Wild Geranium

Place: Clinton, Pennsylvania

Location: Raccoon Creek Wildflower Preserve

This 314 acre tract of land was purchased by The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1962 and was subsequently transferred to Racoon Creek State Park in 1971. It is home to over 500 species of plants.

Here, a wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is seen following a spring drizzle. The biggest challenge in photographing flowers in the wild that are on slender stalks is having them hold still instead of moving in the wind. They don't usually do what you want, even if you ask nicely. One of the secrets is to arrive early, as the wind tends to pick up shortly after sunrise when the sun warms the air. The other 'secret' is to use a soft clamp on a stand to help stabilize the stem.