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April 24, 2023
by blinspirations
0 comments

Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens

In early April while we were in Lexington, VA, we visited Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens. Established as a private garden in 1952 [see History of Boxerwood below], it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens is a 15-acre arboretum featuring both native and unusual plant specimens. Among the thousands of plants, there are significant collections of Dwarf Conifers, Magnolias, Dogwoods, Rhododendrons & Azaleas, and Japanese Maples. It also has a number of features intended especially for children.

Being run by volunteers as a non-profit, apparently low-budget organization, the gardens are less structured compared to other gardens or arboretums. The suggested donation is $5 per car deposited in a locked box in the entrance kiosk.

History of Boxerwood

Boxerwood came into being through the efforts of Robert S. Munger, MD (1911-1988). After purchasing farm land and building his family’s Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home in the 1950’s, Dr. Munger began landscaping. Over the decades, his landscaping hobby blossomed into a passion for collecting rare and unusual trees and shrubs from around the world. In over 30 years, he estimated that he had planted somewhere between 12,000 – 13,000 trees and shrubs and suggested that he had probably lost about half those to “wrong tree-wrong place” disease, infestation, and short life expectancy, among other reasons. Many of the specimens that survived can still be found in the Garden today alongside their native plant neighbors.

The non-profit Boxerwood Education Association (BEA) purchased the Garden in 1999 and opened the gardens to the public for recreation and learning, with a goal of encouraging in all of us a closer relationship to nature and its care. The gardens today feature many varieties of dogwood, magnolia, rhododendron, azalea, and Japanese maples, as well as more uncommon trees and plants. The fields, woodlands, and ponds with their flourishing flora have, in turn, created habitat for many forms of wildlife.

Additional Images

It was a cloudy day so the colors of some of the flowers were more muted than they might have been on a sunny day. These images are in the order the photos were taken as we wandered through the garden.

Additional Information

Wikipedia – Boxerwood Gardens

Boxerwood Nature Center & Woodland Gardens

Virginia.gov – Boxerwood Nature Center

Technical Data

Persian Ironwood

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 11:57 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
Cropped image is 3808 x 5713 px
GPS: 37°46’36.60″ N 79°27’54.98″ W

Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:09 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 53 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’35.88″ N 79°27’54.54″ W

Cardinal

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:11 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Cropped image is 3884 x 2589 px
GPS: 37°46’35.17″ N 79°27’54.15″ W

Fairy Forest

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:16 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 37 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/100 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.0″ N 79°27’53.63″ W

Beale’s Barberry 1

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:24 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W

Japanese Maple

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:26 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W

Red Columbine

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:34 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 35 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.85″ N 79°27’51.43″ W

Lenten-rose

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:37 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 52 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Cropped image is 5283 x 3522 px
GPS: 37°46’32.71″ N 79°27’49.54″ W

Apple Blossom 2

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:42 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.79″ N 79°27’49.45″ W

Turtle 2

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:47 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 250 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Cropped image is 3658 x 2439 px
GPS: 37°46’31.8036″ N 79°27’48.4668″ W

Japanese Red Maple

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’34.896″ N 79°27’52.2288″ W

Double Daffodil

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:15 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’37.56″ N 79°27’55.4688″ W

Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica)

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:17 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Cropped image is 3682 x 5524 px
GPS: 37°46’37.848″ N 79°27’56.5704″ W

Beverly and different color Redbuds

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:19 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 23 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/640 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’38.7948″ N 79°27’55.5264″ W

Redbud 2

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:19 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’38.3124″ N 79°27’56.4588″ W

Ann Magnolia

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 11:58 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 37 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’36.21″ N 79°27’54.75″ W

Wood Sculpture

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:10 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 23 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/100 sec
Cropped image is 3542 x 5313 px
GPS: 37°46’34.99″ N 79°27’55.50″ W

Dawn Redwood

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:14 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’34.17″ N 79°27’53.24″ W

Apple Blossom 1

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.74″ N 79°27’52.78″ W

Beale’s Barberry 2

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:25 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/9
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’33.03″ N 79°27’52.06″ W

Golden Ragwort

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:28 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
Cropped image is 4959 x 3306 px
GPS: 37°46’32.16″ N 79°27’50.99″ W

Virginia Bluebells

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:35 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Cropped image is 5566 x 3711 px
GPS: 37°46’33.85″ N 79°27’51.43″ W

(Unknown Tree)

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:40 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 37°46’32.71″ N 79°27’49.54″ W

Turtle 1

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:46 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 250 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Cropped image is 4641 x 3091 px
GPS: 37°46’31.8″ N 79°27’48.47″ W

Fothergilla

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 12:56 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
Cropped image is 3491 x 5237 px
GPS: 37°46’34.2336″ N 79°27’51.3792″ W

Bee House

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:02 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 46 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
Cropped image is 2863 x 4294 px
GPS: 37°46’35.814″ N 79°27’52.7796″ W

Japanese Red Maple

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:00 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 21 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’34.896″ N 79°27’52.2288″ W

Tsutsusi Azelea

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:15 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 40 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’38.7948″ N 79°27’55.5264″ W

Redbud 1

Date: 4/6/2023
Time: 1:19 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 37°46’38.3124″ N 79°27’56.4588″ W

February 23, 2022
by blinspirations
1 Comment

Street Photography After a Snow

On January 5, 2022 I participated in a Zoom webinar about Street Photography. Although it is not one of my photographic interests, I thought I might learn something applicable to my primary interests, which I did.

We had had a 6″ snow on January 3 and when Beverly and I walked in our neighborhood that afternoon after the webinar, I took my camera to take photos of things that might be interesting Street Photography subjects.

The presenter suggested watching for unusual shapes and lighting, things such as lines, shadows, and things that seem out of place or that draw your attention.

Some of the photos I took during that walk are in the gallery in the Additional Images section below. I have included what attracted my attention to each subject in the image Description field below the title.

Technical Data

January 23, 2022
by blinspirations
0 comments

Water Drops from Melting Ice

We had our third significant snowfall at the beginning of last week: 7 inches on Jan 16, 4 inches on Jan 7, and 6 inches on Jan 3. The low temperature here was -1.7 F yesterday, the morning of Saturday Jan 22, and all that snow meant there was moisture from our snowblower in the garage and the condensation was frozen on inside of the garage door windows.

This morning I was outside taking pictures of last year’s sunflower stems against the snow and noticed water drops from the melting ice running down the inside of the garage door so I took a few photos – please see the Additional Images gallery below for more photos.

Additional Images

Technical Data

Water and Ice on Windows

Date: 1/23/2022
Time: 10:30 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 42 mm, f/6.3
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/640 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Water Drops 2

Date: 1/23/2022
Time: 10:31 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 51 mm, f/11
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter: 1/60 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Water Drops 1

Date: 1/23/2022
Time: 10:32 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Water Drop Tracks

Date: 1/23/2022
Time: 10:32 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 35 mm, f/11
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter: 1/50 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

January 2, 2022
by blinspirations
2 Comments

Iridescent Clouds

One afternoon in late December, Beverly had looked out the sunroom windows, which face in a southerly direction, and saw clouds which showed multiple colors which changed as she watched. She immediately called me and I came with my camera. The clouds involved were relatively thin and the only areas with the colors were near the sun. To photograph these clouds I had to keep the sun out of the picture frame, otherwise no colors were visible because of the brightness of the sun. As I watched, the colors changed and sometimes they disappeared and then reappeared. The phenomenon only lasted for a few minutes as the moving clouds got thicker and the color formation was no longer possible. The seven photos in the Additional Images gallery below were all taken within a minute and 43 seconds.

The formation of colors in clouds, known as irisation, is relatively rare. It is a similar to the colors seen in soap bubbles or the sheen of oil on a water surface. It is an optical phenomenon that occurs in thin clouds, only in the direction of the sun. The colors are caused by diffraction or bending of the sun’s light around the small water droplets in the cloud. This is different than mechanisms that form rainbows and sun dogs.

Additional Images

Additional Information

ThoughtCo: What Causes Rainbow-Colored Clouds in the Sky?

Wikipedia: Cloud iridescence

Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies: Iridescent Clouds

Technical Data

Iridescent Clouds 1

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 84 mm, f/25
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 3

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 70 mm, f/20
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 5

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:21 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 61 mm, f/22
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 7

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 64 mm, f/20
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 2

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:21 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 84 mm, f/22
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 4

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:21 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/20
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Iridescent Clouds 6

Date: 12/26/2021
Time: 2:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 64 mm, f/22
- ISO: 100
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

December 29, 2021
by blinspirations
1 Comment

Sulcata Tortoises in Calabash, NC

This is one of a series of posts about our trip to North Carolina in October 2021. Please see our post Sunset Beach, North Carolina for links to the other places and things we visited.

We were driving through Calabash, NC, which is just west of Sunset Beach, when we saw a man with several large tortoises in a vacant lot, so we stopped to see what he was doing there. He said they were Sulcata Tortoises (also known as the African Spurred Tortoise) and he was with a tortoise rescue.

Although Sulcata Tortoises are native to arid and semiarid regions of Africa, they can adapt to a variety of living conditions, which is one reason why they have become popular as pets. However, adults can reach 32 inches in length, weigh more than 200 pounds, and have a life expectancy of more than 70 years, which is why people dispose of them after a while.

He described his tortoises and asked for a donation, but later, when I asked which group he represented, he hedged and said he was doing it by himself. I suspected he was using the tortoises to raise money for himself but a recent Google search (a link is the Additional Information section below) yielded several newspaper articles which indicate the man is a calabash native who rescues tortoises, usually from people who purchased a baby tortoise as a pet but later realize the tortoise had gotten too big. One newspaper article said his largest and oldest tortoise can eat about 80 heads of romaine lettuce a day, which costs about $160.

He had a truck and an enclosed trailer and there were at least four more tortoises in the trailer. While we were there a woman and a young boy stopped and the man invited the boy to ride one of the tortoises. He also said we could feed romaine lettuce to the tortoises, which we did. While we talked he was holding and stroking a baby alligator which he let Beverly hold – see more photos of the tortoises and the baby alligator in the Additional Images section below.

Additional Images

Beverly with Sulcata Tortoises in trailer

Boy feeding Sulcata Tortoises in trailer

Additional Information

Google Search: tortoise man calabash nc

Wikipedia – African spurred Tortoise

Technical Data

Sulcata Tortoise

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:18 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 38 mm, f/22
- ISO: 3200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Boy riding Sulcata Tortoise

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 52 mm, f/22
- ISO: 3200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Cropped image is 5716 x 3811 px

Boy feeding Sulcata Tortoises in trailer

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:24 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/8
- ISO: 800
- Shutter: 1/40 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Beverly with Baby Alligator 2

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:27 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Beverly with Sulcata Tortoise

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:20 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 28 mm, f/22
- ISO: 3200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Uncropped image is 4000 x 6000 px

Beverly with Sulcata Tortoises in trailer

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:23 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/8
- ISO: 800
- Shutter: 1/30 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

Beverly with Baby Alligator 1

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 4:27 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 38 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/800 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px

December 20, 2021
by blinspirations
0 comments

Sunset Beach, North Carolina

In mid-October 2021 Beverly and I took a trip to North Carolina. The primary reason was to spend three days with her daughters and granddaughter in Sunset Beach, NC. On our way to Sunset Beach we visited the Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, NC. After we left Sunset Beach, we enjoyed the rural North Carolina scenery as we drove to the Outer Banks where we stayed for several days to see the area and the lighthouses. I had never been there before and Beverly hadn’t visited the area for a long time. On our way home we made a final stop to see a state park near Farmville, VA.

Sunset Beach is the southern-most community along the North Carolina shore. About ⅓ of the town is located on a barrier island separated from the mainland by marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. There is a 900 foot long fishing pier on the beach opposite the access road to the island.

We stayed at a rented house at 413 Dolphin Street, which is in an area back from the beach but where all the houses have a waterway at the rear of the house – these waterways eventually connect to the Intracoastal Waterway. There is a link to a Google Satellite view of the house area in the Additional Information section below.

The places we visited that I photographed during this trip are listed below. As we post photos of the various places we will link the place below to the related post.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park – Scotland Neck, NC
Carl Bazemore Bird Walk – Sunset Beach, NC
Sulcata Tortoises – Calabash, NC
Vereen Memorial Gardens – Little Neck, SC
Airlie Gardens – Wilmington, NC
Outer Banks – NC
- Outer Banks Lighthouses – NC
- Hatteras – Ocracoke Ferry – NC
- Jockey’s Ridge State Park – Nags Head, NC
- Wright Brothers National Memorial – Kill Devil Hills, NC
High Bridge State Park – Farmville, VA

The featured image shows the houses and the waterway where we stayed – our house is about midway down on the left side. The images in the Additional Images gallery below are typical Sunset Beach scenes.

Additional Images

Additional Information

Wikipedia – Sunset Beach, NC

Wikipedia – Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

Google Satellite view of the area where we stayed

Technical Data

Sunset Beach Houses

Date: 10/15/2021
Time: 7:45 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 31 mm, f/8
- ISO: 400
- Shutter: 1/320 sec
Cropped image is 5763 x 3842 px
GPS: 33°52’15.8″N, 78°29’56.7″W

Sunrise from house

Date: 10/16/2021
Time: 7:23 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/11
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Cropped image is 5598 x 3732 px
GPS: 33°52’20.6″N, 78°29’59.4″W

White Ibis

Date: 10/16/2021
Time: 7:23 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter: 1/60 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 33°52’20.6″N, 78°29’59.4″W

Sanderling and Sea Gull on the Beach

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 5:37 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/10
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Cropped image is 5419 x 3613 px
GPS: 33°51’55.7″N, 78°30’29.3″W

Sanderling on the Beach 2

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 5:37 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 33°51’55.7″N, 78°30’29.3″W

Sunset Beach Fishing Pier

Date: 10/15/2021
Time: 5:40 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 42 mm, f/18
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 33°52’07.8″N, 78°29’56.7″W

Moon over Sunset Beach

Date: 10/15/2021
Time: 5:37 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 33 mm, f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Cropped image is 5963 x 3975 px
GPS: 33°52’7.8″ N, 78°29’56.7″ W

Waterway from house

Date: 10/16/2021
Time: 7:15 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 17 mm, f/11
- ISO: 3200
- Shutter: 1/125 sec
Cropped image is 5860 x 3907 px
GPS: 33°52’20.6″N, 78°29’59.4″W

Great Blue Heron

Date: 10/16/2021
Time: 7:21 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 3200
- Shutter: 1/40 sec
Cropped image is 4271 x 2847 px
GPS: 33°52’20.6″N, 78°29’59.4″W

Sanderlings on the Beach

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 5:35 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 50 mm, f/10
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Cropped image is 5852 x 3901 px
GPS: 33°51’55.7″N, 78°30’29.3″W

Sanderling on the Beach 1

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 5:37 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 33°51’55.7″N, 78°30’29.3″W

Sanderling on the Beach 3

Date: 10/15/2021
Time: 5:46 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/10
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 33°52’6.9″ N, 78°30’1.7″ W

Beach Access Walkway

Date: 10/15/2021
Time: 5:50 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 52 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/160 sec
Cropped image is 5678 x 3786 px
GPS: 33°52’06.9″N, 78°30’01.7″W

V-22 Osprey

Date: 10/14/2021
Time: 5:31 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/13
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Cropped image is 2665 x 1776 px
GPS: 33°51’55.7″N, 78°30’29.3″W

December 15, 2021
by blinspirations
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Overgrown Truck

A few years ago, Beverly and I were enjoying a ride in the country looking at the autumn leaves when we rediscovered an abandoned panel truck with a tree growing though the middle of it. It is in a cow pasture near Keezletown, VA and has been there for many years. I took a picture as a reminder to return and take more photos with a telephoto lens to capture more detail. Last month, we went back to the truck and this time I took close-up photos of the truck from several directions.

From the truck’s grille, it appears to be a mid-1940’s Dodge. Apparently, the floor and roof of the truck have been removed to allow the tree to grow through it.

Additional Images

Technical Data

Overgrown Truck

Date: 11/3/2018
Time: 2:46 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/7.1
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Cropped image is 3348 x 5022 px
GPS: 38°25’16.9104″ N, 78°47’21.8868″ W

Overgrown Truck Front

Date: 11/23/2021
Time: 1:36 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 200 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/100 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 38°25’16.9104″ N, 78°47’21.8868″ W

Overgrown Truck Rear

Date: 11/23/2018
Time: 1:45 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 135 mm, f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/250 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 38°25’14.8″N 78°47’26.9″W

October 9, 2021
by blinspirations
0 comments

Nature Treasure Hunt at Seven Bends State Park

Nature Treasure Hunt

Early in September Beverly saw an invitation to participate in a photographic scavenger hunt called Nature Treasure Hunt: Photographing and Finding the Gems of Seven Bends! It was sponsored by an organization called Friends of Seven Bends State Park. Seven Bends is the newest state park in Virginia, and as we had previously discussed visiting this new park to learn more about it, this seemed to be a good opportunity, so we signed up for the program.

Sharon Fisher, a local photographer, led the program and provided a scavenger hunt list to guide the participants. She showed us some photos she had taken in the previous days and provided a link to a Google Photos album where we could post our photos. After an introduction to the park and photography using smart phones (for most of the participants), individuals and small teams split-up to find and photograph the items on the list. We wandered along some of the trails for about an hour but couldn’t complete that area of the park because of the heat – unfortunately it was the hottest day in mid-to-late September. These are the items on the list:

Something representing Autumn
Something with petals
Something that begins with the letter “T”
Something that shows textures or patterns
Something you or other animals can eat
Something that pollinates
Something about birds
Something old
Something in the sky
Something that makes you happy

Extra: Something that is an amphibian

The photos I selected for the Google Photos album for the scavenger hunt are shown in the Additional Images section below. The category(ies) of each image is included in the image’s description.

Geography and Park Background

We live in the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley lies between the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east. Massanutten Mountain bisects the northern part of the valley. The Shenandoah River, which flows southwest to northeast, is a tributary of the Potomac River. It consists of two branches known as the North Fork (which lies to the west of Massanutten Mountain) and the South Fork (which lies to the east of Massanutten Mountain). Both the North Fork and the South Fork meander back and forth across their portions of the valley.

Seven Bends is the newest state park in Virginia. It consists of 1066 acres of land, both donated and purchased, and opened in late-2019. It is located adjacent to the town of Woodstock along the “Seven Bends” of the north fork of the Shenandoah River, where the bends are unusually sharp and tightly packed: in 48 miles of river flow, the river travels only 16 miles as the crow flies. For visualization, the Additional Images gallery below includes both a topographical map and a Google Earth view of the Seven Bends area.

Additional Images

Additional Information

Virginia State Parks: Seven Bends

Wikipedia: Shenandoah Valley

Wikipedia: Shenandoah River

Wikipedia: Massanutten Mountain

Wikipedia: Woodstock, VA

Google Photos: Seven Bends Nature Hunt

All About Birds: Red Shouldered Hawk

Sharon Fisher’s website

Technical Data

Seven Bends Area from Massanutten Mountain

Date: 4/4/2015
Time: 4:58 PM
Camera: iPhone 5s
Settings:
- Lens: 4.15 mm, f/2.2
- ISO: 32
- Shutter: 1/2000 sec
Uncropped image is 3264 x 2448 px
GPS: 38°52’13.88″ N, 78°26’58.09″ W

Pokeweed Berries

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:55 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 100 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/800 sec
Cropped image is 2884 x 4326 px
GPS: 38°52’12.6″ N, 78°29’33.41″ W

Fowler’s Toad

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:07 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 143 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/800 sec
Cropped image is 4312 x 2875 px
GPS: 38°52’9.2″ N, 78°29’33.7″ W

Feather

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:59 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 100 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/800 sec
Cropped image is 3494 x 2329 px
GPS: 38°52’14.48″ N, 78°29’30.99″ W

Soybeans

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:43 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/4
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Cropped image is 2943 x 4392 px
GPS: 38°52’9.4″ N, 78°29’31.5″ W

Moth on Wingstem

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:08 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 211 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/800 sec
Cropped image is 3607 x 2405 px
GPS: 38°52’11.97″ N, 78°29’24.93″ W

Geese in the North Fork River

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:12 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/80 sec
Cropped image is 4650 x 3102 px
GPS: 38°52’9.22″ N, 78°29’20.34″ W

Clouds over Seven Bends 1

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:55 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Cropped image is 4000 x 6000 px
GPS: 38°52’12.6″ N, 78°29’33.41″ W

Seven Bends LOVE Sign

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:47 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/500 sec
Cropped image is 5845 x 3923 px
GPS: 38°52’10.48″ N, 78°29’30.15″ W

Eastern Redbud Tree Leaves

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:02 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 89 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/640 sec
Cropped image is 4421 x 2947 px
GPS: 38°52’14.48″ N, 78°29’30.99″ W

Tickseed Sunflower

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:41 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 mm f/2.8 IS USM
Settings:
- Lens: 51 mm, f/4
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 38°52’9.2″ N, 78°29’33.7″ W

Fungus on Fence Board

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:51 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 100 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Cropped image is 5617 x 3745 px
GPS: 38°52’10.5″ N, 78°29’32.7″ W

Fungii on Tree Branches

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:22 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 100 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/80 sec
Cropped image is 5172 x 3448 px
GPS: 38°52’7.12″ N, 78°29’16.74″ W

Bee on Wingstem 1

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 1:53 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 160 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Cropped image is 4359 x 2906 px
GPS: 38°52’10.16″ N, 78°29’32.45″ W

Bee on Wingstem 2

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:13 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/200 sec
Cropped image is 4280 x 2830 px
GPS: 38°52’9.22″ N, 78°29’20.34″ W

Red-shouldered Hawk

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:39 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 250 mm, f/5.6
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/400 sec
Cropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
GPS: 38°52’10.48″ N, 78°29’30.15″ W

Clouds over Seven Bends 2

Date: 9/18/2021
Time: 2:10 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
Settings:
- Lens: 55 mm, f/11
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/1000 sec
Cropped image is 5913 x 3894 px
GPS: 38°52’9.22″ N, 78°29’20.34″ W

September 22, 2021
by blinspirations
0 comments

Wild Mushroom

In our neighborhood, there is a spot in the grass between the street and the sidewalk where a wild mushroom occasionally appears. Sometimes it is mowed or cut down and sometimes it just withers away. One day on her way out of the development Beverly noticed that it had returned. When she reached her destination, she called me to tell me about it, so I went there and cut it off at ground level so I could photograph it. (Unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of the mushroom in place before I removed it.)

This mushroom appears to be a poisonous mushroom that we have tentatively identified as Chlorophyllum molybdites, commonly known as false parasol, green-spored Lepiota, and vomiter. It is frequently found near human habitation, and is described as having a cap that ranges from 3″ to 10″ in diameter. This specimen was nearly 6″ in diameter and the cap was still dome-shaped as it hadn’t flattened out yet. Chlorophyllum molybdites regularly sprouts up as large fairy rings in lawns during summer and fall.

When examined closely, the mushroom cap appears to have had a tan leather-like surface that stretched as the mushroom grew and separated into numerous isolated areas. The gills in the underside are wavy and roughly parallel. Details of these features are shown in the gallery in the Additional Images section below.

All of these are macro images which consist of multiple images combined using Helicon Focus. The details in the Technical Data section below include how many separate photographs make up each of the images. For more information about these techniques and topics please see the Cameras, Lenses, and Equipment and Definitions & Apps pages.

Additional Information

MushroomExpert.com: Chlorophyllum molybdites
Wikipedia: Chlorophyllum molybdites
Wikipedia: Fairy Ring
Tom Volk’s Fungus of the Month

Additional Images

Gills of Chlorophyllum molybdites Mushroom

Technical Data

Top surface of mushroom cap

Date: 8/18/2021
Time: 11:36 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Settings:
- Lens: f/8
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/60 sec
Uncropped image is 5998 x 3999 px
Made from 6 stacked HDR images, each HDR image made from 3 separate images

Close-up of mushroom cap surface

Date: 8/19/2021
Time: 10:08 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM,
Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter, 32mm Extension Tube
Settings:
- Lens: f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/13 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
Made from 11 stacked images

Gills of Chlorophyllum molybdites Mushroom

Date: 8/18/2021
Time: 11:27 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Settings:
- Lens: f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/20 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
Made from 11 stacked images

Closer view of mushroom gills

Date: 8/18/2021
Time: 12:05 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Settings:
- Lens: f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: ⅛ sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
Made from 10 stacked images

Detail of edge of mushroom gills

Date: 8/18/2021
Time: 3:20 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM, Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter, 68mm Extension Tube
Settings:
- Lens: f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: ¼ sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 3988 px
Made from 8 stacked images

Showing size of mushroom

Date: 8/18/2021
Time: 5:24 PM
Camera: Canon EOS 77D
Lens: Sigma 105 mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Settings:
- Lens: f/16
- ISO: 200
- Shutter: 1/20 sec
Uncropped image is 6000 x 4000 px
Made from 6 stacked images

September 9, 2021
by blinspirations
0 comments

Stages of an Ox Eye Sunflower

This summer I did a lot of macro photography of flowers that Beverly grew in our garden and around our house. She coined the phrase “I grow-em, you show-em” to reflect this activity. (Please see the Definitions & Apps page for an explanation of Macro Photography.)

The first post in this group tracks the stages of a yellow/orange flower, from a bud to the final form. We believe this plant is an oxeye sunflower, also known as smooth oxeye, false sunflower, or ox-eye daisy. If so, it is Heliopsis helianthoides of the Family: Asteraceae.

The gallery in the Additional Images sections below shows nine stages of the flower development with close-up photos of the center of the flower for each stage. These images were taken of different flowers at different times, not in any particular order, but the order in the gallery was selected to show the flower’s development process.

All images were photographed with a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens and the close-up images of the centers of the flowers were mostly taken with the Sigma Macro lens, a Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter, and a 68mm extension tube set, which results in a 215mm lens equivalent. The closest distance from the subject to the camera sensor was about 16″.

One issue I faced with taking these close-up images was the very shallow depth of field (1/16″ at f/11). To successfully take these images required using a macro focus rail to move the focus point across the subject. All of the images are multiple exposures combined by focus stacking in Helicon Focus, and range from five to 19 separate images. The Technical Information section below indicates how many images are stacked to form each final image. (For more information about these topics please see the Cameras, Lenses, and Equipment and Definitions & Apps pages.)