Blooms Galore - Purples, Pinks And Yellows, Oh My!

Flowers are the true stars of the growing season, and they shine in these reader snapshots.

With my trusty Nikon D5100 in hand, I headed out to photograph flowers early one morning while the dew still dotted the petals. I thought this purple iris bloom was absolutely breathtaking.

Lynn Erdely

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

A short afternoon stop at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate resulted in this lucky shot of cherry blossoms. The vivid color of the blue sky provided the perfect background for the delicate petals. I happily continued on my way to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Shannon Anderson

ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY

I visited a dahlia farm in Oregon last summer. This was one of their experimental varieties, and I absolutely fell in love with this small flower. It’s simple and elegant, with a great color combo. I just felt like it had personality. Lori Naanes

GOSPORT, INDIANA

This photo of a purple water lily represents summer for me. The vibrant colors of these beautiful blooms catch your eye as they stand out among the floating pads.

Marlana McTague BROOKSVILLE, FLORIDA