CSU Trial Gardens 2020
Every year I try and make a point to go to the CSU Trial gardens because they're close by, free, and always beautiful. This year is no exception. I feel like we hit the peak for a lot of flowers in the garden. There were still several flower types yet to bloom and some that were already starting to die but the majority of them were vibrant and gorgeous.
We would have typically gone on a hike this weekend since we usually hike every other weekend, but because of the Cameron's Peak Fire and the Rist Canyon fire, most of the mountains are covered in smoke. The Cameron's Peak Fire started a little over a week ago and has climbed to a massive 18,000 acres. The Rist Canyon Fire just started a few days ago and is only a couple hundred acres and already minimally contained. However, Rist Canyon is just 10 miles from the City, which means that no matter the size, the town will be smoky from it.
The one benefit to the fires is that the lighting is nearly perfect all the time for photography. You don't have to plan to be at a shooting spot right during the golden hour because anytime the sun is up is golden hour with the way the sun filters through the smoke. I would much rather the fires be contained and not burning, but you have to find something positive in things that are out of your control.
Petunias
Every year they have a very large section of the gardens filled with different types of Petunias. They're not all that interesting to photography individually, but the Petunia bed is always packed with flowers that make a great wider angle shot.
African daisies
The scientific name for this flower is Osteospermum. They were in the middle of watering all the flowers and these just got watered which made for some fantastic macro shots with droplets of water.
Between the Flowers
I wish I had bumped up my F-stop just a little, but I'm surprised at how well this photo turned out. I was using my lens tube extensions on my prime lens to get this close up of a macro.
Edge of the Petal
I love the way the water pooled right on the edge of the 11 o'clock petal on this flower.
Pollinating
I usually find lots of pollinating insects at the trial gardens. I didn't find as many as I was expecting, but there were still enough to get some good shots.
Unexpected
After I took this shot, Katie said "tell me when you're going to take a photo of me next time!". I don't listen well, mainly because her expressions are always more genuine when she goes from not knowing I'm taking photos of her to trying to smile for a candid photo.
Candid
The candid photos of Katie turn out pretty well too, I was able to get the composition a little better than the previous photo, but her smile isn't nearly as genuine.
Dripping
These flowers had seen better days. I think they got a little too heavy as most of them were laying on the ground. There were a few still standing and this one had quite the droplet on it.
Sea of Verbena
These are verbena flowers. I'm always surprised when I take flower photos and find bokeh.
Water Cups
The water pools perfectly in these Lantana flowers.
Soft Sunflower
Watercolor
These Verbena flowers are called watercolor and it's not hard to understand why.
Three in a Row
These African Daisies were unbelievable in color. I guess that's why they're called "Purple Sun".
Purple Sun
The name of these African Daisies is African Sun.
Starting to Bloom
Surface of The Sun
I just imagine that this is what the sun looks like if you could look right at it. Maybe that though is from all the cartoons I watched as a child.
Dirty White
These petals were just a touch dirty which gives them some good contrast and texture.
Away From the Sun
The orange sphere behind this sunflower is the bright orange sun through the smoke from the wild fires in the mountains. I'm not crazy about the composition of this photo, but I love my intent behind it capturing a sunflower facing away from the sun.
