Nicholas Thurkettle » flowers

Chi-town Picpost – Keeping the Flowers Warm

nt — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:37:40 +0000

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is on prime land on Chicago’s lake shore. It was built in the 1890′s, so it’s not Victorian-influenced, it’s legit Victorian, magnificent glass and iron. It’s also free to the public year-round.

Having never been good at retaining flower names, it’s only now, having seen many in this visit and looked it up to confirm, that I can say: Poinsettias really do nothing for me.

San Diego Trip – See how happy the sun makes them?

nt — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 06:28:55 +0000

Still fleshing out my notes from the trip, but since I know I can’t add anything to flower pictures other than “umm, here’s a purple one I liked”, I’m going to throw a pile of them at you to distract you for a little while. Like a chaff cloud of pretty.

These all come from the famous Botanical Gardens building in Balboa Park, as well as a few from the lagoon outside. It was the last stop of a long and fulfilling day in the park, and all of these pictures were taken in about a 20-minute span just before they closed for the afternoon. I could have spent four times as long in there, with my tripod, and REALLY come back with some quality computer wallpaper. But for doing everything by hand with my aging discount point-and-shoot, I feel good about this batch.

Bloomin’ Pretty

nt — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:33:43 +0000

On Saturday I paid a visit, in perfect weather, to Descanso Gardens up in La Cañada Flintridge, in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. The Gardens were developed by a Los Angeles newspaper magnate in the 30’s and 40’s and are at their most gorgeous in the Spring. Photographers and art students are almost as numerous as the families putting their kids on the miniature train that buzzes around the oak trees.

In the main house hangs a quote from Rachel Carson that I took to heart: “Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” This nature may be manicured, but at least it’s being celebrated.

Pretty flowers behind the jump.

They were having an indoor competition exhibit for local growers, which meant I finally got to put the tripod to use after lugging it around all day:

Turns out I do have allergies

nt — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:12:27 +0000

Yesterday, Roxie and I spent a couple of hours strolling through the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden near her home.

The pictures can do most of the talking:

I loved this tissue-paper texture – capturing things like this correctly forces me to become a better photographer

There was a special annual indoor exhibit, too, which gave me a chance to put the ol’ tripod to work.

I try not to use my clumsy and harsh little pop-up flash – but every so often, it really does do the trick.

Turtle yoga

You learn something every day – me, I didn’t know a cactus could be this furry.