Most of the contrast was there, the rocks are very dark, but I did boost the saturation on the cat just a very little bit and added a little bit of contrast overall to the image. But mostly this is how it came out of the camera. It helped that it was an overcast evening - that's a very good light to shoot this kind of scene it, it somehow makes the colors richer. You have to avoid gray skies, but if this image presents itself the lack of sunshine is often bonus.

i could robably send you a little package of plants. i have some hyacinth. that is all i have that you listed. but i could also put some umbrella palm, salvinia, maybe water snowflake - that looks like miniature water lillies.. i have a few things that you may like. then maybe you could throw some seeds of something my way for return? i don't know what i am looking for, or what i want, so i'd let you decide on that..lol... i live on the gulf in florida, so i am sure you would know what would grow in this sand and heat... let me know if you are interested. beth

PJ, those four nerve daisies are somethin' else. They popped right back up and kept blooming! Richard, first you show us an Elvis blue Christmas and now we know why they call it a 'blue' norther. Great photos. And you hardly had to step out the front door to get them. No mountains to climb like me ;-) Looks like you traveled a little farther to get the pictures on your links. Those are great!!!! But one of them showed me what your problem is -- you need to take down that "Welcome Winter" sign and bury it somewhere! If you don't then Carrie is gonna' come over and shoot it full of holes. LOL!

oh my that is beautiful!