Peony Polaroid © 2013 Bo Mackison
Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning. ~Lydia M. Child
Pink Queen Anne’s Lace ©2012 Bo Mackison
In the right light,
at the right time,
everything is extraordinary.
~ Aaron Rice
When asked the question “What kind of photographs do you take?” I usually respond with the same answer.
“Mostly macro-botanicals,” I reply.
When I get a questioning look, I explain further. “Close-ups of flowers and plants.”
And macro-botanical photographs are what I mostly exhibit at Art Festivals. As patrons enter my show booth, they tell me they feel as if they are entering a huge flower garden. There are that many large macro-photographs of flowers hanging on the walls.
I spend lots of time photographing flowers, too. Each week I spend three or four days visiting and taking photographs in the botanical and horticultural gardens near my home. When I travel, I search for the locations of the nearest gardens and I try to schedule time for a visit. Yes, I photograph macro-botanicals!
So you would think when it is time for me to choose a Photo-Heart Connection photograph at the beginning of each month, I would naturally pick a macro-botanical. Not so. Today I realized that this is the first time in 2012 that I have picked a flower photo.
So. Why did I choose this photograph of Queen Anne’s Lace? I loved the colors. It is unusual to see Queen Anne’s Lace this color — they are usually white with perhaps a touch of pink. But this small stand of QAL was bright pink. And I loved how the rising sun shone on this roadside weed and turned it into a glowing, dew-drenched beauty. And I loved that I took this photo while I was on a long weekend with my husband in one of our favorite places in Wisconsin – Door County, a peninsula that juts out into the waters of Lake Michigan.
Three good reasons. Color. Light. Memories. Perfect for August’s photo-heart connection.
Pink Lily Abstract © 2010 Bo Mackison
I keep thinking the daylilies are done for the season, and then I find another one that captures my attention. I love the pink and yellow contrast in this lily, the front edge, dropping into the throat of the lily, and the stamens just barely identifiable.
Pink Lilies © 2010 Bo Mackison
Since my garden isn’t quite at the blooming stage, I like to visit my local garden center, a locally owned piece of paradise. No matter what color I have a hankering for, I’m sure to find it there.
Pink isn’t a color I seek out with much regularity, but this huge bunch of lilies caught my attention, and kept it long enough that I had to take a few photographs. Beautiful, hmm?
Everlasting Pea © 2008 Bo Mackison
This wildflower was blooming in abundance in the meadows on Washington Island. It is referred to as the “everlasting” pea because of its long flowering season – mid June through the end of September. The plant has a fruit which looks like the cultivated garden pea pod, though it is inedible. The showy flowers attract butterflies and sphinx moths for pollination.
Meadow on Washington Island © 2008 Bo Mackison
Washington Island, only 22 square miles, is sparsely populated. The island is 6 miles off the northern tip of Door County and it is hailed as “North of the Tension Line.” In this meadow, one of many wide open spaces on the island, the pea was prevalent; elsewhere there were stands of Queen Anne’s Lace and orange Day Lilies.
