Patches of Light

 

The different quality of light fascinates me and it is what draws me into photography over and over again. I especially like the morning light, when only patches of light are visible while everything else is still in shade. Often I go into the garden before breakfast just to see what the light looks like. Of course this only works on non-gloomy mornings, and we had a lot of gloomy mornings recently (just debunking the myth of sunny California).

In the morning the sun has to get past the enormous old Coastal Live Oak next to our property. Rays of sunshine dance through her branches and leaves and lighten up only small areas in the garden.

There are always shadows on the fence that delight me.

Later in the day, the birdbath will become quite popular. One of the Mourning Doves loves to hang out on the angel's head.

Look how the Salvia sclarea lightens up in the few rays of sunshine. When the seeds develop, this plant becomes very popular with the Lesser Goldfinches. They balance on the swaying stems and pick the seeds. I love watching them while they do that. The bumblebees love this flower as well. And as an extra perk, it's drought tolerant and thrives in sun as well as in shade.

The deer love to visit the front garden. I wish the would eat the weeds with the same enthusiasm as they raid the olive tree, smokebush and sometimes even the buckwheat! Evidently they haven't read the note that "deer don't like this plant". Well, mine do!

The photo was taken through the window screen, hence the stripes

Isn't that a sweet face for Nicole's Friday Face Off?

We also had repeat visits from a skunk family - here is a super short video taken with our outdoor camera (turn up the volume). I think this was the evening when there were five little skunks. Two days later, there were seven. We're wondering whether next time there will be nine...

Aren't they stinking cute?

And today - I found this little guy in one of my favorite nurseries. It's a planting pot. It's "only" 295 bucks (+ tax), a steal! Gosh, I love Talavera pottery. If I were rich I would have taken him home and he could keep company with my metal cow in the garden.

Does he count for Friday Face Off, too?

Chasing the Light

 

What a wonderful time of spring! The sun rises earlier and is higher in the sky, lightening up different parts of the garden. I love to go out in the morning and follow the light how it moves from one area to another, playing with the darker parts and brightening up others. There is constant change until the garden is bathed into golden morning light.

The filigrane shapes of this decorative piece that I found at a yard sale is highlighted in a narrow strip of sunlight.

The flower bed with its Jupiter's beard (Centranthus) and the young pomegranate tree slowly emerges from the shadows. The flower stalks of Jupiter's beard - which is also called Red Valerian - look gorgeous when backlit before a dark background.

Kibeau is looking for a sunny spot as well where he can watch the little bugs and spiders bustling through the leaves.

Look at the leaves of the Japanese Maple!

The birds have turned up as well. If you look hard at the left picture, you can see a male Hooded Oriole in the leaves of the Pineapple guava whereas the Cedar Waxwings are easy to spot at the top of my neighbor's gingko tree.

The clematis is spectacular. It blooms like crazy in the spring and then again later in the summer, but not quite as vivid.

There are peony buds and the blue-green foliage of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) caught in the light...

... as well as Coyote mint (Monardella villosa) and Calamintha nepeta, a bee magnet later in the summer that also has a lovely scent...

... and even some succulents like Sedum Autumn Joy and the little decorative bird next to the Echeveria.

I love this little angel sitting on a piece of driftwood right in front of the birdbath.

Some plants are fully immersed in the morning light...

... while others just capture the first little bits of light. Oh, how do I love this!

Loving the Light

Every morning I start the day with a walk in the garden. The pandemic hasn't changed that - on the contrary, the garden has become my refuge even more than in "normal" times. I particularly like the mornings because of the light - I simply love how only bits and parts are illuminated while everything around it remains in the shadows.

It's also the quality of the light - it's warm and soft, spreading a beautiful glow. How can I as a photographer not see that? And how can I not try to capture it in an image?

The peony had an additional gift - morning dew. Can you see the tiny droplets?

Even the pots become something whimsical.

A small part of the hollyhocks beside the path is illuminated - these plants will grow pretty tall and are a very few of non-drought tolerant plants in my garden. My guilty pleasure - I love hollyhocks, they always remind me of England.

I'm loving the light in the pomegranate tree - this is the tree I planted a few weeks ago and it already gives me so much joy.

What is your morning routine that sets you up for the day?