Fragrant Rain 09/52

Fragrant Rain 09/52: Photo of a raindrops clinging to a climbing vine of flowers by Kristen Koster on Flickr.com

Fragrant Rain

We’ve been getting some much needed rain here in SoCal for the past several days. The intermittent downpours haven’t dampened the scent of these pretty little pink flowers that bloom right outside my kitchen window making it seem like we’ve had a quite fragrant rain come through. Usually a steady rain here makes everything smell either squeaky clean and fresh or it brings out the deep, rich, earthy smells. So this heavy floral scent is a noticeable change.

I’m not sure what kind of flowers these are exactly, but when you walk outside and the breeze blows the right way, you get hit with a wall of fragrance, even from 15-20 feet away. It’s a heady sweet scent to match their girly pink blooms. The fence that they’re growing on has been taken over by it and they’re threatening to consume the bird feeder hanging there as well.

Hopefully the rain will help rather than hinder (in the case of recent burns areas where they’re experiencing mudslides and flooding) in the long run. Of course, lots of spring rain generally leads to lots of underbrush growth that then dries up after 5-6 months of no rain and provides lots of tinder in the fall. Vicious cycle.

I also noticed I’ve been forgetting to put my EXIF info for my photos this year. I’ll try to go back and add them at some point, but in the meantime, you can click on the photo to go to Flickr’s site and click on the … icon and choose EXIF info to see which camera, exposure, aperture, focal length and ISO Speed is used in each shot. It’s something I should pay more attention to in the shots I feel work, but I’m usually much more appreciative of the serendipitous successes than ones that I try to manufacture.

Peekaboo Bird of Paradise 04/52

Photo of a Bird of Paradise plant peeking up from behind another bush by Kristen Koster on Flickr.com

Peekaboo Bird of Paradise

A bit more color from here in Sunny SoCal for those of you still gripping with cold temperatures and the occasional snowstorm. Spring is coming! Don’t lose faith!

I’ve always like these bird of paradise plants. They can always be counted on to bring a spot of color to the winter months here and the flower formation and even the leaves are interesting in the right light. What I didn’t realize before we actually had any in our own yard, was just how dirty they can also be. The dead brown flowers will rarely be mistaken for a bird of any kind. At least they don’t smell…

January has been a quick month and I haven’t found my way out of the yard yet. MUST work on that this year. I’ve been eyeing the neighbor’s tree, but that’ll be another flower so maybe it won’t count. I need to drive out to the dam one day and see if I can find something interesting there now that I’ve got this zoom lense. Unfortunately, the water won’t be spilling over like the last time we was out there.

Weekly Photo 21 & 22 / 52 for 2013: Agacanthus & Star of India

Weekly Photo 21/52 for 2013: Agacanthus by Kristen Koster on FlickrBeing sick doesn’t make it easier to stay on top of thing like my weekly photo posts. I feel like I’ve been sick since February, but it may really be last Thanksgiving. I’m tired of coughing and no, I didn’t really want to research consumption first hand or even anything remotely like it. That said, it’s been good to take short breaks outside and enjoy the sunshine. Our yard is a giant kaleidoscope of color and the wheel keeps turning through the seasons. These flowers seem a bit early this year, as I think of them as 4th of July flowers but that might just be their resemblance to fireworks.


Weekly Photo 22/52 for 2013: Star of India by Kristen Koster on Flickr
This weekend, DD and I went down to Seaport Village and spent the day there with some of her friends. I sat on the edge of the group, not really part of it, but available if needed, and did a bunch of brainstormy type things for my writing. I took my camera with me, but since we weren’t in the part I had thought we were going to, I didn’t really see much I wanted to capture. By the time we left, I was sunburned, tired and a bit cranky, but as we pulled around by the embarcadero, we passed the Star of India and got stuck at the light by it through two cycles. Yup! I pretended I was a tourist and whipped out my camera right there! At least there are some shots I can use with Regency Posts later on as well. =)

Weekly Photo 6/52 for 2013: Almond Blossoms

Weekly Photo: 6/52 Almond Blossoms by Kristen Koster on flickrToday’s weekly photo post is of one of our two almond trees which has begun to blossom. The crows tend to get all the nuts before we even have an inkling that they might be ready. Apparently, almond trees are a lot of work to harvest and require quite a bit of pampering so that the crows don’t steal all your hard work anyway. Oh well.

I love how the blossoms cluster like that.

Settings: Sony SLT-A33 • 1/500 • ƒ/5.6 • ISO 800 • 300 mm

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 26

Week 26 of our 365 Photo Challenge. Halfway point!

I can’t believe we’re halfway done with 2012 and this project. I can tell that I’ve slacked off again lately and I need to push myself on a lot of fronts. Only 180-some more to go!

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this challenge. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

176/366 Lion's Tail (Leonotis menthifolia)
Sun: Jun 24, 2012
  177/366 Rosebud
Mon: Jun 25, 2012
178/366 Rose
Tue: Jun 26, 2012
179/366 Martha Washington Geraniums
Wed: Jun 27, 2012
180/366 Anigozanthos or Bush Nugget Kangaroo Paws
Thu: Jun 28, 2012
181/366 Lantana
Fri: Jun 29, 2012
  182/366 Chameleon Plant
Sat: Jun 30, 2012

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 25

Week 25 of our 365 Photo Challenge.

Weekend pictures bracket this set with photos of Olivia. She should get to come home the 14th of July. Maybe sooner, but more likely that weekend. We’ve been going up to the breeder’s to visit with her I think we miss her more than she misses us right now.

For the weekday pictures, I tried something a little different. I tried to go out about the same time each day so I had consistent lighting and then found different subjects to play with. I really liked how the bird of paradise came out with the back lighting where you can see the individual plant cells if you view it in the large size on flickr. Definitely a very forgiving time of day, right around 6pm.

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this challenge. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

169/366 Happy Father's Day!
Sun: Jun 17, 2012
  170/366 Snail Shell
Mon: Jun 18, 2012
171/366 Watermelon
Tue: Jun 19, 2012
172/366 Plant Cells
Wed: Jun 20, 2012
173/366 Hydrangea
Thu: Jun 21, 2012
174/366 Lobelia erinus
Fri: Jun 22, 2012
  175/366 Olivia
Sat: Jun 23, 2012

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 24

Week 24 of our 365 Photo Challenge.

We bought a puppy last weekend. She’s a 4 month old golden retriever named Olivia. Yes, this makes her initials, “OK”. She’s very sweet, but staying at the breeder’s for a few more weeks to get in some basic training skills before we bring her home. She’s likely to only show up in weekend pictures until she’s home. For example, you’ll see in next week’s set, where I remembered to take my camera, we had a play date with her for Father’s Day! Our next visit will be to sit in on one of her training sessions so we can learn the commands too.

Picture-wise, with school being out, I can feel my discipline slipping a bit. I thought with school being out my week was supposed to be easier! I’m a bit more willing to let taking photos go until later in the day and have had to scramble a few times. I know I’m also not being very creative with the subject matter. Can you believe those two hydrangea flowers are from the same bush? It’s kinda awesome how undecided it is. And no, no one ate a whole lobster last night at dinner. Just a tail, but those don’t come from the tank!

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this challenge. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

162/366 Olivia
Sun: Jun 10, 2012
163/366 Baby Summer Squash
Mon: Jun 11, 2012
164/366 Bird(s?) of Paradise
Tue: Jun 12, 2012
165/366 Hydrangea
Wed: Jun 13, 2012
166/366 Hydrangea
Thu: Jun 14, 2012
167/366 Grapes
Fri: Jun 15, 2012
168/366 Red Lobster
Sat: Jun 16, 2012

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 23

Week 23 of our 365 Photo Challenge. Yay! School is now officially done for the summer!

I thought last week was crazy. but this week was worse. I got clipped by another parent while I was parked waiting to pick up the kids from school on Monday. The High School had finals so only a half day for the last three days and our son had a promotion ceremony on Thursday for the last day of school. Then Friday and Saturday we had a mix up on the party invite so we stretched it for two days with Friday’s party turning into an impromptu slumber party as well. I am so looking forward to something relaxing next week.

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this photo challenge. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

Photo Challenge: 155/366 Lacy Summer Squash
Sun: Jun 03, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 156/366 $688.21
Mon: Jun 04, 2012
Photo Challenge: 157/366 Moonrise 6/5
Tue: Jun 05, 2012
Photo Challenge: 158/366 Blueberries
Wed: Jun 06, 2012
Photo Challenge: 159/366 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Thu: Jun 07, 2012
Photo Challenge: 160/366 Wheeeee!
Fri: Jun 08, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 161/366 Pool Party Crasher
Sat: Jun 09, 2012

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 22

Week 22 of our 365 Photo Challenge. So close to the halfway point.

It was definitely an iPhone kind of week. Crazy schedule gone crazier with the next to last week of school and DH getting his last 3 wisdom teeth removed really zapped my creativity and focus this week.

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this photo challenge. Hover over the photo to get the title and other information. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

Photo Challenge: 148/366 Sun Catcher
Sun: May 27, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 149/366 Memorial Day
Mon: May 28, 2012
Photo Challenge: 150/366 In SoCal, Even The Dogs Drive
Tue: May 29, 2012
Photo Challenge: 151/366 Tree In Afternoon Sun
Wed: May 30, 2012
Photo Challenge: 152/366 Girly-Girl Card Revoked
Thu: May 31, 2012
Photo Challenge: 153/366 Agacanthus
Fri: Jun 01, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 154/366 Anigozanthos
Sat: Jun 02, 2012

2012 Photo Challenge: Week 21

We’re up to week 21 of our 365 Photo Challenge!

Not a very exciting week for you guys, but I had fun trying to catch the water from the fountains the way in a way I liked and wasn’t overblown with lots of purples in the highlights. Lots of iPhone pictures this week too. We’re heading into the last few weeks of school here, so life is crazy as everything winds down.

What you see below are links to my flickr set for the photos I’m posting for this photo challenge. Click on any photo below to go to flickr and then you can navigate through the set with the “Previous” and “Next” arrows at the top.

Photo Challenge: 141/366 Strawberry
Sun: May 20, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 142/366 Huge Trumpet Flowers
Mon: May 21, 2012
Photo Challenge: 143/366 Fountain
Tue: May 22, 2012
Photo Challenge: 144/366 Oleander
Wed: May 23, 2012
Photo Challenge: 145/366 Grape Arbor
Thu: May 24, 2012
Photo Challenge: 146/366 Another Fountain
Fri: May 25, 2012
  Photo Challenge: 147/366 Green Pepper
Sat: May 26, 2012