Poppies in the Rain

A couple weeks ago I woke up to a dark rainy morning and I knew what I had to do. It was the perfect day to go to the Kurihama Flower Park and take pictures of Poppies in the rain!

Armed with my Panasonic GX7camera, Lumix G Vario 12-35mm f2.8 lens and my umbrella...  

...I arrived at the park and began shooting pictures.

This is great, I have the entire park to myself.

Plenty of rain (it doesn't show up well on the images) and no wind. Perfect!

There are other flowers here too.

However, the majority of the flowers are poppies of a multitude of colors.

Who needs a beautiful sunny day to take pictures of flowers? Not me.

The carp streamers are lifeless and limp, need a little wind to get them up and flying.

Holy cow! I'm not alone.

It's a big park, plenty of room for the three of us. They go their way and I go mine.

The colors are so vivid in the rain.

Life and death.

The Road Less Traveled.

 A view from the high ground.

It can be a lonely life for a poppy.

The great white poppy bows to the power of the rain.

I have to admit, I am really enjoying myself out here.

It's like turning your umbrella upside down.

The other couple has gone and left me alone with the flowers.

A closer look at the carp streamers.

A wet bench is not very inviting.

Nothing says I've been here like the Memorial Photo!

All photos were taken one handed. The other hand was holding my umbrella.

Working my way out of the park.

Last shot of the day: Cornflower blue.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

P.S. here are some bonus pictures:

The lilies of Yokohama.

I have no idea what kind of flower this is; I find it fascinating.

Overall length is a little less than 2 inches.

I found these flowers near the Yokohama Harbour View Park.

Heading home: the underground Nihon Odori train station for the Minatomirai train line.

That's all folks!

Saturday in the Parks - It's Paradise!

It was a beautiful Saturday (May 20, 2017) and I had no intentions of hanging around the house all day. However, I also had no intentions of spending a lot of money or traveling a long distance, so, I packed a lunch and hopped the train to good old Yokohama.

First I went to Yokohama Park.

These lilies are incredible!

The stamens look like they've been coated in finely ground rich dark coffee bean powder.

Moving on - It's just a matter of time before the finger pointing starts. With three it's always going to be two against one.

In front of the Yokohama Port Post Office I noticed that this dog had a tennis ball clutched in his mouth like it was the most valuable thing on Earth.

A rose blooms behind the Yokohama Historical Archive building.

When I said it was a beautiful day I meant it. The weather is perfect.

The view from Osanbashi pier.

This is the kind of day that people dream about. Especially a grandfather and his granddaughter.

Spring is the season for couples.

Next - the rose garden in Yamashita park.

Girl meets white roses.

Taking a closer look at the beauty of the rose.

Then, a closer look at whatever kind of flower this is.

The garden is comfortably crowded today. Everyone is smiling, there is happiness in the air.

The good old Hikawa Maru steam ship in the background.

The lady in red!

Another lady in red!

The upper level of Yamashita park is a good place for a young boy to play Indian Jones and the Temple of Park Water Fountain Doom.

It's a reasonably short walk from Yamashita park to the Harbour View Park on the bluff above Motomachi. The Harbour View park has (in my opinion) the best flower garden of all the parks. Although, it is a very close call to make.

A mother and daughter outing.

The spotter - pointing out the shots for the photographer.

Mr. GQ with his sun glasses, double breasted vest, t-shirt and ratty jeans. Looking good!

If the theory of evolution holds true, man will eventually be born with one arm longer than the other to facilitate better selfie picture taking.

Last shot of the day: Every picture tells a story.

All images taken with a Sigma Sd Quattro camera and a Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 lens.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike