Crabtree Nature Center (Sun, 4/18/10)

Ok, I just couldn't get enough. This place isn't really known for its flowers so much as the abundance of birds that flock here each spring. However, that being said, in the spring there are a number of different native wildflowers that pop up all over the place here, starting with the ones I shot on Sunday...

This is a Virginia Bluebell (and my favorite shot of the day!)

The Virginia Bluebells start out small and rumpled up and pink, then as they mature turn into this really pretty pale blue-purple.

There are fields of them all over the place here.

This is a White Trout Lilly and it stands about 6 inches high so it was a little tricky and dirty getting these shots, but it was worth it.

This is a humble little wild violet, there are all over too, though most of them are a solid purple, I prefer the less common varigated ones.

Chicago Botanic Gardens (Sat, 4/17/10)

Armed with the new D90 and the 60mm lens, we ventured off to the Chicago Botanic Gardens for some more test driving!!! What spring would be complete without a visit there anyway. The weather was again perfect and the flowers were plentiful and vibrant. Here is what I shot...

No idea what these are?!?

This is a close up of the cool sundial they have in the English garden.

Japanese Garden...obviously

Lupine

Really close Lupine

White star magnolia

Ranuncula, one of my favorites!

Another part of the Japanese Garden

Green Crown Imperial Lilly

Dew covered Bleeding Hearts, they looked so perfect!

Aurora Crown Imperial Lilly

Morton Arboretum - Lisle, IL (Sat, 4/10/10)

Ok, as you may know I just procured a 60mm macro lens, because as you can see from the many posts on this blog, I have a thing for close ups and flowers...it just seemed like the next natural step to take in my photography journey. Anyway, I also ordered a new camera body, but is hadn't yet arrived but I still wanted to take out the new lens, so I decided to take a trip to the Morton Arboretum. It was a little chilly, but nonetheless a beautiful day. Unlike the botanic gardens, there weren't as many flowers out and about as I had anticipated, but I think I still got some good shots...

White star magnolia

Redbud tree buds

Plum blossoms (they smelled heavenly!)

Pink magnolia

Some pretty little flowers growing in the grass...I literally threw out my back crouching down to shoot these...it was worth it!

One of the flowering trees...I think it was a cherry?

"Highway daisy" is what I called them when I was younger only because they were all over the sides of the highways in CA. They are actually called Osteospermum.

Grape Hyacinth

Daffodils

Apple blossom?