Yesterday after walking around Manitou Springs for a couple hours I was hot, tired, and a bit grumpy not having found the shadow shots (for PTC) for which I'd been hoping.

Ended up in a city park trying to shoot flowers through metal bars, gave up and walked halfway across the park to a gazebo. As I turned I noticed a gardener who'd appeared at the flower garden as I was leaving now approaching me. She said, "If you're looking for some pictures, I'll unlock the gates so you can go into the enclosures." Of course!

So I enjoyed an hour of shooting flowers and bugs and afterwards discovered the gardener was a member of the Manitou Springs Garden Club which maintains this park. I offered to send shots and she gladly accepted and hoped I'd put them on the club's Facebook page!

So a grumpy day turned happy with one small problem. I'm still on the lookout for shadow shots ;)))

Woooow...Superb set! Goldbrandi · 2012-06-22: 15:43

Awesome set of shots and findings Marsha digitalideas · 2012-06-22: 15:51

What a great story! I LOVE the ladybug shot!! DancingDolphin · 2012-06-22: 15:54

great set love the ladybug!! jennyLit · 2012-06-22: 16:23

love this set, specialy nr 2 and 6. kwibusje · 2012-06-22: 16:26

Wonderful sun pictures though Marsha!! :)) You will find them ..they lurk around there somewhere :) EvaLizette · 2012-06-22: 16:29

LOL! Me too! Nice flower shots tho... CHOSSID · 2012-06-22: 17:07

All superb shots !! finbarr · 2012-06-22: 17:39

Well that is a nice story despite the lack of shadows , love the 5th one's composition. MoMac · 2012-06-22: 17:47

They are beautiful flowers so radiant when I looked I felt something so special. Wonderful!!! Nanci22 · 2012-06-22: 17:59

Gorgeous set! Beautiful vibrant colors! mwbergeron01 · 2012-06-22: 18:58

Oh lovely..I wish I was sitting on that seat in the sunshine! :-) mazpics · 2012-06-22: 20:11

Can't imagine you grumpy . . . great closeups! lgnelson · 2012-06-22: 22:32

Bautiful captures mystic1 · 2012-06-22: 23:01

Really beautiful. farideh · 2012-06-23: 00:59

i love your pic... very beautiful helyna · 2012-06-23: 02:57

these are so pretty! last is the best ! don't worry - we had 3 days of rains. gonia · 2012-06-23: 06:32

so pretty! how kind of her to let you in, what an honor! urmysunshine · 2012-06-23: 09:58

See, persistence pays...you got a gorgeous one in #2..favs. Also love the great shot of the ladybug. I was shooting a garden from the sidewalk in Missouri and the owner was out there working around..told me to feel free to come closer on the grass if I wanted to..makes one feel special! :-)) NellyBly · 2012-06-23: 11:51

Last shot is to me what summer is. Ryana · 2012-06-23: 14:03

Loved the Ladybug !! Great Set !! catdad · 2012-06-23: 15:51

so lovely! Shaparak · 2012-06-23: 23:16

How lucky, to be allowed into a garden when no-one else is around. But I know what you mean about shadows. I actually don't like shooting flowers in bright sunlight. I find it difficult to cope with the highlights. (I must get a polarising filter for my favourite lens) Plenty of shadows in my garden again today - very little sun in the UK for weeks. SADHYA · 2012-06-24: 04:12

In spite of so much sunshine, the whole set came out wonderfully. I don't like to shoot flowers with sunshine. The ladybug enjoyed the sun as much as you did the garden. Great set Marsha. Unchained · 2012-06-26: 11:13