Wild Columbine, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Wild flowers grow in abundance here in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia. While there are hundreds of varieties of flower which emerge in an almost “planned” sequence throughout the spring and summer months, the challenge is to locate a flower which presents an interesting composition that presents a unique perspective on the flower in question. I was photographing a flower called Wild Columbine which appears at this time of year and, as I captured the photo in question, a small black bee flew into the focal plane of the image, which reminded me of the interdependence in nature between the floral and insect worlds. I was also reminded of how delicate this balance is and our responsibility to preserve and protect our natural world.