Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #150: Let’s Get Wild

Guest host Dianne Millard of Rambling Ranger has asked us to get wild for this challenge. On her blog she says “I’m talking about Mother Nature untouched and untrammeled, allowed to get on with her work without human help or hindrance.” Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska meets all of those criteria. It’s the wildest place I’ve ever been.

The landscapes in Denali are breathtaking whether seen from land or from the air.

Wildflowers growing in the middle of the riverbed
Denali Wilderness, Alaska
View from overlook on Denali Park Road
Morning walk near our campsite
Mt. Denali
The high round snow covered peak is the south peak of Mt. McKinley
Flying over a glacier in Alaska

We were always looking out for wildlife. Except for a couple of moose, most of the wildlife was too far from us to get a good close up picture.

Dall Sheep in Denali National Park, Alaska
Moose in the Denali Wilderness
Grizzly Bear in Denali National Park, Alaska
Caribou grazing in Denali National Park

Many thanks to guest host Dianne Millard for the challenge. Please be sure to visit her post at Lens-Artists Challenge #150: Let’s Get Wild

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #149: Cool Colors – Blue and Green

This week, Tina has challenged us to show ways that the cooler colors of blue, green, blue green or purple appear in our world.

To me, some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen contain the color combination of blue and green.

Oahu, Hawaii
Kauai, Hawaii
Turtle Cove on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii
St. Lucia
Emerald green on the hills above the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland
Creek running through the Georgia Salt Marsh
Okefenokee Swamp
Silver Springs, Florida
Blue Ridge Mountains

Many thanks to Tina for the challenge. Please be sure to visit her original post at Lens-Artists Challenge #149: Cool Colors – Blue and Green

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #148: Dots and Spots

I had a lot of fun with the challenge of Dots and Spots. The first thing that popped into my head was Minnie Mouse with her polka dot dress and bow so I browsed through my archives of past trips to Disney World in Florida. As I went through the photos I found dots from around the parks.

For spots I browsed through photos of animals and fish from our travels around the United States.

Many thanks to Ann-Christine for this fun challenge of Dots and Spots. Please be sure to visit her original post at Lens-Artists Challenge #148: Dots and Spots

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #147: Gardens

Mother’s Day was very special this year. We spent the weekend with our daughter and her family in Virginia after not seeing them for a year and a half.

On Mother’s Day I spent the morning enjoying the beautiful gardens our daughter has created around their house. While she was busy planting plants I wandered around snapping pictures. There aren’t many flowers yet but when they bloom the colors will be spectacular.

Their back yard has a steep hill that used to be all grass. Over a period of several years she has transferred much of their back yard into a beautiful, peaceful space with a chair for relaxing and watching the birds, butterflies, and an occasional bunny that come to the garden.

In the front of the house are more flower beds. Underneath the Dogwood tree is a chair for lounging and nearby is a birdbath for the birds.

It was wonderful to spend Mother’s Day with my daughter and her family. After she finished her garden chores we went for a walk around a nearby pond. Our son-in-law prepared a delicious dinner and my daughter made a carrot cake for desert. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Many thanks to Amy for challenging us to show the beauty of gardens this week. Please be sure to visit her original post at Lens-Artists Challenge #147: Gardens

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #146: Focusing on the Details

A few weeks ago we spent a few days in middle Georgia where I enjoyed wandering around the fields of an old dairy farm. As I walked around I saw spring flowers and new growth all around me.

It was easy to spot this brightly colored thistle growing in the middle of a field.

New growth on pine tree

Many thanks to Patti for this Photo Challenge: Focusing on the Details. Please be sure to visit her original post at Lens-Artists Challenge #146: Focusing on the Details