Lens-Artist Challenge #200 – Every Little Thing

May 26, 2022 / Donna Robinson Photography / 9 Comments

“The older I get the more I realize

the things that cost nothing hold the most value.” ~unknown

This week, Amy invites us to share every little thing that makes you smile. I like this challenge because the further I move away from my days in Corporate America (it’s been four years now) into my “re-wirement” journey, the more I appreciate the little things life has to offer.

Most of those “little” things I find in my own backyard like this cute little chipmunk. He and his friends come out in the mornings and evenings to gather what the birds have dropped below the feeders. They move quickly and are quite entertaining to watch!

“There is good in everything

if only we look for it.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

One part of my garden that brings me joy is this wall of Limelight Hydrangeas. We planted these in late 2019 and last year was the first year they bloomed. I can’t wait to see how many blooms they have this year!

“When a gardener gardens, it’s not just the plant that grows,

but the gardener themself.” ~Ken Druse

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know my favorite “littlest” things are the hummingbirds.

“A hummingbird is the spirit of pure joy. She is the messenger of beauty and wonder.

She reminds us to taste the sweet nectar of life.” ~unknown

There are so many other “little things” I enjoy, but I’m afraid there isn’t enough time (or space) to capture them all in this post. But hopefully these give you a glimpse of what I enjoy and maybe even brought a “little” smile to your face as well.

~donna

P. S. Next week, Ann-Christine will be our host. Be sure to visit her site.

P.S.S. If you would like to participate in our weekly Lens-Artists Challenge, just click this link and join us on Saturdays at noon EST: Lens-Artist Challenge

P.S.S.S. If you are interested in purchasing unique notecards, photography or digital artwork please visit my Etsy shop by clicking on the button below.

Donna Robinson Photo

30 Days of Hummingbirds – Day 7

August 22, 2021August 20, 2022 / Donna Robinson Photography / 2 Comments

📸”Hang on Tight!” – 30 Days of Hummingbirds – Day 7

❓Did you know hummingbirds cannot walk or hop like other birds? They can only use their feet to scoot sideways while they are perched (or scratching and preening).

Field Notes:

Camera: Canon EOS 6D

Lens: Canon EF 100mm – 400mm

Focal Length: 400mm

Shutter Speed 1/125

Aperture: f5.6

ISO: 1250

Time of Day: 7:01p.m.

~Looking for unique greeting cards and photography gifts? Then pop on over to my Etsy shop by following or copying this link in your browser👉👉 https://www.etsy.com/shop/donnarobinsonphoto

Peddling Into The Weekend

May 3, 2019 / Donna Robinson Photography / 4 Comments

Happy Friday, everyone!

“Happiness is a Butterfly”

October 19, 2018 / Donna Robinson Photography / 6 Comments

My garden is starting to look a little ragged. Some of my knock-out roses were hit by aphids this year, the birds, squirrels and chipmunks have made a complete mess with their seed droppings and my little bicycle planter is bare. Despite it all, however, the butterflies still find my garden pretty enough to feed on.

We seem to have had quite a few more of them this year and I couldn’t help myself the other night when I saw several of them hovering over one of my butterfly plants. At one point there were 4 or 5, but by the time I made it out with my cameras (plural because they were just too beautiful not to go back for the macro lens), there were only these three (3) beauties hovering around.

For as still as I tried to be, it was pretty difficult trying to capture them together. I finally settled on following this little guy around.

I never realized how long their “stingers” were for drinking the nectar out of the flowers. If you look closely in the photo below you can follow his arched stinger to the flower bud.

“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

For the Love of Photography “The Accidental Sunflower Garden”

July 13, 2018July 13, 2018 / Donna Robinson Photography / 6 Comments

We keep our birds and critters amply supplied with sunflower seeds. We have multiple feeders, both in the trees, on the ground and we also scatter a few piles of seed on the walls. So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when two (2) sunflowers popped up in our backyard a few weeks, ago.

A first, we thought these were weeds, but as the buds began to grow we realized we had an “accidental sunflower garden” in the works.

Randomly perched on the wall above the bird feeders and other plants, these scraggly looking flowers have brightened our garden for the past few weeks.

While I’ve seen the hummingbirds feed from them I think the bees have enjoyed the sunflowers the most.

I just love sunflowers…..don’t you? They are simple, yet elegant flowers which stretch tall above the others reaching up to the sky with bright and cheery faces as they follow the daily movement of the sun.

According to Greek Mythology, the reason why sunflowers follow the sun is based on the story of Apollo and Clytie, a nymph, who adored Apollo. In the beginning, he loved her too, but soon he fell in love with Leucothoe. Clytie became so jealous she told Leucothoe’s father of the relationship and he punished her by burying her alive. In anger of what happened, Apollo turned her into a flower. Clytie continued to love Apollo and spent her days watching him as he moved the sun across the sky in his chariot, just like sunflowers move to face the sun. There are several versions of this myth, but I found this particular version, along with its various cultural meanings and symbols on the following site: FTD Sunflower Meaning and Symbolism

As you start your weekend, here’s a little weekend advice from a sunflower (credit Pinterest Pin – author unknown):

“Be bright, sunny and positive;

Spread seeds of happiness;

Rise, shine and hold your head high!”

Happy Friday, everyone!

Donna

For the Love of Photography – “Beautiful Hydrangea”

June 3, 2018 / Donna Robinson Photography / 5 Comments

The arrival of June has finally brought us some long overdue sunshine and I couldn’t resist getting out to take a few photos of the blooming hydrangeas in our yard.

I found this little guy wandering around on one of the blooms.

We’re heading into our second year in the house and these beauties have more than doubled in size.

“Beautiful Hydrangea, mighty and bold your blooms we see,
Yet soft and fragile your petals may be.

—–Donna Robinson”

For the Love of Photography – National Public Gardens Day at the Swan House

May 14, 2018May 13, 2018 / Donna Robinson Photography / 6 Comments

“Did you know there is a “National Public Gardens Day?” I sure didn’t, but when I read about it on the Atlanta History Center website, and they said in honor of the day you could tour the Swan House Gardens…….FOR FREE….I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a photo outing. And, since it’s way more fun having a fellow photographer with you I invited my friend and sister-in-law, Janice to join me.

Front of The Swan House. This photo really doesn’t do it justice.

The driveway leading to The Swan House. We tried to get in but our “garden tour” stickers were a dead giveaway that we didn’t pay for that part of the tour!

While most of the floral was in transition (azaleas and rhododendrons had long dropped their blooms) the summer greenery was vibrant.

IMG_5300 051118 Swan House path copyright

A beautiful trail leads the way

There was so much to see on the grounds…..there were even statues in the middle of the trail;

And, historic farmhouses which had been moved to the property for preservation,

IMG_5302 051118 Swan House Cabin copyright

The Wood Family Cabin. It’s original location was near the Chattahoochee River, not far from where the Creek Village of Standing Peachtree once stood.

IMG_5305 051118 Swan House Log Cabin copyright

A closer look of the Wood Family Cabin.

There were even life-size playhouses built for the original owner’s children! This was my favorite……the Victorian Playhouse.

It was such a fun outing and a great way to practice those photography skills! I was so glad I brought along a second camera so that I could use my macro lens!

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Weather wise, I couldn’t have picked a better day as there was so much natural light…..no flash needed.