Lunchtime Flower Photos

Today's photo prompt was photograph natural beauty. My intent was to find a small vase and take a picture of the lavender, but the lavender is almost past bloom and I couldn't find a small vase. I used the mason jar that I got at last year's wedding. 

I have already used the vase for a picture earlier in June, when the flowers in my gardens were yellow and white, now it's time for the coneflowers and bee balm. Today I worked from home and during lunch I quickly cut a few flowers and found a naturally lighted spot on the table. The close up above was used for the flickr 365 group and I used the flowers below for today's cy365 prompt. I liked the dark black ground and wanted to add texture to make it artistic.

Two textures.

Without texture

Friday Finds- Dragonflies in the Garden

While waiting for hummingbirds, I can be happy just watching the dragonflies flit around the garden. Behind our house, we have a stream leading into a pond which must be where all of these dragonflies live. Some are shy and fly away when I get up close, while others remain on the flowers. Sometimes its frustrating to have the zoom lens on the camera to get a hummingbird picture when there is a dragonfly that I can get up close to where a macro lens would work better.

The wings look so delicate, with the lacy look and the dragonfly above at least has intact wings compared to the dragonfly that I posted earlier this week. Lucky to have a variety of small wildlife to enjoy in the backyard.