Studies of Nature

Eucaliptus Shell

Bark Owl

Butterfly Wing

Costa Rica

Valle de Cinco Cataratas

Valley of 5 Waterfalls, Costa Rica

Cali Lilly

Cali Lilly 1

Study in White & Yellow

Cone Flowers

Cone Flower

Lobster Claw

Costa Rica

Night Creeper

12 x 18 inches

Cone Flowers on the Prairie, Illinois

Prairie grass and flowers create a sea of beauty all their own. This was photographed while I was training for my walk across Northern Spain. I would go to local (in Northern Illinois) state parks looking for places with hills (not easy to find in N.IL). I loved watching the changes thru the seasons in the prairies. Digital high contrast B&W and color add digitally. Plan to make prints of this too and hand color.

Becky's Passiflora (Vin9)

They are a wonderfully primitive and beautiful flower. Here in Talence, France there are bushes just full of them.

Becky's Passiflora (LPolTear)

I just love these flowers, they are so beautiful and primitive looking. I like how this one came out by layering two different effects together.

Still Life Flowers 0519_9327

This flowering succulent was growing in the entrance of a house in Talence France. I loved the texture of the wall behind the flowers and leaves.

Ball Moss

When living in Fredricksburg I saw bromeliads growing everywhere. I hadn't seen this since living in Costa Rica. When I saw these Ball Moss growing on the lines it reminded me of a 1950s SciFi.

Sea Lavender

My mother has always had these flowers in her garden. They are fascinating. Pretty little purple flower in a cluster that rattle when shaken and feel like dried flowers.

Day Lily

Cactus

These are found all over the Hill Country in Texas. I love the form and textures that they create.

Little Frog

While hunting for tools and arrow heads along a creek near the house I was living in I had to take care not to step on one of these little guys (or gals). It's about an inch long.

Japanese Anemone (Robustissima)

These flowers were growing in the Sonnenberg Garden in Canandaigua, New York. I found them so Victorian in nature.

Monarch Butterfly

After a storm in the night I found one of the Boston Ferns on the ground. When I picked it up this butterfly was clinging on it. I placed the fern on the porch table and it would open its wings for a few seconds...just enough to take a photo. It stayed on the fern for 2 days and then flew away.

Paddle Plant

I grew up with succulent plants. San Diego is a great place to have them. I like how the sun brightened up the red on the leaves.