Author | Lightnews

Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you Scarlett!

Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · 24d

The song of the dahlias is still going strong in my garden, even at the start of fall. I’m smitten with the picotee edges on Dahlia ‘Lake Michigan’. She isn’t fully open yet, but I had to share the glow anyway.

om1 90mm

#dahlia #lakemichigan #dahliaseason #cutflowergarden #macro_perfection

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 19

Found a fallen star in the garden. Earthstar mushroom (Geastrum sp.) with its rays spread and the spore sac ready. Plains peoples called them fallen stars, a sign of something special. OM-1 90 mm macro.

#earthstar #geastrum #mushroom #fungi #mushroomphotography #macrophotography

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 17

Now that’s a stunner!!!

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 17

Dahlia ‘Tahiti Sunrise’ living up to its name. Lemon cream petals brushed with rosy pink, like first light on water.

#dahlia #tahitisunrise #dahliaseason #flowerphotography #macroflower #macro_perfection #gardenphotography #cutflowergarden #OM1 #90mmmacro

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 15

Aloe blooms today, coral pink tubes arcing over Colocasia ‘Redemption’. Hoping a hummingbird stops in for a sip. OM1 90mm macro.

#aloe #aloebloom #colocasia #colocasiaredemption #tropicalgarden #hummingbirdgarden #flowerphotography #gardenphotography #macro

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 9

The queen has taken her throne. This passion flower only unfurled halfway, but that purple coronet and fringe still rule the garden while her bee subjects buzz around. OM1 90mm macro.

#passionflower #Passiflora #flowerphotography #macro #macrophotography #gardenphotography #purpleflowers

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 8

@actordougjones.bsky.social
Thank you for the kindness and empathy you show your fans. I really felt valued today. What a gift. Thank you!

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 7

It was a dark and dreary day, but this variegated SunPatiens lit up the moment. Those gold and green leaves make the magenta bloom pop.
om1 90mm

#SunPatiens #Impatiens #variegatedfoliage #flowerphotography #macro #macrophotography #gardenphotography #summerblooms #feralflowerphotography

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Sep 1

Spotted this zinnia in the pick-your-own bed at Ort Farms. In a patch of pinks, this one wore streaks and freckles, and that’s what made it sing. To everyone with your own streaks and freckles, you’re outstanding. #zinnia #flowerphotography #macro #gardenphotography #cutflowergarden #OrtFarms

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 30

Butterfly ranunculus are pure magic. When they open, the petals look glazed like porcelain and catch every bit of light. Snagged this bunch at Trader Joe’s and it’s glowing on the table. OM1 90mm macro.

#butterflyranunculus #ranunculus #cutflowers #flowerphotograph #dailyflower

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 19

Terrarium joy: my miniature begonia popped a fresh bloom today. The petals are lying perfectly flat, so the flower looks like a bright yellow bowtie. It thrives in its closed jar w/a drink 4x a year.
#begonia #terrarium #houseplants #macrophoto #macro_perfection #flowerphotography #yellowflowers

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 15

One fading hydrangea, one floret in the spotlight. Up close those silky “petals” are sepals, and the tiny stars in the middle are the real flowers. Fading can glow.
#hydrangea #macrophoto #flowerphotography #floralart #botanicalart #njgarden

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 11

Trialing Mandevilla Sun Parasol Original XP Pink. Electric petals &a golden throat light up the pot, and Colocasia ‘Redemption’ makes the perfect moody backdrop. Heat loving and bloom crazy, total porch showstopper.
#mandevilla #sunparasol #summercontainer #trialgarden #macrophoto #flowerphotography

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 11

I paid for my college education growing jersey tomatoes, however semester at Rutgers was under $2000 then.

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Aug 4

Trialing Dipladenia SUNDENIA SUPREMA ‘Vivid Pink’ and loving how yesterday’s bloom fades to raspberry while today’s opens candy pink, two colors on one vine.
#dipladenia #sundenia #flowerphotography #trialgarden #macrophoto

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 29

One zinnia floret still points skyward long after its neighbors have fallen. A reminder to trust your gut even when you stand alone.
#zinnia #macrophoto #gardeninspiration #summerblooms #njgarden #photo

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 25

Penny the baby mantis hitchhiked in on a hydrangea bloom tonight. Snapped a quick portrait, returned the flower to the bouquet, then set Penny into the border to hunt. First mantis here in two summers and it feels like luck.
#prayingmantis #tinywildlife #macrophoto #gardenhelpers #njgarden #bugs

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 23

Six 4-inch pots of Zinnia ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’, already three feet tall, went into my cut-flower row. They’re tossing dahlia-size heads nonstop and will keep the vases full all summer.
#horticulture #benarysgiantzinnia #cutflowergarden #summerblooms #macrophoto #flowerphotography #photo

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 21

Summer isn’t official without cicada song. I watched Aiden the cicada split his nymph shell on the porch rail, then snapped him again a few hours later as a fresh green adult. 2–5 yrs underground, only weeks to fly and sing.
#cicada #neotibicen #macrophoto #insectwatch #naturephoto #tinywildlife

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 20

Volunteer sunflower appeared in the same spot for the third year, but this time it opened on the 14th anniversary of Dad’s passing. Russet ring around the center, earliest bloom yet. I like to think it’s a quiet hello from him, a garden memory.
#horticulture #sunflower #macrophoto #photo

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 19

Oh wow, this rose is stunning!

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jul 19

Agapanthus ‘Alan Street’ blooms at last. Bought at Chelsea 2021, the root spent 6 months forgotten in a plastic bag, lived in a 4-inch pot, then moved to the garden fall 2024. Survived a NJ winter, now flaunts the deepest purple.
#horticulture #agapanthus #flowerphotography #macrophoto #garden

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jun 30

Back porch break with my container: cobalt Lobelia ‘Techno Blue’ spilling over, pink lisianthus cupping open, red cuphea flickering like sparks, and one tough viola still blooming through the heat. Small pot, big color.
#horticulture #macrophoto #flowerphoto #containercolor #gardenjoy #photo

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Dave @njplantman.bsky.social · Jun 29

Down at the Intracoastal in Port Salerno, I watched bait fishermen turn the shoreline into a living pinwheel. Twist, coil, spin, & a perfect circle of net hissed across the water twist, spin, splash, gather, repeat
#coastallife #castnet #waterphotography #portsalerno #motioncapture #everydaymotion