Woodland Spring in Fort Collins, Colorado

We currently have a covering of snow here in northern Colorado, but I am reminded that this replenishing snow will fortify our woodlands for a burst of springtime pink and white cherry blossoms  very soon. This photo was taken on an urban nature walk through one of our plentiful open spaces in Fort Collins last year. Take heart. Spring is coming!

Woodland Spring

An urban woodland path meanders through ancient cottonwood trees and wild cherry blossoms of pink and white.

Fort Collins, Colorado

woodland spring art

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Orange Tulip Pops - Flower Photography

As I looked at these two orange tulips just opening they looked more and more like giant lollipops. I'm not sure if my sweet tooth was flavoring my vision or if I just see things differently. Tell me what you see.

Orange Pops

Two newly opened orange tulips look like lollipops on a sage green distressed background.

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

A Morning of Pink Tulips

It was an early spring morning. As I wandered sleepily down the stairs to make the morning coffee my eye caught the sweet pink blush of dawn painting the delicate blooms of a bouquet of tulips on the table. The combination of soft dewy light and natural pink color of the flowers was irresistible to me. Feelings of sweet childhood memories filtered through my mind; soft blankets, pink bunnies, evening clouds, and fragrant blossoms. It was a moment to catch and freeze in time. I hope you enjoy it. 

Pink Tulip Light 3 

Pink Tulip Light 1

 

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A Wish for Spring Cherry Blossoms

Spring! A time of renewal, rebirth, rejuvenation! After a winter of stark whites and tired browns the sudden resurgence of green to the landscape is uplifting. When the first tiny little buds appeared on the tree outside the kitchen window of my new home I was watching with excited anticipation. I had thought from the shape and bark of the tree that it might be an ash. But as I watched those buds unfurl it soon became apparent that this tree was going to blossom. And then I had the quick realization that one of my wishes had come true. I had a cherry tree. 

 

Spring 

The first touch of green adorns a springtime cherry tree. 

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Cherry Blossoms 

Sweet fragrant cherry blossoms on a sunny spring day. 

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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

June 2011 Colorado Columbine Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Colorado columbine with its sky-blue petals and white centers is one of my favorite flowers. The fact that this wildflower grows quite well here in the extreme temperatures of the northern Colorado Rockies amazes me. It is so delicate looking but so tough! Hummingbirds love the pretty blossoms too making it a great addition for your hummingbird garden. There are lots of hybrids out there in many colors of red, yellow, blue, white, pink and purple, as well as combinations of those colors.

This photograph is a wild columbine that I happened upon hiking on a trail in my area. I was amazed at its perfection and beauty among the tangle of green "weeds." Hope you enjoy it as your June 2011 calendar.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for June 2011
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Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

Blushing Pink Spring Tulips

Just living is not enough...
One must have sunshine, freedom,
and a little flower.

Hans Christian Anderson

Flowers bring so much pleasure into my life. I love bringing bouquets into the house. Then I can not resist making photographs of their beauty as the morning light brightens their petals. Or taking a springtime walk and happening upon a delicate wild bloom will make me pause and gaze in wonder at how such a tiny beautiful thing can be in such a harsh unforgiving environment. It seems we are a bit like that wild bloom, sometimes the worst circumstances can bring out the best in us.

Pink Tulip 1
My Colorado photography studio is featuring a spring floral photo of a blushing pink tulip with morning sun lighting up the delicate petals.
8x8 fine art photograph
5x5 fine art photograph

Pink Tulip 3
8x8 fine art photograph
5x5 fine art photograph

Pink Tulip Photo Set
My Colorado photography studio is featuring two different macro photos of a blushing pink spring tulip. Listing is a set of two 8x8 fine art photographs, a total value of $50.00 for only $37.50. That is 25% off!
click here for purchase information

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

Spring Crocus Floral Art

Spring is that colorful flowerful sweet smelling season of renewal. And nothing says spring more than the first little crocus popping up through the brown earth. It jazzes my eyes and makes me want more. So I get up close and personal with that little flower until I can see all the striations of color and the orange stamen seems to jump at me. I played around with the background to give the photograph a complimentary colorful contemporary look. What do you think?

Crocus Art
The vibrant indigo blue of a spring crocus macro finds itself on a modern background of complimentary colors.
click here for purchase information on an 8x10 fine art photograph
click here for purchase information on a 5x7 fine art photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

May 2011 Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Springtime has reached the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains. The sweet but vibrant hot pink blossoms of the cushion cactus are blooming! As I look across a dry brown meadow that is only just getting the first hint of green the bright little blossoms look like neon signs against the drab landscape. What a welcome sight! I hope you enjoy your new desktop wallpaper calendar for May 2011 and if you like this little floral gem it is also available as a 5x5 fine art photograph.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for May 2011
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Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Cactus Blossoms

click here for purchase information on this fine art 5x5 photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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Sunset Geranium

Flowers have been on my mind a lot lately. In the high country of Colorado I have to wait about a month after everyone else for my flower fix. My perennial garden is only half cleaned of last years spent blossoms and the "yard" needs raked of twigs and pine cones before the hardy little bluebells come up. But I am encouraged! The wild bee balm I planted last fall is sprouting and the Canadian choke cherry is starting to bud. Spring will come. And if we get lots of rain to make up for our dry winter it can even last through June. Better get my rain dance boogie boots on. Hope you like my newest fine art photograph, Sunset Geranium.

Sunset Geranium
The delicate sunlit pink blossoms of a geranium light up in sunset colors of tangerine, fuchsia, and orange.
click here for purchase information on this fine art photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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April 2011 Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Happy Spring to the northern hemisphere! I think those of us in the States are very happy it is here. We have had a rough winter! The Rocky Mountain foothills where I live had a little snow shower yesterday but it melted and started the greening process. Soon my daffodils will be up and looking very similar to this one I shot last spring. It always amazes me how these tenacious delicate flowers push right up through the heavy spring snow undaunted and ready for a sunny day. I hope you enjoy your new April 2011 desktop wallpaper calendar and that it reminds you of sunny days to come.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for April 2011
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1280x800
1280x1024

Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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Spring Tulip in Yellow

Spring has finally arrived...at least according to the calendar. There are many places where winter has not yet lost its grip and the mountains of Colorado are one such place. My tulips are not up, in fact, I can not get tulips to grow here in the rocky soil. But a beautiful bouquet of yellow spring tulips arrived in the hands of my dear husband one evening. I think that just might be better. Happy Spring!

Yellow Tulip
A close up botanical photo of a yellow tulip done in a vintage style on a textured dark sage background.
click here for an 8x10
click here for a 5x7
click here for dark matted photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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March 2011 Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Here is your new March 2011 desktop wallpaper. These royal blue grape hyacinths had just come up last March when a big spring snow flattened them. But they are hardy little flowers that were undaunted and sprung right back up. It is snowing right now in Colorado. Springtime sees our heaviest snows and this year will no doubt be the same. Happy spring!

If you are interested in purchase information for the fine art photograph of this image click here.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for March 2011
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iPhone4

Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop or iPhone4!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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Raindrops are Falling

It was a gentle walk along the beginnings of the Colorado River. Dad was with us and at 70 was not up for climbing a mountain, but he was beaming from ear to ear to be in the mountains. We stopped often, looking at a small flower, commenting on the clear mountain water in the small stream that would turn into a mighty river. The clouds rolled in just as we reached a beaver pond. The mound of branches in the middle of the pond looked fresh and evidence surrounded us of this little animal's industriousness. Then it happened. Gentle drops began to fall. They left their beautiful mark on the still water and then disappeared. It was a moment I will always cherish.

Summer Rain
A summer walk along the Colorado River in Rocky Mountain National Park started out warm and sunny. A small isolated rain shower started at the same time we reached a beaver pond giving me this photographic opportunity.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Dreaming of Spring

Like a hibernating bear, I am dreaming of spring. Twitching for it. Yearning for it. Waiting for it. But Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow which means six more weeks of winter. And for the high country of Colorado I know that my wait for green meadows and bursting flowers will not be until June. So wish me luck and happy springtime dreams.

Spring Breeze
The old and twisted cottonwoods were wearing the lacy light green of spring and standing over a field of purple wildflowers.
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Dreaming of Spring
The silhouette of a single small bird perched in the bare branches of a tree is a harbinger of spring to come.
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Horizon
The lush spring grass stretches as far as the eye can see into the horizon with a rain promising spring sky overhead.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Spring Snow in Colorado

I usually do a Sunday Morning Gallery post and I had one prepared for today, but because many of you know I live in the foothills of northern Colorado, and may have heard of our intense spring storm I decided to post some photos. It has been a crazy few days.

It snowed all night Thursday and all the next day and through the next night too. Our landscape became surreal as the heavy wet snow clung to everything. The giant ponderosa pines, which normally can handle heavy snows, were swaying like drunken sailors with the heavy weight.

Then the snapping and popping like a rifle shot started as the tops, branches, and whole trees came crashing down around us unable to sustain the huge weight. I started to wonder when it would stop by that time and listened for house groans, but none came. Our post and beam construction held strong.

I am very happy to get this moisture after a very dry winter here in Colorado, but when it comes all at once it can be challenging. But now the road is plowed, the fire is stoked, and dinner is cooking away. All is cozy, safe and warm on a spring day on Stellers Ridge.