Sunday, May 03, 2009

Visual Highlights from the Weekend

Saturday
The Professor and I went as planned to Ventura on Saturday afternoon. I had fun practicing macro shots with my camera!


Lantana is a plant with rather small clumps of blossoms.

Small gratings on historic homes can look like large windows when I zoom in on them.


Ventura Pier

Window in an art deco parking garage

Flowers in plantings across the street from Mission San Buenaventura.

Sunday

So many fantastic photos from a Garden Tour The Professor and I did today, and I managed somehow to unknowingly make the ONE change that put the date indelibly on EVERY photo. Sigh.

Could these steps take you to a Secret Garden?

Swimming pools are ubiquitous in Southern California gardens.

As are iron railings.

The Professor commented that he liked these little purple flowers and asked me what they are. I didn't know so I strolled over to ask one of the docents strategically placed in the gazebo to answer questions. She sighed and said she didn't know either. She had asked another docent who had asked the garden's owner who had asked the garden's designer. No one knows the name of these little purple flowers. Here they are planted companionably with some Dusty Miller. Does anyone out in Blog Garden Land know?



They are sweet, aren't they?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

These are just awesome Willow. I learned from Jientje Heaven is in Belgium what a macro was just a couple of weeks ago. These are great :)

ellen b. said...

What fun Willow! What garden tour did you go on? I sure wish I knew the name of those flowers but you'll have to wait for a gardener to comment :0)

SteppeSister said...

Such awesome shots! Love them all. The picture of the pool reminded me of my Aunt and Uncle's pool I used to swim in when I was a little girl. It, too, had small blue tiles and was set into an immaculate garden, down a path, and against some huge boulders of granite. Oh, how I miss the climate of making swimming a (almost)year round activity and growing flowers seem like a cake walk- compared to here :)

TBM said...

Oh what a beautiful weekend you had! Every single shot is gorgeous :-)

Jientje said...

I love doing macro shots too. You're doing great, and it looks like you had a wonderful time!

Dorothy said...

You've got some lovely photos here, Willow. I especially love those sweet little purple flowers, whatever they are.

Tracy said...

You had a great weekend too! Fantastic photos, Willow...you're really making great friends with you new camera! :o) Macro shots are fun to play with. No quite sure what those purple flowers are...they have a slight look of lavender when in bloom, but are not lavender...hhhmmm...That's going to bug me now...LOL! Let us know when you find out! Happy Day ((HUGS))

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Isn't it wonderful touring gardens? Especially when the weather is so nice. You got some great shots.

I'm afraid I don't know that little purple flower...

nikkipolani said...

Very nice work on those macros! I esp like how you made that little lanta look like a big bouquet :-) That little lavender flower is called "wallflower" or Erysimum Cheiri. I have one that's just starting to bloom.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

What beautiful photos! I particularly love the shot of the steps to the Secret Garden :)

If you find out the name of those flowers ~ do post ~ because they grow wild up here too and they are lovely!

Knitting Linguist said...

Gorgeous photos! I love that iron railing, and the garden steps just make you want to climb them, don't they?

Flower said...

We will have to share our new camera's talents when you come!!
The photos are great!! You are back in full swing!

Barbara said...

Lots to catch up on. Sorry new boy has not been well. Trust he has fully recovered now.

Love the bunnies and again that beautioful piece of knitting, as always so neat.

You are doping well with your new macro,. Had mine 2 years and hardly used it. I hate carrying my tripod around with me that's the problem or I forget it.

Very frustrating when we forget our cameras, I know. always when there are great photos to be had too.

Anonymous said...

Bowels Mauve Wallflower

Sharon Lynne said...

I liked the garden photo. Maybe it DOES go to a secret garden...or up to that sparkling swimming pool. That was a great photo, too.

Photography is such a great way to capture the small details in life that we often miss!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful coloured leaf and flowers- no wonder you snapped them. Oo I love mysterious pathways in gardens which open up into "rooms" of a different character. Your swimming pool photograph had me floored I love it! I would even have a poster of it in the bathroom so I could imagine myself floating in a sunny pool instead of the bath. Beautiful colours too!