Mountain Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia)

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia Latifolia) is Connecticut's State Flower. It is unlawful to pick it or take a cutting when it is along side a road or highway. It is growing at my son, Joe and Donna's house in S. Windsor, CT.

Day 4 of 5 Day Black and White Challenge: Oleanders

Oleander

This is Day 4 of my 5 Day Black and White Challenge that I accepted from my friend, and fellow photographer, Rosemary Morrison, of Rosemary Kaye Photo, who's work I admire. I am supposed to post 1 b&w image for five days, as well as challenge a fellow photographer each day that inspires me.

I am challenging Chuck Vosburgh, who's work I feel is outstanding. I hope he accepts this challenge. Chuck is an amazing photographer and all around great person. Chuck's website can be seen here: http://www.LightingisEasy.com Check it out.

Day 3 of Black and White Challenge: Redberry Elder

Redberry Elder

This is Day 3 of my 5 Day Black and White Challenge that I accepted from my friend, and fellow photographer, Rosemary Morrison, of Rosemary Kaye Photo, who's work I admire. I am supposed to post 1 b&w image for five days, as well as challenge a fellow photographer each day that inspires me.

I am challenging my grandson, Michael Gineo, Jr,  who is in the U.S. Army, stationed in South Korea, who's work I feel is outstanding. He has grown (photographically) so much in the last 2 years. I would like to see what he can come up with.

This shot was taken today at Abercrombie Park in St Petersburg, FL. I'm not positive of the name of the red berries. We have so many different types of red berries in the wild here that are so similar. I have a hard time identifying them. If anyone reading this post knows what they are for sure, I'd like an ID, if you can.

Yaupon Holly

I thought by now you're all getting sick of my birds, so I'd post something a little more in season.

This is Yaupon Holly. Although the leaves don't have the traditional points that you'd expect to see, it is definitely in the Holly family. It's also one of the more seasonal-looking plants that one would find in nature. I found this during my meetup at Lake Seminole last Sunday. The bush was pretty full, so I got under the branch and shot up at the sky. This way, it eliminated the busy background, and it helped to make the plant stand out more. Yaupon Holly can be found in Florida growing in upland woods, streamsides, pondsides, dunes and pine flatwoods.

Settings used for this shot were, Aperture priority, with partial metering on the plant, ISO 400, 1/80th @ F5.6, -1/3 exposure compensation. I chose ISO 400 because it was very cloudy and their wasn't much light as you can tell by the settings used. The -1/3 exposure compensation was to keep the sky from blowing out.

This is another shot with a loss due to jpg compression for the site. This is much brighter not compressed.

Mexican Sunflower

This plant was started by a small, bare stick from my friend's plant. I put it in the ground about a year ago. Today, it stands about 15 ft high and 8 ft wide. The blossoms grow on the ends of the branches, so the outside of the tree is covered with these beautiful sunflower-like flora. Each blossom is about 4-5 inches in diameter.

Mexican Sunflowers are very attractive to butterflies, so I have an added benefit that I can also photograph many species of butterflies when they light on the blooms.

There are many varieties, some are bright orange, some reddish and all the colors in between.

Loyce

White Flowers

Usually I tell you about what I've photographed. Today, I'm asking you to tell me.

I captured these flowers on a shrub just outside of the hospital where I work. I have quite a few books on wild flowers and garden flowers, but I haven't been able to identify this one.

Anyone have an idea what it is?

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UPDATE: I found the name of the flower, it is a White Crepe Myrtle. Thanks, Larry, for your help.