Summer Garden Update 2018

The garden report: August 2018
A little sad this year.
Record breaking heat and record breaking lack of rain.
Our well water is so hard here that my soil sample I did came back at 8 ph. Too alkaline for a lot of plants.

Small portions of the flower beds looked good at random times and I can usually set up a shot that looks fabulous without the viewer seeing the sad setting.

The only thing that did good in the veggie garden was the cantaloupe. Even my pumpkins were dying off one by one and getting ripe way too early. It looks like I'll be buying some for pies this year because I'll save every one I can for photos.

I just love shooting my flowers with my 70-300 lens. I hadn't had my Canon out for a long time. I didn't realize how much I missed it.

Summer at the Garden and Arts Center

Spring is my usual time to shoot the flowers at the Garden and Arts Center. The poppies just make me swoon. But I stopped in this week to what was going on. The rudbeckia were just phenomenal. I had taken my 70-300 lens by recommendation of Kathleen Clemons. I used to use it on my flowers but had gotten out of the habit. 

I love the rich moodiness of this.

f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 320.....f/4.5, 1/180, ISO 160

f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 320.....f/6.7, 1/180, ISO 320.....

I was also pleased with the shots using my 100mm.

f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 160

f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 100

f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 320

f/2.8, 1/125, ISO 100

These babies were surrounded by gaillardia, also known as blanket flower. They had planted several species. I don't think I got shots of all the colors.

f/2.8, 1/180, ISO 100

f/2.8, 1/180, ISO 100.......f/4, 1/180, ISO 160

Back to the long lens. Taken at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/350, ISO 800

I may just have to go back.

I took a ton more with my phone so maybe you'll see more on Mobile Monday.

Have a great weekend everyone!