INTO THE SUNSET

Even though I photographed a bud, below, Dear D's prize clematis is on its way out.  He takes tender care from the first miniscule shoots in late spring, assisting each new tendril to find its climbing place on the trellis.  I know I take the same photos every year, but I do so just like I take family pics, because we find joy in the growth.

These were all taken within moments, trying different settings.

Most of the blossoms look like this; spent and petal-less, but we still love the delicate remains.

On a drive the other night, I uttered the familiar cry of a novice photographer: "Stop!"

These hollyhocks were worshipping the setting sun, and they simply glowed, even from a distance, with the back light.

A couple of creatures (bee and ant) were tucking in for the night:

RED SUN AT DUSK

Last night, soon after a grandson and his sweet wife left our house after having dinner and a visit here, they called from a cell phone.  We thought maybe they had left something behind.  No; they wanted to tell us about the incredible sun and "ordered" us to go outside to see it.

So glad they did!  Moments later, a friend in the photo-know also called.

This was just at dusk, and I was not certain I could even get a photo.

We were awed by the brilliant red-orange, and decided it was probably that way because

of the atmosphere created by forest fires "just over the hill' from us.

As dusk deepened, so did the intensity of orange-red of the setting sun.

This was a sun which kept all the glory to itself instead of letting it leak out and spread across

the sky in usual sunset-reaching colors.

Would it burst from sheer concentrated, held-in color?

(I never enhance my photos or saturate the colors; this is how we saw it).

A DAY IN FRIDAY HARBOR

A  little group of girlfriends who have photography as a hobby in common took a full day for an outing to San Juan Island last week. At the end, we dubbed it "the perfect day."  I wonder, since we have vowed to take other forays, if we should have a name; something like Lenscap Ladies, or The Photo Four.

Definitely not, I think, Darkroom Divas or The Overexposures!

Examples of my photos from that special day are here in the following 11 posts,

down through "Flies and Frogs..."

Once on the island, it didn't take long for us to spot a grand old barn.  Problem: it was very far off the road.  But, when it comes to capturing a barn, I am undaunted.  I practically forced the other 3 to approach the place, threatening to walk to it if I had to.  But how we all scrambled once given permission to open the gate!  We went in 4 different directions to lay seige with our cameras.

Almost always one can find treasures of forgotten barn relics nearby:

 

We made our own paths through chest-high thistles and weeds:

PATOS LIGHT HOUSE

Coming 'round the point:

Another activity on the point, on firmer ground:

ON THE BEACH

Peeking through a burned-out stump:

Another peek; this time through driftwood decorated by Nature:

I'll take periwinkle blue anyplace I can get it!

Beach grass in the breeze:

ROCHE HARBOR

A veiw of Roche Harbor through a garden gate.  We enjoyed our lunch at an outside pier restaurant.

Now, this flag is really waving!

OUR LUCKY GARDEN

A walk around Roche Harbor took us to some lovely gardens attached to a Victorian hotel.  As D said, "Oh look! A miniature Butchart Garden. How lucky are we?!"