Category Archives: Gardening

Yellow Finch: Elusive Little Soul

The first time I noticed yellow finches flitting around was two years ago.  They were feasting on sunflower seeds from the tall stalks of once beautiful sunshine flowers that now were just pin cushions of seeds providing nourishment to the birds.   By the time I noticed them they flew away, yellow streaks to across the field to find the protection of an old tree.   These are elusive little birds.

I have been on a mission to photograph these guys.  Today when I arrived to check my garden’s harvest I saw them fly over to the fence with their not so showy finch cousins.  No sudden moves.  I walked v…..e……..r………y……..s…….l…..o……..w…….l……y through the garden and stood very still, sometimes squatting out of site waiting for  a yellow finch, also known as a gold finch, to present himself to my camera.  Finally one began streaking around the garden looking for food as his little body caught the late afternoon sun.

Hanging out on the garden fence.

Hanging out on the garden fence.

mary_claire_crow_yellow_finch20110008061186Afb

Yellow finch snacking on a sunflower seed.

Yellow finch snacking on a sunflower seed.

mary_claire_crow_yellow_finch20110008061193fb

We Are Fa-mi-ly: A Field of Sunflowers

I just love a wild yard!  No manicured lawn for me.  So when I saw a blog post from my friend Erin about this glorious sunflower field on Highway 96 in Franklin I had to go check it out for myself.   So one morning I got up early headed to Erin’s house near the fields and we snapped away!!  So many sunflowers at various stages of life.  Just like a family.  See the whole set of images here!

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205420fb

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205555bwfb

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205534fb

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205449fb

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205568fb

mary_claire_crow_sunflower_field2011007205429fb

My New Favorite: Goldy Honey Bear Sunflower

The name alone brings a smile to my face.   Images of Pooh bear with his hand in the honey, the dog who won my heart as a teenager, Honeybear,  a stuffed golden bear that I sent with my baby on her journey to be with her family…. this flower reminds me of all these moments through my life.  The flower looks like one could just lay in it’s petals and take a nice nap until it came time to go to seed and the golden finches come to feed.

This is my new favorite flower.  Thinking of way to grow them all year!   The Goldy Honey Bear Sunflower from Botanical Interests.

Goldy Honey Bear in the warm afternoon light.

Goldy Honey Bear in the warm afternoon light.

Reaching for the azure afternoon sky.

Reaching for the azure afternoon sky.

A Goldy Honey Bear almost fully in bloom.

A Goldy Honey Bear almost fully in bloom.

My first Goldy Honey Bear!

My first Goldy Honey Bear!

Black Swallowtail Butterfly: Celebrating Her Independence

Happy Fourth!  This morning I discovered a black swallowtail had emerged from her chrysalis on my dill plant.  I named her Firecracker.  She is with all her family and friends on the mimosa tree now.  I learned something about butterflies today.  I always thought that the papilio polyxenes built their little transformation house but it turns out the caterpillar sheds it’s skin and turns into a chrysalis from which the butterfly emerges.

I named this butterfly Firecracker because of her colors.  Those colors and markings remind me of the pretty and intense colors of those streaming fireworks that fall from the sky on the fourth of July.

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040523

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040570

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040595

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040613

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040642

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040651

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040666

mary_claire_crow_Summer_black_swallowtail2011007040669

mary_claire_crow_summer_black_swallowtail2011007040702A

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Cheekwood’s Autumn Treasures

These are from my visit to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens the first week of November on their free day.  It was packed as this was the last week of the Chihuly installation.  I love what happens to the blooms in the autumn.  The seed pods are at their glory and there are still some beautiful flowers in bloom and vibrant berries.

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1424

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1380

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1304

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1239

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1193

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1191

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1152

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1147

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1085

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood1065

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood986

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood945

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood935

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood879

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood869

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood862

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood840

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood835

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood828

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood787

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood780

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood752

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood747

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood692

mary_claire_crow_20101102cheekwood674

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Chihuly at Cheekwood

Nashville says goodbye to the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood today.   What a lovely addition to Nashville and Cheekwood’s history!  How in the world will Cheekwood ever top this or at least something on the same level at the Chihuly exhibit.  It seemed like only yesterday that the announcement was made that the stunning glass sculptures would grace the grounds of Cheekwood and now sadly it has come to a close.   It was reported that 8000 people passed through the gates on the free day on October 20th.   And in the last few weeks the lines to get onto the ground for night time viewing were a mile or two long.   These photos are from my night visit and from the free day.  I also visited in June during the day.  See my post here.

the "Sun" at night on the front lawn of the mansion

the "Sun" at night on the front lawn of the mansion

"Mille Fiori" in the reflection pool behind the mansion

"Mille Fiori" in the reflection pool behind the mansion

Installation inside the Frist Learning Center

Installation inside the Frist Learning Center

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully004

"Cattails" by Chihuly

"Cattails" by Chihuly

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully006

Red glass reeds mingle with the bamboo.

Red glass reeds mingle with the bamboo.

"The Boat" proved to be very popular.

"The Boat" proved to be very popular.

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully010

"Walla Wallas"

"Walla Wallas"

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully013

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully014

Floats in the Japanese garden.

Floats in the Japanese garden.

"Blue Marlins"

"Blue Marlins"

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully017

Another view of "Mille Fiori" in the reflecting pool at dusk.

Another view of "Mille Fiori" in the reflecting pool at dusk.

More from the reflecting pool.

More from the reflecting pool.

Glass reeds in the reflecting pool and "Persians and Blue Reeds" at the Frist Learning Center.

Glass reeds in the reflecting pool and "Persians and Blue Reeds" at the Frist Learning Center.

Reflecting pool, "Mille Fiori"

Reflecting pool, "Mille Fiori"

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully022

"Saffron Tower" in the afternoon light.

"Saffron Tower" in the afternoon light.

"Saffron Tower" detail.

"Saffron Tower" detail.

"Blue Polyvitro Crystals" in the Howe Wildflower Garden Pond

"Blue Polyvitro Crystals" in the Howe Wildflower Garden Pond

"Erbium Fiori" at the herb garden.

"Erbium Fiori" at the herb garden.

"Silvered Purple Herons" detail at the herb garden.

"Silvered Purple Herons" detail at the herb garden.

the herb garden

the herb garden

mary_claire_crow_cheekwood_chihully033

Onion reflection, "Walla Wallas" at the Robinson Family Water Garden.

Onion reflection, "Walla Wallas" at the Robinson Family Water Garden.

An orange onion in the "Walla Wallas".

An orange onion in the "Walla Wallas".

Tennessee Nature Photographer: Hello Sunshine Yello

New images from the Angel Trumpet Tree.  Yellow landscapes. Yellow sculptural beauty.

angelyellow2010001

angelyellow2010008

angelyellow2010009

angelyellow201000910

And some abstracts using yellow from the petals…

angelyellow2010003

angelyellow2010004

angelyellow2010005

And a little sea shell inspired

angelyellow2010002

angelyellow20102006

Tennessee Nature Photographer: The Private World of the Spider Lily

Did you know that the Spider Lily is not a member of the Lily family?  It is actually a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, also known as the Amaryllis family.  The Spider Lily is more directly related to Daffodils than Lilies.   This lovely plant resides in my neighbor’s yard.  I have been watching it for a few weeks and the other morning the light was just right to get up close and personal with this lovely.

spiderlily001

spiderlily002

spiderlily003

spiderlily004

spiderlily005

spiderlily006

spiderlily007

spiderlily008