The challenge from Les at A Tidewater Gardener is to pick my favorite photos of 2012. Favorites are a little different than best because sometimes the story helps a photo quite a bit. That doesn't make it easier to narrow them down though.
Here are my choices for 2012 with the stories behind them.
Here are my choices for 2012 with the stories behind them.
Chihuly Nights at The Dallas Arboretum in May. Since I had never been to the arboretum I studied the exhibit map in advance and guessed that the ponds might be the best place to watch the sunset. A rare calm evening meant mirror-like reflections on the water.
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Jennifer and Fred Meyers Garden on the Open Days Austin Tour. The view from the street capturing that moment when I realized this garden is much more than a good layout and appropriate plant selection.
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Lake Austin residence also on the Open Days tour was an opportunity to experience a house designed by award-winning San Antonio architects Lake|Flato. This house has been professionally documented numerous times, but there are rarely people in those types of photos. The garden tour added people and perspective.
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Blue Agave in lights for Christmas. This treatment of the Agave ovatifolia in the front yard was a hit with readers and generated two blogger links, the best blogger compliment. Two evenings spent out on the sidewalk with a tripod produced an album full of angles and exposures to select just one for the blog. I chose to go with a darker version.
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A bee taking advantage of rare Texas Sage blooms. Texas Sage only blooms after an hour or more of rain which doesn't often happen.
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Our state flower, Bluebonnets in March against a wire fence in the backyard. This was a patch of yard left bare by the drought and we covered it in a field of blue for spring.
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Christmas cactus blooms were a beautiful color this year.
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Holiday Lights along the River Walk are always a treat and this year the traditional draping lights are back after an unpopular attempt to modernize them.
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A San Antonio blog should have the Alamo. The question is with tourists or without?
I opt for tourists
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and not
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That's eleven so I'll stop there.
To see more top ten selections from bloggers, head over to A Tidewater Gardener.
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Mexican Flame Vine. Another reader favorite and an illusion because these were the only blooms on the entire plant that day.
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A bee taking advantage of rare Texas Sage blooms. Texas Sage only blooms after an hour or more of rain which doesn't often happen.
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Our state flower, Bluebonnets in March against a wire fence in the backyard. This was a patch of yard left bare by the drought and we covered it in a field of blue for spring.
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Christmas cactus blooms were a beautiful color this year.
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Holiday Lights along the River Walk are always a treat and this year the traditional draping lights are back after an unpopular attempt to modernize them.
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A San Antonio blog should have the Alamo. The question is with tourists or without?
I opt for tourists
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and not
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That's eleven so I'll stop there.
To see more top ten selections from bloggers, head over to A Tidewater Gardener.
Lovely photos. Happy New Year, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteThose are some beautiful photos. Looking forward to seeing many more of your fantastic photos in 2013.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I look forward to the fun of searching out interesting places.
DeleteWe watched the Oregon State Beavers play their bowl game in your city. It was fun to see the photos and feel a familiarity with the place from following your blog. I missed that blue lighted agave the first time around. It's a beaut!
ReplyDeleteI did wonder if any Oregon readers were watching the game. I didn't see it but they usually give a tour of the town. It's nice to know you are learning about our beautiful city from my blog.
DeleteI am so glad you put that blue agave in there! Beautiful photos and gardens and flowers! Nice work. :0) David
ReplyDeleteOf course, thank you for linking to the blue agave post, it's fun to inspire another blogger and readers.
DeleteWell, I only did nine photos; don't know why I didn't think to add a tenth. You are right that the stories add so much to the photos, and I enjoyed the stories behind yours as well, esp. the "illusion" of the Mexican flame vine -- that's so true, so often we bloggers create an illusion with our images, don't we?
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and fun times remembered. Happy New Year, Shirley!
For the tenth I would nominate all the rest of your photos Pam!
DeleteDid I give away a few blogger secrets? Of course we use the most flattering angles and other tricks.
All of the night shots are my favorites. Maybe because I can't take good ones myself.
ReplyDeleteThe secret is using a tripod and the delay feature. Take a lot of the same view with different settings.
DeleteHappy New Year, Shirley.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like the first photo and the one of the Bluebonnets.
Shirley, thank you for posting your favorite photos, and you are right that favorite is not the same as best. Sometimes it's the story or associations behind a photo that make it special.
ReplyDelete