Sequim Irrigation Fest

Yippee! The Joy of Getting Sudsy in the Strait Up Foam Event

Although I’d planned to upload a photo from our trip to Florida today, I’d forgotten about the Sequim Irrigation Festival. So like any good citizen of Sequim, I rushed right over to Carrie Blake Park and while there, I’m so glad I had the chance to photograph this little one (with her parents permission, of course) having the time of her life while getting well…irrigated!

And although I missed the earlier events, I did hear a few notes of what sounded like Big Band Music, one of my favs, so I was hoping it would continue, but apparently, it was a practice session prior to the Sequim City Band performance later in the day. If you got to listen in, I’m sure it was delightful.

But if, like me, you missed any of the fun, the Grand Finale Weekend is coming up next, May 8-10th, with a lineup of events, including a Historic Walking Tour, Golf Tournament, Classic Car Show, a 5k and 1-mile run, Sequim High School’s Operetta and the finale, a Grand Parade with Royalty, Dignitaries, festival floats, bands, and much more from Washington on the final day, May 10th, to celebrate the lifeblood of Sequim, water!

Far Away Florida

A Male Brown Anole Extending Dewlap, Flamingo Gardens, Florida

After spending two warm weeks photographing birds, bugs and reptiles in Florida, I’ll be spending the next two weeks filtering through my collection of images and along the way, giving you a glimpse of what I came home with. I hope you’ll seeing enjoy them as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

Although reptiles aren’t my favorite subject, this tiny creature surprised me by interrupting a butterfly shot, and because of his colorful dewlap, which is a fold of skin that when extended indicates that males are available for mating, I couldn’t help but turn my focus to him.

These guys are highly invasive though and Wikipedia says they were introduced into the U.S. via the importation and exportation of plants years ago. And although it’s a bit too cold for them here in the PNW, they are moving northward and although cute and fun to photograph, I can only hope that there isn’t one, or heaven forbid two, lingering in my suitcase…

Today at New Dungeness Nursery

Purple Sunflowers Begging to be Photographed

What better way to celebrate the onset of May than with a trip to one of our local nurseries?

Although my luck with growing plants is questionable, I love the thought of having a yard full of plants and flowers to nurture and photograph. So I’m always glad when a friend suggests to stop by the New Dungeness Nursery here in town to admire their collection.

And today, as I cruised through their selection, I found this eye popping color staring back at me. Later research, whether accurate or inaccurate, tells me these beauties are purple sunflowers, but with this much variety in color I question the name.

Nonetheless, if you too find yourself craving a nature “fix” or if you need help in the garden like I do, the nursery, as well as the Master Gardener Nursery in town are there to help, or to simply indulge your senses in the beauty of May flowers.

Cruise Ship Season…

Yep, it’s that time again, cruise ship season.

If you’re not on one, or dreaming of taking one, you may be seeing the ships pass by headed to Alaska via the Strait of Juan De Fuca, just as I did here.

Last summer, this Holland America edition served as a nice background for an airborne kiteboarder at Cline Spit, and also as a spark to my imagination.

While photographing him, I envisioned him being carried by a strong wind to the deck of the ship where he would make a grand entrance on the dance floor, or splash down in the pool, to the dismay of the sunbathers, the crew, and himself.

But my vision was short-lived when the wind tipped him from side to side and quickly deposited him back in the water as it had done many times before.

And as the ship sailed away, I was a little saddened that it left without the boarder, but most importantly, without me!

Nature’s Camouflage

An Anna’s Hummingbird Incubating Eggs

Tucked in among tree leaves and lichen, it was easy to miss this dedicated mom but luckily, I had a great advantage – my friend Mary.

Mary spotted her flying into the nest and although a wonderful photographer herself, she was happy to move aside so I could capture this image and more.

Photography can become very competitive, and while we have many gifted photographers in Sequim and throughout the peninsula, I don’t know of any of them who would take exception to allowing another to capture a shared moment.

Because of this, photography is not only a great profession and hobby, but also a way to connect with friends and to make new ones as well.

Green on Green

A Female Anna’s Hummingbird, Jamestown Beach

Typically, one goes to the beach to walk the shore, pick rocks or shells, or to see and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. But Jamestown Beach offers the best of the beach, as well as the woods, and this young female built her nest there.

Holding on to a branch she kept steady as I moved closer to her and surprisingly she didn’t blink an eye as I lifted my camera to focus to get this image. Those are times when I feel at one with nature and so eternally grateful for the solitude it provides.