Worker Bee

The bees were mighty busy at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center off Diamond Springs Road in Virginia Beach. The demonstration garden here is one of Hampton Roads best kept secrets. Need some tine to think or unwind, stop by for a walk in the gardens. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Canon 7D, 1/160 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100mm macro lens.

American Lotus

- The American Lotus blooming at Lotus Gardens in Virginia Beach on the way to Sandbridge Beach. Canon 7D, 1/500 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 100, 100-400mm zoom at 250mm.

Strawberry Candy

- The strawberry candy daylilies are in full bloom. Winner of the Stout Medal in 1998, the American Hemerocallis Society's most prestigious award. 4-5" strawberry pink with a rose-red eye and golden throat. Starts blooming in June, continues until July and repeats in August - September. Canon 7D, 1/60 sec @ f/9.0, ISO 400, 100mm macro.

Future Heat

- First blooms on this year's Jalpaneo pepper crop. Last year's crop produced peppers all the way into December. Canon 7D, 1/250 sec @ f/5.6, 100mm macro, LED Litepanel.

Daisy, Daisy

Daisy Daisy,
Give me your answer do!
I'm half crazy,
All for the love of you!
It won't be a stylish marriage,
I can't afford a carriage,
But you'll look sweet on the seat
Of a bicycle built for two !

By Harry Dacre, 1892
iPhone 4, 1/200 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 80.

It's a Knockout

- In the past few days the Knockout roses have exploded with new blooms. It's pretty hard to beat the beauty of a single red rose. Canon 5D Mark II, 1/500 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 800, 105mm, light from a single LED Litepanel.

Night Iris

light a night bloomer
behold magnificence of spring
yellow and purple

My first haiku seemed appropriate for this lovely iris. Canon 7D, 1/1600 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 1600, 100mm macro, two LED Litepanels, one below and one to the left.