Even the plants that get watered daily have leaves that the sun burned down to the stem.

Even with irrigation I can't keep the weeds alive!

Yours is a welcome reminder of better times past and perhaps better times ahead.

When I read about the persistant drought and deadly high temperatures in other regions of the country and world, it seems that I'm living in a climatological paradise. For now.

The vivid colors, the great composition, the close-ups, everything is so very good.

I think you and your new (to you) 50mm lens are going to have many happy years together!

Congrats on your splendid photos.

I bought the 50mm for doing portraiture. The lens was put to the test yesterday afternoon when my daughter, who's also an amateur photographer, and 8-month-old grandson stopped by. I sent some of the results to my daughter last night and her completely subjective and biased response was: "Wow! These are amazing!" A few minutes later she sent another text: "Now I think I need that lens!"

....inexpensive native 50mm f/1.8 lenses are so underrated. which one do you have? the fact that they are so inexpensive makes them the best bang-for-your-buck glass IMHO. the nikon 50mm f/1.8G, for example, was less than $200 new and super sharp...i still use mine. people call these lenses the nifty-fifty......i call them plastic-fantastic, because despite the cheaper build quality than pro glass, they deliver amazing image quality.

I wondered what they were called. Nice botanical garden ya got there.

heart shaped leaf? That is a caladium. There are so many varieties and are beautiful. One of my favorites is called Miss Muffet.

Recently bought hubby and myself a membership. We went a couple of weekends ago to explore the meadow (inner loop). Need to build up more stamina to do the outer loop! Can’t wait until the conservatory expansion is completed!

Again, gorgeous pics with such vivid, happy colors.

My SO and I are members too! I'm looking forward to the reopening of the lily ponds.

Thanks, woodsprite!

but i am a real sucker for water droplets in art - photograplhy, pastels, oils, scuplture, doesn't matter, I just love the way the detailis are captured and presented.

Amazing what a few droplets of water can do.

WUNNNNNNNNNNderful shots, Mousetoescamper!

They're not very hard to grow. I enjoy them every day!