Summer Photo Contests

1 – Second Place at the Prince William County Fair

This has not been a good summer for my routine lunchtime bike rides.  A combination of frequent rainy days intermixed with days of oppressive heat, compounded by being very busy at work, and topped off with an injury, prevented me from riding every day.  Hopefully, as we get past this Labor Day weekend and closer to autumn’s arrival, I will be able to go back to consistently riding every day.

However, it was a good summer nonetheless.  And one of the good things that happened this summer involved photographs I have taken in the past during my lunchtime bike rides.  I entered a few photographs in some local photo contests.  And half of them won.  I won a second and a third place in one contest, and came in first in the other contest.

One of the contests was part of the nearby Prince William County Fair, which I entered because it is the largest county fair in the state of Virginia.  I entered the maximum number allowed, five photos in five different categories (see thumbnails below).  I won second place red ribbon and two dollars prize money in the category of “Flowers”, and a third place white ribbon and one dollar in the category of “Manipulated Black and White Photograph.”  Personally, I honestly thought my photos were the best of all the ones entered in these two categories.  But there’s one positive aspect of not winning – there’s room for improvement.  So perhaps next year I will be able to win a first place blue ribbon like my youngest daughter won for her photography last year, and my oldest daughter did this year for crafts.

The other contest was sponsored by the Georgetown University Grilling Society (GUGS).  For the GUGS (the first “G” is soft, as in “genius”) Summer Photo Contest I entered one photograph.  And I won first place.  But better than a blue ribbon, I won the grand prize of a free GUGS burger (worth five dollars), and a pass to the front of the line so that I did not have to wait (which no amount of money can buy).  I claimed my prize during today’s first GUGS grill of the fall season, and enjoyed the burger for lunch today.

So from now on, you will no longer see snapshots accompanying by blog posts.  From now on, you will see photographs from an award-winning photographer.

Prince William County Fair Photo Contest

2     3     4

5     6     7

2 – Second Place at the Prince William County Fair

3 – Entered in the “Cityscapes” category, and captioned “Urban Reflection”.

4 – Entered in the “People and Animals” category, and captioned “Country Girl Visits the City”.

5 – Entered in the “Photos From Last Year’s Fair” category, and captioned “Girl in Butterfly Tent Looking for a Butterfly”.

6 – Entered in the “Flowers” category, and captioned “Half and Half”

7 – Entered in the “Manipulated Black and White Photo” category, and captioned “Unfaded Glory”.

GUGS Summer Photo Contest

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8 – Entered in the GUGS Summer Photo Contest, and captioned, “As I left the last grill this past Spring, there was a sadness in my heart knowing that it would be months until the next grill. And through my tears, as I happened to glance upward through the trees, God shone a light down through the smoke from the grill as if to say, “It’s going to be okay.” This photo captures that moment. A moment that represents what I love about GUGS Friday grills – everything.”
9  – My prize for coming in first place in the GUGS Summer Photo Contest – this burger and a pass to skip to the front of the line.

[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

More May Flowers

More May Flowers

The city’s cherry blossoms are world renowned, attracting millions of visitors during their peak bloom, which usually occurs during the month of April.  Sadly, many of those visitors then leave without being here to see the beautiful blooms that are here during the following month.  But the month of May should not be overlooked when it comes to beautiful blooms.  Although the cherry blossoms are usually long gone by the time May arrives, the variety of the flowers blooming during May are every bit as beautiful as the more famous cherry blossoms, as these photos show.

Much like last year’s post, the photographs in this blog post are some of the ones I took during the month of May. There are thirty-one photos included in this post, one for each day during the past month. I chose them based on the photo itself, and not just the flower in it. But I also tried to include photos of a variety of flowers so as to show the diversity and beauty of the gardens and grounds of many of this city’s homes, where all of these photos were taken.

I’d also like to remind you, however, that I am not a professional photographer and I do not have a fancy camera. These photos, like all the ones in this blog, were taken with my cell phone. I think they turned out fairly well though. So be sure to click on the thumbnails for the larger versions so you can see the intricacy, complexity and the full beauty of the flowers. And I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I enjoyed riding around and taking them.

 

[Click on the thumbnails above to view the full size photos]

Best of the Rest – Part 5

The Colonnade at The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America

Today’s blog post is the fifth and last part of a series of my favorite miscellaneous photos from 2017 that have not been previously posted here on this blog.  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of the series were previously posted.

 

[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

1 – A street vendor selling a purse featuring Barack and Michelle Obama.
2 – Various mushrooms for sale at the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market
3 – A pedicab parked off the beaten path for tourists on P Street in the Logan Circle neighborhood
4 – Savory Greek pastries for sale at the farmers market at the Reagan Building
5 – A purple flower on an cast iron fence on 14th Street in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in northwest D.C.
6 – A mural on the side of a grocery store features the store’s owner
7 – One of many signs of patriotism for Independence Day, this one in Georgetown
8 – The simplistic and elegant architectural lines of the colonnade at Federal Triangle
9 – Evergreens, although singular in color, rival the colorful flowers at the Botanic Garden for their beauty
10 – Autumn showing off it’s colors on Swann Street in the DuPont Circle neighborhood
11 – A complimentary smart car for use by guests at Attache Corporate Housing in Foggy Bottom
12 – A summer concert in the park as part of Farragut Fridays in Farragut Square Park
13 – A Metropolitan Police Department car parked in a bike lane as an officer inside eats her lunch
14 – A freshly-fallen colorful autumn leaf I watched fall in the yard of a residence on Capitol Hill
15 – Secret Service officers requiring a man to take down the encampment he built in Lafayette Square Park
16 – Marchers from Charlottesville vowed to occupy Farragut Square Park for six months but lasted only a few days
17 – One of the many summer concerts, this one in Franklin Square
18 – Stained glass windows at the church of presidents, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square
19 – A view from the north shore of the Potomac River looking toward Arlington
20 – An inflatable Hoya bulldog mascot in Red Square on the campus of Georgetown University
21 – Musicians in a tent performing in a temporary “Moroccan City” set up on the National Mall
22 – A woman wearing a pie hat at the annual handing out of free pie at McPherson Square
23 – Colorful balloons seemed to detract from this protest’s message
24 – My recumbent bike named Julius at the fountain at the
25 – An elderly homeless man with only one shoe but his own Bible at Street Church in Franklin Square
26 – The counter at another one of my favorite lunch spots, MGM Roast Beef in Brentwood
27 – Heirloom tomatoes at the USDA Outdoor Farmers Market
28 – Looking through the front window and watching the pizzas being prepared at We, The Pizza
29 – A window washer repelling down the side of The W Hotel  on 15th Street
30 – A bike designed more for the comfort of the passenger than the rider
31 – Colorful statues in front of pet bakery and grooming shop
32 – A giant chicken statue in the front yard of a house on R Street in northwest D.C.
33 – A seemingly distraught man near the fountain in DuPont Circle Park
34 – A topiary dog marking it’s territory at a residence on R Street in northwest D.C.
35 – Holiday vendors selling handmade items at Eastern Market just before Christmas
36 – A street artist’s wares on display on a sidewalk on Capitol Hill
37 – I thought all Holly berries were red, but now I’ve learned that they are not
38 – A window in City Center decorated for the holidays
39 – One of the grill masters of the Georgetown University Grilling Society
40 – A dinosaur hiding in the Hawaii room at the United States Botanic Garden
41 – The Tune Inn, my favorite “dive” on Capitol Hill and home of the Joe’s West Virginia sandwich
42 – The entrance to David’s Tent, where a non-stop worship service has been happening since September 11, 2015

D.C. Decorated for the Holidays

The following photo slideshow is of holiday decorations I saw throughout the city during my daily lunchtime bike rides in December.  From the National Christmas tree in front of The White House and the Capitol Christmas tree in front of the U.S. Capitol Building, to the doorways and store windows, the national capital city had an abundance of decorations.  Some were typical, like the wreathes and Christmas trees.  Others were unusual, like the building wrapped in a bow, and the glass Christmas ornament with a live venus flytrap growing in it.  But whether big or small, I enjoyed seeing all of them. And I hope you enjoy these photos too.  Happy holidays.

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[You can pause the slideshow to see the photos in more detail]

Best of the Rest – Part 4

As Jeff Goldbloom’s character said in Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way.”

Today’s blog post is fourth part of a five-part series of my favorite miscellaneous photos from the past year that have not been previously posted here on this blog.  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the series were previously posted.  And please come back next Friday for the last part of my year-end collection of miscellaneous photos from 2017.

 

[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

1 – Streetcar tracks and cobblestones reminiscent of an earlier time on O Street in Georgetown
2 – Students relaxing on a fall day in Red Square at Georgetown University
3 – A shark outside of the National Geographic Headquarters building for Shark Week
4 – The magnificent pipe organ at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
5 – A dilapidated home in the University Heights neighborhood in northeast D.C.
6 – A homeless man sleeping on one of the benches surrounding the fountain in DuPont Circle
7 – A flower garden and statue of St. Francis in the courtyard at The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
8 – A sign advertising classes in graffiti art in front of the on 8th Street in Brentwood
9 – Some ladybug-like bugs in The Mary Livingston Ripley Garden 
10 – An apartment building under construction on Pennsylvania Avenue on Capitol Hill
11 – A view from 4th Street of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
12 – A musician performing at the Downtown Holiday Market near the National Portrait Gallery
13 – A bulldog tied up at a bicycle rack outside a bookstore on Connecticut Avenue
14 – Pigeons perched next to a green algae-filled fountain at the United States Navy Memorial
15 – The front window of Kramerbooks and Afterworks on Connecticut Avenue
16 – A building reflected off another building in Downtown D.C.
17 – An ethnic dancing display in front of Healy Hall at Georgetown University
18 – An autumn game of tic-tac-to at the farmers market at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
19 – The Lost and Found bar and music venue on 9th Street in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood
20 – A local news crew interviewing one of the daily protestors at the White House
21 – A giant spider envelops a house in Georgetown in its web
22 – Various vegetables for sale at the farmers market in City Center
23 – People petting baby goats and other animals at a temporary petting zoo on the National Mall
24 – A construction site on 9th Street in Downtown D.C.
25 – Succulents in a pot on the stone fence of a residence
26 – A colorful protest in Lafayette Square Park
27 – The corner of this building in Blagden Ally caught my eye
28 –  Someone was having a worse day than I was the day I took this photo
29 – A large old tree provided some shade at a Friday cookout with the Georgetown University Grilling Society (GUGS)
30 – This street preacher had an almost unending crowd passing by in front of Union Station
31 – A blow-up Easter Bunny advertising display, in September
32 – Colorful peppers at the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market
33 – Construction on New York Avenue just north of Chinatown
34 – The iconic gold-domed corner of the Suntrust Bank building at the corner of 15th Street and New York Avenue
35 – Some decorative multi-colored cabbage in a garden in Mount Pleasant
36 – A colorful door and trim on a brownstone in the West End neighborhood
37 – The weekday famers market at City Center in Downtown
38 – An appetizing window display at Tadich’s Take Out
39 – Art can pop up almost anywhere in D.C., such as this storm drain in Adams Morgan
40 – The corner window of Soul Cycle on M Street in Georgetown
41 – Patriotically attired tourist waiting to get in to see The Petersen House where President Lincoln died
42 – One of the embassies in D.C. – Christ Embassy, on 18th Street in Brookland

Best of the Rest – Part 3

The high-end residences known as The Warehouses at Union Row in the Shaw/Uptown neighborhood

Today’s blog post is part three of a five-part series of my favorite miscellaneous photos from the past year that have not been previously posted here on my blog.  Part 1 and Part 2 of the series were previously posted.  And please come back each Friday for the rest of this month for Part 4 and Part 5 of my year-end collection of miscellaneous photos from 2017.

The Smithsonian Castle

 

[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

1 – The George Washington mural on U Street
2 – The base of the fountain at Meridian Hill Park
3 – A very bright red rose in the sunlight that caught my eye as I was riding by
4 – The fountain and soon to be outdoor ice rink at the National Sculpture Garden
5 – A reporter and cameraman on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the U.S. Department of Justice Building.
6 – A sign from times past on a building near Blagdon Avenue
7 – An encouraging mural on the back of Union Market
8 – A very colorful chair on the patio of a restaurant off 14th Street
9 – The modern symmetry of a downtown office building stands in stark contrast to other architecture
10 – Some mushrooms that look more like pancakes on the base of a tree on 13th Street
11 – Some samples of vegetables grown at the United States Botanic Garden
12 – Window washers scaling down the side of the National Press Club building
13 – A bench in Franklin Square Park decorated in memory of a homeless woman wo lived there
14 – A flower vendor outside of the Farragut Square North Metro Station
15 – A duck walking  down the sidewalk along the Southwest Waterfront near The Titanic Memorial
16 – A public artwork of a pink double-hump camel
17 – A piece of art outside near the front entrance to the Hirshorn Museum
18 – A street performer playing for tips in Farragut Square Park
19 – A man wearing an unusually geeky hat during the full solar eclipse
20 – A sticker on a Prius that reads “Cool Prius, Said Nobody”
21 – Police Officers outside FBI Headquarters arresting a man
22 – A large, colorful W in front of The W Hotel downtown on 15th Street
23 – Fresh vegetables for sale at the farmers market at the National Geographic headquarters building
24 – The Spirit of Washington sinner cruise ship travelling up the Washington Channel
25 – A Pabst Blue Ribbon mural on the side of a bar on U Street
26 – Protestors protesting in front of The White House about a variety of issues
27 – What’s left of a bike that was not securely locked in the Petworth neighborhood
28 – People lined up at a food truck parked with all the others along the streets bordering Farragut Square Park
29 – A hopefully friendly dog wearing a sign that says pet me tied up near Union Market
30 – The Southwest Waterfront just east of the redevelopment construction
31 – A window washing rig on the side of a building that seems to disappear into the sky
32 – A sculpture in the National Sculpture Garden
33 – A sign reading Resist Persist on the side of a building
34 – A bench in a shady spot in Lower Senate Park on Capitol Hill
35 – Flowers at Caruso’s Florist on Rhode Island Avenue near the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
36 – The Smithsonian Institute, more commonly referred to as The Castle because of its appearance
37 – An American flag hanging from the National Broadcasters Association building
38 – Some tourists trying to take a photo of an uncooperative subject in the Mary Ripley Garden
39 – A cooking demonstration at the United States Botanic Garden using plants grown there
40 – More protestors in front of the White House because, well, there are always protestors in front of the White House
41 – The statue of a cow randomly placed in a front yard
42 – One of my favorite lunch spots, MGM Roast Beef

Best of the Rest – Part 2

Rainbows on the National Mall

Today’s blog post is part two of a five-part series of my favorite miscellaneous photos from the past year that have not been previously posted here on my blog.  Part one of the series was posted last Friday and can be found here.  And please come back each Friday for the rest of this month for Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5 of my year-end collection of miscellaneous photos from 2017.

 

[Click on the photos to view the full-size versions]

1 – A young woman playing the violin for tips in front of the U.S. Treasury Building
2 – Public art pieces being transported to the median on New York Avenue
3 – Mushrooms growing on a tree stump on the sidewalk median along 14th Street in northwest D.C.
4 – Some children playing on a modern playground jungle gym while a couple others play on the fence
5 – A group tour traveling via Segway passing by the north portico of The White House
6 – A well-travelled Jeep displays the history of its travel and its owner
7 – The future headstone at Historic Congressional Cemetery of 70-year old music lover Joyce E. Palmer
8 – An abandoned, graffiti–covered house on Rhode Island Avenue
9 – Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
10 – The Acanthus fountain in the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
11 – A view from the Georgetown Waterfront of Arlington and the Key Bridge
12 – A mommy/baby yoga and exercise class at Union Market
13 – Flowers growing along a cast iron fence at a residence on Capitol Hill
14 – A military service at the United States Navy Memorial
15 – A homemade sign hanging from a rowhouse in the Shaw neighborhood
16 – A colorful florist shop on O Street in Georgetown
17 – Greek pastries and baked goods for sale at the Reagan Building Farmers Market
18 – A fence made of rope along the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria
19 – A lone rower practicing on the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center
20 – Beachballs celebrating summer suspended over the walkway at City Center
21 – A man sitting on a bench in Adams Morgan wearing a chapeau that caught my eye
22 – These lions guard the entrance to a restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue
23 – A retired military jet on display at the D.C. Armory
24 – An nostalgic-looking electric street car on H Street
25 – A street musician playing in the middle of the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market
26 – Fireworks for sale at the district line with Maryland
27 – A couple of young women playing Giant Jenga in Farragut Square Park during Farragut Fridays
28 –The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church where President Lincoln worshipped while in office
29 – The protected bike lane on First Street is one of the best bike routes in the city
30 – A mural on Lanier Place by Juan Pineda entitled “A People Without Murals is a Demuralized People”
31 – A pig roasting at the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market
32 – Protestors in Lafayette Square in front of the White House
33 – A sign seen in a shop window at the Artswalk in Brentwood
34 – A mural by an unknown artist at the intersection of Florida and North Capitol Streets
35 – A Little Free Library in northwest D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood
36 – A walking/hiking path on Kingman Island
37 – Some industrial signs along the Metropolitan Branch Trail
38 – A police officer sitting in a squad car updating his Facebook page while parked in the bike lane on G Street
39 – A ghost bike tribute on U Street in northwest D.C.
40 – A unusual looking Subway Sandwich Shop near Union Market
41 – A decorated minivan that probably does not belong to your typical soccer mom
42 – A public art piece located in a park

Best of the Rest (Year-End Photos)

Sunbeams shining through the autumn leaves of a tree in front of Healey Hall on the campus of Georgetown University

As the month of December begins and another year is rapidly coming to an end I find myself, much like I did last year, with a number of miscellaneous photos I took during my daily lunchtime bike rides over the past twelve months, but did not previously post in this blog. The photos depict many different aspects of D.C., but do not capture what you would call a main character in the story of the city.  Instead, the photos capture the periphery, background, and supporting characters that round out its overall story.

I find myself with so many photos that I have decided to post some of them each Friday throughout the month of December.  In fact, I’ve decided to post a photo for each workday of the past year.  As a career Federal employee, after deducting for holidays, sick days and annual leave, that comes to 210 photos for 2017.  So today, and each day for the rest of this week, I am going to post some of my favorite photos.  And at the top of each of this week’s five posts I will post my top five favorite photos.

I hope you enjoy these photos and find them interesting. And please click on the cropped thumbnails to view the full size versions and additional detail.  And as always, I invite you to comment and/or ask questions. So feel free to do so on a post, or on individual photos after clicking on them.  You’re also welcome to contact me privately if you’d prefer.  I’m interested in your perspective and value your input.

 

[Click on the photos above to view the full size versions]

1 – The cobblestones and street car tracks on O Street in Georgetown
2 – Street Church in Franklin Square Park sponsored by Church of the Epiphany
3 – One of the many murals along the Metropolitan Branch Trail
4 – Art bench on display outside of the 8th Street Art Co-op in the Brentwood neighborhood
5 – The unusual architecture of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization
6 – A young woman sitting on a bench and playing a ukulele while waiting for a bus
7 – Construction site with preserved building façade on U Street next to the Howard Theater
8 – An abstract mural of Yoda painted on garage door in an alley in the NoMa neighborhood
9 – My recumbent bike, Julius, in front of an outdoor fountain at the National Gallery of Art
10 – Cityscape of the Rosslyn area of Arlington from across the Potomac River
11 – Man riding backwards on a bicycle on Pennsylvania Avenue near Freedom Plaza
12 – Spiral bike rack viewed from one end outside of the Farragut North Metro Station
13 – Church building at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America
14 – Blooming toad lilies at the Smithsonian’s Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
15 – Illuminated stained glass windows at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square
16 – A selection of fresh shrimp for sale at the Maine Avenue Fish Market
17 – Excavation at a construction site near H Street as viewed from the Metropolitan Branch Trail
18 – Pabst Blue Ribbon mural on side of Solly’s Tavern
19 – Virginia Rail Express train crossing an overpass over 7th Street in southeast D.C.
20 – A Kurdistan protest outside of the Trump International Hotel
21 – An antique motorcycle and sidecar outside of Union Market
22 – A Friday tradition, a round burger from The Georgetown University Grilling Society (GUGS)
23 – Part of the revitalized watershed along the Anacostia River
24 – The U.S. Capitol Building rotunda in my bike’s rear view mirror
25 – A rope walker practicing in Red Square on the campus of Georgetown University
26 – A news crew broadcasting live from outside of the FBI Headquarters building
27 – Shoppers in a rare uncrowded moment in Eastern Market on Capitol Hill
28 – A pair of street musicians playing for tips outside of the Farragut North Metro Station
29 – A ramp for ducks to access the fountain at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
30 – Free popsicle giveaway during “Farragut Fridays” at Farragut Square Park
31 – This Dead End sign caught my attention because of the question mark
32 – Fresh eggplants and corn on the cob at the Vermont Avenue Farmers Market
33 – Tourists taking a photo near the National Mall downtown
34 – A city resident allowed out relaxing in front of his cage on his front porch
35 – A protest against President Trump in front of the Trump International Hotel
36 – A display in front of a middle eastern rug store on 7th Street on Capitol Hill
37 – A street evangelist singing in front of the General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument
38 – A protest by anarchists occupying Pershing Park
39 – A cast iron fence in front of a residence in Georgetown
40 – A sidewalk sign in front of a wine shop on Connecticut Avenue near DuPont Circle
41 – The East Potomac Driving Range at the Washington Golf Center
42 – The daily selection of doughnuts at Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken

NOTE:  Please come back each Friday through the rest of the month for Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and
Part 5 of my year-end collection of miscellaneous photos from 2017.

May Flowers

May Flowers

There’s an old saying that goes “April showers bring May flowers.”  Actually, the entire proverb goes something like, “March winds and April showers bring May flowers and June bugs.”  It is a lesson in patience.  It means that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness and joy.

Well, I can do without the early cold winds, and June bugs that come later on.  And I’m not all that fond of the rain either.  But I guess the traditionally rainy period in April is necessary to provide the water that nourishes the plants and allows them to subsequently bloom.  And based on the beauty and magnificence of many of the flowers I saw during my lunchtime bike rides during the past month, I’d say this year’s rains were well worth enduring.

As I rode around in some of the city’s various residential neighborhoods, a number of flowers and plants and private gardens caught my eye.  Some were at homes which are very large, and clearly belong to more affluent people.  Some of those homes are even on the National Register of Historic Places.  Others were located on the property of more modest houses.  A few were actually from abandoned properties.  And I even saw some plants and flowers in medians in the road,  or in plantings outside of small, local businesses.

Unlike the early season wildflower blooms I recently saw on a ride to the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge earlier this month, all of these flowers were purposefully planted by the property owners.  And none were from places in D.C. where you would normally expect to find such beautiful blooms, such as the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, the Smithsonian’s Enid A. Haupt Garden, or other similar places.

The photographs in this blog post are some of the ones I took during the month of May.  And I took a lot of photos in the last month.  There are one hundred photos included in this post.  I chose them based on the photo itself, and not just the flower in it.  But I also tried to include photos of a variety of flowers so as to show the diversity and beauty of the gardens and grounds of many of this city’s homes.

I’d also like to remind you, however, that I am not a professional photographer and I do not have a fancy camera.  These photos, like all the ones in this blog, were taken with my cell phone.  I think they turned out fairly well though.  So be sure to click on the thumbnails for the larger versions so you can see the intricacy, complexity and the full beauty of the flowers.  And I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I enjoyed riding around and taking them.

         

          

         

         

          

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

          

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         
[Click on the thumbnails above to view the full size photos]

Early Season Wildflower Blooms

Early Season Wildflower Blooms

They are predicting a 70 to 90 percent chance of rain every day for the coming week.  And although it was slightly overcast yesterday, the weather was cool and dry.  So I decided to go for a late afternoon weekend bike ride to the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which is located approximately 25 miles due south of D.C., at 13950 Dawson Beach Road (MAP), where the Occoquan River meets the Potomac River in Prince William County, Virginia .

Having been there before, it occurred to me as I was initially riding through the refuge that there was very little color compared to the last time I was there.  This is evidenced by the above photo.  The green has returned with the Spring.  But most of the other colors have yet to follow because many of the larger blooming plants do not peak until later in the summer.  But as I continued riding I looked more closely and was intermittently able to find a variety of color in small flowers and leaves along the way.

The small size of the blooms gave me the chance to practice some selective focus photography. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts as shown in the photos below, there is no type of photography can capture their true beauty.  For that I recommend you get out there and see it for yourself.

The whole experience reminded me of how there is always beauty all around you.  It’s just that sometimes it’s not obvious.  Sometimes you have to look for it to find it.

          

         

         

         

         

         

         

         
[Click on the thumbnails above to view the full size photos]