The Making of the Garden Luncheon Series

Happy Earth Day! To be honest, every day feels like Earth Day here on our mountain ridge. It is just the natural feel of living in the middle of the woods. Since yesterday was National Tea Day, it felt only right to celebrate both occasions by taking you behind the scenes of my latest spring photo session.

Of course, getting the perfect shot requires an early start. The alarm went off at 6:00 am. I’m not saying I was wide awake, but I was definitely motivated! It felt so good to finally be outside and creating in the fresh spring air.

The Spring Backdrop

Right now, our yard is putting on quite a show. One of my all-time favorites is blooming: woodland phlox. It perfumes the air with a gentle sweetness. It is a Pennsylvania native, too. That makes it a vital food source for our local butterflies and hummingbirds.

Our crab apple tree is just past “peak bloom.” Still, the twisty, knobby branches with their white blossoms were too beautiful to ignore.

Staging the Scene

To celebrate both National Tea Day and Earth Day, I brought out a fine bone china tennis set. The party menu for the day featured the usual black-oil sunflower seeds and peanuts, along with a special organic side of live mealworms.

To soften the look, I pulled out a vintage handkerchief. I softly bunched it around the platter to create a cozy, lived-in feel. It really helped bridge the gap between the dark, rustic boards and the dainty china.

Did you notice the single bloom on the plate? That’s where a few small snacks are hidden. I tucked a sunflower seed, a peanut, and a mealworm inside. I also sprinkled some mealworms at the base of the perching stick. Hopefully, it would be the perfect place to snack while hidden in the blooms.

Lights, Camera, Birds

By 7:30 am, I was ready to go. The weather was having a total identity crisis. First, it spritzed rain. Then, it spit-spattered tiny balls of sleet. Finally, it settled into a simple, moody overcast. If you look carefully, you can see rain streaks in the photograph above. The robin didn’t seem to mind the weather at all!

Here’s video recap of some of the action. You’ll see that while I was preoccupied with Summer kitty drinking from the bird bath, Scuttle took full advantage of my distraction. He jumped right onto the feeding platform to examine the scene for himself!

I ended the session around 10:30 am with about 137 photos. That’s a low number for me. The birds are still a little skeptical of my “strange objects.” They also seem a bit jumpier when the shutter goes off. Because of this, I’m waiting for the perfect moment for a single click. As the season progresses, they’ll get used to the “obnoxious noise” of my camera.

Help Me Choose!

I would love your input on which photo to publish. One of my favorites caught mama and papa bluebird together. They are staring so intently at the bouquet. Zoom in and you can see what they’re looking at. Yum! I wonder if they are thinking, “You eat it.” “No, you eat it.” Apparently, nobody wants to take the last bite!

Then there is the robin. He has both feet planted firmly on the platter. He’s quite large compared to the dainty teacup! It’s nice that most of his body stays hidden. He kind of peeks out from behind the bouquet.

Possible Quote: Let your joy burst forth like flowers in spring!

Toward the end of the session, I decided to revamp the scene. I moved the bouquet behind the teacup. The red-bellied woodpecker seemed to approve of the new layout! He looks so happy!

The perky tufted titmouse did exactly what I wanted. He used the branch as a perch. If you follow his gaze, you’ll see he’s got his eye on a meaty morsel.

Possible Quote: The best moments are the quiet ones.

Happiness is a quiet moment and a warm cup.

The Bloopers

Of course, it wasn’t all perfect poses. Even birds have their photography bloopers. The blue jay, red bellied woodpecker, and robin all had some of those awkward moments!

Don’t let me hanging! Please head back to Facebook and pick your favorite photo for publishing. (One or two of them will be at AzarÉl Greetings’ craft shows very soon!) I also want to know which blooper made you laugh the most!

AzarElGreetings.com : Real birds. Secret snacks. Lots of patience.