Rainy Night Flowers   We have a rainy evening of thunderstorms after a very hot day in Maryland. I thought these flowers would be appropriate to share for my last blog of the day. This photograph was taken a Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, one of our favorite travel destinations.    Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/23/2014

Visiting Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden     Dolores and I enjoy day trips to the Richmond, Virginia area. There are two places that we like to visit on a regular basis. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a world class facility and a treasure for fine arts in Virginia. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has a beautiful Conservatory and the most extensive gardens in the area. This summer, the live butterfly display is a feature that is always fun to photograph.   Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA USA IMG 0910 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/23/2014

New Economic Development Website for Gaithersburg   The municipal staff is working towards the launch of the City of Gaithersburg’s new Economic Development website, GrowGaithersburg.com, and will present an overview at the Mayor and City Council Work Session on July 28 at 7:30 p.m. Targeting employers who are seeking a new business location, commercial real estate professionals, site location consultants, and other business services professionals, the site will include information on Gaithersburg's workforce, local industries, available properties, and incentives. Look for its debut soon. For out of the area readers, the City of Gaithersburg is located in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland in the western suburbs of Washington, DC.      Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, Vir... 07/23/2014

Corsage Orchids, Hawaiian Satisfaction   We have a very hot afternoon in Maryland so I thought I would post a photograph of flowers that might enjoy the heat. These are Corsage Orchids with the name Hawaiian Satisfaction. You can almost hear the surf and feel the breeze as it blows through the palm trees. These orchids were photographed in the Conservatory at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia. Keep cool and have a wonderful summer.   Corsage Orchids, Hawaiian Satisfaction, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden IMG 0930 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/23/2014

Book Recommendation: The Son by Jo Nesbø   I just finished reading The Son (2014 translation) by Jo Nesbø. Thisaward winning Norwegian author and musician is best known for his Harry Hole series of crime novels. This is a stand-alone novel and the setting is Oslo. The primary character is Sonny Lofthus, a prison inmate with a serious heroin habit. Take a few moments to visit the above link for a summary of the book. Jo Nesbø may become your favorite Norwegian author. One of my personal goals is to read at least one novel each week for personal pleasure. Enjoy a good book this week and every week!   Coneflower, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden IMG 0904 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/23/2014

Splash of Color   I enjoy photographing the gazanias in our Kentlands home garden. The natural colors are striking. After editing our flower photographs, I sometimes create additional images for my Imagination series which is just for fun. This series, by the way, has lots of followers on Pinterest. This splash of color is a color edited gazania.   Gazania + Imagination IMG 8321A Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/22/2014

White Bat Flower   I was posting this White Bat Flower photograph in some of my flower groups on Facebook and thought you might be interested is seeing it. Most of us do not have White Bat Flowers in our gardens.   White Bat Flower (Tacca integrifolia) White Bat Flower has the largest flowers of all Taccas. Each flower is about 5-8" across and has long tendrils that hang from it. Once the plant is mature, flowers will bloom successively for months. Taccas have large, beautiful foliage and prefer to be grown in low light with good air circulation. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. They can be grown successfully indoors and need conditions similar to a Phalaenopsis orchid or a Spathophyllum (Peace lily). Originating in Southeast Asia, White Bat Flower is one of the most tropical and exot... 07/22/2014

Lion, National Zoo, Washington, DC   For many of us, a visit to the National Zoo, in Washington, DC, would not be complete until you see the lions. A day trip at the National Zoo is a good summertime family activity. And, you should plan to spend the day because there is much to see and do.   Lion, National Zoo Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/22/2014

Horseshoe Pits Available for Use in Kentlands   The Kentlands Citizens Assembly has reconstructed two horseshoe pits behind the Kentlands Clubhouse (between tennis courts 3 and 4), and have horseshoes available for use. Any Kentlands resident 18 years or older can borrow four horseshoes (which are made of professional-grade metal) by presenting their pass at the Clubhouse front desk. The Clubhouse does not yet have lightweight/plastic horseshoes, but may add them if there is high demand. If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Manager Arthur Gailes at 301-948-4290. For out of the area readers, Kentlands is a neo-traditional community located within the City of Gaithersburg in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland. Kentlands is a preferred area for families that are reloca... 07/22/2014

Sumatran Tiger, National Zoo   If you have the opportunity to photograph a Sumatran Tiger at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, you do not have to offer much of a description since the picture will speak for itself. These are beautiful and endangered animals.   Sumatran Tiger, National Zoo IMG_5309 Photograph  by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/21/2014

Gaithersburg Aquatic Center Opening Today, July 21st   The City of Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department have completed interior improvements to the Gaithersburg Aquatic Center, located at 2 Teachers Way. The swimming pool complex will reopen on today, July 21 at 5:15 p.m.  Facility enhancements include new lockers, new pool plaster and tiles, a new filtration system, installation of an ultraviolet disinfection system, and the addition of two ADA-compliant pool lifts. The renovation also features front counter improvements, new carpet, mural restoration, new lifeguard chairs, new lane lines, and a fresh coat of paint. New picnic tables, umbrellas and replacement brick pavers on the outdoor patio were also added. Read more he... 07/21/2014

Junior Detective Day in Kentlands, Sunday, July 27th     This Sunday, July 27, 2014 is Junior Detective Day in Kentlands. The time is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and the location is the Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland. This program is appropriate for children in the 5-12 age range. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $10 per person. Call 301-258-6425 for more information. 07/21/2014

What do you do better than anyone else?   Some of us have a difficult time telling people what we do better than anyone else. No, this is not bragging. Telling your story is all about you and what you do better than anyone else is an important part of your personal brand. If you happen to love what you do your story is even more compelling. Pretend that this blog is a survey. In a short comment, tell us what you do better than anyone else. Then, be brazen and write a blog about it. What do you do better than anyone else?     Dahlia + Imagination, Kentlands IMG 8342A Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/21/2014

Never Say Never or Always   “WITHHOLD those NEVER and ALWAYS words most of the time, and live in more of a gray world not black and white "my way or the highway" world with PEOPLE. It will help you with your inner peace tremendously.” – Gary Woltal Texas real estate professional Gary Woltal reminds us that it so easy to close doors of opportunity or to corner ourselves with poorly selected words in our conversations. Two Absolute Words To Use Sparingly With People    Please visit these blogs if you missed them: Never Say Never or Always  Butterflies for the Day  Imagine Good Things Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/21/2014

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Naked Sunbathers in DC   I hope you did not expect to see naked people in this photograph that was taken at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Plan to spend a day at the National Zoo with your camera in hand.    Sunb Sunbathers at the National Zoo, Washington, DC Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/20/2014

Gazania, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA IMG 7899 This gazania was photographed in the planter in the front of our home in Kentlands, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Gazanias are small flowers that add much color to area gardens and borders.   Gazania, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland USA IMG 7899 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/19/2014

Merten's Water Monitor   Did you know what to expect when you responded to the title of this blog? This photograph was taken during a visit to the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Summertime is a good time to take your family to the zoo and learn much about the creatures that you will see. Merten’s water monitor is a member of the monitor lizard family found in northern Australia. It is a wide-ranging, active foraging, opportunistic predator of aquatic and riparian habitats. It grows to a length of over three feet. It is named after German herpetologist Robert Mertens. - Wikipedia   Merten's Water Monitor, National Zoo IMG_5356 Photograph by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/19/2014

Photographing Hosta:  Summer Photowalking   You will really see what is going on in your community if you just get out and walk around. The added benefit is that you will get some needed exercise. Add a camera and you will be photowalking. It is fun to photograph hosta and you need to look very closely to appreciate the small flowers which differ with the varieties.  The first photograph shows the natural colors. The second image is color edited just for fun.  Enjoy the small gifts of nature with your camera in hand.   Hosta, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD IMG 8334 Hosta + Imagination, Kentlands IMG 8334A Photographs by Roy Kelley Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 07/18/2014