A day of rest?

Well, not really as I had to do some unexpected client work due to my own screw up. Grrr!

But, for Project 365, it is sort of a day of rest as I captured this image late yesterday, after unloading all our gear (tent, table, artwork, etc.) from the Lexington art show. When I went out to the backyard to grab the chaise lounge cushions (knowing it was going to rain all day today), I noticed the early evening light striking a newly-opened pink hardy hibiscus blossom. And as tired as I was, I schlepped back to the house to retrieve a camera. (I didn’t even look at the images until just now).

"Pink Pinwheel" (Hardy Hibiscus) Nikon D300, 70mm, F/8, 1/80s, -1.0EV, ISO 640

With the weather being oh-so-dreadfully-rainy today, I am so glad I did! 🙂

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Late season treat

Hardy hibiscus is such a wonderful perennial providing drama and color late in the season. These beauties are unaffected by cold snaps and produce flowers which are enormous, yet delicate, as if they were fashioned out of crepe paper. During last night’s advanced photography class, the students photographed a large bud that I suspected would ‘pop’ today.

"Paper Moon" (Hardy Hibiscus) Nikon D300, 550mm (200-400mm w/1.4x teleconverter), F/13, 1/100s, -0.3EV, ISO 400

I was right! Late afternoon, I captured the lovely blossom just as the petals were unfurling. This bloom, measuring about 8 inches across (wow!), happens to have white petals with a dusting of blush pink along the edges. Since my plant is a mixed variety, there is no telling what other colors will emerge!

When most things in the garden are dying back, hardy hibiscus is a nice treat!