Pics! Roses, Orchids and Komodo Dragons, Oh my!

[Brie]

We hit up the Woodland Park Zoo yesterday, and for the first time I actually went into the huge Rose Garden.. For some reason, I always miss peak blooming season for them so never go in there. The garden is huge! Never realized how big it was! So glad I decided to pop in for some photos... Also spent alot of time photographing a few orchids in the tropical rainforest building... They had Blue Vandas in bloom! What drove me crazy though is as I stood there photographing these gorgeous orchids, SEVERAL groups of people went by and full on GRABBED the vanda flowers, like they weren't real or something! I about screamed my head off. Not like, feeling with a couple fingers type of grabbing, but grabbing like a baseball. Ugh! Anyway, luckily I was able to get photos before someone totally destroyed them. I dunno why the zoo put them within such easy reach, right over/by the walkway. Anyhow, ontop pics!

Roses, I didnt think of photographing their tags until like, halfway through taking photos.. So I have no idea what types these all are. lol. oops.

I took this photo with this type of lighting effect in mind... Very.. Snow White. or Beauty and the Beast. lol.

Others from the garden...

White swan echinacea

White Dahlias

No idea what this is, but thought it was really cool.

Purple Cape Daisy and friend

 

[Brie]

And now for some photos from the zoo...

BLUE VANDAS! Wooo!

Spider orchids

Yellow-rumped Cacique. This bird had the coolest vocalizations EVER. If you wanna see a whole video of them, check this out.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMdjtGjWhe0&feature=related They appear to be SUPER good imitators, similar to crows and mynahs. I stood in the bird dome for a good half hour just listening and watching these guys.

A pretty male White Tailed Trogon

The endangered Western Pond Turtle

And I actually cought one of the Komodo Dragons doing something other then their favorite past time of SLEEPING. lol.

 

[thez_yo]

OMG it's a cute dragon with a cute tongue

 

[Exo]

Komodo dragons are in my top five favoritest things EVAR!

 

[Adam]

Nice as always, Brie

 

[Av8tor1]

wow.... beautiful pics

ummm Komodo just wants to be friends with ya, betting you taste like rancid chicken LOL

 

[amphirion]

amazing pics brie! thanks for sharing them with us!

 

[lizasaur]

Oooooh, everything is just so crisp and vivid!

 

[Brie]

Thanks guys

 

[dionae]

Very beautiful pics Brie. Thanks for posting them.

 

[mikefallen13]

Amazing pics Brie!!

 

[ellisonk001]

Beautiful pictures; thanks for sharing!!!