many, many of them in the gardens of the Smithsonian red castle.

Tulip trees - pink magnolia trees in bloom at the Smithsonian red castleTulip trees - pink magnolia trees in bloom at the Smithsonian red castle — Tulip trees – pink magnolia trees in bloom at the Smithsonian red castle

Tulip tree blossoms - pink magnolia blooms — Tulip tree blossoms – pink magnolia blooms

You’ll find many cherry blossoms (some of them white, the others pink) all around Washington D.C. but the highest concentration is around the Tidal Basin. They sure are pretty to look at and walk by, and when their petals fall, they look like snow, except it’s not freezing cold.

While visiting Thomas Jefferson’s estate at Monticello, I stumbled upon these lovely pink tree blossoms. I believe they belong to the dwarf almond tree.

There are many Eastern red bud trees in that area of the country and they sure welcome spring with their bright pink colors.

Dogwood trees were in bloom too, in various colors. This dogwood tree had yellow blooms.

When an Eastern red bud and a dogwood tree hang out together during blooming season, this is how beautiful they look next to each other.

Easter red bud tree and white dogwood tree blossoms

Finally I discovered the weeping cherry blossom tree during my trip. It’s a cross between a weeping willow and a cherry blossom tree. Getting lost underneath one of these trees wouldn’t be so bad.

Do you have favorite tree blossoms?

May 20, 2014February 6, 2020 by Milka Pejovic Categories: Bloom Photos, Flower Photos, Plant Photos, Tree Photos, Washington DCTags: Eastern red bud tree blooms, Eastern red bud tree blossoms, nature photography, photos of blooms, photos of flowers, photos of trees, pink cherry blossoms, pink magnolia blooms, pink magnolia blossoms, swarf almond tree pink blossoms, tulip tree blooms, tulip tree blossoms, weeping cherry blossom tree, weeping cherry tree blossoms, white cherry blossoms, yellow dogwood tree blossoms 14 Comments

Macro Monday: dandelion in bloom and in seed

I love dandelions. Their little splashes of yellow across the grass are like nature saying hello at my every footstep. Once they turn into seed, they give me the opportunity to make a wish while helping nature make more splashes of yellow. The San Diego dirt is so dry, dandelions are a rare occurrence here but I got the opportunity to see many of them during our vacation on the East Coast.

Here are a few close-ups of yellow dandelions. I’ve never noticed the many curled-up pistils all over the dandelion blooms. Click on each picture to see them in more detail. They’re pretty cool looking.