“Best of 2019”

Here we are again as 2019 draws to a close. As has been customary for many years now I would like to share with you some of my favorite photographs of the year.

I don’t usually have them in any particular order, but this year I arranged them by season. Beginning with a stunning but very cold sunrise from Lake Ontario during winter, and ending with some wonderful fall color in Michigan this autumn!

For many years now I’ve participated in Jim Goldstein’s annual “Best of” Project. I appreciate Jim hosting this on his blog each year, giving photographers the chance to share their “best of” or favorite images of the year.

These are just a few of my favorite images of this year, I hope you enjoy this short trip through the seasons of 2019 with me!

“Lake Ontario Morning Reflections”
A gorgeous winter sunrise along the shores of Lake Ontario!
“Foggy Spring Forest”
During a spring visit to Shenandoah National Park I enjoyed some amazing mountain views, but I especially enjoyed some lovely and mysterious fog on a walk into the forest!
“Magnificent Sunrise Silhouette 2”
Absolutely stunning sunrise and this beautiful tree in silhouette on the shores of Lake Ontario in late spring! A tree that I returned to many times as winter’s bare branches turned into full spring foliage.
“Tew Falls View Two”
This view of Tew Falls in Ontario, Canada was especially beautiful to me because of all the lush green foliage at the time.
“Fifty Point Marina Reflections”
I spent many days at Fifty Point Conservation Area near Hamilton, Ontario during late spring and early summer. The reflections on this day at Fifty Point Marina were lovely!
“Rock Garden Spring”
Another place that I spent countless hours at during spring and summer this year was The Rock Garden at The Royal Botanical Gardens. So lovely and peaceful. I explored every nook and cranny, and could do it again and again and never be tired of the beauty! Here you’ll see wonderful reflections of spring foliage and color.
“Marquette Harbor Lighthouse 2”
I love to walk on the beaches of Marquette, Michigan. The light was really beautiful on this particular morning and shed a warm glow on the sand, trees, and lighthouse!
“Canyon Falls Summer”
Photographing waterfalls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a favorite activity of mine, and this year I thoroughly enjoyed photographing Canyon Falls on a drizzly warm summer’s day!
“A Presque Isle Morning”
The rock formations combined with the changing colors of Lake Superior at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, Michigan are always amazing to me. This was an early summer morning, and the warm glow of sun hitting the rocks, the bright green evergreen trees in the distance set against the beautiful blue skies made this a keeper for me!
“Maybury Sanatorium”
I had the opportunity to enjoy peak fall foliage in Maybury State Park in an area that used to be part of the grounds of Maybury Sanatorium.

I thank you all for stopping by and checking out my favorite images of 2019! I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, healthy, prosperous, and adventurous 2020!

“Peonies at Nichols Arboretum”

I’d like to share with you one of my favorite times of year at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The time when The Peony Gardens come to life!

In early June, depending on the weather, these beautiful show stoppers begin to make their appearance. For the next couple of weeks you’ll have the opportunity to stroll through and enjoy these gorgeous peonies!

Below you’ll find a few of my images of the Peonies at Nichols Arboretum with a brief description underneath.

I have many more photos of peonies of every variety in my online galleries if you’d like to take a look!

Flowers and Wildflowers

and even more images at: Flowers

"Dusted in Yellow" Beautiful red peonies with a large golden center, fully opened to the morning sunlight!
“Dusted in Yellow”
Beautiful red peonies with a large golden center, fully opened to the morning sunlight!

"Nestled Peonies" A lovely group of pink peonies nestled within their green foliage!
“Nestled Peonies”
A lovely group of pink peonies nestled within their green foliage!

"Pink Sorbet" That's what this gorgeous puffy and full blossom reminds me of. I also love the mottled pink color, not found in other peonies that I've seen before!
“Pink Sorbet”
That’s what this gorgeous puffy and full blossom reminds me of. I also love the mottled pink color, not found in other peonies that I’ve seen before!

"Ahead of the Crowd" Lovely light pink and peonies with ruffled petals against a background of white peonies!
“Ahead of the Crowd”
Lovely light pink peonies with ruffled petals against a background of white peonies!

"Peony Garden Stroll" Some peony admirers strolling through the Peony Gardens at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor Michigan!
“Peony Garden Stroll”
Some peony admirers strolling through the Peony Gardens at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor Michigan!

I hope you enjoyed this stroll through a very special place, and time of year! A morning of Peonies at Nichols Arboretum!

“A Magical Morning”

Good Magical Morning! Well, okay, it’s not morning at the moment, but it sure was when I made these photographs! Although it is spring, I am still awaiting the arrival of real blossoms. Consequently each morning I take a walk in the park and woods looking high and low for some new spring growth or burst of floral loveliness!

This morning I noticed that the grass was starting to turn a lovely shade of green rather than the brown of winter. The grass was also covered in tiny dew drops left over from a very humid night. As the sunlight rose above the horizon I lay down on the wet grass and began making photographs of the tiny world below. All I can say is that it is purely bokeh-licious magic!

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed making them! 🙂

"Warm Sunlight"
“Warm Sunlight”

"Refreshing" mono
“Refreshing” mono

"Morning Magic in Blue"
“Morning Magic in Blue”

“Green Climb”

“Green Climb”

There’s something so beautiful to me at least, about climbing plants. I love English Ivy along brick walls. I love the ability of these hardy plants to survive and thrive among walls, buildings, trees and such!
Although in reality these plants may be parasitic or harmful to their host, they do so with such grace and dignity!
I’m not sure of this variety of ivy or plant, but I found it climbing in the cement indentations of an old building.
To me it says “charm”!
Enjoy!! 🙂