Elegant Lupine

Great, such lupins grow on my terrace

I have seen swathes of wild lupins in Norway but not here in the UK. The white one in the PiP is very elegant, Ron

Einfach wunderschön *********!
Die Lupinen Aufnahmen!

Really elegant, Ron !

What a lovely soft blue colours Ron.

Lupines are just so breathtaking and this picture really shows the gorgeous details so nicely, Ron. I find that unless they are the miniature variety, it's a challenge to photograph the experience of seeing these blossoms and why they are so amazing. It's the "whole show" that captivates us most, in my experience, with the light glowing through the petals, multiplied by the zillions of blossoms in the wonderful clusters that pop up everywhere, or even mind-bending swaths of them. I love the white ones you shared too, and of course, "the show", which nearly bursts out in a classical orchestration as I gaze in wonder. Marvelous.

I saw so many lupines of many, many species on our trip, though I think I only saw them in shades/combos of purple and sometimes white. Always such a treat, I become a rubber-necker whenever I see them along the trail! :)

Just for fun I wanted to see what cultivated colors they come in...holy hallelujah would you just LOOK?! ZOWIE! www.google.com/search?q=lupine+colors&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr3pTQ6KDjAhWDHXwKHcmUCo0QsAR6BAgCEAE&biw=2043&bih=1030

Thank you for your comment on my fern frond, I know you're a hopeless sucker for them too, which is one of the reasons I chose to post it! :)

It was fun to read about your home and away schedules, and interesting to finally be in that same zone now that we are RVing. I used to feel jealousy/envy/depression when I'd read of someone's nonstop excursions, and how odd to now BE that type of person. It's a struggle in some ways because I feel the need to be silent about the trips we take to some degree... family members who are still working full-time are only going to be fairly minded to a point--and that's only fair. The last thing I would ever want to to is to come off as flaunting our incredibly good fortune, whether or not we've planned and saved for so long to get here. I do feel a bit annoyed when I get mixed messages, like from my oldest brother. He's a total workaholic and needs to be in the middle of things at all times. He sometimes wants to take a break but then he's back in the frey, because he thrives on chaos and having a dozen balls in the air. Yet, he flings sideways comments about me not working, going on trips, and getting all passive aggressive about it and woah is me. There's no defending myself either, can't win. So really, I don't mention anything in my life to him anymore because it always ends up with him digging for something to turn around and sling at me. I don't know if he means to do it but he's certainly taught me to cut him out completely. I hate that because I love him and want to keep in touch but he is too jealous of the view he has of my life, no matter what I do to be sensitive towards this. *sigh* I guess you know what I'm talking about. It's not easy.

Glad to hear that you got a backpacking trip in with your Ireland-based daughter! What fun. The only backpacking trip I've ever gone on was to Lassen and it was just amazing. My ex and a friend of ours went with the plans to backpack in for 2-3 days and back. As it turned out, we only spent a single night before hot-footing it all the way back again. What a comedy of idiocy that turned out to be--let's just say my ex was the star of the idiots--but camping at the side of a lake was idyllic and fantastic. The peace of that place, the hiking we did to get there, it was forever memorable. However...having a parrot makes backpacking not really viable. We are also just too dependent on creature comforts, though to be honest, I think it would be really nice to go true camping sometime--and heck, we have all the gear!--but I don't know when it would ever happen.

Yes: do put LL Stubb Stewart on your list to visit! Just take a look at this pdf of their network of trails to pique your interest: oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_siteFiles%2Fpublications%2F2014_Stub_Stewart_Map_side_web034550.pdf
Met a guy there who spent his entire visit "collecting" trails until he'd hiked them all. He wasn't a mountain biker and in the older set, but he and his pair of dogs were in fantastic shape and enjoyed every speck that LL Stubb had to offer.

BTW are you aware of Camp Hosting? This is where you sign up to the park system and after filling out some paperwork, you can request to stay at any state park in Oregon, Washington (or US) for free in exchange for 4 hrs work per day, 5 days a week. You can't always get into a park you want when you want but it's a fantastic way to hang out in beautiful places all over the country for as many as 4 months without spending a dime on accommodations! We've met many, many camp hosts and they are about the happiest, friendliest, and relaxed folk you could hope to meet. So many love this lifestyle that they've been doing it for 20 years and travel all over the country for next to nothing except for food and non lodging expenses. It seems like you guys might be interested in something like this, so here's Washington's Hosting page: parks.state.wa.us/275/Hosting
Steve and I will definitely be doing this at some point...it just seems like a no-brainer!

Ok, time to run around and say hello to folks! Tell Nancy hello from me! :)

Splendid detail, Ron!

Have a nice Sunday!!

Gorgeous capture and PIPs!

Admired in:
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Outstanding floral macro, Ron! Love the soft color and sharp detail!

Admiré Et apprécié au www.ipernity.com/group/214287
"Fleurs ma passion"
(translate into English)

Admired in:
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Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, Ron!

Absolute stunner. A keeper for sure. Well done Ron Regards Tess.

A beautiful flower and a lovely close-up image, Ron.

and elegant shot !
I'll be out till next 16, have a lovely week ahead, Run