New Sony RX 10- IV~

On November 10, 2017November 11, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES312 Comments

Yesterday my new camera arrived and I have been practising with it, taking first photos around The Holler. (Click to enlarge the bees to see the details).

It is getting detail and is super fast, but will require more practice.

I was planning to use the camera mostly for landscapes, so I was pleasantly surprised with these first-attempt macros.

You can see some of the detail capability in this Datura or Moonflower. Moonflowers are night-blooming and belong to the nightshade family. They are poisonous and are pollinated at night by Sphinx and Hawk Moths. Native Americans used Moonflowers in sacred ceremonies as a hallucinogen.

These Night Blooming Cereus flowers were taken with my older, trusty HX400, which is still my go to bird and wildlife camera. The flowers grow on the tallest cactus in the world, Cereus Peruvians. Ours is over 30 feet tall! It’s flowers are as big as plates and open only at night. The tree generates tons of fruit called Peruvian Apples that are crunchy, sweet, and delicious!

Cheers to you from Sony’s views~

The Irrefutable Persistance of Beauty~

On July 1, 2017July 2, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS300 Comments

is all around us,

and inside us,

unique and perfectly imperfect.

Sometimes, when we are worried or troubled,

we fail to recognize,

beauty.

But is always here,

just waiting for us to notice,

and bring us comfort.

Cheers to you from all that is beautiful in you and around you~

M n M’s~

On December 2, 2016December 2, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES209 Comments

Look who dropped by The Holler today, M n M’s, Mother Nature’s Maids!

They keep things clean around here,

but don’t like me coming near.

They open their wings to seem imposing,

while Holler trash they are busy disposing!

Good birds, they keep the sunflower field tidy.

Yep, we have sunflowers in December!

The birds & the bees love em.

I couldn’t just leave you with photos of vultures could I?

Cheers to you from The Holler Housekeepers and some December sun~

There Be Dragons~

On September 10, 2016September 11, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES228 Comments

in the hothouse garden,

snapping wizard jaws at you!

Breathing purple fire,

they cast enchanting spells,

like sirens beckoning you close,

and closer still.

Cheers to you from the mystical orchid dragons~

Sunburst~

On September 1, 2016September 1, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Tech Marvels303 Comments

The sunflowers grew tired of growing in their garden.

So they picked up long legs and walked away.

After traveling awhile, they arrived at The Holler, hot and bothered.

They realized too late, as we often do, how good they had it in their garden.

I put them in water, and took their photos, cheering them up considerably.

I hope their sunburst cheers you too~

Note: the color in these photos is not enhanced. I have been experimenting with food coloring in flower water. Blue makes some incredible effects which I will show you later. If you’re interested check out:
http://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Flowers

Cottontails~

On July 24, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES309 Comments

The Holler bunnies are practically tame,

probably because we feed them carrots,

with the express understanding they eat the carrots and not my flowers!

What we have here is a failure to communicate,

not all that uncommon among neighbors.

Cheers to you from The Holler’s funny-bunnies~

Hasta Luego~

On April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES270 Comments

Once again,

we’re running off,

to sunny Spain & Portugal.

A wish for you,

Primavera’s promise,

for sunny days,

with singing flowers,

and busy bees.

Cheers to you & Happy Spring~
Note, will have limited access to internet for the first two weeks and will touch base when I am able!

Desert Flowers~

On April 6, 2016April 6, 2016 By cindy knokeIn EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Sunsets269 Comments

Cacti in peak spring bloom,

bursting to rival spring flowers.

Citron, ruby, pearl, amethyst.

A bejeweled thorn garden,

with cactus fairies dressed in buds.

Queen Yucca reigns,

while lowly barrel floats cellophane flowers.

Arid desert landscape,

yields burgeoning blooms.

Cheers to you from the flowering desert~

Blooming Cacti: Part I~

On March 27, 2016 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES271 Comments

Cacti are blooming all over Hollerdom.

Prickly plants yielding fragile flowers.

Like gilded lilies,

in rainbow hues,

seeking sun,

through lethal thorns.

An Easter parade,

in a desert scape,

beauty triumphs in the harshest places.

Cheers & Happy Easter to you~

If You Were A Bug,

On August 5, 2015October 21, 2015 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, GARDENING AT THE HOLLER, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES270 Comments

what would you be?

A butterfly,

or a bumblebee?

Remember Gregor,

so hated his job,

he went to bed,

and woke up a beetle?

I never did get, Gregor,

why not a spider?

You could weave your web,

and as Charlotte said,

“people are not as smart as bugs.”

Along came a spider,
who sat down beside her,
and interested Miss Muffet for hours 😉

Cheers to you from all the clever crawlies~

“If I can fool a bug… I can surely fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs.”
― E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

“What a fate: to be condemned to work for a firm where the slightest negligence at once gave rise to the gravest suspicion! Were all the employees nothing but a bunch of scoundrels, was there not among them one single loyal devoted man who, had he wasted only an hour or so of the firm’s time in the morning, was so tormented by conscience as to be driven out of his mind and actually incapable of leaving his bed?”– Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis

Cindy Knoke

Category: GARDENING AT THE HOLLER

New Sony RX 10- IV~

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The Irrefutable Persistance of Beauty~

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M n M’s~

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There Be Dragons~

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Sunburst~

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Cottontails~

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Hasta Luego~

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Desert Flowers~

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Blooming Cacti: Part I~

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If You Were A Bug,

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