Flowers are an almost constant companion in my home, year-round. Either my wife takes them in from outside during the warm months, from her varied and colorful gardens, or she buys flowers during the cold months to keep our place looking vibrant and alive. At times, I must confess, I take it for granted that beauty is around me, bloomin’ everywhere. Then there are times I become a flower-fashion-model photographer… “Work with me, baby! Work with me!”

Flowers, I find, are almost always ready for their close-up. Here are some pics of a bouquet of alstroemeria flowers that are gracing the coffee table in my living room right now: