Twelve from 2013
What was 2013 like? I got out to California twice and explored the coastal hills, the beautiful grasses and oak trees, and to western Massachusetts to visit some beautiful scenery. It wasn’t a good year for butterflies – a famously bad one for monarch butterflies. I had good encounters with other bugs, but only one insect photo made this year’s list. And I continued exploring the inner spaces of plants, flowers, and ice crystals.
Snowflakes – Snowflakes on the side of a branch with an out-of-ficus snow setting.
Pasture oak in fog – An oak tree on a very foggy day, Sonoma County, California.
Rosegold willow anther – An extreme closeup of a very pretty willow catkin. As the anthers emerge, they are red first then turn yellow as the pollen erupts.
Dandelion – An extreme closeup from the flower center.
Dogbane beetle – I posted a different take of this beetle here in June; I may like this head on view better than the posted one.
Daisies – A field of daisies in July.
Upper Falls, Waconah Creek – From a summer trip to the Berkshires. Waconah Creek is in Dalton, Massachusetts. The other memorable waterfall on that trip was Bash Bish Falls.
Live Oak – Another view of an oak I originally posted as a vertical with a grass foreground.
Sassafras leaves – A leafscape of an unusual leaf in peak color.
New England Aster – Dew and backlight what drew me to this bloom.
Scabiosa abstract – A flower abstract that attempts a transformation of the pincushion flower into something unfamiliar.
Foxtail crystals – I’m sorry I could only pick one – there were several other good ones this frost season.
Happy New Year to all! Thanks to everyone who visits and especially people to take the time to leave a comment.
Nature Diary 
The foxtail crystals are stunning! also the willow anther. looking forward to seeing what you find in 2014
Thanks, Martine!
They’re all absolutely beautiful!
Happy New Year!
Thanks, and Happy New Year to you as well
… for some reason the ‘like’ buttons are not responding to my entreats, but you ought to know that ‘I LIKE’.
The “like” button worked, but I appreciate your comment even more. Happy New Year, Vera!
Happy New Year! All the best and I wish for you many more opportunities for beautiful photographs. Your work is amazing!
Thanks for the kind words…
A really great set for this year Tom. The ice crystals are particularly stunning, not meant to discredit any of the others. The intertwined leaves also stands out to me as I really like that composition.
Thanks, Mark. I think I’m finally learning what to do with crystals, they pose depth of field challenges that need technical and compositional solutions.
fantastic gallery, beautiful fotos
Thanks for saying so – I appreciate it.
A really good collection. Happy New Year!
Thanks, and happy new year to you. Thanks for all your visits this year.
Choosing twelve, that must’ve been difficult. Have a Happy New Year!
a great visual treat 🙂
Wishing you a fabulous 2014 🙂
Happy New Year, Tom! Such a stunning collection!!! You must be very pleased. Thanks for sharing your art and love of nature. Looking forward to what you come up with in 2014.
Thanks Anna – my best to you in the new year.
These are all incredibly beautiful ! I’m amazed by your talent Tom.
Happy new year ! 🙂
My favourites are the pasture oak in fog and the snowflakes 🙂
The ice crystals are my favorite, I would love to see your whole set!
Thanks for the kind words!
I posted the best of the crystals from that morning in these posts:
https://tomwhelan.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/frost-crystals-ii/
https://tomwhelan.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/frost-crystals-2/