Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Tulip Festival 2008



I was finally able to go to the festival yesterday! (And had forgotten to load the newly charged battery into my camera before I left home.) Thankfully, my mother was with me, and allowed me to use her camera. My grandmother, and three of my children were also with us, and we had a wonderful time. The original dates for the festival have passed, but Mother Nature always has her own clock. There were still probably about half of the tulips which hadn't fully matured yet. I'd like to go back in a week or two, because I think it will be completely different.
I love blue and yellow together. It is so clean and fresh. The yellow tulips seem to glow in the sun. I believe that these are double daffodils. I found the touch of orange very pleasing with the blue hyacinth. I loved, also, the sprinkling of orange and blue pansies at the feet of the larger flowers. The gardeners here are masters, they know how to give each flower it's best opportunity to shine.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

For Claude.



These flowers just said France to me? How about you?

Monday, April 28, 2008

Temple Square Gounds: Early Spring - Two



I'm hoping to get down to the Tulip Festival today, finally. Maybe we'll have the 2008 Festival for the rest of the week. In the meantime, here are more of the lovely flowers I saw at Temple Square last week.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Leafing out



The leaves are coming! The leaves are coming!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Handcrafted



The artisans involved in the construction of the Salt Lake Temple lent painstaking effort, creativity and tremendous skill to every detail. These are the door knobs on a set of the doors on the East side of the Temple. The detail is incredible to me.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

My favorite canyon



This is Little Cottonwood Canyon in an early morning mist. It is my favorite canyon, and is beautiful at so many times of the year. I love this view, with clouds weaving in and out among the hills. In the summertime, when it it filled with color, the clouds are quite striking when they come low and close to the mountains like this.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

A View from the Place



Standing near the monument and looking out over the valley is pretty amazing. There isn't much that you can't see from there. This is a view of the Oquirrh Mountains, the Valley's West range.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

This is the Place.



When Brigham Young and his party first entered the Salt Lake Valley, he looked out over it and said "This is the Place." There is now at that location, a monument dedicated to those first pioneers, and a park where you can "go back in time" so to speak and see what it was life looked like for them.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Colorful Construction



There is a building under construction downtown which has tarps for now where the windows will soon be. It looked like a giant painting.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Temple Square Gounds: Early Spring



The trees on Temple Square are old and majestic. I just love how this one seemed to be watching over the flowers I was photographing.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Tulip Festival Seven: Complementary




I love the combination of blue and orange. These flower beds blew me away. I just couldn't stop taking photos. This, I think, is the best.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Tulip Festival Six: The Italian Garden




There is a fountain like this in Italy. It is a cascading basin fountain - in this case the basin being the size of a bath. One of the Italian Daily Photo Blogs posted a photo of the original not long ago, and I was very excited to see the it. Anyone who has a can help me figure out which blog it was - I'd love it. Like a goofball, I forgot to bookmark it and I can't find it anymore. For all intents and purposes, I have this one to enjoy. I'm not complaining. It's just nice to know where inspiration comes from.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Tulip Festival Five: Primary Colors



This is one of the brightest of my photos, in terms of color. One of the things I love about the Festival is how many different combinations and varieties of tulips there are. Most of the plants are listed by both common and scientific name so that you can replicate a garden if you'd like to. Obviously, there are many other kinds of flowers used in the gardens during the Tulip Festival, but the Tulip is Queen.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Tulip Festival Four



I really love floral photography. There isn't nearly enough time to post even a smidgeon of all one might see at the Tulip Festival, so I'm doing my best to so the "most" of the gardens. I'll throw in a few more close ups later on this week. This walkway was one of my favorite. It is soothing, and calm rather than bright and showy.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Tulip Festival Three - Mother knows best



I got some news today. It was cold here for a while, and the Tulips didn't quite show up for their opening day! Can you imagine? Mother Nature foiling the plans of human being? (It wouldn't be life if that didn't happen more than just occasionally.) They hope to have flowers blooming by the end of this week - and I suppose they'll have to extend the "Festival" for a little bit. Good thing I wasn't planning on going opening day - and that I had a family member who did go, and saved me the trip for this week anyway. It will be interesting to see if the flowers on Temple Square are in the same state when I am there on Wednesday. I had hoped to have a lot to show you from there as well. Mother knows best, that's what they say.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Tulip Festival Two



The Thanksgiving Point Gardens are 10 distinct gardens with gorgeous expanses of perfectly groomed lawn and paths separating them. I found a virtual tour online, which should help you to understand the scope of the gardens themselves. I'm going to post photos over the next two weeks in the order that I tool them. This week, I'll post photos from the 2007 Festival, and next week I'll post from the Festival happening now. I'll post photos in the order that they were taken. You can take many different routes through the gardens, but with many children at my side as I took these photos, I took the most common route. I hope it will give you a pretty good idea what it would be like to walk through the gardens yourself.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Tulip Festival has officially begun!



. . .and that my friends is something worth celebrating. I've mentioned the Tulip Festival before, and I'll continue to add posts related to it during the next couple of weeks while it is running.
We have some really beautiful weather in the forecast, and I intend to make the most of it. Spring is finally, really truly here. Often, life's great beauties are revealed in high contrast - winter into spring is one of my favorite times, summer into fall also being one of those as well. The seasons, with their respective beauties remind us that change is a natural and constant part of life. They prompt us to appreciate what is here now, knowing that it won't last long - especially when you consider the life span of something like a tulip. Enjoy them while they last, because when they are gone, it will be a while before we can enjoy them again. (Except of course in photographs, which is why I intend to take quite a few.)

Friday, April 11, 2008

A Hopeful Sky



When I saw this sky I pulled over and snapped a photo. It seems to echo so much about life, at least to me it did. The sun was just too strong to be hidden behind the clouds, it came shining through despite the obvious obstacles. Sometimes, it takes a few clouds to help you to appreciate how beautiful that light really is.

Chapel Details: Four



This is the last of my old chapel photos, and I think it is my favorite. One of the reasons this building is unique is the roof. I haven't seen a multil-colored tile roof like this anywhere else in Utah.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Chapel Details: Two



This is a detail from over the door of the chapel across the street (to the west) from the Capitol. The door was actually quite lovely as well. Thinking back on it I wish I'd just taken the whole shot and cropped it when I got home - live and learn.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Chapel Details: One



This chapel is located across the street (to the west) from the Capitol Building. It is very unique in Utah.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Capitol Series : Four



This is a close up of the dome from the West side of the Capitol. I thought it was funny, Legally Blonde II was on TV yesterday, so I paid a little more attention than I normally would have - and sure enough, that's our building in that there movie. (Very colloquial english there, I'm not quite that country.) I have one more to add to this series, then I'll start the chapel across the street from the Capitol Building.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Capitol Series : Three



This is the front of the Capitol Building, from the West side. There is a church just across the street with some beautiful details that I'll show you starting Tuesday. Tomorrow, I have one more of the Capitol, which I think is my favorite. Happy Sunday!

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Capitol Series : Two



This is the Capitol Building from behind with State Street visible to the left. When my mother was a girl, State Street was "the Highway." It was a continuous road stretching from city to city, leading to the Capitol Building in Salt Lake. It is still a main thoroughfare, however, it has been dwarfed by Interstate-15, and in some areas actually became I-15.
Have a great day!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Capitol Series : One



This is the Utah State Capitol Building from the East, near the hospitals I was mentioning earlier. It's design was chosen in a competition held in 1912 - You can find other history here. I quite like the small article, which includes a number of great photos, and this tidbit: In Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde the Utah State Capitol was used for exterior and interior shots of the U.S. Capitol. I didn't know that - can't say I've seen the movie, but still. That's cool.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Mt. Olympus - not in Greece



Tomorrow, I want to start on the Capitol, so I thought I'd throw in this shot of the last big Wasatch Peak today. This is Mt. Olympus, the northernmost of the three big mountains along the East side of the Salt Lake Valley.

My Blue Heaven



After a snow storm, the sky looks like this, stunningly blue with cotton candy clouds.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Steeple



I just thought this was a lovely sight.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Motion




Waterfalls have always been captivating to mankind. They are motion.
Today is our theme day - be sure to stop by some of the other daily photo blogs for more "water". . .

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,