Tag Archives: garden

05-17-13 Our Neighbor’s Tulips I

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2013 05-17 Our Neighbor's Tulips I by Scott Shephard

My wife has nice flowers but does our neighbor and the other day I couldn’t help but be drawn to her collection of yellow tulips, which had just bloomed. The light was poor but I enhanced the scene with on-camera flash. I rarely use flash but I have taught my students that it’s ok to use flash as long as it doesn’t overpower the scene. In the case of this photo, I think it works.

I call this post “Our Neighbor’s Tulips I” because she also has some amazing deep purple tulips and I am waiting patiently for them to bloom. And though I’ve featured them before, those who follow this blog know that I like 2nd chances on most photos I take.

02-26-13 Japanese Garden

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2013 02-26 Japanese Garden

Here is the chain of consciousness that led me to post this photo:

  1. I’m not impressed with the options available on TV
  2. I check my DVR for possibilities
  3. I find that I have recorded 9 episodes of “Lonely Planet,” a travel show
  4. I start watching the first one, which is set in London
  5. Half-way through, the travel guide takes us to Kew Gardens
  6. I remember that I have some Kew Gardens photos
  7. I stop watching the TV show
  8. I find this photo and work on it
  9. I post it here

That sounds like a disciplined mind hard at work, doesn’t it?

Standing Out

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If you saw yesterday’s post you might recognize this flower. Is it really the exact same tulip that Katie is holding? Only the tulip knows.

But, like dandelions, this tulip is a genetic clone. It is an exact duplicate of all the other lavender tulips that came in the package of bulbs my wife planted. That’s what you get when you have self-pollination and asexual reproduction. Humans, on the other hand, are a rich and varied species. Human duplication (I’m trying not to use the word “sex” here) is a little less convenient but the results are worth it.

Which is to say that I’m glad I’m not a tulip. . .