Descanso bits 5/16 #1

Last week we took a day off of work to make another trip to Descanso Gardens. I've been visiting many gardens recently, including going to Huntington Gardens just a few days earlier. Each garden has it's own plus and minuses... some are huge (like Descanso) and can come with actual moments of being alone and just seeing plants, some have giant manicured areas, some cost enough to make you think about it and others are nice just to visit when you have an extra hour, some are full of native bits and others transport you around the world, but I do always enjoy the time outside and seeing all the different plants and animals. I think I took something like 4 or 5 cameras along this time, so this first one of just a few of my DSLR photos is just the first of many potential posts from the trip...

Descanso Gardens Spring, part 3

spotted towhee

more descanso gardens

Descanso Gardens Spring, part 1

For my birthday this year we took a trip to Descanso Gardens. Although I am sure it's beautiful in different ways throughout the year, we happened to make the trip while the cherry blossoms were still blooming. It was an enjoyable way to spend the day wandering around outside and enjoying some variety in nature. They have all sorts of paths and little places to sit and relax in the shade. For only $9 a person, it's also a relatively cheap way entertain yourself for an afternoon on an early spring day.

mushrooming

mushroom at Descanso Gardens, Holga with Macro filter

natural bites

buzzy bee

Holga macros!

A couple weeks ago I picked up the Holga Macro filter set. I've always been a fan of macro and love looking at the awesome little details that you sometimes miss if you just look at the BIG picture. The simplicity of the Holga is part of the fun of it, but a couple of macro filters doesn't make it too much more complex (although it does involve some guesswork since you can't see what's going on through the viewfinder.) I shot the first roll while wandering around my neighborhood and ended up with some awesome results. To say the least, I've been enjoying exploring a new world with the Holga and look forward to what I can do with these filters going forward!