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Morning Surprise - Judith Sparhawk

This cereus cactus is growing in a garden at a home several blocks from my home. I walk that way every now and then. I have seen it many times with spent buds, too late to see the (one-night only) night blooming flowers. The other day I happened by extra early and found about a dozen flowers on it. I hurriedly walked back home the several blocks and got my camera and returned to finally get some photos of it. The honeybees were buzzing around the flowers, as was I! I believe this is the type of cereus known as Peruvian Apple Cereus Cactus. 8/18/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Rainbow Over Redlands - Judith Sparhawk

After I came home from work the other day, I went out to get the mail, and this is what I saw! Needless to say, I went back to get my camera, and took several shots of the rainbow. This is a view of "my" mountain, that I have shown with snow, or with unusual cloud formations. I believe it is the first time I have seen a rainbow there. Then I was thinking that I hadn't seen a rainbow anywhere for a long time, and then realized, DUH, it hasn't rained! No wonder! I really enjoyed this one, at any rate. 8/17/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

More Orchids - Judith Sparhawk

These very unusual orchids were photographed in the botanic building at Huntington Library Gardens. I think that's about enough orchids for now! What fun they were to find and capture! 8/16/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Orchids Galore - Judith Sparhawk

More orchids from the botanic building at Huntington Library Gardens. 8/15/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Yellow Orchid - Judith Sparhawk

Back to the orchids at the botanical building at Huntington Library Gardens. There were so many really different kinds on exhibit, I photographed as many as I could. 8/14/22 www.sparhawkphotograaphy.com

Moon Gate - Judith Sparhawk

This intriguing architectural detail in the Chinese Garden in Huntington Library Gardens, included four moon gates, each leading in a different direction. This view shows three of the four circular gates. 8/13/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Cactus Beauty - Judith Sparhawk

This was one of the cactus flowers in the Desert Garden at Huntington Library Gardens recently. I was surprised to see how many cacti were in bloom in the middle of summer. 8/12/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Peachy Lily - Judith Sparhawk

One of the types of water lilies in the lily ponds at Huntington Library Gardens was this lovely peach color. It wasn't as bright as some of the others, but I really liked the color. 8/11/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

In the Japanese Garden - Judith Sparhawk

Walking in the Japanese Garden section of Huntington Library Gardens, there is a building with open-air rooms, each with a little vignette of Japanese domestic life. You can't enter the building, but can see the different views as you walk by. This is my favorite, with the traditional table set for a meal for two. I recently had a print made of this one, for an "International Flair"-themed show. I had it printed on metallic coated paper, and it has a wonderful golden illuminated glow to it. I will be away from my computer for a couple of days, so will not be posting or commenting during that time. 8/8/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

At the Koi Pond - Judith Sparhawk

While walking at Huntington Library Gardens, I saw these cute kids playing at the lily pond where the koi were swimming. 8/7/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Looking Through - Judith Sparhawk

This is a whole other view of the statue of Diana that I showed in my post yesterday. This was how I approached Diana. walking through the columns. You can see the domed skylight, the statue, and the flowers and trees beyond. There are just so many beautiful places in Huntington Library & Gardens. 8/6/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Diana the Archer - Judith Sparhawk

I will come back to more of the orchids later, as I still have quite a few really pretty ones yet to come. This statue is in the entrance alcove of one of the museums at Huntington Library. The whole complex has several beautiful buildings containing very different museum collections. I must admit I hardly ever get into the museums, as I spend all my time in the gardens. However, walking in the gardens between the museums, I see sights such as this statue, and can't resist taking a few shots. 8/5/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Pretty in Pink - Judith Sparhawk

This pretty orchid was another from the botanical building at Huntington Library Gardens in the Pasadena area. I think I'll be moving on from the orchids for now, but I've really enjoyed working with them. 8/4/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Orchid Twins - Judith Sparhawk

Another of the very different orchids blooming in the botanical building at Huntington Library Gardens. Sorry, I have a few more orchids to show. I've never seen such variations in color and shape before. I couldn't stop shooting them! 8/3/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Orchid Duo - Judith Sparhawk

This is one of the orchids at the Botanical Building at Huntington Library Gardens. I loved seeing all the varieties, but did not see any names for the different types. For this one I added a textured background to replace the unattractive windows that were behind them. 8/2/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

The Botanical Building - Judith Sparhawk

This is a view of the front of the botanical building at Huntington Library Gardens. I must admit, I seldom get into any of the excellent museums on this 200 acre property, as the gardens so captivate me. During my recent visit I discovered this botanical building, which includes a simulated rain forest. I was especially entranced by the orchids they had blooming there. I hope I don't bore you with all the orchids I may be showing you in the future. I chose this view of the building, to include the sculpture of Mercury with his winged feet and the caduceus.

Koi Pond - Judith Sparhawk

One of the lily ponds at Huntington Library Gardens had quite a lot of large koi fish swimming around and around. I tried several shots of them--this was one of them. 7/31/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Blue Lily & Friends - Judith Sparhawk

At one of several lily ponds at Huntington Library Gardens, I saw this type of blue long-stemmed water lily. It wasn't until I was home and seeing it on my computer, that I noticed the Bluet Damselfly on the stem of the lily, plus the "critters" perched above it. I'm pretty sure they are damselfly nymphs, the larval stage of that insect. (Looking at a magnified view will show them up best.) 7/30/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Welcome to the Chinese Garden - Judith Sparhawk

This is the entrance to the Chinese Garden at Huntington Library & Gardens. There are several buildings, pavilions and other structures, several bridges and ponds. Everything was created to be authentic to traditional gardens in China, with much symbolism. The garden was created several years ago now, with mature foliage, and is a lovely place to explore. 7/29/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Cactus Pink - Judith Sparhawk

One of my favorite areas at Huntington Library Gardens is the Desert Garden. It is a large area filled with hundreds of succulent and cactus plants. I was surprised how many of the cacti had flowers in July. This was one of my favorites of the cactus flowers this week. 7/28/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Orchid Beauty - Judith Sparhawk

In my visit to Huntington Library and Gardens, I found a botanical building I had never seen before. Inside was a tropical garden, simulating a rainforest, and included some very exotic orchids. It was hot and very steamy inside, and I was dripping sweat by the time I went out, but I loved the orchids and other plants housed inside. This is one of the orchids that I photographed there. 7/27/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

At the Pavillion - Judith Sparhawk

I had a wonderful day photographing at Huntington Library Gardens in Pasadena, CA. I hadn't been there for several years, and despite being a hot July, there were many flowers in bloom, and I really enjoyed the Japanese and Chinese Gardens. This view is looking through one of the many elaborate pavilions in the Chinese Garden. 7/26/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Angel Trumpet Flower - Judith Sparhawk

This trumpet flower was photographed in Balboa Park in San Diego, CA. It was a very large bush, with many of the large blooms. Each flower was about 8 inches long. 7/25/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com

Fuchsias Hanging Down - Judith Sparhawk

These pretty fuchsia blooms were photographed in the Alcazar Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. 7/24/22 www.sparhawkphotography.com