City Daily Photo Theme Day - Ephemeral

Ephemeral - Lasting a short time.

Our City Daily Photo Bloggers are coming up with some tough themes these days. I had to scramble for an entry, but thought this sweet smelling bouquet for my birthday from my friends Kay and Pete in Mobile fit the bill. Their blooms will be gone soon,  but I will enjoy their beauty and sweet scent till they go. 

Today my City Daily Photoblog friends around the world are posting their take on this monthly theme. Have a look HERE and see their entries.They are a clever bunch, so have a look.

STOP!

and smell the roses! Gotta love this rose enthusiast.

Raindrops on Roses

A little field trip last Friday led us to a beautiful home and rose garden on Lake Logan Martin.  As we turned off the interstate it started to rain.  What seemed like a potential disaster for a photo shoot turned into magic!  The shower stopped upon our arrival and each and every blossom sparkled. Kay Taylor, my rose expert, tells me this is Just Joey!

La Vie en Rose

Dunn Rose Garden

Bear with me, I'll quit posting Birmingham in the springtime photos very soon. I stopped by the Birmingham Botanical Gardens last Saturday to try and capture the last of the fabulous  Birmingham Rose Society's rose show with the results of Friday night's storm. I was rewarded.

First Rose of Spring?

This charming bird condo at Architectural Heritage looks ready for spring.

Summer's Last Roses

Thank you to my friend Cathy, who graciously allowed me to photograph the last of her heirloom roses last week. I will look forward to photographing them again next summer.  For now,  I'm thinking these fading blossoms will be hard to top!

Last Rose

Cathedral of Saint Paul

The last days of summer and its roses.

Becky's Arbor

My friend Becky grows the most amazing flowers.  If you're at the Pepper Place Market, stop by and say hello (Brown's Farms) and tell her I sent you.  In the backyard of her home, she's made a simple arbor into a show stopper.  Don't you agree?

Morning Dew

Rose Garden, Avondale Park

Last Saturday as I made my way through the Rose Garden at Avondale Park, the dew on the almost spent roses stopped me in my tracks. I don't know that I've ever seen dew just like this. It alsmost looked like the petals had been dusted with glitter. Amazing.

In Full Bloom

 Architectural Heritage

We're modest, here in the South.

It Rained AGAIN Today

Is that a bad thing??

For my Birmingham area readers I will be offering another series of photography classes. Designed for amateur photographers with any type digital/film camera who want to be more creative and learn to take better family and vacation photos.

Community Education South

April 25-May 23 ( Monday evenings)

6:00-8:00 PM

Contact me at : virgjones@gmail.com

The Last Rose of Summer...a Tear

Rose Garden, Birmingham Botanical Gardens

October 13

A Rose in Memory's Garden

* This week's Guest Photographer is my dear friend Jean Reed. We go back a very long way together, and she was taking fabulous photographs long before I even thought about it. Jean is also writing her own text this week!

My father bought and planted this rose bush for me when I bought my house. Despite a lack of care and tending, it blooms each year reminding me of my sweet dad.

It’s only fitting for me to begin my guest appearance on Virginia’s blog with a tribute to my dad. I am my Father’s Daughter---a true Southern “Daddy’s Girl.” My father worked for an international construction firm and spent a lot of time traveling the world alone. My dad’s camera was his constant companion, and my love of photography stemmed from his lifelong love. Growing up, my family spent many evenings watching slideshows of our family, friends, and the world ---or, the view of the world through his eyes!

Jean Reed - Guest Photographer

TWO THINGS CHALLENGE: Real/Fake

FAUX

The REAL Deal

* I'm scooting under the deadline for Two Things this week which is my M.O.   Actually I had these before I knew what the challenge was so it all worked out.  I'll start with the FAUX (FAKE).  This is a portion of a lovely metal piece that is mounted on an arbor near the rose garden at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.  I took this Saturday on our one gloriously warm, sunny day.  The REAL is this beautiful yellow rose that I shot last fall in the rose garden.  I hope it brightens this cold wintery day that most of you are having.

*My thanks to D.C. Confidential who chairs the prestigious Two Things Challenge for all of us, and  continually allows me to bend the rules to serve my own selfish purposes.  Click here to see how the more punctual members of the team have interpreted this week's challenge.  Each week I swear to be a better Team Two Things player but.......

Please Visit My New Blog

PARIS THROUGH MY LENS

THE TUNE DU JOUR IS "AIN'T NOTHING LIKE  THE REAL THING"

Discover Marvin Gaye!

Autumn Bistro

The nice thing about living in the "burbs" is that you can run to the grocery store and then make a quick left at the Botanical Gardens to catch a few quick shots.  I walked around for about half an hour and enjoyed the warm late afternoon sunshine.  The last roses of summer are fading, but some still beautiful and  sweet smelling (see below).   The leaves are almost ready to put on a grand show in the very near future.   I especially liked this scene with the sprinkling of golden brown leaves all around.  Oh,  I'll be back!

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

OK, I haven't dressed up for Halloween since about the 7th grade.  That said, in a weak moment I let Wayne talk me into being Natasha to his Boris today. We are both so O.L.D. that we forgot until a while ago.  In case you are wondering, YES,  Natasha and I have similar figures! In fact we look very much alike except for hair color of course. Now who wants to be Bullwinkle??? Anyone???

The Tune du Jour is  "Young at Heart" by Frank Sinatra.  Why you ask?  Because going to Paris really is a fairy tale come true!

PARIS COUNTDOWN....16 DAYS!!!!

Discover Frank Sinatra!