FIRST FLOWERS OF SPRING!!!! Post your pics!!!!

We came from here:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1351189/

To quote Gita's poem quote:

COUNTING FLOWERS

When we start to count flowers,
We cease to count weeds.

When we start to count blessings,
We cease to count needs.

When we start to count laughter,
We cease to count tears.

When we count happy memories,
We cease to count years.

(anonymous)

I should also note that you all need to post your first flowers of spring and then keep it going after that!!! My favorite so far, I think I posted it elsewhere here but it's so beautiful it needs reposted!

thanks Seq.
I was amazed at how much snow melted today while I was at work. I saw some bare ground tonight. I might even see my crocus again.

I'm hoping the snow will be gone in a few days and my hellebores start blooming soon.

I stopped at the camera shop yesterday on my way home from work and spent some time with the sales guy describing what I am likely to take pictures of and my novice photography skills. I like his recommendations, will do a little bit more research this week, and then probably make the purchase this weekend. They also offer a 3 hour beginner workshop every other Wednesday night. I'll practice on the hellebores blooms if/when they finally pop LOL.

Terri--

After all the salesman recommendations--what kind of camera are you
likely to purchase?

While my little Nikon Coolopix I got about 2 yrs. ago is OK--it has a few annoying features..
It is a "touch screen"--which I never paid attention to, but it will click a picture
when I just touch the right bottom of the viewing screen. Lots of deleting to do.
I also hate the zoom button. it is just a small knobbie and so hard to zoom gently.

It was very reasonable--I think $69. Discontinued model (no wonder!)...
There are features I have not yet looked into--I guess i don't need them...

Gita

My parents bought me a nice camera this past Christmas. It's a Nikon Coolpix but one of the higher end ones. It's got 22x optical zoom! Anyway, it's not the best camera but I really love it! I was really reluctant to separate from Sony but I'm glad I did. This has pretty cool features and takes a nice pic. I took the crocus photo at the top with this camera. Not sure what model it is though. I'll have to look at it when I get home.

I want to make the leap to a DSLR, which is one of the reasons that I've been taking a long time to decide and make a purchase.

Even though I'm a complete novice, I want to learn photography. I definitely don't need the professional line, but the sales guy recommended a higher end of the enthusiast line. Besides the camera body, I'll be getting a general purpose lens (macro - telephoto capability). Down the road, I can buy specific lenses optimized for macro (for flower closeups), telephoto (for closeups of wildlife), and/or wide angle (for landscapes).

I'm getting a tripod too - I can't seem to stop my hands from shaking when I take pictures. I told him that I needed to be able to get close to the ground for some of the flower shots, so he recommended this tripod where you can attach the camera upside down to the bottom of it - camera would be 2" off the ground. The camera's view monitor actually shows what you are taking a picture of right side up, how cool is that?

The Nikon 7100 is being marketed as its new flagship DX camera. It is at the high end of the enthusiast line, has features that make it easy for novices but also has features that come in handy as your experience grows. I did a lot of internet searching last night on comparisons between that model and other models, and I like what I see. At this point, it is a toss-up between the high-end 7100 and the mid-range 5200. The 5200 provides similar image quality and is cheaper. However, it doesn't have the same rugged construction and weather sealing, has a smaller viewfinder, and doesn't have about half a dozen other features that the 7100 has. The 7100 is on sale through the end of the month, so that plays in to the decision too.

Can't wait to get started and go to some of those workshops!!!

Good luck, Aspen. The options and models available are dizzying but it is so much fun having a nice camera! I just got my first DSLR for Christmas and I am already asking for a macro lens for next year. You might also like this blog: http://digital-photography-school.com/ It offers lessons for people of all skill levels, amateur and professional.

I only use my iphone now. I have access to a DSLR, but I find the process of downloading and then uploading to a website to be tedious. But you can't beat the quality of a DSLR pic, especially in low light.

I did buy a macro lens that attaches to my iphone lens, which is great for taking closeup flower pictures. It works great!

But I think I may have misplaced it... oops...

Downloading and uploading can be laborous but I have this nifty program on my computer that helps. It's called Picasa. I just started using it not too long ago. It backs up all my photos on there servers and it does it automatically. Also, I have the app for my iphone and once it syncs the new photos, the ones on my computer are automatically available on my iphone. I don't know how to get them on my work computer but I automatically upload my photos to walmart.com anyway. Check it out, it's pretty great!

Maybe this will help you with uploading pictures to the computer, Jeff..
At least I use it and it is VERY quick. I used to have to "manually" go through the
hard drive and all that. Not to savvy on "C:" parts...

Get a "Card Reader" (under $10 at Big Lots), which plugs into your USB drive,which is, of course. plugged into your computer.
The card reader has different size slots and you just stick your memory card into
the slot that fits you, and it will upload all your pictures.

Of course--you have to have something to put the pictures IN. Mine go to "My Documents"---
"My Pictures"--and then in different Folders by dates. Right now it is: March, 2014 Folder.

If all this seems too elementary--that is how I do it. My pea brain IS elementary...

I always wanted to upload Picasa to "play" with my pictures--but have not done so.
Right now I have "Adobe Photo Shop" and that is WAYYY too complicated for me.

Gita

My laptop has an SDcard drive so I just plug and play. Easy peasy!

Teri, The D7100 is a remarkable camera to be sure. We just got a D3100 and accessories for Christmas, It has many of the same features, but to a lesser degree. It is a DX DSLR with HD video, it is only 14.2 megapix. We have a variety of lenses and I do want to get a macro sometime and a remote wireless release. I think you will be happy with yours. I just wanted to spend a lot less and get something that you can also just point and shoot so Holly would be comfortable with it. In full auto with vibration reduction she's taking her best pics in quite awhile.

SSG, some of the DLSR cameras now have Wi-Fi features that make that much easier. Not sure exactly how it works, one more thing to check out.

Sequoia, have you used the collage feature on Picasa? I first heard of it when I saw a DG user (ge1836) posting some pretty cool pictures. When I asked her how she did it, she said it was the Picasa collage feature and that it was pretty easy. Here is one of many that she has posted:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=7489594

There are several popular photo hosting sites/apps to choose from, but I haven't compared them or gotten in to that yet - flickr, picasa, shutterfly, photoshop.com, just to name a few. So much technology and so many choices these days.

Anyway, to try to tie my ramblings back to topic, check out that Picasa collage feature for posting pics of spring blooms :)

Hey Ric, we cross posted. Thanks for the camera info. I'm still debating what to get, so it is always great to have first hand input.

It's very easy to do on Picasa!

Pirl, that is pretty! I think it is a nice way for presenting pictures in general, but especially effective for flowers.

Paul, Thanks, but the one model missing in that ad is the D3100. I bought one like that from ebay, only to find the same thing, their listing was wrong. I need one like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Wireless-Shutter-Release-Nikon/dp/B005LZX1W8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395263801&sr=8-1&keywords=nikon+d3100+wireless+remote
I just haven't got around to it.

This message was edited Mar 19, 2014 5:19 PM

Interesting Aspen, I didn't know that was a feature. I'll have to play around with it sometime!

How's your Mom doing btw...?

My very first reticulated iris is blooming! Yipee! Too bad the crocus blooms have almost disappeared. I was hoping they'd bloom at the same time. I'm going to go see if I can get a picture...

Picture! Picture! Picture! Picture! Picture! Picture!

A few from today.
The first 2 are from the GH The oxalis and angelwing were frosted back to the pot earlier this year and the bougainvillea is just being a show off
The others are crocus from our front lamp post bed Holly just cleaned up.

yay ssg!!
yay ric!
Boy, my crocus were all laid flat after the snow melted, and half have stood up to give me one more day. They have surprised me this year with their toughness.

Here is a begonia from the GH, you can see that some of the leaves are still damaged from that frost but there are a lot of new growth. A shot of the Black Pussywillow. Take note for those of you that haven't seen them I will have (hopefully) rooted starts at the Spring Swap.

Beautiful, SSG and Ric! I'm just beginning to get some crocus buds!

Here they are! The white crocuses are still there but the purple ones only have leaves left. They did last 4 weeks so I'm not complaining, but they would have looked great next to these irises!

Very nice Holly, I bet they'll come roaring back.

so pretty ssg! nice with the Sedum angelina

I love that vivid blue color, SSG--and I agree very pretty with the sedum.

Love them all! Keep the pics coming! I saw daffs blooming in the woods by the entrance to the Potomac Wildlife Refuge research center by my work. They are always the first. Can't get pics of them without getting run over though so you just have to trust me that they exist and that they are blooming. :)

I have this bunch of Crocus by my big stump--where i always put my BIG pot.
Seems all the crocus I have--anywhere--are all the same color..

In this same bed is ONE Daff that has a bloom--just hanging down yet--not fully open.

Here are some serious buds, almost open, on one of my Hellebores.
I have 5 total. They all have buds--but not easy to photo...

Saturday will be summer temps--around 70*. Get your shovels and clippers out...

G.

I'm loving all these crocus pictures!

SSG and anyone else who has these irises; if you're looking to get rid of some, I'll make a home for them :) very beautiful!

My crocuses in the front yard are almost done but the ones in the back yard are just getting started. They aren't planted en mass but I'm sure they'll still be pretty. We have tulips starting to pop their heads out of the soil. Some buds on the hellebore but they are being cautious since the snow just melted off them in the last week or so.

Suppose to get another cold front going through here middle of next week--
with a POSSIBILITY of some snow....

Mother Nature ain't done with us yet! Bummer!

I can see tomorrow at the HD! 70*--it will be a madhouse in the garden.
I am not working...phewwww....
Wonder if any cold-crop veggies came in? G.

Yes, It was pretty decent out there today. Didn't get much in the way of yard work done. But it was nice while I was filling the feeders and looking at my mess of a yard. Starting to see some Hellebore blooms and new growth. I would love to cut off all the damaged leaves but there wouldn't be anything left and I figure they are helping the plant so I must wait awhile.

Holly--

I cut off all my old leaves on the Hellebores. I think they can deal with this weather...
Go ahead--You have my permission..........:o)

Funny--I filled my feeder also today--hope it lasts more then 2 days...

Walked around looking at all my beds....lots of mulch and straw to clean up
once the time is right.

Tomorrow--I'll see if i can dig up and divide the ferns. Want to get that done
before the fiddleheads start to unfurl.


Inside today--I did a lot.....rearranged many plants so I can free up some space
on my light rack.
Put all my blooming Amaryllis on my coffee table to make room for pots I moved.

Got the seed trays that have sprouted under lights in my kitchen (on that baker's rack).

I still have to finish planting quite a few seeds....OH, my!! and i am sitting here for hours
on the "C" talking to you all... Shame on me...I CANNOT help it.

G.

Thanks Gita, I went out and cleaned one of the smaller beds and the old leaves were really in rough shape, laying flat out on the ground and I thought there is no way I can clean this up with those leaves in place so off they came. I usually cut about half of the old leaves off just the really bad ones and then slowly get rid of the rest of the older leaves as the new growth emerges but that is just not going to happen this year. All the old growth is just so badly damaged.

Holly---You do what you think is best....
Sometimes I forget that you are in Z-6. I am 7a.

Clean-up sure takes time--but it is so essential when the weather breaks.
If I had a real compost bin--I would not worry. Everything would just go in/on it.

I don't. So--I either will have to dig the straw in, or bag it again--like...that is
where it came from in the first place...
Took home a trash-bag full from HD when the lot attendant swept up the mess
around the straw bales in front of the store...
It is good winter cover--but it sure makes a mess.....as the wind blows....

Crocus has finally bloomed but only the yellow ones! Discerning squirrels? ;-)

A couple pics of the new growth on a few of the Helle's

I got my new camera yesterday after work. So far I've only gotten the battery charged. I need to read parts of the manual to figure out how to even take a picture, but during this great weather and daylight, my priority is yardening. I'll figure out some basics this evening and try to get pictures tomorrow of the snowdrops and hellebores buds. I have a few clumps that are about as far along as what Holly just posted.