It's late August and the novelty of a backyard garden has long ago disappeared. During February's record snow, when you planned the garden, you dreamed of working in the scorching 95-degree sun. But the heat has wilted the salsa garden (peppers, onions, tomatoes), and this green jungle of tangled vines and garden hoses has become more of a nightmare.
As a result, the garden is now a mass of weeds, rotting tomatoes and squash. The only thing still growing well are sunflowers and a few marigolds, and those are unplanted volunteers from last year's crop. Occasionally, you climb over the anti-squirrel and rabbit fence (which didn't work, by the way) and search for something to stuff the weekend's sandwiches.
Nothing. Nothing worth eating, that is. But have you really looked at your backyard vegetable and flower garden? Really closely?
It's a tiny circus of creatures and structures that stimulate the imagination and curiosity. Moths small enough to hide on the head of a pin, flowers looking like explosions, ants crawling over each other to get to the bad tomatoes.
To see more photos in a link to the YDR slide show, click here.
Bees are busy working and aren't bothered by people just watching. Praying mantises are photographer favorites because they stay perfectly still, seemingly for hours. Butterflies are colorful and easy to photograph.
Most of these photos were taken August 21 when the sun was shining. The water drop was taken two days earlier as the fog hung on a lawn full of dandelions.
Most photos here were taken with a 105mm macro lens with three extension rings. Lighting was a combination of ring flash or multiple slave flashes. None were done with available light. Apertures were about f45 or so.
Next time outside, look around, but look closely. There's a whole 'nother world out there.
Your photo makes me laugh. Moreover invasive munching critters, squirrel fences, a scorching sun, rotting tomatoes, and a mass of weeds, hardly paints an inviting image. Too funny!
Looks like you're ready for winter.
How about the garden spiders that seem to grow to monsters overnight and leave webs all over! When you go to pick your tomatoes, you exit with tomatoes and you'e also trying to wipe away the webs---gosh only knows where the spider is if you didn't see it first!