A Rose, a Bee, and Reverie.

 

 

 

Honey Bee Musing

 

Often when I'm photographing flowers, I will come across beetles, bees or bugs of some kind or another.  That's fine.  I like all creatures great and small (I'm not overly fond of flies, mosquitoes or toads, if truth be told, though all have their part to play). 

 

Today, I was caught up in a photographic reverie, taking pics of my neighbours' stunning rose garden, when a particularly inquisitive honey bee performed a couple of comical fly-by inspections of the camera lens.   "Welcome, sweet, amusing creature!" I thought, charmed.

 

Then, he flew over the top of the camera, across my face and past my right ear to land on my right shoulder (bare, apart from the strap of my dress).  I like bees.  However, having been stung before, I must admit, this little fellow now had me a tad worried. 

 

I decided to play it cool... and let the bee sit on my shoulder for however long it wanted.  No argument from me.  The bee sat cleaning his antennae.  On my shoulder.  For ages (well... it was probably only about 10 seconds, but it seemed like ages).  Then, to my relief and subsequent delight, the bee flew off my shoulder and onto the rose I'd been photographing.  He leisurely explored the flower, cleaned his antennae again, then he flew away.  Sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All original text and photography copyright 2012, HL Millen

Flowers, always and always...

“I must have flowers, always, and always.” Claude Monet

Ever since I can remember, I have been enamoured with flowers.   My memories of childhood are infused with the scents, colours and textures of the gardens and bushland in which I spent the majority of my time playing.  I have always loved the outdoors - and felt most at home - being in the world of trees, flowers, grasses, rocks, streams, plants and animals.

Every chance I get, I immerse myself once again in the scents, colours and textures of my garden - and it is through my photography, sketching and painting, that I am able to express the essence of my experiences.

Like Monet, I must have flowers, always, and always.  I am addicted to colour.  I love beautiful floral scents.  I love the structures and textures of flowers - their petals and leaves.  In each flower is a fascinating world awaiting to be experienced and understood.

Truly Seeing

A poem about truly seeing.
 

Standing quietly by the wall
You smile your wondrous smile
I am caught in surprise... without able to say a word
I just hear you sing
And your song continues
It neither has a beginning nor an end
I bow deeply to you

Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Here is an an alternative translation, found on the internet -

I Bow Deeply
 

Standing quietly by the fence,
you smile your wondrous smile,
I am speechless,
and my senses are filled
By the sounds of your beautiful song,
Beginningless and endless.
I bow deeply to you.
 

Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh


 

Focus on Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

The blog background image is a colour enhanced photograph I took a couple of days ago, of the sweet Kalanchoe blossfeldiana flowers blooming in my garden.  Kalanchoe is a gorgeous succulent with small flowers and glossy, dark green foliage.  The flowers range in colour from shades of pink through to white, red, salmon and orange.  

The original photograph (I love these soft colours) ~

Colour Play ~ A Bouquet for Every Mood

My love of colour and sense of play led me to experiment with my photography program in order to create various colourful versions of the original...

Sweet Bouquet in Blue Notecards for purchase

Sweet Bouquet Notecards for purchase

 

 

Sweet Bouquet in Pink Notecards for purchase

These images and a small selection of my floral and nature photography can be found here at Pixdaus.

Thanks for visiting!