Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #180 – Favorite Images of 2021

I am grateful that in 2021 we were able to take a few road trips and get together with friends and family more than we could in 2020. The header photo is my favorite because we had such a fun day celebrating my birthday at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.

January and February found me experimenting with closeups in my back yard, taking early morning walks on the beach, and enjoying the camellias in my garden.

In March we enjoyed a short road trip to Florida and a visit to Flannary O’Connor’s home Andalusia in Milledgeville, Georgia. A Brown Pelican in Cedar Key and a Peacock at Andalusia were my favorite images from those trips.

Spring flowers were spectacular in April.

May was a special month with a Mother’s Day weekend trip to visit our daughter’s family for the first time in over a year. I enjoyed her backyard garden and the wildflowers on a Mother’s Day walk beside a peaceful pond.

In June we made another road trip to Orlando to celebrate my birthday. A birthday lunch with a view of animals at Walt Disney Worlds Animal Kingdom Lodge was the highlight of the week.

In July and August the flowers in the garden attracted butterflies and bees and a Roseate Spoonbill made several appearances in the creek.

The rest of the year was filled with sunflowers, ospreys, beautiful mornings and spectacular sunsets.

There were also a few non photo worthy events in 2021. Among other things we survived a major remodel of a 1980’s bathroom, enjoyed a visit from my brother and his wife, celebrated a family Thanksgiving at home, cheered on one of our granddaughters at several sporting events, and enjoyed spending time with friends again.

Many thanks to Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine and Amy for another year of Lens-Artists Challenges. In 2022 we welcome three new hosts Sofia, Anne and John. I’m looking to forward to finding out what challenges they come up with this year.

Wishing you health, happiness, and much joy in 2022!

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #169 – The Ordinary

Our challenge from guest host I.J. Khanewala of Don’t Hold your Breath is to show ordinary objects. I chose a few images from my back yard that show ordinary sights around my October garden.

In the image above, the pink plumes of the Muhly Grass is an ordinary sign of fall where I live.

Every October, when most of the flowers in my butterfly garden are gone, the bright orange Mexican Sunflowers are still attracting butterflies. Gulf Fritillaries, Skippers, and Monarch butterflies are ordinary visitors feasting on the last of the nectar.

Gulf Fritillary on Mexican Sunflower
Monarch on Mexican Sunflower
Skipper on Mexican Sunflower

Many thanks to our guest host I.J. Khanewala for challenging us with Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #169: The Ordinary

Thanks also to Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: Burnt or Blood Orange

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #160 – Your Inspiration

Our host Patti has challenged us to show what our inspiration looks like. I find my inspiration in the natural world.

In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.

John Muir

Starting the day by watching the sun rise adds inspiration to any day.

The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.

Claude Monet
Black Eyed Susans
Sunflower on a sunny July Day
Gulf Fritillary on Mexican Sunflower

The natural beauty found in America’s National Parks never ceases to inspire me.

Grand Canyon North Rim Roosevelt Point
Giant Redwood in Redwoods National Park
Hot Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California

If you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere.

Vincent Van Gogh
Spoonbill and Snowy Egret
White tail deer
Great Egret

The weekly challenges from the gifted lens-artists hosts Tina, Ann-Christine, Patti and Amy always inspire me to be a better photographer. I’m also inspired by all of the talented WordPress bloggers who respond to the challenge with their wonderful photographs.

Many thanks to Patti for this challenge. Be sure to visit her original post at Lens-Artists challenge #160: Your Inspiration.

Backyard Bees, Butterflies and Birds

We’ve had lots of activity in our backyard these first two weeks of July. Bees and Butterflies are frequent visitors to the butterfly garden.

Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and Northern Cardinals are two of the birds we see every summer around our back yard. Snow Egrets are frequent summer visitors to the salt water creek. Roseate Spoonbills first started coming to our area a few years ago. I’ve seen them two years in a row now so hopefully they will keep returning each summer.

Shared with Lisa’s Bird Weekly Challenge: Birds Common in your area this time of year