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Brad and I are both searching for flowers today. The unseasonably sunny weather is sure to have brought them out. He finds some right away. It takes me a couple hours. This tiny gem

Snowdrops are popping up all over Mason County today. I knew John and Marion Riedl had a great garden last year, so I drove over to their house near the gallery and looked around. John came out and said, "The snowdrops are in the backyard." Thanks for your help, John and Marion! F2.8 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm

This sight greets me as I crest a hill on Scout Road while searching for blossoming fruit trees between Shelby and Hart. This scene definitely merits a photograph.

Tulips appear to extend to infinity at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan. Visitors from across Michigan and around the world flock to Tulip City each spring to see countless blooms, other Dutch heritage attractions, and Tulip Festival events.

Tulips and the De Zwaan Windmill are two of the spectacular ways Holland, Michigan celebrates its Dutch heritage. Today I search for just the right tulips with which to frame the centuries-old windmill. I set up the tripod low to the ground to make several foreground tulips stand out and surround the tall windmill.

What we feel and what we at first see through our camera lens often bear little similarity. Identifying feelings causes me to realize I need to haul out my largest telephoto lens to match the painterly, impressionistic feeling I am getting from this tulip garden in downtown Holland. Now all I have to do is organize my composition and focus only on my chosen star tulip so the viewers of my finished image will easily make their way through the maze of flowers in front to the one on which I want them to focus their attention.

Spring Blossoms and Flowers

Trillium Grand Rapids Aman Park May

A sunrise to rival the beauty of the evening primrose growing along the Pere Marquette River, south of Ludington, seemed too good to be true. It was true and the light and flowers were preserved on film.

Bending against a brisk October breeze but not breaking, dune grass withstands another "northwester" along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

I drove to the land our family owns in hopes of finding some flowers in bloom that were planted years ago by the Betka family. Sure enough, I found them along Conrad Road and moved in for a closer look with a macro lens. F13.0 at 1/25, ISO 400, 105 mm lens at 105 mm

365 Week

The front yards of Jeannie Krieger's house and Terry Murphy and Deb Dila's house on Rath Avenue in Ludington are covered with these gorgeous glory of the snow flowers. Using my wide-angle macro lens and carefully getting as close to the flowers as I could; I made this photo in the bright sunlight. F5.0 at 1/640, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 20 mm

My wife Betsy and my in-laws, Don and Shari Verduin, sang in the Good Friday community service today. This year the community service was held at Cornerstone Baptist Church. When I found this beautiful cross on the wall I thought it would make a fitting photo for Good Friday. F2.8 at 1/80, ISO 800, 18-50 mm lens at 34 mm

Sweet cherry blossoms form a perfect circle that makes them look picture perfect to me. The fruit farmer is not as happy about this picture as I am. It is March and the sweet cherries south of Ludington are blossoming three weeks ahead of schedule, putting them at great risk of frost damage. F9 at 1/200, ISO 400, 105mm lens at 105mm

Finally, a little rain to go with all that sunshine and warmth that has been good for the soul and for growing. F2.8 at 1/500, ISO 400, 80-200 mm lens at 200 mm

Spring has come early this year and caused an early-blooming Eastern Redbud ornamental tree to bloom in March. The early arrival brightens my day as I head home on Iris Road south of Ludington. F6.3 at 1/320, ISO 400, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

I always know spring is near when I see these little blue flowers bloom every year in Nick and Kate Krieger’s yard. I photographed them in 2010 for our 365 Project and was honored to be able to photograph them again for the 366 Project ten years later.

My mom has always loved her flowers. Over the years, her flower gardens have gotten smaller but no less beautiful. Her daffodils in front of their large porch glowed in the light this evening.

There are more monarch butterflies than people enjoying Dow Gardens in Midland today. Brad and I are delighted to be among only a handful of people appreciating one of Michigan's most beautiful gardens this morning.