Variations on Lily Pads © 2010 Bo Mackison

“No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.” ~~ Taoist Proverb

I stopped by the garden pond shortly after a storm had moved through the area. The water was still, but the lily pads were still spotted with rain drops. I never realized how many different colors the lily pads turn, as autumn draws near. Photographed at Allen Centennial Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.

Twirling in Blues © 2010 Bo Mackison

A blue lupine, so much detail to see in a flower when you stop and really look. I didn’t know blue lupines had all those sumptious shades of purplish blues. I didn’t know they had rows and rows of tiny blossoms, twisting up and down the stem. Photographed in late June is North Cascades National Park in Washington state.

Sunny Sunflower © 2010 Bo Mackison

Bright colors. Oranges and yellows of the sunflower surrounded by the greens of the background foliage and the blue skies. Harmony! Photographed at the Allen Centennial Gardens on the urban campus of the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Early Morning Dance @ 2010 Bo Mackison

Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~ Albert Einstein

These delicate branches of tiny white star flowers were dancing lightly in the early morning breeze. They presented such a gentle, encouraging picture, I wanted to capture it to enjoy the memory of its dance in the early morning when I am given the gift of another new day.

Pink Hibiscus © 2010 Bo Mackison

Hibiscus have been the size of dinner plates this summer. And in the brightest of colors, too. This hibiscus was photographed at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison Wisconsin.

'Esther' Dahlia © 2010 Bo Mackison

I’m posting another photograph of ‘Esther’ dahlia, easily my favorite flower of the year. She has posed for me many times this summer.

‘Esther’ will be on display along with many of my botanical photographs this weekend at the Festival of the Arts in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Seeded Earth Photography will be on the road again, as we head to Glen Ellyn, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The art show is in Lake Ellyn Park and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, August 28-29.

If you are in the area, be sure and stop by Seeded Earth’s booth and say hello. I’d love to show you my photography.

If you live nowhere near Chicago, and you are interested in purchasing my photography, you can easily do so. Nearly all the photos I post on the Seeded Earth blog are available for purchase.

Instructions for ordering through PayPal are found at the top of the page or under To Purchase or you can contact me at bomackison@gmail dot com directly for information regarding custom orders.

Lupine Abstract © 2010 Bo Mackison

While looking through my files for a few photographs to print for my upcoming art show, I accidentally popped open the catalogue of the photos  from the Pacific Northwest trip I took earlier this summer, and this abstract of a blue lupine opened on my screen. I was rather taken with the deep purple and blue botanical abstract on the green background.

It seems like only a few weeks ago I was knee deep in bright blues and greens, and now, suddenly, the world is shifting, taking on different shades – more muted, warmer colors — yellows and oranges — replacing the brightness of summer’s peak. So I wanted to share a reminder with you of this past early summer as we pitch headlong into autumn.

Blue lupine photographed on the side of the road in North Cascades National Park, Washington. Mid-June, 2010.

Grass Explosion © 2010 Bo Mackison

Macro photography. An abstract of seed-exploded grass. Photographed at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison Wisconsin.

Backlit Daylily © 2010 Bo Mackison

Orange Day Lily, basking in the setting sunlight. Photographed at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.

Daisies, Desaturated © 2010 Bo Mackison

After those photographs of that shockingly bright red zinnia, I thought I would offer a little eye relief. Here is a stand of daisies I photographed from my backyard garden, using a de-saturation technique to decrease the color tones and force focus on the shapes of the flowers.

The Shasta daisies in this perennial patch have bloomed in record times and have grown to record heights. Daisies always bring a smile to my face. I’m reminded of the fake plastic daisy plants of the 70s – the ones that had happy faces painted on them and danced in their plastic psychedelic pots when the battery was switched on.

Anyone remember what tune those potted daisies always seemed to play? (Obviously not “Tip Toe through the Tulips!”)