May, 2017 - David Mathre Photography

Wednesday (24-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I spent much of the day preparing a section on the west side of the house for a patch of “Lily of the Valleys” and some other wildflowers. The section is under a tree, and grass doesn’t do very well. There were “Lily of the Valleys” here before, but they were destroyed when the roof was redone a couple years ago. So I rototilled the section, added lime and fertilizer, then drilled ninety 2 inch holes and planted the newly arrived “Lily of the Valley” pips. I hope they make it to bloom next spring. In the past, the deer left them alone. One of the pips had a shoot with flower buds. I took that one inside under the LED grow lights to see if the flower buds would open.

"Lily of the Valley" flower buds. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, 0EV) (David J Mathre) — “Lily of the Valley” flower buds. Image taken with a Nikon Df computer and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec) and SB-910 flash (TTL, 0EV) (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (23-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Walkabout with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm zoom lens. Rhododendron flowers, wildflower daisies flowers, and poppies buds about to open. My most hated weed — the “Mile-a-Minute” vine. The vine is not native, and was probably brought in by the deer. It gets its name from how fast it grows. In the last few years it has killed and destroyed many of my trees. I am trying to find wildflowers that grow faster and will keep the vine from further expansion. Also, some insect appears to be nibbling on the leaves of the vine — just not fast enough.

My most hated weed -- the "Mile a Minute" vine. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 21 mm, f/5, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre) — My most hated weed — the “Mile a Minute” vine. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 100, 21 mm, f/5, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed here.

Three-Years Ago (23-May-2014) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Rhododendron blooms after a rainstorm. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus.

Rhododendron Blooms. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus. (David J Mathre) — Rhododendron Blooms. Composite of 17 stacked images taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens. Images processed using Capture One Pro 7 and Helicon Focus. (David J Mathre)

Monday (22-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

The rain returned. I wasn’t able to do any work on the garden today. Yesterday I planted another fifty orange day lilies among my daffodils. I often see them along the roads here in the summer, so hope that the deer don’t like them. I don’t expect to see any flowers this year, but hope to next summer. We will see. The “mile a minute” vine is a real pain. It is invasive and overgrows everything, like kudzu in the south. I think the deer brought it here. Talking about deer, this doe was just outside my laundry room door.

Doe just outside my laundry room. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/45 sec). (© 2017 David J Mathre) — Doe just outside my laundry room. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/45 sec). (David J Mathre)

Individual images from the slideshow can be viewed here.

Four-Years Ago (22-May-2013) — Ireland

Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 26: Dublin, Ireland.

Pub Lunch After a Photowalk in Dublin. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 10 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 3200, 10 mm, f/4, 1/25 sec). Converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro II. Semester at Sea, Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage.