Schreiner's Iris Garden

Schreiner's Iris Garden

This could be the end of spring series flowers for this year. This morning we headed early to Schreiner’s Iris Garden in Salem, some forty miles to our south. We were here before about five years ago, so this place is no stranger to us, but I still have to look it up on the map on how to get here. The sun was a bit strong in the morning, but I used it to my advantages and take these flowers with the back lighting to bring out the colors. On the way to this garden, we made a detour and took the “red carpet” as you can see in the “bonus shot” at the end. As always, I hope you enjoy the journey.

Schreiner's Iris Garden

Rhododendron Up Close



Photography by Pokie



I think Pokie was getting tired in taking close-up photos, she was complaining that she was cold that Saturday morning, nonetheless she took more than 150 images and she chose to which ones would be show case on the web.  So, this is her work.

Close up Rhododendron and others

Rhododendron......

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

Rhododendron usually blooms during the month of May and it coincides during Mother’s Day celebration, so to all the mothers out there – Happy Mother’s Day (this year is May 13th). Originally I wanted to go to the Oregon Garden in Silverton about forty miles to our south, but when Pokie saw that these Rhododendrons were in full bloom on one of the television channel, we decided to come here instead. Nothing beats free admission if we come before 10:00 A.M. To help the matter, the weather cooperated with us, not too much sun, no rain, well almost. It was drizzling for about five minutes.

So come join us to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden


Hoyt Arboretum 2007 (Revisited)





Hoyt Aeboretum - Oct. 2007





I consider myself a purist when it comes to digital photography (no retouching within the image), but I almost always make some simple adjustments of the brightness and contrast to any digital images that I take.  It is a must since what the sensor sees and our eyes see are different. Lately I started perusing the post production software namely Photoshop CS and found some interesting tools that I can use but still within the “purist” limitation and boundary. I went back and look for some images that I think is worthy of these adjustments. Here is Hoyt Arboretum revisited.

 Hoyt Arboretum 2007

Experimental nightshots



f 8.0 at 30 seconds

 I always wanted to try night shots with the digital camera, I did with film in the past and as far as I remember I always set it at f 8.0 for 15 seconds or 30 seconds with ISO 100 to record the streaks of the headlight and the tail light of the cars. This brought me back many years ago when I still shot B&W films. So I asked Pokie if she could drive me to where I thought I could get a shot of the freeway, but alas a fence was on the way, so we moved to a location where I thought I could get a shot or two, then we went to a place near where we live and got a shot of the pond. No composition is the main objective here, just the exposure.

Here are other images

Lilac Up Close

Photo by Pokie Lie

When we went to Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, I gave Pokie the other camera and I mounted the macro lens and gave her an assignment to take close-up of the Lilac and whatever flowers that she likes, here’s what she came up with, I hope you enjoy them. I only take one close up picture in this series as I concentrated with the overall gardens.

Close up photos 

Lilac Gardens

Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens

We drove for more than forty miles to see Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland, Washington. We almost turned back because the promise of partially sunny by the local weather forecast did not materialize, instead it was misty and it was getting dark. But, the idea of going back is not an option either as these Lilacs have a short bloom period, so we pressed on and the weather cooperated with my intention of photographing this garden.

Here is what we spent Saturday morning…