Today I was feeling antsy and decided to head out on an adventure. At first I considered going to the Audubon Society Nature Center in Portland, but then chickened out as I hate to drive into Portland. I have a big fear of getting lost and never finding my way home. Then I remembered my friend, Roxie M., talking about the Swan Island Dahlia festival. Canby, where they are located, is very close by and I love driving that way, so off I went with my camera and spare batteries. I took over 200 photographs!! I guess I got a bit carried away. I just kept snapping away. The blossoms were so beautiful and colorful. So here are some of the shots as posting all of them would fill this blog!
So much color!! And I did notice a lot of bees enjoying the acres of blossoms!! 
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This white flower looks like it has 2 antennae--an alien!!
The bee on the orange & yellow flower has a pollen sac on his leg!Some flowers looked like fireworks explosions!
As you can see, some bees mingled during their work. Deep colors were quite a surprise for me.
The yellow flower looked like 2 in one. I love the flame-like look of this dahlia. It is on fire!
Brilliant color!
Some of the blossoms seem to be looking up at the sun shining down on them and I swear I heard them give a satisfied sigh!
Some are so softly colored and seem gentle, subdued, and wise like mature women.
Some declare: Look at me!
I managed to catch a bee on one flower and one hovering just above it ready to land! What luck!!
The bees seemed to be more drawn to the dahlias which have these center areas. Great chance to get some bee shots!
The yellow reminded me of sunrises and the pale lavender of sunsets.
I never knew that there were so many varieties of dahlias and they keep creating new ones each year!
I noticed that they have a photography contest and the deadline is Sept. 15th. 1st place gets a $100 gift certificate, 2nd a $75 gift certificate, 3rd a $60, 4th a $50, 5th a $40, 6th a $30, and several Honorable Mentions receive $15 gift certificates.
I may consider sending in one of my photographs to see if I can win!
Which photograph do you think I should submit?
Your photos are awesome! By all means, send them in. Did you get into the diaplay barn where they had all the arrangments? There were so many awesome varieties of Dahlias, I'd go joyfully nuts trying to select my prize. $200 worth of Dahlias? Your yard would be a RIOT of color!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a fun time!
Let's co-ordinate schedules and I'll take you to the Japanese Gardens one of these days. And teach you not to fear downtown.
Oh Rose! You had a bee-u-t-full day with the dahlias. I've been there several times when they are blooming and it is an amazing sight to see. It's hard to imagine acres of blooming flowers. It dazzles the eyes. Great pictures. You are doing really well with your photos m'dear.
ReplyDeleteMaryLou
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Enter the one with the bee landing. Or the one just below and to the left, translucent gold with orange lining. They are all so varied and lovely. Beth
ReplyDeleteI like the orange one looking up from underneath at the sky. Good luck, and remember the Oregonian will be holding its photo contest soon, too.
ReplyDeleteThey are all awesome, only you can decide. About six stood out for me, but you didn't number them and I don't have the flower verbiage to explain which ones I liked the best.
ReplyDeleteI think you need to have someone set up a way for you to post all your pictures in one place so people can buy them to use in their websites and such. I've heard it can be done.
Maybe when you pick the ones to enter it this contest, and win 1st place, the contest people will know how to do this. :)
Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful photos. I vote on the orange one, lefthand side, 4th from the bottom.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad someone else thinks they'll get lost and can't find their way home, too. I thought I was the only one.