June in the Garden

This is a scabosia or pin cushion flower photo from last year.  In an effort to get some of the Gardening page of my web page finished I selected a bunch of photos for the June album.  This one was particularly attractive for our Megashot on FaceBook page, that has the theme for this week of Pinks and Purples.  I rather like this one in square format.  I also used it in the Megashot Critique forum, since I have been doing a few saucy crits on peoples photos.  They may appreciate being able to return the favor.
I am really getting to like my Windows 7.  I find that I can use my Power Points viewer to create my own presentations, etc!  This is pretty incredible!  There was some poor person asking questions about some download of pps viewer that would not work on his/her Windows 7.... well.... get a techie!  I  was looking at my old pps creation that I did a few years ago and have loaded to my web page, and saw all the task bars and everything available to make a presentation right on the pps I was viewing.  I received another .pps in email and all the stuff is available there too.  You can tell, I am a bit excited about this ability to use Power Points.  Maybe I need to take a class on this.  It is really interesting.

I finished the under construction page for the 2011 trip to SW US and find that it all works the same as my Windows XP -- no problem.  :))

Late spring

This is a photo of my crocuses that I took a few weeks ago, and converted from RAW.  I think this RAW idea really does have more data available.  I have my heavier lens on my dslr and so only use it for actual photography, rather than my snapshots to record garden, travel, etc. 

The crocuses are finished and the daffodils are out in full force.  There is arabis, anemones, hellebores, camillias, and a few others in bloom, now.  My neighbor, Mrs. P.  was complaining to me about the camillia flowers falling on her sidewalk and she has to clean them up every day.  At least that is what I think she was saying.  She is hard to understand.  I think she wants me to cut back my screening cedars that are between our decks.  They make 'junk' in her eaves troughs, it seems and blow against her house in the wind.  She also wants me to cut a limb off my English Oak tree, as the clothes from her clothes line seem to blow out against the tree.  All this from a woman with not one tree in her yard.  Its rather sad.  I wish she would take a drive through Broadmead and see how the rich people keep their trees.    I will need to prune back storm damage on the large cedar hedge on the other side of the house and reduce a tall straggly yew to a manageable size, at the back.  Of course the hedges will need trimming all over the garden.  It has been raining lately, so I have not been out yet.  Pat did some pruning on the fruit trees a few days ago.  The yellow plum is in bloom.  All of this is about 2 - 3 weeks late this year.

Orchids

the pixie - miniature cattalaya orchid has two blooms and this phalenopsis, which is one of my $12 orchids has put out another spray with two more blooms that are actually darker than the first ones. The first spray has 7 flowers on it. There is another moth orchid in bloom with the lighter colored blooms.
I have been playing with my new photoshop.   The phalenopsis are shot sitting on the shelf of the light garden.  Pixie I moved and shot against the light yellow walls that look too dark on my monitor.   Pixie is totally out doing herself this time.  Huge blossoms.
It has been raining, so I have not been out to the garden.  This is working out okay as I have time to try to get used to my new computer and all its components.  Its interesting, and yet frustrating at times.  I thought Windows XP was just fine.  My new monitor is a pain.  I don't understand the need for these wide screens.  I suppose I could be multi tasking with several things going on at the same time, but that is beyond my capabilities or my interest. 
My techie took one of the orange trees.  I hope it grows up with his family.  :)   We have been with him since he started and he seems to be doing very well.  New home, new young son, dog, cat and a thriving business.  Computers on Wheels is where to find him.  I see he is featuring the Apple Ipad, which I understand I should wait for the next version... and that I would need to get on the list for this next version 2 of Ipad.  I have my wi fi connection with my new stuff.  Everywhere we went on our trip recently, the campgrounds had wi fi available.  We were quite busy, but I suppose we would have used it, if we had an ipad or other gizmo to use.
I have had to learn how to download from my new camera, as its SD card did not seem to kick up the drive on the computer to download.  Now, this download from camera is realatively painless!  I think I may use it all  the time for the new camera, and if I can find the connecting cords for the S3 IS I will use it there too.  I seem to have lost the downloads that went into the windows downloader... ah well I am sure I will find them again some day. 
Our Megashot.net is looking better all the time.  Version 2 is going to be excellent.  We already have the ability to totally customize your own page.Version 2 will have more designs and options, with user friendly customization.  If you want to network, all the features are available.  There is the critique forum for fun and learning.  Contests and communities.  If you want to market your products, version 2 will have a fully operational Home Store.  If you want to communicate with clients,or family,  there is password protected galleries, and private comments. 
Please come and have a look!