The tulips are all gone and most of the flowering trees have dropped their blossoms at the Garden. This past week there was a flurry of activity as staff and volunteers pulled out spring gardens and planted displays for summer.  It's always bittersweet to see beautiful displays being pulled up and changed. I get attached to certain gardens but it always means that something equally beautiful is about to appear. I know the first day of summer doesn't officially start until June 21st, but I always think of the beginning of June as the start of summer.  Yesterday I started a fun new project I've been thinking about doing for years - a 365 project centered around capturing the patterns and textures of nature.  I'll be taking and posting a photo each day for a full 365 days!  Wish me luck!  Sounds easy but I know from others that have done 365 projects that it's challenging to keep up the pace, but it will inevitably lead to a lot of growth as a photographer.  Here's the link to the special page on this website:

http://annebelmont.zenfolio.com/365-project---textures-and-patterns-in-nature

I haven't been posting to my blog as often as I like lately - travels and having kids home has kept me very busy - but here are a few images that I've captured at the Garden over the last few weeks.

The apple blossoms were lovely this year.

  ...as were the pear blossoms

I almost missed the azaleas in the Japanese Garden...beautiful as always!

A few last tulips - these were in pots on the Rose Garden Terrace. I love the soft pink and the way these two were snuggled together so gracefully. I just never tire of photographing tulips - their beautiful textures, colors and the way the light illuminates them. 

These beauties - Snowdrop Anemone - caught my eye in the Waterfall Garden.

English daisies in the Heritage Garden after their morning watering.

The irises are in bloom now - these were captured in the Landscape Garden near the waterfall.

Butterflies and Blooms is open at the Garden now.  I've been once and will be back again tomorrow.  Next post will be about butterflies!