Monday, January 2, 2012

My Favorite Images from 2011

While reading my favorite gardening blogs these last few days I came upon Les's Tidewater Garden post on his favorite photos of the last year. At the time I thought what a great idea that would be. Today I read Pam at Diggings post on the same subject matter as well. Pam also added a commentary on why she blogs and how magical this fellowship of gardening bloggers has become. I definitely agree with her!
So Les, you challenged us to present our favorites so here goes:
Mellow Yellow. The bright colors of Rudbeckia 'Endless Summer' with Achillea 'Terra Cotta' and the wonderful texture of Stipa tenuissima really make the summer garden 'pop'.
Another summer garden photo from the corner hell strip. Stipa, Achillea 'Coronation Gold', Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster', Penstemon 'Red Rocks' and Agastache.
North Platte River near Pathfinder Reservoir in Wyoming.
Apache Plume blooms and inflorescence in the Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens in Colorado Springs.
Penstemon 'Red Rocks' in the corner hell strip. Unfortunately all my plans of this species succumbed to the drought conditions this summer.
Lonely Susan.
Neglected grave site with old fashioned lilac. Taken during memorial day weekend in Aline, Oklahoma.
Tropical Milkweed with Queen butterfly at the San Antonio Botanical gardens.
By a large margin my favorite butterfly photo.
Late summer migration in the garden. 
Taken at the Chaplin Nature Center in Cowley County Kansas this summer.
Taken at the San Antonio Zoo my granddaughter is on the right along with her friend in 108 degree temperatures.
My beautiful granddaughter at my eldest sons wedding this summer in San Angelo Texas.
Taken during the same weekend of the wedding at the International Water Lily garden in San Angelo.
Love the blues in the front hell strip near the street. 
Hopefull I didn't bore you or slow your computer down with the download.
Have a great 2012 with all your gardening and blogging adventures!
Greggo.

43 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos Greggo. Your granddaughter is a doll also. The butterfly photos are stunning, you really caught some wonderful shots and that first shot is lovely combo of yellows.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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  2. I think I am drawn to Lonely Susan. Thanks for playing!

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  3. Beautiful, all of them. The cutie at the end in the white dress is a really a little doll.

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  4. Lonely Susan is so evocative - I think it's my favorite. But the others are lovely also, and so is that sweet granddaughter. Tough too - playing outside in 108 degrees!

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  5. I thought i liked the yellow flowers with the stipa best...then i saw the macros of thr butterflies...they're my favourites... And then i saw the portraits of the childre....some very special photographs, Greggo.

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  6. I just did the same thing -- a photo review post. It was fun to look back, wasn't it? I just read Hayfield's post on organizing photos with tags and that sure would have made the review process a lot easier!! I am learning this blogging photo thing one slow step at a time! But I digress -- your #1 photo is #1!!! Well, they're all great. I had to laugh at the girls playing in the 108 temps. Ah, youth. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it :-) Happy 2012!

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  7. These are all so beautiful in their own right...but the one that just makes me stop is the cacti in the rock near the river. There is just something so cool about cacti near that much water! I have a shot of a cactus with the Pacific ocean as a backdrop and that photo will always remain one of my favorites. Great captures as always, Greggo!

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  8. Each picture has a story to tell and you tell it so well Greggo. All the best in 2012!

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  9. Beautiful pictures. Look forward to more in 2012.

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  10. You really do take beautiful photos. I couldn't name a favorite. They all evoke a different emotion. Lovely.

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  11. I don't think I can pick a favorite. Maybe the yarrow. They're all great.
    Keep up the good work, in the new year!

    Congrats on the Cowboy win, last night. It was a nail biter.

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  12. I was so not bored that I gave you 5 picks!

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  13. Wow, such gorgeous pictures. Your granddaughter is a beautiful young girl. I love the yellow achillea's and the Butterflies are so great.What a beautiful year in pictures.

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  14. Beautiful photos, you've inspired me to do the same with my newbie blog.

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  15. Hi Greggo - the photos are all fabulous but my favourite is of your beautiful little granddaughter at the wedding! What a gorgeous little girl and photograph! Mellow Yellow comes in at second favourite :)

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  16. Greggo,
    You are blessed with a great gift....photography. You use this gift well.
    These are outstanding.
    I love the first two the most.
    You should frame them and put them on your wall.
    David/:-)

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  17. Absolutely stunning photos, all of them! Your granddaughter is precious. Isn't it amazing how resilient children are...still running around in 108 degree heat! I would melt! Hope your garden and travels bring you many more amazing photo ops!

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  18. Some lovely pics indeed. I love the contrast of the grasses and the yellow flowers in a number of the photos. Nice to have stumbled upon your blog on blotanical.

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  19. I really like these photographs! Beautiful children and gorgeous flowers!

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  20. Brilliant look back at the year in photos, Greggo....
    My resolution: to stop by more often in 2012;-)
    Cheers!


    aka Bay Area Tendrils

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  21. Terrific shots! I especially love the photo of your granddaughter at the wedding. Priceless! I wish you the best for 2012. Happy gardening!

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  22. Beautiful images. I particularly love your use of yellow flowers - something many gardeners are afraid of and shouldn't be!

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  23. You are a blessed man indeed. Great photos. The yarrow is my favorite!

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  24. I love to see the photos on Les's blog and I visit yours for the same reason. Great collection.

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  25. Dear Greggo, The most beautiful flower of all is your lovely granddaughter! Stunning photographs. Happy 2012! P.

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  26. Stunning photos! It is so nice to travel back in time and see how the garden or your visits to gardens appeared in 2011. Happy new year!

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  27. Amazing insect shots! Incredible damselfly colour..

    I thought I was seeing agalinis when I saw your penstemmon shot. Doesn't matter, I like them both...

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  28. Absolutely beautiful post, as always, Greggo...I don't think anyone makes Mexican Feather Grass look as good as you do!

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  29. The grass with the achillea is so simple yet stunning!

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  30. Oh my gosh that photo of the butterfly on the Echinacea is INCREDIBLE!!!! All the photos were great- the one you captured of your granddaughter was beautiful. I can see why these were your favorites!

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  31. enjoyed the shots that are your favourites Greggo.

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  32. I'm starting to see an evolution in your photos, as in you're getting better. Not that I'm photo god, just trying to say I like them and nice work! Esp your previous post.

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  33. How can we be bored in a parade of such lovely photos! It's only boring when most bloggers post monarchs simultaneously in their posts, hahaha, but the photos will tell the difference. Thanks. I think my heart goes to Lonely Susan too!

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  34. Such beautiful photos! ;) My favorite one is the photo of your granddaughter. Hehe. She's so charming! I love capturing the smiles of my kids, especially during those random moments we spend together

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  35. I gave you an award today on my blog, go check it out. www.cheri-scicaregiving.blogspot.com

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  36. Wonderful, wonderful photos. I enjoyed them all very much. The butterflies are truly a miracle of nature.

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  37. Hi Greggo,
    I enjoyed all of your photos. I like the monarch after the swallowtail. Your granddaughter looks like a sweetie! I haven't been posting as often this winter, either.

    Blessings to you, too! Sue

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  38. I'm partial to the swallowtail-on-echinacea-flower photo, too. You need a quick trigger finger to capture that image!

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  39. I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates. garden pruners for arthritic hands

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Thanks for leaving any comments, they are always welcomed. Sorry I had to add word verification as spam was becoming a huge problem. Greggo,