Top Ten Challenge

This week my blog is celebrating its third birthday--third as in three months!  As a newbie I often follow the lead of other bloggers when it comes to posts like Wordless Wednesday, Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, and Foliage Follow up.

The past few days I've been reading excellent posts that look back on 2011.  Writing a retrospective on new blog wouldn't work, but I did find my inspiration in the form of a challenge from Les at A Tidewater Garden by way of Digging.  When Greggo's garden also posted his beautiful favorites, I naturally wondered if I could also find ten favorites in the 34 posts so far in my brief blogging career.

Finding ten I liked was pretty easy and much of the credit goes to the beautiful, photo-op packed city of San Antonio where I live.

Before we get to the photos, there are a few things to say about blogging so far.  I enjoy blogging and the connection it provides to other bloggers around the world.  The best part has been making new friends with common interests.  In sharing this beautiful city of San Antonio with you, I have learned to see it in a different way.

It's been such a fun three months I plan to keep on going and you'll also see some improvements to the look of the blog along the way.  For the first big change I've made my photos larger and what better post to start with than the ten favorites.

Without further ado, here are my selections with a bit of extra commentary:

This swallowtail at The Antique Rose Emporium almost looks photoshopped.  Lots of patience and many more swallowtail photos that didn't make the cut were behind it.

 
Spot and the Jack-o-Lantern at The Antique Rose Emporium.  Spot needs an agent, he loves cameras and consistently poses on cue.  Perfect, good job Spot.  That's a wrap!

Fish curving around waterlily pads at The Japanese Tea Garden.  I was trying to get fish in the photo and the curve was a bonus.

Another look at those amazing waterlilies in the ponds at the Japanese Tea Garden

 

Rainbow Gardens #3 on Bandera Road.  I love ornamental grasses and this huge display with perennials was fun to experience

The prehistoric looking Wheel Bug caught my eye

December brought rain and a rare opportunity for rainy day photos.  The leaves above held and released large drops creating the ripples.

A Cardinal makes a fresh start for New Year's Eve.  Bright color against the rocks.

Ft. Sam Houston cemetery is a place I usually drive past, but on this day I stopped to remember and take photos.

The San Antonio River Walk during holiday weeks is festive and full of visitors from around the world.

Those are my ten favorites and I look forward to posting many more photos and stories in 2012!