Stop to Smell the Flowers

We have all heard this saying at some point in our lives. It seems that more and more in today’s bustling lifestyle that is a valuable piece of advice that should be heeded more often.

The Dallas Arboretum is a perfect place to do exactly that. There are several different kinds of flowers that are just waiting for someone to see them. I have frequented the Dallas Arboretum for a couple of years now, and it is a perfect place to relax. You can bring a picnic basket for an outing with your family, or that special person in your life. If you don’t want to take a picnic basket they sell lunch and snack items at the cafe, I recommend the Tomato soup, it is delicious!
Of course if you go to the Arboretum you should take a walk through and see the different plants that they have to offer. From season to season, of course, the flowers they have to offer to change, so it is always worth a trip to see what is new.
I have taken some photos there, many of the different flowers, I have also taken engagement photos, and Easter themed photos here as well. 
Here is a photo of G., he was an absolute delight to take photos of. I hope his mom and other family enjoy the photos, as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Engagement photos are always fun, to see the affection they have for each other, and capturing that in a photo is always such an amazing feeling.
The Campbells were a fun couple, they knew what they wanted and I wish them the best in life.
 
The Garcia’s engagement photos were formal and fun.  I had a lot of fun taking their photos. These two will be happy for a long time. Their fun and outgoing personalities will help them go far in their new life together.

If you ever get a chance to go to the Arboretum, I recommend taking the chance to slow down and spend some time either with friends, family, or yourself. It really is a great place to take photos, but more than that; it’s a place to wind down and get away from the phones and busy lives that most of us seem to have these days.

Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center

I don’t know how many people know that the City of Denton has a park where you can hike, fish, interact with nature, and explore. I had a chance to meet up with a group of fellow Denton Area Photographers at the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center.
Our hike went off without a hitch until we met a flooded portion of the Wetlands Trail, which forced us to double back to find a dryer trail. We hiked for over three hours, but I have a feeling we could have stayed longer. I am positive that there are trails that we did not explore, and that there are photo opportunities still waiting out there in the wilderness.
The weather on Saturday was perfect for spending the day outdoors. It was not so cool that we had to wear layers of clothing nor was the heat sweltering. While the weather was favorable, we encountered a few of the inhabitants of the area. None were dangerous; one in particular sparked an interest. We discovered the Spittle Bug, which is a funny little creature. Here are a few of our group inspecting the creature

Discovering this little creature was fun. It sparked our imagination a bit. It really was protected by the "spittle" I would have never thought that a grown bug was in there.
Of course there were butterflies, and trees abound. My favorite trees were not on dry land so to speak. They were in the water, and were old and in a state of decay of some cases.

This tree had certain spookiness to it, especially with the reflection in the water. I could imagine a witch story or some other spooky tale being told about this old tree.
As for wildlife, we managed to not see any dangerous animals. This is a little surprising, considering the environment we were in. One spot particularly could have surprised us with some snakes!

I just loved the green on the water, but couldn't you just imagine a snake slithering out of that green film and just making us run. I don't know about you all, but I prefer to let the snakes have their space!!
We did, however; see some gentle, graceful, unassuming wildlife, in the form of butterflies. There were naturally all over the place, but they really aren't still for long, you have to be alert and watchful to catch one while it is standing still.

During our hike we came upon a place that looked like it could have at one time been a roadway. There was a clearing in the trees that was long and narrow so that cars could have passed. Almost like those back country roads that are so much fun to drive down when you need a break from the highways and traffic.

It almost looks peaceful now that nature has taken over, assuming that it was once a roadway.
But of course there were wildflowers abound. At the start of the hike, there were a few at the trail head

But at the end of the expedition, we came upon the field that is behind the education center at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, which was just filled with wildflowers

If you ever have a nice afternoon or day and are looking for something fun to do, I recommend the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

The Butterflies

I went to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens last Friday to see the Butterfly Exhibit. I saw some very unique butterflies from all over the world. A friend went with me and we both took photos.
Butterflies are amazing creatures, they are graceful in their movements
 and have some of the most vibrant colors!
There were very few with this coloring. This one almost blended in with the leaf on which it rested. Its bright green color reminded me of an emerald, one of my favorite gemstones.

The kids there were enamored with holding them. I saw one group of girls who found a patient one that let them  all hold it. While the kids were trying to catch them, most of the adults were just as excited to see them; myself included.

The butterflies knew they were the stars of the show. One group inparticular caught my interest; they were bright blue. I couldn't get a shot of one with it's wings open, this one stared me down for a few minutes allowing me to photograph him and notice that it had bumps on the underside of its wings. A very interesting find.

Last weekend marked the end of the Butterfly Exhibit at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. I am looking forward to going next year and seeing more of these beautiful creatures!