Chionodoxa 'Glory in the Snow'

Very early Spring bulbs.
I started with 25 marble size bulbs 15 years ago.
Now there are thousands all over the place.
To see more of these and even a "Life Cycle" series visit Andy P's Daily Pics .
We are growing with active members, a fabulous Slide Show of 100 pics and much more.
Join us there.
Andy P

My new site

Just a quick note to announce my new site, Andy P's Daily Pics. The link is on the right.
This new site will allow you to join in and add your own pics as well as comment. It's a full fledged site that you can participate in. Upload your pics, post in the Forums etc.
See you there.
Andy P

20 Year Old Amaryllis

This is my oldest Amaryllis, it may be 25 years old, I forget.
An old 'Red Lion' variety I got at the super market for $5.
This year it has 2 flower stalks, each with 4 flowers. Usually the flower stalks come up one after the other, this year they are together.
People ask how I get it to live so long, I tell them Maximum Sun.
The second pic shows it where it grows, in a very sunny window, until it goes out for the Summer.

First signs of Spring

These little beauties survived single digit temps this past week to greet me this morning.

Don't you just love Spring?

Snails

Early Summer of 2006 was very wet here.
They were everywhere.

Flash Frozen

While much of the country got snow on Wednesday, we got rain. Lots of rain after 2 inches of snow/sleet over frozen ground. Then the temperature dropped very fast. So fast that the runoff was frozen in place.
This is not flowing water, it is all ice.
I shot these the next day near sunset, it was 17 degrees at the time and very windy. The wind chill was below zero, too cold to worry much about camera settings.

First Amaryllis Flowers

This is the first time this baby 'Apple Blossom' bulb has flowered.

It was a little sprout on the original bulb, 4 years ago. It bloomed exactly 4 weeks after being planted. They usually take 6 weeks or more. I have a big 20 year old red one slowly waking up.

Insect Collage

I got the idea for this last night.

January Shots

A couple recent shots. The last of the Milkweed seeds as they are captured by the wind.
A very early Vinca / Periwinkle.

Winter Color

One of 5 Hibiscus flowers gracing my living room, yesterday.

Global Warming ???

We should be knee deep in snow and Ice Fishing now. In stead we are breaking temperature records and getting a tan. The Swan didn't even bother to fly south. Shots taken yesterday at Ames Nowell State Park, 7 minutes from home.
Happy New Year.

Fun with PaintShop

A couple of my early 'Circles'. A Yellow Swallowtail above and Pear blossoms below.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Fun with PaintShop Pro, the gift I gave myself this year.

Star of Bethlehem (flower)

The name of this flower is appropriate for this week.


I got some new software, can you tell? Stay tuned.

Sun Dog

This is the one year anniversary for this image, taken from my back yard.
It's what is known as a "Sun Dog", when the sun and high clouds are at just the right angle to cause the ice crystals in the cloud to reflect so brightly. Here the real sun is on the right. There is often a second Sun Dog on the other side of the sun but the clouds were too thin for a good reflection.

Autumn Cherry Blossoms

What a surprise to see Cherry blossoms at the end of November but here they are.
They are a variety that occasionally bloom in warm spells. Just a few here and there.

New Hibiscus

This tropical Hibiscus was a gift a few months ago, this is the first flower.

Black Locust tree borer

A colorful adult enjoying nectar and polen of a Sedum flower.

Autumn Mushroom

Two images of the same mushroom taken a week apart.

I'm told that as they stretch and expose the 'fins' they are getting ready to release their spores.

This one is growing under an old Cedar tree.

PhotoShow # 13

Lucky # 13 is ready. Wet Stuff, mostly plants and flowers with a couple bugs for this 4 minute show.