I thought by the time my twigs from the plum tree would open that the rain would stop and let me get out into the garden. Not so.
Even the plum tree outside has started to flower and still it hasn’t stopped raining. The first flower has appeared on the ninth of February, the apricot too has opened its first flowers. They are a month earlier in opening than last year.
The temperatures are mild but not mild enough to allow the bees to come and forage on the flowers for any length of time. Are they going to miss their usual feast?
I just have to appreciate the plum blossom inside. It is strongly scented with an unmistakable base of bitter almond. Plums and almonds are related, both of them belonging to the genus Prunus . It may not be obvious from their fruits but the perfume of the plum blossom is a give away.
The Mason bee nest construction continues indoors but I have also some time to test out the camera on the peach flowers in the vase.
My Canon 50 mm gives me clear shots of the blossom if I crop it. My blossom is practically white and only the buds are pink tinged.
I am trying to get closer in to the flowers so I have reversed the 50 mm lens here.
I like to see the arrangement of the stamens as the flowers open.
With my lens reversed I get close enough to avoid having to crop.
This is taken with my old Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ18 which can get really close up. Not bad for a point and shoot camera that will probably cost just over £100.
I can get about as close by cropping the Canon 50 mm photograph by a huge amount. I would say value for money the Panasonic Lumix is the winner.
Stop Press – my twig cuttings of our sole peach tree have just started to blossom.
But it’s still raining!
a french garden 
Great to have so much blossom, Neither plum, apricot or peaches are flowering here yet. But that is very early for the apricot will you get fruit do you think? I use a Lumix too, they really do have the very best zoom macro on any camera, including very expensive SLR’s, a great discovery for me because I bought it for it’s wide angle capabilities which also beat most other digital cameras. It only fails for me with night photography. Christina
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We have had so much rain, which must be a treat for out fruit trees and it has been mild. However, it is too early for the flowers and I am just waiting for a cold snap to carry off the apricot, peach and early plum flowers. It’s not the fruit that bothers me so much its the food that will be lost to all the bees around here.
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The photos are beautiful. I thought my blossom was too early last year and the first of the blossom opened in the rain but I ended up with a good crop of fruit; somehow.
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I think the pollinators and flowers are hardier than we sometimes give them credit. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.
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Those stamen are just mesmerizing! It must be amazing to be a bee! I hope it stops raining for you soon.
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I hope so too as the flowers are coming out in the garden oblivious to the rain. I am just wanting to get out and get started.
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LOvely shots of the blossom. Interesting that the Lumix is so good. We have had some sunshine this week at last although there us no warmth in it yet. Still had to scrape the windscreen this morning. The February daffs clearly think it is still January!
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Thinking about having to scrape windscreens makes me stop complaining about the rain :).
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Rain can get old…although it is most welcome to quiche dry earth too many days of it is well…too many.
Linda
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Usually I am complaining that I don’t get enough rain for the garden. It makes a change to complain its raining too much :).
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I like seeing any flowers at this time of year, Those are nice macros of the blossoms and I agree that it’s hard to beat a Lumix. That’s what I use for macro shots-a Lumix DMC-527.
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That’s interesting! You don’t have perhaps as much latitude in different light conditions but outside in bright sunlight they are hard to beat.
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Okay, I’m headed out right now to prune off a couple of peach branches. I can force them indoors and then enjoy them twice.
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The blossoms pass too quickly outside, I hope you can enjoy them twice.
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Nice shots but I think this is all a very subtle lead in to a request for a decent macro.
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They are very lovely!
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Thank you, Bente, I am enjoying my new toy!
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Stunning macro Amelia! Really beautiful shots.
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I’m glad you like them. I enjoyed taking them.
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I liked your comparison of the Panasonic point and shoot and your Canon. Sometimes my 4-year-old Nikon point and shoot takes better macro pictures than my Nikon DSLR since I do not have a macro lens for it. It can also depend on the lighting too. Nonetheless, great shots!
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Thank you, it is interesting you find your old camera good for the macros. I just feel that some of the technology is making amazing progress and that the price is very reasonable in comparison.
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