by hankinslawrenceimages | Aug 30, 2009 | Flowers, Wildflowers
One of the delicate wildflowers I photographed on our recent trip to Maine was Nightshade (solanum dulcamara). I found the nightshade growing on the rocky shore across from Acadia National Park’s Seawall Campground on route 102A near Bass Harbor.
It was a very harsh, rocky environment. And there was a plant with delicate purple and yellow flowers. Here are a few of my photos of the nightshade flowers.
Nightshade (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
by hankinslawrenceimages | Aug 26, 2009 | Photo Locations
On the last couple of weekends, Bill and I have spent some time photographing the waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. We stopped in the area as we heading to and returning from photographing in Maine’s Acadia National Park.
Located less than five hours from the Washington DC area, the Delaware Water Gap has some wonderful photographic opportunities – the river, several waterfalls, wildflowers, and streams.
On Sunday morning, I photographed Fulmer Falls in the George W. Childs Recreation site. It was a very overcast morning, we were lucky to get some shooting in before the rain started to fall.It had rained the previous day, so there was plenty of water coming over the falls when we were there.
Fulmer Falls is a wonderful waterfall to photograph. Not only can you photograph the entire falls, but it is also very easy to photograph some of the details of the falls.
Here’s a wide angle view of the falls
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The left side of the falls
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Detail of the water cascading down the left side of the falls
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Detail of the top of the falls
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The right hand side of the falls
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Factory Falls and Deer Leap Falls are also located in the George W Childs Recreation site. I’ll be posting photos of them soon.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Aug 24, 2009 | Flowers, Wildflowers
In the spring, wild violets seem to be everywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are several varieties of violets that grow in the Smokies. I’ve managed to photograph a few of them.
First, some sweet white violets (viola blanda) growing along Porter’s Creek Trail.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Some Northern White Violets (Viola macloskeyi ssp pallens) growing along the Middle Prong Trail
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Some Wooly Blue Violets (Viola sororia) also found along the Middle Prong Trail.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
Some Marsh Blue Violets (Viola cucullata) growing along Porter’s Creek Trail
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
And finally some yellow violets (not sure which variety) growing among the Trillium, phlox and other wildflowers along the Cove Hardwood Trail.
Trillium and Blue Phlox (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
I’m hoping to photograph a few more varieties of violets next spring.
by hankinslawrenceimages | Aug 10, 2009 | Flowers, Hydrangeaceae Family
On a recent trip to Longwood Gardens, I photograph some wonderful colors of big leaf hydrangeas. These were different varieties than I’d photographed earlier this year.
The first ones I photographed were Harlequin Big Leaf Hydrangeas. The white borders on the flowers were very dramatic and a great contrast to the bright colors.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The second variety of bigleaf hydranges are Mathilda Gutges – lots of soft colors. The way they were planted at Longwood created wonderful patterns and waves of flowers and color.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
by hankinslawrenceimages | Aug 8, 2009 | Flowers, Liliaceae Family, Wildflowers
One of my favorite spring wildflowers is the Yellow Trillium – Trillium Luteum. I first saw some yellow trillium last year when I was in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage. Last spring, I posted two of my yellow trillium photos from that trip.
This spring, I was looking to photograph yellow trillium a little differently. I ended up with several photos that I’m pretty happy with.
Without a doubt, my favorite wildflower photograph from this spring is a group of yellow trillium and purple phacelia that I spotted along the side of River Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I spotted the trillium and phacelia early in the week – and then kept going back until I managed to get the photo that I wanted. I’m sure I entertained many other park visitors as I kept moving my tripod and camera along the roadside. This photo is what spring wildflowers in the Smokies are all about for me.
Yellow Trillium and Purple Phacelia (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
At the beginning of our spring trip to Tennessee, our friend Dan (who is an absolutely incredible photographer) took Bill and I to the Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness in Dayton. It was absolutely spectacular way to start the trip. Two of my photos from Laurel Snow are of the yellow trillium.
First a group of yellow trillium backlit by the sun. I loved the way the light lit up the trillium petals.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The second photo from Laurel Snow is a yellow trillium in front of a pair of ferns. It was one of those scenes where the plants are growing in wonderful combinations and compositions.
Yellow Trillium with Ferns (c) 2009 Patty Hankins
My last yellow trillium photo from this spring was photographed along the Old Settlers Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This was the first time I’d seen a yellow trillium with its petals folded over rather than erect. I like the shape created by the petals and leaves on this particular trillium.
(c) 2009 Patty Hankins
The yellow trillum bloom for a few weeks in the spring the Smokies – I’m already looking forward to heading back and photographing more of them next year. 🙂
