Tulip Glow

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I wanted to post one more tulip shot from my visit to Duke Gardens this past Saturday before moving on to pics of something else.  I went back and forth between 3 that I really liked and finally chose this one.  I hope you like it.

Here's the collage I made of my favorite pics of the day.

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I had a great time on Saturday with Donnie. Looks like the first time I went to Duke Gardens was in 2009 and then at least once each year since. Hoping for more fun trips there in the future.

Heron and Fish

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This is another shot from my trip to Duke Gardens on Saturday.  After getting the Mandarin Duck shot, I circled back around and Donnie motioned that the Great Blue Heron was posing on the bank of the pond out in plain sight.  Several photographers were lined up taking shots, and this GBH was quite the entertainer. He ate this fish then got another and for some reason tossed that one back.  It was smaller.  Maybe not big enough to eat?  It was exciting because I was maybe 10' from him.  I think he'd have let me walk closer but I didn't want to risk scaring him away.

I am pretty sure this is the same heron I took a picture of back in April of 2009 (see picture below). This guy has no fear and will come quite close to people.

Mandarin Duck at Duke Gardens

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I was chasing a Great Blue Heron at Duke Gardens when I discovered a group of Mandarin Ducks. There is a fenced in area on the pond where the water fowl can go to eat and have some privacy. Photographers are usually on both ends of the fence and looking under it not to mention across the water to try to catch pictures. This guy posed for me several times, and I was very pleased.

Tulips at Duke Gardens

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I realized this past week kindof all of a sudden that the tulips were in bloom at Duke Gardens.  We've been working so hard on our house consolidation/move that I wasn't paying much attention.  Donnie and I tried to go Thursday, but we had a wet and chilly day and even if I could have tolerated the weather I wouldn't have gotten any good pictures.  So, we made a date to go yesterday.  There's something so special about spring and flowers that shine in all their glory for only a few short days each spring.  I had the best time and kept telling Donnie that he did great getting me over there.  The boys are with their dad this week, so there were no interruptions.  I got over 300 tulip shots plus a great blue heron with a fish, a gorgeous wood duck, other pretty flowers and birds, and maybe most important of all some shots of us.  I've definitely had my spring fix now although I'm also wondering where the next pretty flower shots will be.

I'll be sharing more Duke Gardens shots this week.  For now, a few of Donnie that I took and really like.

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