In the bud there is a flower

Peony, this is the last of the peonies.  

Peony V

Peony IV

Just a couple more to show you over the next couple of days.  This is similar to the one from last week but you'll notice the center is different.  Again, not sure what this variety is...sorry.

Peony III with fly

This could be a Snow Lotus Xue Lian or White Screen Reflects a Blue Jewel Bai Bi Lan Duan. Who knows.  But really I was going for the fly who was taking a moment to smell the peonies.  I love bug eyes.  So complex!  Below is a blown up version of the guy above.  Notice his compound eye, how large it is.  That's because it's not one large sphere but many, many tiny lens in spherical shape. I can't quite get the definition here.  But these large eyes have a wide range (360 degrees) and can detect and react very quickly to movement.  That's why it's so hard to swat a fly!!!!

Friday at the Feeder

While not an avian critter why not take a walk down the entomology aisle?

Basking in the sun on a beautiful peony on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Peony II

 I dunno.  It could be a Luoyang Red.  For these next few shots I was using my macro lens.

Peony I

Peonies from Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, CT.  So many varieties, over 60 in their catalog!  I'll try to identify some of them over the next couple of days but I can't promise anything except some pretty photos.

 Hubei Blue Hu Lan (Antique Chinese variety)

Cricket Hill Garden

Cricket Hill Garden in Thomaston, CT are growers of rare peonies.  I visited there on Saturday and the peonies have just begun to bloom.  This weekend should be peak.  The parasols looked lovely and are functional too.  They keep the blooms from fading and when it rains it keeps the rain from weighing down the peonies.  Over the next couple of days I'll show you some of the peonies.

Friday at the Feeder

Interior of a Picture Gallery

This is a case of life imitating art!  This photo is of the Great Hall of European Art at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford.  

 "Interior of a Picture Gallery with the Collection of Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga"  

Giovanni Paolo Panini 1749

This must have been a bear to paint.

From the balcony.

Just Flowers

So I tried to do some macro photography of the flowers from the Wadsworth art & flowers show without my macro lens.  They're ok but the colors were gorgeous.

Wadsworth - 35th Annual Fine Art & Flowers

Here are some of the pieces that were created for the flower and art show at the Wadsworth.  It was hard to photograph many of them because there was glass on the art and there people observing the display - the nerve!

 Piet Mondrian "Composition in Blue and White" 1955

 Rene Magritte "The Fickelness of the Heart" 1950

 Rene Magritte "The Tempest"1931

Max Ernst "Europe after the Rain" 1940-42

 ???

????

Wadsworth!

Over the course of the next couple of days I'll show you some more from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT.  

Outdoor piece by Alexander Calder

The Wadsworth has over 50,000 pieces in their collection which is really impressive.  It's the oldest continuing museum in the US.

A Gardenia for Mother's Day

When you enter one of the side rooms at the Enid Haupt Observatory at the New York Botanical Garden there are two large potted Gardenia trees greeting you.  The scent is heavenly.  It reminds me of my mother, this was one of her favored scents.  She loved Gardenias.  For you mom on Mother's Day.  I love you.

The Sandwich - a Capitol Idea

As I was walking up the steps to the Wadsworth Athenaeum I turned around and the capitol building was shimmering against the grey sky.  I was struck by the new framing the old.  Hartford, Connecticut.

Friday at the Feeder

Last Friday I visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT to see the 35th Fine Art & Flowers Show.  Over the next few days I'll feature more photos from the show.  The Wadsworth is the oldest continually operating art museum in the United States.  The collection was quite impressive.  It was the first time that I had ever visited in the 40 years that I've lived in Connecticut.  EEEEEeeeee gads!

Jade Vine

This is one of my favorites, the Jade Vine.  This photo doesn't do the color of this magnificent plant justice.  I've painted it before and I just may have to paint it again.  LOVE IT. #NYBG

Step Right UP!

 Not sure why this reminds me of Micky Mouse but it does.  

Children learning

There was a group of school children learning about plant life at the NY Botantical Garden. They were very good and intent on drawing and recording what they saw.  Exactly what a natural science illustrator must do.

Orchidalirium

The theme of the show this year at the New York Botanical Garden was Orchidalirium.  All of the displays along the path showed different 'crazes' in orchid collecting for many years.  This was an 'outpost' of an orchid collector.  What I like are the three hanging specimens at the top of the photo.  This is what I make at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural Science as a volunteer.

The Anatomy of an Orchid

A nice little display about the anatomy of an orchid.  I'm learning that there is an anatomy to everything in nature.