Gallery

Flowers

In addition to cool wildlife and incredible landscapes, I also have an appreciation for beautiful flowers. We've planted numerous flowering trees and shrubs on our property and we like to visit gardens when we travel. For instance, we've been to Butchart Gardens on Victoria Island, British Columbia a number of times. It is one of the most gorgeous places we've ever been and many of the photos you'll see in this gallery were taken there.

Sea Holly

This is a Sea Holly at the Powerscourt Estate in Ireland. They have a collar of metallic blue, pointed, serrated bracts that surround the central cone like a starburst.

Powerscourt Estate, Ireland

Bright Sea of Ranunculus

These Ranunculus are showing off how bright and beautiful they can be.

Carlsbad Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Lisianthus

This is a Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), also commonly known as the Texas Bluebell or Prairie Gentian.

Unknown

Globe Thistle

This is a Globe Thistle with perfectly round, golf-ball-sized flower heads packed with tiny, star-shaped metallic blue or purple florets. Each individual floret opens from a spiky bud into tiny five-pointed star petals, opening progressively from the top down.

Powerscourt Estate, Ireland

Under the Gerbera Daisies

Interesting perspective looking up from beneath these Gerbera Dasies.

Unknown (I don't remember where these were)

Iceland Poppy Up Close

Closeup shot of this Iceland Poppy. It has a distinct, star-shaped central seed capsule surrounded by a ring of bright yellow, pollen-tipped stamens.

Unknown

Tall Bearded Iris

This is a Tall Bearded Iris featuring a distinctive "broken color" (or splattered/variegated) pattern—most likely the popular cultivar 'Batik' (or a closely related hybrid like 'Millennium Falcon' or 'Bewilderbeast'). I planted this in the backyard of my previous house.

Poway, CA

Red Dahlia

This Dahlia shows the classic "Formal Decorative" or "Informal Decorative" dahlia form, characterized by fully double blooms where the center remains closed until full maturity.

Powerscourt Estate, Ireland

Carlsbad Ranunculus

Beautiful mix of Ranunculus in a variety of colors from the Carlsbad Flower Fields.

Carlsbad Flower Fields, Carlsbad, CA

Yellow Mariposa Lily

This Yellow Mariposa Lily has fine, dense hairs (trichomes) lining the lower inner surface of the petals, characteristic of the genus Calochortus (often called "cat's ears").

Unknown

Powerscourt Water Lily

A white Water Lily floats on a small pond at the Powerscourt Estate in Ireland.

Powerscourt Estate, Ireland

Bird of Paradise Closeup

A nice closeup show of a Bird of Paradise. This one is right in front of my house.

Poway, CA

Double Iceland Poppies

A pair of Iceland Poppies. I can't remember where I found this. I know it wasn't in Iceland though.

Unknown

Multi-colored Tuberous Begonias

These are Tuberous Begonias. I loved the variety of colors against the green background.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Picotee Tuberous Begonia

This is a Picotee Tuberous Begonia. "Picotee" refers to the distinct color pattern where the edges of the white petals are rimmed with a contrasting shade of bright pink or red.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Tuberous Begonias Close-up

Here's a more close up view of the Tuberous Begonias.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Colorful Mix

This image shows a mix of two main flowers, Wax Begonias and Petunias.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Sunken Garden 2

Here's another shot of the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens. It is such a beautiful garden.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Cactus Dahlias

These are Cactus Dahlias. Long, narrow, starburst-like petals (ray florets) that roll backward (revolute) for more than half their length, giving the bloom a spiky, quill-like appearance

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Florist's Cineraria

These are Florist's Cineraria. There are so many different colors and patterns.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Flowery Pond

This is one of the many pretty ponds at Butchart Gardens. I love the petals floating on the water in this shot.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Deciduous Azalea

This is a Deciduous Azalea, specifically one of the yellow-orange varieties, such as an Exbury Azalea or Flame Azalea.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Evergreen Azalea

This is an Evergreen Azalea, specifically a bright magenta or hot pink variety.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

White Rhododendron

This is a White Rhododendron with prominent golden-yellow to orange-brown speckled markings (flares/blotches) on the upper interior petal of each bloom.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Tulips

These are Tulips. Classic cup- or goblet-shaped flowers standing tall on smooth, single stems.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Golden Fullmoon Maple

This is a Golden Fullmoon Maple. Such pretty leaves and colors.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Sunken Garden

This is called the Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens. There's an overlook that provides a gorgeous view of this spectacular garden.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

African Marigolds

These are African Marigolds, also commonly called Mexican Marigolds or Aztec Marigolds.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Dinnerplate Dahlias

These large pink-and-white blooms belong to the Formal Decorative Dahlia class (often grown as dinnerplate dahlias due to their massive size).

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Italian Garden at Night

This is the Italian Garden at Butchart Gardens, taken at night.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Rhododendron Mix

The prominent blooming plants in this image include White Rhododendron, Magenta / Hot Pink Rhododendron, and Pale Pink Rhododendron, along with some Azaleas and Forget-Me-Nots.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Italian Garden at Night 2

Another nighttime shot of the Italian Garden at Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Incurved Cactus Dahlias

These are Incurved Cactus Dahlias. Bicolor—vibrant deep red with distinct white or pale cream tips.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC

Pink Rhododendron

This is a Pink Rhododendron with a clear speckling or freckling pattern (blotch) of deeper pink-to-red spots on the upper petal interior.

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC