2026 Flower Photo Calendar

The 2026 Photo Calendars are ready!

2026 Flowers - Here is my floral calendar which features flowers from several locations taken this summer. Visits to the community garden, the St. Albert Botanic Garden, the neighborhood front yards and some from Beaumaris Lake. Some shots are from my new town. The Calla Lily, Flora's Paintbrush, Sweet Pea and Clematis are making their first appearance. 


The holidays have been marked in red.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.

January - Anemone Sylvestris                     July - Purple Calla Lily

February - Bleeding Heart                           August - African Daisy (Osteospermum)

March - Flora's Paintbrush                          September - Yellow Dahlia

April - Pasque Flower                                  October - Purple Clematis

May - Red Tulip                                           November - Sunlit Dahlia

June - Ox Eye Sunflower                             December - Sweet Pea

2025 Nature Photo Calendar

 The 2025 Photo Calendars are ready just in a nick of time!

2025 Nature - Here is my nature calendar which features flying creatures from several locations taken this summer. Visits to the community garden, the St. Albert Botanic Garden, the neibourhood front yards and some from Beaumaris Lake & Heritage Hills Wetlands. Butterflies were very hard to find this summer. The year had several renovations planned and unplanned so it took time away from photography.

The holidays have been marked in red.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.

January - American White Pelican          July - American Robin

February - Copper Skipper                      August - Northern Pearly Eye

March -  Yellow Jacket                             September - Honey Bee

April -  American Avocet                          October - Canada Goose

May - Lady Bug                                       November - Red Dragonfly

June -Bumble Bee                                   December - Hoverfly

2025 Photo Calendar - Flowers

 

The 2025 Photo Calendars are ready just in a nick of time!

2025 Flowers - Here is my floral calendar which features flowers from several locations taken this summer. Visits to the community garden, the St. Albert Botanic Garden, the neibourhood front yards and some from Beaumaris Lake. The Morning Glories and Nasturtiums are making their first appearance.  

The holidays have been marked in red.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.

January - Blue Flax                          July - Tiger Lily

February - New Red Dawn Rose      August - Pink Cosmos

March - Blue Morning Glory            September - Sunflower

April - Single Kiss Dahlia                 October - Orange Nasturtium

May - Apple Blossom                        November - Bell Flower

June - Albera Rose                            December - Pink Rose

2024 Photo Calendar - Wings

2024 Wings - Here is my nature calendar which features flyers of different descriptions.  This features birds and insects. It represents what I have seen on my trips to the Edmonton Valley Zoo, the U of A Botanic Gardens, several wetlands in the area and my regular morning walks. The holidays have been marked in red.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.

January - Snowy Owl                                July - House Sparrow

February -  Golden Dragonfly                   August - Ashy Mining Bee

March - Tundra Swan                                September - Peregrine Falcon

April - Fritillary Butterfly                             October - Honey Bee

May - Black-crowned Night-Heron            November - Spotted Sandpiper

June - Hoverfly                                          December - Fiery Skipper

2024 Photo Calendar - Flower

 My photo calendars are ready!

2024 Flower - This is my floral calendar this year.  It represents what I have seen on my morning walks, the flowers I have enjoyed at the St. Albert Botanic Park and the wonderful front yards in the neighborhood.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.  The holidays have been marked in red.

January - Hosta Bloom                      July - Blue Flax

February -  Coral Sunset Peony        August - Alium

March - False Sunflower                    September - Sunflower

April - Plum Blossom                         October - Common Spiderwort

May - Tulips                                       November - Snowdrop Anemone

June - Alberta Rose                          December - Temptation Amaryllis

Exchange Cards - Purple Flowers

My cards for my exchange group are ready.

This month I chose purple/blue flowers for the cards.

The first card is a photo of a blue iris.

I trimmed the photo to make it skinnier and  mounted it onto a piece of Lovely Lilac textured card stock. 

I added a length of yellow striped SU designer Washi Tape below the photo.

This layer was adhered to the front of a SU Handsome Hunter A2 card base in the portrait orientation.

A white quarter sheet insert was added to the inside of the card.

The second card features a photo of Jacob's Ladder taken at the Botanic Park.

The 4x4 photo was trimmed at the top to fit the Lovely Lilac layer.  The lilac layer is textured card stock from Stampin Up and was embossed with a border folder.

I chose a yellow SU Washi Tape with a plaid pattern to place below the flower.  I had to trim it in half so it would not interfere with the flower.

White quarter sheet insert.

2023 Wall Calendar 11x17 V2

I chose to redo the calendar part of this project.  The original post is here.

I had downloaded a yearly calendar which is what I wanted but the quality was not good enough for printing.

I knew at some point I would have to spend the time to create a calendar in my drawing software so that I can produce the calendar myself.

So I bit the bullet and spent the time.

Now I have a blank template I can modify for any year and it is all my own work.

I produced a second one with fall leaves for my aunt who also uses the large wall calendar.

2023 Wall Calendar - 11x17

I've designed my 2023 wall calendar for my office.  It measures 11x17 and I will get it printed at the local print shop.

I chose this image of a Commorant at Beaumaris Lake taken back in June this year.  

He is looking very stately on the rock along the edge of the  water. 

I love the color of their eyes.

I had trouble with my regular software and just gave up. I just found an on-line generator which gave me what I wanted and I was good to go.

I did remember to identify the regular holidays this year.  I just added circles on the dates in question.

I think it will work well and another thing off the to do list.

2023 Photo Calendar - Blossoms

Of course, taking flower and garden photos is always a pleasure.  I have the Botanic Park in St. Albert, the Community Garden in my neighbourhood and gardens found near and far on my morning walks.  I did find a few new to me flowers such as the Peruvian Lilies.

This is the 2023 floral calendar which I have named Blossoms.  Some years I have had garden shots but this year it is all flowers.

January - Icelandic Poppy                                            July - Bachelor Button in neighborhood garden

February - Peruvian Lilies                                            August - Martagon Lily - Fairy Morning

March - Nastursium                                                     September - Sunflower at St. Albert Botanic Park

April - Dahlia - Jowey Linda                                       October - Day Lily - Persimmon - Beaumont

May - Perennial Geranium                                            November - Monkshood at Botanic Park

June - Wild Alberta Rose                                              December - Holly Hocks in a parking lot

2023 Photo Calendar - Nature

Here's the Nature 4x6 Photo Calendar for 2023. It's always so much fun to go through all my photos for the year, collect the best then choose 12 which will make it into this calendar.

I had some good bird photos this year and not so many insect pictures.  Not sure why that is. I had several first time birds like the Gray Partridges.

The calendar has 13 4x6 pages with 12 month ones and the index/title one.

January - Cormorant at Beaumaris                    July -  Grey Partridges at Patricia Lake

February - Honey Bee on Salvia                       August - Early Morning Sunrise

March - Yellow Warbler in river valley             September - European Skipper

April - House Finch in a Evergreen                   October - Barn Swallow at Big Lake

May - Common Conecap Mushrooms               November - Rocky Mountains from Calgary

June - Lady Bug on Crown Vetch                      December - Red Maple Leaf at St. Albert Botanic Park

2023 Photo Calendar - Gentle Glow

This is my other calendar this year over and above my flower and nature calendars.  This one features soft backgrounds (bokeh) with a good focal element. I have worked hard this year to improve my skill with this type of photography.

This calendar has 13 4x6 pages which is 12 month pages with an index/title page.

January - Snow Gently Falling           July - A leaf

February -  Crab Apples in Winter     August - Chokecherries 

March - Dry Grass Field                    September - Fall Leaves

April - Sunkissed Spring Leaves        October - Single Grass Blade

May - Golden Leaves at the Lake      November - Larch Pine Cone

June - Salsifiy Seed                             December - House Finch in Winter

Do you like to plan and would seeing the next month's dates be helpful?

It's easy. With a simple 4x6 photo frame you can pull the current month to see the next month.

2022 Photo Calendar - Nature

 Another winning year for nature photographs.  A lot of walks and visits to wetlands garnered some new species for me.  The Blue Heron was the first time I got a good shot of one.  I have seen them before but they were hiding in the reeds.  The Bunny and the Lesser Yellow Legs are also firsts. 

01 Jan - Lesser Yellow Legs                                07 Jul - Muskrat

02 Feb - Wasp                                                      08 Aug - Barn Swallow

03 Mar - Downy Woodpecker                              09 Sep - Dragonfly

04 Apr - Bunny Rabbit                                         10 Oct - Red Wing Blackbird

05 May - Rednecked Grebe                                  11 Nov - Fiery Skipper Butterfly

06 Jun - House Finch                                            12 Dec - Blue Heron                   

Are you a planner?  

Do you want to see a date in the upcoming month?

Is your calendar stored in the black metal holder?

This calendar can deliver.   Just slide the current month up about a third of the way up to reveal the next month dates.

This idea came from one of my calendar users who has had one of these on his desk for nearly a decade.

Thanks for the tip!

2022 Photo Calendar - Garden Flowers

I have my 2022 Garden Flower photo calendar.  It is so wonderful that nature continues on despite the health crisis in our world.  I am so blessed to be able take photos outside.  I have captured some winners again this year.

01 Jan - Pasque Flower                            07 Jul - Pansy

02 Feb - Salvia                                        08 Aug - Dahlia

03 Mar - Grape Hyacinth                        09 Sep - Sunflower

04 Apr - Daffodil                                    10 Oct - Fuchsia

05 May - Astrantia Major Alba               11 Nov - Red Poppy

06 Jun - Pink Cosmos                             12 Dec - Late Tulip

Are you a planner?  

Do you want to see a date in the upcoming month?

Is your calendar stored in the black metal holder?

This calendar can deliver.   Just slide the current month up about a third of the way up to reveal the next month dates.

This idea came from one of my calendar users who has had one of these on his desk for nearly a decade.

Thanks for the tip!

2022 Photo Calendar - Big Skies

I designed an new format of photo calendar for this year.

This is a 6x4 inch calendar which is in the wide orientation.  

I have been using square shots for the last 10 years in my tall calendars that it took a bit to scout out rectangular shots for this calendar.

The major change in this calendar is that the photography takes priority.  So many people don't use a paper calendar anymore that I decided to put the focus on the photo while still providing a minimal calendar.

The calendar is one line below the photo and has the holidays highlighted in blue.

I chose a narrower focus on the type of subject matter as well.   Being in Alberta with wonderful blue skies all year round I dug my photo stash for great sky images.

They can be placed in a black metal holder in the wide format very similar to the one for the tall calendar.

I did not think I took many landscape photographs but I am drawn to skies.

I have included many dramatic skies from the last year or so.

Our urban and country views are included in this photography calendar.

I think of it as eye candy!

Here's the calendar sitting in a black metal frame which holds all 13 pages (12 months and the index). 

I have lifted the index page just enough to see the title all year long.

As the month changes just move the front page to the back.

The calendar gives you a quick look at the dates.

Seniors Week - June 7-13 2021 - Card Donations

I worked on more cards for the Seniors Week Project.

I started with the yellow and blue layer which I made last summer.  It involves making a marking tool with old toilet paper rolls to create dandelion flowers.  

That layer was trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches. 

I placed a piece of blue rick rack across the bottom third and taped the ends to the back. This layer was then adhered to the front of a medium blue card base.

I added a color printed greeting punched with the Stampin Up Decorative Label adhered with 3D foam tape.

This card was created with a 4x4 photo reused from one of my photography calendars. 

I trimmed the 4x4 down a bit to leave a bit more of a border. 

I added the vellum sentiment which I adhered to the photograph with gold flower sequins held in place with orange tiny brads.  This full layer was then adhered to the front of a yellow card base.

These cards are reusing a small card I made for a Stampin up party I held years ago.  I had leftovers and they just sat. 

The accent layer has a Tango Tangerine base with Tempting Turquoise designer paper.  I added an accent strip in orange punched with the Stampin Up Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. 

The tag was stamped with the Too Terrific Tags set in Tempting Turquoise on Whisper White. Layer onto Tango Tangerine with a Tempting Turquoise grosgrian ribbon held in place with an orange tiny brad. 

The Whisper White layer was embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and trimmed to leave a small border. It was adhered to the turquoise card base.

The stack is growing!

Wall Calendars - 11x17

I created a couple of 11x17 inch wall calendars this year after getting a request for one.

This is the image I chose for myself and printed a couple just in case someone else might like to purchase one.

I have been very conservative in my estimates this year because I generally am too optimistic about sales and end up with stuff that does not sell.  It's calendars so they expire at the end of the year. No sales means I have wasted my money.

 

 

This is the image my friend order which she chose from my Flickr account.  SMDPics

It's in a mailing tube ready to mailed away.

2021 Photo Calendar - Nature

I found a few new to me bugs this year!  A good variety of subject matter for this calendar.

01 Pond Reeds                                 02 Milkweed Beetle                  03 Pussy Willow

04 Ink Cap Mushrooms                   05 Mallard Duck - Male            06 Bubble Bee

07 Red Turnip Beetle                      08 Phoebe                                   09 Rust Lichen

10 Water Drops                               11 Common Skipper                   12 Lady Bug

They are for sale on the Calendar Page.

2021 Photo Calendar - Garden Flowers

 

This calendar features blooms found in our gardens.  I am grateful to those who plant flowers where I can photograph them. 

01 White Anemone                       02 Peony                             03 Lavender

04 Hosta Bloom                            05 Tulip                               06 Double Click Cosmos

07 Chinese Globe Flower             08 Forget Me Not                09 Sunflower

10 Red Stem Filaree                     11 Red Poppy                     12 White Geranium

They are for sale on the Calendar Page.

2021 Photo Calendars - For the Birds

 My 2021 Photo Calendars are ready!

I am really pleased with the bird photos I took this year!  The calendars are 4x6 printed on photo paper and include 12 monthly pages and 1 index page.  

I thought that I would identify the birds included: 

01 Bufflehead Duck - female    02 Red Wing Black Bird - male      03 Downy Woodpecker

04 Black Terns                           05 American Robin                        06 American Coot with chicks

07 Black Capped Chickadee      08 American Avocet                       09 Cedar Waxwing     

10 Hooded Merganser - male     11 Barn Swallow Fledgelings        12 Black Billed Magpie

You can find them for sale on my Calendars Page.

Blog Give Away - Photo Show Fodder

I am wanting to do a solo show of my photography in 2021. That means I have to start thinking about it now.  I have reviewed my Flickr photo stream to see what I have been shooting and gain some inspiration there.

I have come up with some styles which I could pursue.  I have included one of my photos which represents the style. 

There should be a narrative which works with the photos selected for the show.  That is proving to be a lot harder for me.   Should I start with the story?

Nature Minimalist

There is lots of nature of which to take photos.  Water drops, blades of grass, isolated flowers, rocks, birds, leaves, butterflies and a bunch of other subjects.

The photos would likely be macros for me but not necessarily.  Maybe I could mix macros and distant shots.  A distance shot may be a single flower in a meadow or single tree in flat landscape.

The story will be the challenge.







 

Golden Hour

The sun sets every day so that provides lots of opportunities.  There will be days which are cloudy or rainy that will not let the sunshine preventing this kind of shot.

This point of view allows for a wide variety of subject matter from nature, buildings, structures, forest, water,  and stack of other subjects.

The light is very appealing.










Black & White

I may have to narrow the subject matter on this one because mixing nature and architecture may not work.

The image needs high contrast to work well in black & white.  Do I shoot in black and white? 

Subject Matter

• Flowers
• Landscapes
• Buildings
• Structures

Abstract

This style would include a variety of subject matter.  

Reflections, oil on water, macros that are so close as to disguise the original object, shadows, and many others.

I think to story is harder with this style as the subject is not obvious.  

Maybe the story is the mystery.

Reflections

Another wide array of subject matter. 

Reflective surfaces could be water, metal, glass, and mirrors.



Now to the give away!

I have several of my 2020 calendars which I am giving away before the year gets too much longer.

Please leave me a comment below regarding which style you would enjoy in an exhibition of photography.  You can also make a suggestion of our own.


I will choose 5 comments at random on February 29 since it is a leap year!

Looking forward to reading your comments. Anonymous comments will not be considered.