Just take a look at that tender spring creations of Mother Nature!

This pretty white bulb flower was found at Inks Lake Park in Burnet, Texas. It's obviously a shade flower. If anyone know the name, I'd appreciate it and thanks for your wonderful comments.

If any one can tell me the name of this flower, I'd really like to know. Thanks for all of your wonderful comments.

Wildflowers??? Skip the weed-n-feed, I'm pulling out the Big Guns! I had to stop cutting my Mom's grass just so I could take this picture. Thank goodness it wasn't my lawn!

A beautiful, but short-lived, springtime walking iris bloom, on May 4.

Florida flame azalea in the setting sun on March 31.

Tulip in the sun, from March 18.

Taken in my neighborhood

Taken at the ABQ Bio Park

Taken at the ABQ Bio Park

I know its spring when my cherry tree blooms!!!

Poppys blooming in a field near the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.

My lilacs smell so good in the spring!!

I must say this will have to be the toughest challenge yet. Every photo submitted by WS members is beautiful! In my book, you are all winners!!!!

All English pubs seem to have to outdo each other with their hanging baskets

Lets think outside the box for this one. Flowers grow between the springs of an old farm plough :0)

JamieSmith1313`s birthday - 17. March.

Flower11rose`s birthday - 15. May.

Abbey is the best assistant photographer and supervisor of all things.

trust me...still harboring some anger from being ignored...Penelope told the photographer that this is the picture that needs to be taken...Trust me she said...There is no need to check on the challenge...this is perfect...

Dedicated to my friend Anitha (anica66)

And - Voila! A perfect spring Sunday! Enjoy!

Hibiscus blossoms don't last long, but they are beautiful for a day.

Pasque Flower - Anemone patens (Pulsatilla patens) -Ranunculaceae Family AKA; "Pasque Flower, April Fool, Badger, Easter Plant, Gosling, Hartshors, Prairie Smoke, Rock Lily, Wild Crocus, Windflower"

Erodium cicutarium. Stork's Bill,AKA; Crane's Bill,Heron's bill

FYI, I believe this to be; Balsamorhiza sagittata. Arrowleaf Balsam root. Aster Sub-Family sunflower tribe.

Lovely colors

Taken during Spring at the Flecker Botanical Gardens, Cairns. As it is Autumn here this is not a new Spring Flower.

Colorful flower

This cactus flowers in Spring. The flower only lasts for a few days. As it is Autumn here this is not a new Spring Flower.

This tree produces a mass of flowering balls in Spring. As it is Autumn here this is not a new Spring Flower.

This was in the parking lot at the country club where my niece had her wedding reception at. It was drizzling out but this was so pretty, I just had to snap a picture of it.

Mother Nature begins her yearly supply of bounty.

The garden is still in the early stages of development, therefore, restroom facilities, drinking fountains and other visitor accommodations have not yet been constructed.

Garden planting occupy the inner slopes and basin of Koko Crater. The visitor is first met with colorful collections of plumeria and bougainvillea cultivars in the outer crater.

Shell Ginger

Madrid - Botanical Garden (April 2oo8) 0116

Spring brings with it life and rebirth. And blossoming flowers and bees buzzing around are always there to remind us that Spring has arrived.

If you look around, you can find flowers blooming everywhere and bees collecting nectar from the flower. Life is in the air!

Apricot is one of the symbols of Armenia. If you haven't tasted armenian apricot, you should try! YUM!

May 10, 2008

Camellia

Tulips

Star tulips

Taken in the grounds of the Roman Forum, ITALY.

She watches over my blooms in spring and summer

Vivid colors of Maui

Please view it in full size!

Geramium bud and flowers Macro, enjoy all stage of flowering from all sides

Pitunia flower

Clematis in full mood, zoom and see pollengrains

The late evening sunlight illuminates the petals of the pasque flower. ~~ In the spring, the Pasque Flower is densely covered with white silky hairs that look like an old man's beard. The plant has a short stem with flowers that are cup shaped and 2 to 2 1/2 inches in size. The flowers have 5 to 8 pointed lavender sepals that resemble petals. Underneath the sepals it is very silky. As the plant matures the stem elongates to about 14". The flower grows heavy and droops downward. There is a very noticeable circle of bracts around the stem below the flower. When the very narrowly divided basal leaves first appear, they are purplish in color. ~~ The Pasque Flower is just as beautiful in seed, as it is in bloom. It looks like it has been given an electrical shock and is having a very bad hair day. - IMG_0792

On Sunday 6th April we woke up to more snow than we'd had all winter. That's English springtime for you...

Well, it fits the next challenge, too, because the title comes from a song. "In the darkness of night / Just a lonely tear / Burns my cheek / Like a glowing coal". It's a song about Stalin's Gulag.

This is a song, too: "How nice is my fatherland- / Even bent-grass bloomed with silver blossoms". Latvian folk-song.

"Just don't ask me, what it was"... ha, the song again!

Two springtime flowers new-born close each other

Far above the sparkling sea

An uncommon bee-orchid, the lower lobe has a "tooth" pointing upward and the upper lobes are pink.

Last year these blossoms got zapped by a freeze before I could enjoy them. This year Mother Nature cooperated and spared these delicate blooms. IMG_0878-2

A small creeper growing in shady places with pink to white flowers.

Merry-go-round and round

Pink tulip in my garden after a morning rain shower. IMG_0873-3

Nature is an unparalleled artist. It also continuously amazes us with its awesome artistry, be it with the colourful flowers in bloom, the gorgeous sunsets or the myriad living things that share the planet with us. We can only admire this artistry or portray it to the best of our ability. . These photographs have been put together as a thanksgiving to Nature for the inspiration it provides me as a photographer.

Nature at its soaring best !

Thanks for viewing !

Yeah, well, I *HAD* to use all the lenses I brought... ;o)

Crocus with a small bee. If you look at the picture in "full size" you can even see traces of pollen on his head :-)

Fortunately I'm not a gardener, and this is not a garden! :)

Though nightmare of gardeners, this dandelion touched my heart. As I was lying in grass and saw it loosing its 'fluffs', I saw its beauty and felt love for this flower!

All opened to receive the warm and the light

close-up

There isn't anything that represents spring any better than a tree in full bloom. This park is full of beautiful blooming trees. Its like a spring pardise. Oh my goodness you can smell them now.

Parnell Rose Gardens - Auckland

Spring is a very special time of the year. A start of new beginnings, fresh green grass, the aroma of flowers everywhere. A time for gardens planted. What more beautiful aroma in the air than a beautiful lilac bush. This bush came from Ewing Park, which is a park of lilac bushes. A very beautiful place to visit this time of the year.

I thought this dark burgundy branch of grab apple blossoms fanning against the green tree was just a beautiful example of spring. Thats why I call it natures bouquet

They were there suddenly. My camera exposed without my realizing it! :)

A favorite daffodil from my garden.

A blooming tree in the park

May 2007

Coastline flowers

The first spring flower in Finland

These little beauties are the first to grow in my yard this spring...this macro shot shows just how lovely they are!

Oh how lovely the colors on these little primrose plants..so very SPringtime happy!

This daisy had just the right amount of sun shining through it, and it appears like a lamp flower! This is all natural..no photo shop needed!!!

Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Bloodroots are wildflowers. When I think they might start to emerge, I look very carefully for their little tips; these grow just a little. Then a curled up leaf appears which protects the blossom. Next time the sun shines, a single white flower opens up in all its beauty, rising above the lobed leaf. Their roots yield a reddish juice, which probably gave the plant its name. This macro shows the beauty of the blossoms and the texture of the leave, just love it. (p0641-425k)

(p0800-381k)

I am enjoyimg taking the first flower pictures of the year, especially since there is still so much snow around my place. (p0406-605k)

Busy Bee

Stunning yellow color of this beautiful daffodil opened to greet the spring...

I live in the desert area of the United Arab Emirates -- we dont really have typical spring flowers however these "flowers" bloom throughout the desert area after sufficent water and we had a couple of good rains here in late winter

This tree is also home to a wide variety of birds.

The scent of this lilac bush fills the air.

This beautiful tree stands in my front yard like a sentinel

I live in the desert area of the United Arab Emirates -- these "flowers" bloom after a good rain. More information: Tarthuth is the Arabic name for this parasitic plant. Medieval Europeans called it ”Maltese mushroom” its use as foodstuff and medicine goes back thousands of years. Arab physicians considered it “the treasure of drugs” as it had therapeutic uses, particularly as a remedy for blood disorders, digestive ailments and reproductive problems. (by Robert W. Lebling Jr.)

I live in the desert area of the United Arab Emirates -- we dont really have typical spring flowers however these "flowers" bloom throughout the desert area after sufficent water and we had a couple of good rains here in late winter

Zwitserland

Since it's the lowest resolution of the 4, I'm going to make it a "bonus" entry that's for your enjoyment only and not for the challenge. Thanks!

1 of 38 possible entries I had to select from in this "Spring Flower Creative Challenge" album

1 of 38 possible entries I had to select from in this "Spring Flower Creative Challenge" album

Taraxacum officinalis of de paardenbloem, op een mooie pinksterdag lag ik op mijn rug in het gras en genoot van de blauwe lucht.

Wij houden van oranje .... Hup holland hup.

In my search for Spring in April, I came across these tiny crocus lifting their golden heads to the sun.

After a long, hard winter, the sight of beautiful blossoms is most welcome. Best seen at full size.

Welcoming the sun.

Spring is but a memory as I sit here watching the snow fall!

Macro shot taken in Aspen, CO.

Taken at Mueller State Park, Divide, CO.

The Mexican Bird of Paradise will only be in bloom in the warm days to come here in the desert.

An all time favorite, the Sunflower is very popular around this time of the year.

This Saguaro is about 20 feet tall ( about 6 meter)! The Saguaros are our most famous springflower in the deset and each blossom will only open once for one day!

Gorgeous spring wild flower, dodecatheon meadia, or birdsbill as my father used to call them. They are from the primrose family. I am so surprised by how many have never seen them, but there are really not very many in our woods either. As I was mowing, I found three which I mowed around and then went back, dug them up, and transplanted in one of our woodland flower beds. They are very dear to me. Joan

Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower;But only so an hour. R. Frost

Longwood Gardens

Morning Glories open together into the morning sunshine!

Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens

I grow several different kinds of Morning Glories every year somewhere in my yard. It adds alot of color and beauty to any spot in the yard.

This beauty hangs in a basket under a big china berry tree in my back yard.

purple flower

All the little flowers that make up a Lilac!

In Don Paulson's very own yard!

This was shot with zoom-macro. I enjoy the bright, crisp colors.

Unfortunately I don't know what the name of the flower is.

A pretty pink angelique tulip from my Mom's neighbour's garden. Copyright Renee Dawson.

This is one of the finest pink Tulips. Its lovely colour is a beautiful shade of phlox pink which is slightly paler at the petal edges.

We found a cactus blooming by the old gazebo.

This is a macro ratio: 5:1 Captured with lens Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro. IMG_2492 copie

This is a macro ratio: 5:1 Captured with lens Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro. IMG_2488 copie

This is a macro ratio: 5:1 Captured with lens Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro. IMG_2484 copie

I was thrilled by the beauty of St. Peterhof in Russia. As a young girl growing up in America the stories of Russia were not pleasant..but when I arrived there, it changed everything for me, I saw Russia as it really is, a beautiful place with beautiful people.

Pasture at horse Farm, I first came here with my daughter in the winter to start her lessons and I couldn't wait until spring and see what this tree looked like with the bend in it.

Everything was so well groomed in St.Peterof as you can see in this pic.There were even a few fake tulip's scattered about that they would squirt water out of while hiding in the distance, the children and grownup's alike would be shocked by the water and laugh till their belly's hurt..LOL

Calochortus superbus: A native wildflower I found in open grassland near Hopland during May. Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly and as you can see the marking are both beautiful from top and side. This perennial bulb is part of the Lily family and was gathered by natives as a food source.

Calochortus amabilis: A native wildflower found in open hillsides of Northern California during April & May. This is a perennial bulb within the Lily family. The word Calochortus is derived from Greek and means "beautiful grass".

Castilleja exserta: Native wildflower found in the Ridgewood meadow during April. Other Castillejas include the more common red colored indian paintbrush. This particular species is important for the survival of the federally endangered Bay Checkerspot Butterfly.

Are there any more beautiful spring flowers than those of Augusta during master's week? I don't think so.

My Garden in Myrtle Beach SC

My Hibiscus blooms once a year, and here it is. There are still another couple buds waiting in the wings.

These cute little fuzzy stemmed flowers just finished blooming here in Manitoba. I managed to get an album together of them.

I have a large variety of Tulips and this is one of them.

back ground - Fenton bridge over the Tenn.River

Thanks for the name of the flower, Joan

A trip to Victoria's Butchard's Gardens May 12 2007

Beautiful pink roses, at spring's end. Backdropped by the blue of the mountain lake.

A rose shows it's age, in late May, along Murray Reservoir in Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego.

If anyone could tell me what these beautiful flowers are, that I found near the coast, I'd be much obliged.

A close-up

Lusty

Best viewed at full size.

BABY BLUES

Reach for the Sky

Mendocino Headlands, California

Berkeley, California

Unique Pink Flower (Matt Hansen)

Strands Of Flower (Matt Hansen)

Albany Tulip Fest 2008

Denver, Colorado: May 9, 2008 ... by Marv (BerryMan)

Dateline: Denver - April 17, 2008 ... by Marv (BerryMan) ... see "next"

Albany Tulip Fest 2008

My "Hopa" variety flowering-crabapple blossoms on Sunday April 27, 2008... by Marv (BerryMan)

These are called "hvitveis" on Norwegian, but I'm not entirely sure of the English name. I heard someone call them wind flowers, is that correct?

With so many crocus in the meadow, FULL SIZE viewing looks best.

Such a joy to their vivid colours in Springtime.

I always leave a bank in my garden to nature,in Spring it's a riot of blue and yellow from the bluebells and primroses.

Trilliums are predominantly white or deep red/burgandy with occasional mauve or pinkish tints. They bloom in deciduous forrests starting in early spring, preferring shade and it is illegal to pick them as it takes the plant 7 yrs to produce blooms

Sunny yellow daisies with a lovely touch of light

spring blossom london

dragonfly type bug, flowers, and lettuce

I picked this Zinnia for the challenge because it had something that none of my other Zinnia's had, and that was a tiny ant climbing about on it's beautiful petals..I know most people get butterflie's & bee's, I get ant's..LOL

Taken at night holding flashlight under daisies.

I wish I was Vincent Van Gogh

Fleurs d'Eglantiers ou roses sauvages

Flowers don't go without their usual guests.

Armed with a bouquet of tulips, garden hose, and tips from Webshot Pros... this photo was created.

I found these delightful fancy daffodils in a rock garden April 27, 08 at a church in Eganville, ON. This is currently my screensaver as it is pretty and cheerful.

When the forsythia starts blooming I know Spring is on its way.

Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens - April 4, 2008

Please view full size! These lily-flowering tulips broke off in the wind, so I dropped them into my tiny reflecting pool - with this result.

Lake Elsinore, 3-7-08

Almost like those sea anemone's I see when snorkelling!

Please view full size!

Another superb National Trust garden

A historic gdn with one of the finest collections of Magnolias & Camellias in the Country. The 'Williamsii' race of hybrid Camellias were bred here, the best known being 'Donation'. The week before my visit there had been strong gale force winds that had damaged the flowers in all the gdns.

... Keukenhof,Holland

This picture is taken at the Keukenhof,Holland.

I took this shot in our back yard.

Passion flower -passiflora vitifolia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Passiflora_vitifolia_flower.jpg

This tree is in my front yard and when it bloomed it looked beautiful.

This pink tulip was in my yard around Easter. The detail of the petals in the picture is amazing.

I love the color of this iris. Its a yellowish brown with a hint of purple in the middle of the petals.

Passion flower -Passiflora incarnata - a fast growing perinnial vine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypop

try full size for the fun raindrops!! ... DSC_0345

From "Brighton Azalea Garden" ... if you have a sec, give this one a go at full size ... DSC_0279

From "Snapshots Of Springtime" ... this one's fun on full size too ... you can really see all the little pollen bits!! ... DSC_0247_3

Used this in a Challenge before, but I love it! The first original painting I ever bought. It's not exactly modern art, and in 50 years it won't be worth any more than I paid for it, but so many people, beside myself, enjoy this one.

The color is so intense, so delightful enlightening the still dark days of early spring.

In November all the green and yellow coverd space in front of the Eycalyptus tree was dust only!

This is the flower of the Rhododendron plant, the state flower of Washington state. They come in a variety of colors and the blooms last quite a long time.

This was taken at my home after a spring rain.

Cute couple

I mean, in reality was blue, but in the photo looks kind of purple :o)

one of my favorite flowers

Brazilian tulips with a Dutch accent.

Flowers... have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike some strains of music. They relax the tenseness of the mind. They dissolve its rigor. - Henry Ward Beecher

A shimmering Peturnia

Unfortunately it's autumn here... this photo was taken in spring of 2006

Unfortunately it's autumn here... this photo was taken in spring of 2006

Unfortunately it's autumn here... this photo was taken in spring of 2006

Haitian beauty

This photo was taken at the Dallas Arboretum Spring 2008. I just loved the way nature was working together with the simple beauty of the blooms and the sunlights natural illumination.

This is actually a very small flower -- measuring 1 inch

Extreme close up of snow and ice covered Daffodil bloom. Wonderful yellow flower bloom with a touch of orange. The ice crystals and water drops add and interesting texture.

Daffodil close up

These where in a pot and I just loved the colors. Enjoy!! ***Member Choice Album January 2008. This is our 10th Featured photo/album.*** Thanks to all the members.

I was fascinated with the center of this pretty white, spring flower in my Mother's garden last weekend. A big thank you to Brenda for letting me know this is a double narcissus.

The sun is shining after a day of rain, while droplets still balance on the petals of this camelia blossom.

Still dripping after a rain shower.....

Pasque flowers in bloom once again after a year's absence. Two blossoms at the top of the image appear to be catching up with one another in an intense face-to-face conversation.

above 3000 feet, these were so plentiful

found in yards and along roadsides everywhere in Tennessee

in a field on a mid-summer evening

A dwarf purple iris which has already bloomed and gone this Spring. For those visitors interested in viewing my other 2 flower entries, they are in my Macro Flower album :o)

Iris were blooming all over the zoo. I must admit that I like to visit for the Botanical Garden side of things :)

Red and Purple

Petals closeup.

Regents Royal Garden. A dazzling array of bright colours from a mixture of daffodils, tulips, small flowers and a green hedge against the beautiful blue sky.

I stopped and took this picture on my way up to the peak of the mountain. Best viewed large.

California Indians cherished the poppy as both a source of food and for oil extracted from the plant. Its botanical name, Eschsholtzia californica, was given by Adelbert Von Chamisso, a naturalist and member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences, who dropped anchor in San Francisco in 1816 in a bay surrounded by hills of the golden flowers. Image captured on the path down to Pt. Bonita lighthouse.

I love the reflection.

Springflowers of my garden

Whenever the appletrees bloom, the little bees have to work overtime

Tulips

In amongst the hardest soil a flower of great beauty can bloom!

Australian native, growing free and wild

A beautiful Day, and a beautiful Garden

Cherry Parfait Rose

Daisies playing peak-a-boo with the sun. Colorado Springs, CO

This bush that produces such lovely flowers each year is from natures best artist.

I used a Nikon 3T lens on a Canon S1-IS for this picture. I love the colors of these early spring flowers.

The 'fuzz' on these in quite an fascinating feature.

A hummingbird was visiting these flowers - but got away before I could snap him.

my neighbor's lilacs smell heavenly! lol

California poppy is the california state flower.

This desert plant when in full bloom covers the desert landscape yellow.

My neighbor planted this 7 years ago between the houses and it bloomed AT LAST! I love the little pink flowers! Didn't even know Wisteria came in anything other than lavender! Makes me want to find a hoop skirt, a mint julip, and big plantation house porch!!! Ya'll care to join me and set a spell?

Again from next door neighbor! She has a way with plants! I love the colors

Grebera flower,Zoom and enjoy detail

What kind of tree? Again, no idea. New York Botanical Garden, 4/5/08

I have no idea what this is. Do you? 5/11/08 in Greenwich, CT

5/11/08 Greenwich, CT

Note how the contrast of shadow and light are echoed in the contrast of color in the flowers themselves.

Flowers of the joshua tree develop as tight clusters of greenish white buds at the ends of the branches. By the way It is from the lily family.

A soft spring treat!

Flower with Bee

Muscari botryoides - Common grape hyacinth

As Dalias s�o flores ex�ticas e delicadas, sens�veis �s varia��es clim�ticas e pouco resistente ao frio. S�o tamb�m conhecidas como as flores das ilus�es, por conta de sua beleza, sensibilidade e baixa durabilidade, o que faz com que n�o sejam muito indicadas para buqu�s. Mas mesmo assim, s�o muito utilizadas, tanto como planta cultivada em jardim, em que � poss�vel combinar os seus diversos tipos em uma mesma ornamenta��o, ou como flores de corte, que lhe permite durar por volta de dez dias

Field of rapes

So pretty and delicate!

Not as grand as his European cousin, but a very welcome adition to the Bazilian spring flowers!

Taking advantage of the early Brazilian sun rays to show her striking beauty!

This nest of flowers is about 2 feet long.

These flowers are related to garlic and onions, and bloom later in spring. Their globe-shaped heads contain hundreds of tiny florets that are irresistible to many insects - including this tiny fellow. Besides its visual beauty, I'm always interested in the role any flower pays in the larger ecosystem of an area. Please view full size!

Pink-yellow-red Zinnia in Chesapeake, OH

Pink daisy from a bouquet given to my wife for Mothers Day

A gorgeous yellow flower's swirled petal. Taken in Myrtle Beach, SC during the Summer of '07

At last I'm learning about taking pictures with a lot of close-up <^_^;

I love how this one came out, when I showed this picture to some friends they thought it was a big flower, got impresed when I show them the tiny flower it is