Lily Leek Flowers

These flowers were my very first experiment with macro photography using Cannon Power Shot SD1000, and also I'd like you to have an idea what kind of camera I'm using! It's small enough for me to keep it inside my pocket.

Since then, I love macro photos because I can see many wonderful details of an ordinary subject, through the eye of my camera.

Lily Leek (Allium Molly)


These flowers took over my backyard by late May! They grew wildly, beautifully, and carelessly any where! They are called Lily Leek, which are also known as Golden Garlic!

Beautiful Pose


Lily Leek is very elegant looking, whether it is grown in a group, or bloomed by itself. As much as I love looking at these flowers, and try to prolong the grass from getting cut, they do have to go sometimes.

Look at Me


On Wikipedia website, it said that Lily Leek is primarily found in Southern France, and Spain. I have to add that they also grew here in Michigan.

Reaching Up


These Lily Leek flowers are cited as edible and carried medicinal benefits. I've not yet able to locate much information on these claims, so I will just enjoy watching them in my backyard for now.

Fascinating


These flowers were my very first victims! I hunted each individual flower down and took pictures of it from all the angles that I could think of. Some turned out great, and many others had to be discarded.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday--Ladybug

Toxic Person

You are a toxic person that infected me
Whenever you are around I am not free
I have to watch out for what I say
And always feel inferior to your old ways!


It is not easy for me, to be me
When everything you say, affect my being
For 20 years long I live in your shadow
Now that I am out, you are still around!


You are the toxic person that infected me
I am always down, and feel unworthy
The way you are, de-humanize my sanity
The things you say, degrade my principles!


Yes, I know you are a toxic person to me
But this life of mine, still trap in yours
There is no way out, unless one of us dies
Maybe then-maybe-I can finally be free!

~~BC Doan~~

Watching the Sky

I am trying something different, and that is taking pictures of the sky, especially when the cloud displays such beautiful images.

As I watched my son in a soccer match, I saw this wonderful ray of sun light behind the cloud. It reminded me of child hood when we would guess what the cloud looks like.

Though it was raining pretty much all day, the sun finally came out in the early evening, and gave me an opportunity to marvel.

Watching the Cloud


This cloud looked like a dinosaur head, and it caught the sun in its mouth. It was a beautiful scene to see! All the sun rays shot out around this cloud.

Maybe It's an Alligator


I played the guessing game with these two little girls who told me it looked like an alligator! The two-year-old could not even talk that much, but insisted it's an alligator, so I gave up and went along with her!

Going Down


The dinosaur/alligator was taking the sun down as it slowly descended. Sitting on the metal benches for two hours was very uncomfortable, and watching the cloud gave me a break to forget the numbness in my body.

One Last Look


Then the dinosaur disappeared, leaving the a little bit of the sun behind, far in the horizon! If I didn't pay attention to the sky, I would have missed seeing such wonderful transformation from nature.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday--Fingers

(I have no idea what these are, and find them growing underneath a tree! They are sure creepy and very strange looking.)

Hold On

I am trapped in the thoughts of you
Whenever I am alone and very sad
Your eyes shine through my every step
Caressing, and lifting my moods!


We met once, brief time in our past
You rescued my hollow soul
Showing me there are kind humans
And tenderness when they really care!


I am trapped in the memories of you
The way you care, the way you talk
How sweet words do more good than harm
And sustain my being through darkest of time


I am trapped with the thoughts of you
Wherever you are, I am still here waiting
For an angel that gives me warm light
For a man who shows me unselfish love
If I could once more cross your path
I would hold on tightly, never let you go!

~~BC Doan~~

Yellow Zinnia

I've collected the seeds from the zinnia flowers last year, and these are my yellow ones growing. I have been waiting to prove that I have "green thumbs" after all. Now, I can proudly say that I grow these zinnia flowers from seeds, and laugh at those that dub me as having "black thumbs."

Yellow Baby Zinnia


This baby doesn't have pretty shape since all the petals are all different sizes. However, when I first see it, I was just so happy. It was quite easy to grow!

Getting Busy


After two days, the flower gains more petals, and the center develops into a beautiful round ball. I just planted the seeds in a pot, water them, and watch them grow.

Coming into Full Bloom


Whenever I have time, I look at this flower and it keeps on adding more petals! This zinnia is a joy to watch and taking pictures since each stage of blooming gives a different look.

On the Side


Beautiful flower, isn't it? Grow this flower, and you will have colorful, long lasting flower to look at every day. It is one of the best gifts that nature gives to us.

Many Levels of Petals


How is this for a flower? You can see many different levels of petals! This is one of the most busiest flowers I have seen. Every time I look, it gives me something new to look at.

Full Bloom


I'm a proud owner of this yellow zinnia! I find that if I allow myself to enjoy the smallest and simplest thing in life to admire, I can find happiness in them.

Facing the Flower


My yellow zinnia has been blooming for over two weeks! All I have to do is watering them! There isn't anything else that I could fuss over. I did, however, feed the soil with used coffee ground.

The Crown


When the flower is getting old, a royal crown is formed on the top, and it loses one layer of petals at a time. This picture is not in focus, but you could still see the crown.

Getting Old


Notice how other petals are growing right out of the center! This amazing bulb later turns into seeds which I will collect for next year.

Saying Good-Bye


My zinnia is losing its crown, and the center is growing thinner. It is no longer hold the shape of a ball, but is more like a spin top. It is time for me to say good bye to my flower.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday-Bug

Candle Light

(This is an expression of painful feelings! If you're uncomfortable with strong words, please don't read..)

I light the candles
To warm my heart
I light the candles
To search for my soul


In that flickering light
I saw your face
Not as a man
But as a mean animal.


In that flickering light
A filthy human comes alive
Selling me out
To trade for affection


The candle light can’t warm my heart
For you had, betraying my trust
The candle light can’t find my soul
For you had–swallow it whole!


I blow out the candles
I turn off the light
For only in darkness
That I can’t see your lowest being!

~~BC Doan~~

Soft Petal Thistles and the Bees

In May, I featured "Wild Flower In My Backyard", and my post showed one type of thistles with hardy petals.

Currently I'm trying to organize my thousands of pictures, and run across this set of soft petal thistles. Both sets of thistles have the same shade of lavender color, but their petals are totally opposite.

I am in Love


When I spotted this lavender thistle, I was more than please to see! I watch it grew day after day. Though it had grown wildly in the yard, and the leaves are very scratchy, I thought it was just amazing!

Sun and Shade


As you can see, the petals on this thistle are much thinner than the previous ones. They were very delicate looking in the sun light.

Top View


This plant grew taller than five feet, and there were more spikes on the body also. It was very hard to get close without getting poke.

Basking in the Sun


The sun was bright and hot! It gave this flower such an amazing glow. The body and leaves on this thistle were full with long and sharp spikes.

Here Comes the Bee


Then this bee came to landing on the soft petals. I didn't touch the petals though; they just looked so soft to me. At this time, I was extra careful not to get stun or poke while taking pictures.

Green Bee


The green headed bee didn't seem to mind my presence. It went on with its business while I went on with my shooting.

Get Your Own


The bee moved carefully on the petals, and buried his face in the flower. I could not go any closer to see what type of bee it was. The color was just very different!

Fuzzy Bubble Bee


As one bee was not enough, this bumble bee came for its meal also. The flower was lucky to have many different visitors in such a short time.

Big Eyes


This bee was a bit clumsier than the green one. He was hanging on for dear life since he didn't have a good landing on the flower, and I think he knew what would happen with those spikes.

Don't Mind Me


I love how the lavender color turned out in these pictures. They are true color! I love finding new things to take pictures around my yard. They bring me the simplest form of happiness when things are crumpling around.

Having a few moments with nature really does my soul good!