I almost didn’t take my camera to the Regional Parks Botanic Garden yesterday. I was meeting a friend for a quick walk at midday, and knowing it was winter, I didn’t expect I would have time to find anything to photograph.

Keckiella cordifolia - Heart Leaved Penstemon; California native perennial flowering in Regional Parks Botanic Garden

But, you can’t take a picture without a camera, and it really isn’t a lot of trouble to take my gear, so I grabbed it and put it in the car. 

As it turned out there was little traffic, and I got to the garden early.

Heart Leaved Penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) was blooming in the sun in the front of the garden, a volunteer in the desert section. I must say, I was surprised I had never seen this before. I was so glad I brought my camera.  Since it was in the hot sun I used my scrim to diffuse the light against a dark background and bingo! another California native plant for my collection.

However, being in the bright sun I noticed the stark spines of the cactus beyond. And just for fun I thought I would see how the photograph would look with cactus as a background.

Keckiella cordifolia - Heart Leaved Penstemon; California native perennial flowering in Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Keckiella cordifolia – Heart Leaved Penstemon; California native perennial flowering in Regional Parks Botanic Garden

Still using the scrim to soften the light over the flower, but not the cactus, it became remarkable photograph.

I do love playing with the light return.

I added these photos to my Gallery of the regional parks botanic garden