Great Jubilation - (plse enlarge)

This is another image taken at Garry's Garden Gallery in Lindsay,

Ontario. A place I discovered last summer. They have such an array

of Flowers, Trees and Shrubs and also lovely Garden Furniture,

Decor and Spas. On a hot and humid day though, their ICECREAM

is my favorite last stop before heading home. This was the only Lily

of this colour. The sun was shining so brilliantly in this area that I had

a difficult time obtaining a proper exposure. I was determined to get

a 'capture' of this one. The stamens were upturned, the petals not yet

wilted from the heat, and when I first saw it, I exclaimed "My, aren't

you a beauty !" One of the saleswomen who was just across the

aisle from me began to chuckle and say, "I'm glad I'm not the only

one that talks to them!'. I am my happiest when I am among all

those flowers. It is though I am communing with 'little Masterpieces'.

There is no cost for admission, I'm allowed to reposition them, sit

among them, and even 'chatter'. And my husband is not there to

say, "will you speak up, I can't hear a word you are saying !" (any

visits are most appreicated, sincere thanks, Gail)

Sounds like a great place and from your images, I would  conclude the subject matter is most diverse and beautiful. I love your point of focus and dof on this one, and the way the serrated edge of the petal creeps into focus to the left.  Very well done Gail..........but you can't fool me ....I know you only go there for the ice cream : - )

Best Regards

Alf

Nice shot great colour, good lighting, very enjoyable photo. Congratulations.

Rats! Was I that obvious?? The last Ice Cream (in a Waffle cone of course) I got from there was at lest 3 huge scoups!!! It was only priced as a "medium"! I wasn't sure if I could eat it all, but thankfully the Air Con in the car allowed me a bit of extra time to APPRECIATE my 'Pralines and Cream'. Thanks Alf for your input. I was changing Camera settings 'left and right' with all the different lighting conditions there, but fortuanely while I was taking images, my husband was looking at trees and tallking to the pretty girl who is the 'Arborist'. Once the heat was too much for him, he retired to the car for a bit of a 'nap' and patiently waited for me to finish. I find this place ideal for taking images. Nearly all of the flowers are under the Protection of the Greenhouse, a breeze filters through if there is one, and a lot of sun still gets through the 'opaque' roof and side coverings. I really like playing where the flowers are dense and colourful. So many opportunities to hopefully get some beautiful DOF colours. Thanks again, for dropping by. If I return, I will think of you, and get another ICE CREAM CONE !!! 

Thankyou for visiting John. I appreciate your comments and encouragement.

I'm chopping on ice cream, as I admire this pic.   so good.  Okay, why is it, Gail, that some of your flower pics seem personified?  You write that you talk with them; is this related?  Here we have a gaping mouth -- that stamens could be tongues poking out at the viewer, or the mouth could be something from a sea creature, wide to inhale the fish.  It has dynamism.  I like this.  a lot.  

Hi Gail, this is a great shot, so vibrant. I do envy you the ability to sit amongst your "friends" I used to have a favorite garden centre but it closed down and those around now are no so cosy. This shot really speaks to me. cheers Louise

So nice to hear from you. I have a few nurseries closer than the one that I took this image at that are very nice also. (but they don't serve ice cream!!). Honestly, one of the reasons I like this Garden Gallery is that when it is windy I have a much easier time of taking images. (more protection). I don't know what I'd do without these spots to take images at. At least you have your 'Birds'!!! Many thanks for writing, I appreciate hearing from you always. Say hi to Grayham for me!!!

Wow, that was a very imaginative critique, and I can see how you 'saw' what you saw!! It is like the Stamens are trying to 'lure' something in.....WHAT kind of ICE CREAM were you eating????  Just kidding!!! Yeh, can't help myself, when I see a really beautiful flower all of a sudden, sometimes it 'takes my breath away'.  And I do quietly chat to them - perhaps hoping for some 'positive karma' when taking my images!!!Such beauty in nature. Many thanks for your comments, made my evening! Cheers for now, Gail

Great flower picture! I really like what you did with colours - unusual. Great details - smalls dots of pollen really adds to it!

Btw, are you a writer ? :) Warm regards, Tamara

gail,

your turning out to be not to bad at this flower photography!  so pleased to see you have left the gaudy frames behind.  here is very nice separation between flower and b/g,  like how you have placed flower in frame,  can be difficult to do getting flower just right with this type of composition.  last but not least,  pleased to see you toned down the thin white border,  a bright white just would not have looked right and would have altered entire mood of your lovely image.  nice work!  good that you talk with the flowers,  i have done same for years.  also good to listen to them sometimes.......

I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this image and how it was presented Roger. Thankyou for those very fine comments, they are very much appreciated. I often think the flowes 'talk' first ;-)most sincerely,Gail

Thankyou for visiting Tamara! Pleased that you liked this image. No, I am not a writer, I could probably if I worked at it, but I do like to 'talk' a lot, and at least the 'flowers' will LISTEN !!! Lol, hope you  have been surviving this HEAT!!!! Have a good weekend Tamara!

non ho dubbi,sei una donna solare ,le tue foto raccontano sempre la tua femminilità e la tua gentilezza ! complimenti.

grazie sempre per le tue pregiate visite,saluti paul

Dear Gail, 

Another one of your perfect DOFs with a gentile and vibrant colors and a lot of meaning to it. I can feel as I look at your pictures of flowers that you love them and that they love you back! I really wonder what are you telling them...? ;)

And I can perfectly understand that the ice-cream can be the reason to go somewhere... not the perfect flowers! Sooo where is the picture of the ice-cream? How would that look like if the flowers are already soooo nice?

Love, Ulla

You are so kind in your lovely words of critique Ulla! I am not sure what it is, I have worked at numerous 'Garden Centre/Nurseries' and managed the retail 'front' of a Flower Shop, which I really loved. The interaction with the people and how they conversed while ordering their flowers or picking out which stems they wanted. Also many would phone and ask me to arrange or pick out their purchase. They would tell me why they were purchasing the flowers, and many times, how they felt about the person/persons. I saw people go from ones greiving after the loss of their 'loved one' to the point where leaving the flowers at a Gravesite was no longer as 'painful' but more 'meaningful - mixed with joy, and rememberance'. Flowers were a 'portal' of communication for so many feelings. I think as I grew my own gardens once I had a home, so much of myself, went into the planting. Then there was the careful attention to keep may garden looking pretty. A lot of work, but I enjoyed it so much. In one place where we lived, it was in the country. Some summer nights when the 'moon was full' I would quietly go out into the front garden, and do my weeding and pruning. My neighbors thought I was 'crazy', but it was the most 'magical' of times. I knew my flowers by 'touch'. There was just enough light to see small details if I needed. But those moments  spent  on a very still summer nite, the only noises were 'night noises', and every so often I would look up towards the heavens and see that blanket of stars and the full moon; in those moments, all was right with my world, and I felt like the only one in it. I cannot garden like I used to, a little hard on my back, so I enjoy the beauty of flowers in this other way. When I am taking  my images, and turn to see what is next to discover, I am often surprised and amazed at the beauty of all the colour surrounding me.  And I haven't even spoke of the 'aroma' yet. I better not, I will  never finish!!! All I know is, at the end of my 'session', my back is usually sore, I am very hot! and I am at the point where I am happy to put my camera away. It gets packed up, goes in my backpack, and my hands are FREE TO ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO MY 'ice cream' ! It is always so hot out that once it is in my hands, I have to be quick to lick off what is already melting, while I make a dash for the car and fianlly sit down after my few hours of enjoyment. Don't think I'll be taking my camera out again, once I've had a taste of that ICE CREAM ! many thanks for your comments and questions, I have talked 'too much' again!!!!

Grazie amico mio! I appreciate your lovely words of critique so much. ;-) Gail

Thankyou Diego for your visit, your appreciation of this image is very encouraging, sincere regards, Gail

great composition. so many colors! wonderful. compliments -koushik

great color and detail in this shot Gail.....

Excellent work! 6

Hi Gail,

  Beautiful day lily with wonderful colors, clarity & details.  Take care, Patsy

thankyou both so much for your visits and lovely words of critique. Encouragement is always inspiring.

Thankyou both for your very kind remarks, always happy to hear when one enjoys my images.