Our lovely local florist saved this tulip for me because they know I like to photograph pollen. Made my day! 🐝 #flowers #photography

I started playing around with macro photography during the pandemic lockdown. Just shooting whatever was within easy reach, like this alien-looking dandelion. Infrared here, my other favorite 'invisible' light. #flowers #photography

Sometimes, as a treat, I take my camera outside #eastbay #landscape #photography

The already-magnificent passion flower, electrified ⚡️ Much of California is under a 'heat dome'. It'll be around 90°F / 32°C all week here. Normal would be 65°F / 18°C. I'll be sheltering in cool darkness with my glow-in-the-dark flowers. #flowers #photography

Belladonna Delphinium The individual flowers are pretty small and kind of transparent in the middle. I got a closer look at one with the macro lens, and thought I'd share. Happy Friday, friends. Spring equinox is officially only a week away here in the Northern Hemisphere. #flowers #photography

It is March, so the town is carpeted with Three-cornered Garlic. One of the prettiest weeds around. UV light reacts with the chlorophyll in 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚, causing the stems to appear bright red. #flowers #photography

I read about 140 books every year. Since getting into Hoopla and Libby, I’ve almost no use for Audible anymore. I’ve got library cards with San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland. They have just about everything! I’ve got 14 Audible credits I need to use up this month - gonna be a challenge.

Velveteen jewel box Today's 74°F temp makes it feel like spring is already here. Three more weeks! 𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎 𝑗𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎 #flowers #photography #FlowersOnFriday

I may be coming down with something, so it is imperative that I take the day off and do a studio shoot. 😜 A 'Drama Queen' 𝑃𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑢𝑚 from my friend's yard last summer. This species has medicinal properties. #flowers #photography

Jen is an incredible wildlife photographer. Her style is instantly recognizable – the mark of a real one, if you ask me.

Last year I dedicated six months to only shooting and editing for my UV floral series. Just one long flow state. I highly recommend the experience for anyone creative. If you can't swing that kind of time, just keep in mind what sick days are really for: making art. #flowers #photography

A little UV 'sketch': I love the golden glitter covering this rhododendron bud and its leaves. The tropical rainbow of colors feels free and gentle to me. 𝑅ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑛 '𝑆𝑎𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝐴𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑟' #flowers #photography

The most joyful of springtime joys, wild 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑚 Getting started on a new series of wild alliums. For my sanity and yours. 😸 #flowers #photography

Lovely to log on and immediately discover Phil’s wonderful work. Recommend to follow!

Our NorCal seasons seem to be running 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule lately. But your pal Rain is on top of it, stalking the sidewalks and yards where she knows the wild alliums bloom earliest. 𝐴. 𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑚 is popping up in exactly ONE lawn at present, and I am here for it! #flowers #photography

Agape is an intentional, universal, selfless love. It means to seek the well-being of others, to act with kindness and empathy toward all. It fosters a connected way of being in the world. #flowers #photography 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑠

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the energy and vibrance of this lovely Amaryllis throughout 2026. 𝐻𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚 #flowers #photography

Oh good morning! Here's a brand new one from my studio, for your Thursday enjoyment. Need a last minute holiday gift? I can help with that. Check out my 2026 UV Floral Calendar - it's a stunner, guaranteed to impress. www.rainhayes.com/product/2026... #flowers #photography 𝑂𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑚

Curiosity and attention are behaviors that allow us to disengage from the rapid-fire chaos cycle and stay grounded. Medium and subject are not really important. Find something interesting and let it take over your mind for a bit. Enjoy the refreshment! 🌿 𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑓 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑘𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑑 #flowers #photography

You know there's deep meaning and symbolism in a winter-blooming flower called Lenten Rose. Anxiety, delirium, scandal... but also hope in darkness. Wishing everyone a strong and peaceful week. #flowers #photography

I made a 2026 art calendar with my UV floral images. It's super glossy and the flowers are just electric against the black backgrounds. You should get one. :) They also make easy gifts with serious 'wow' factor, so take advantage of this limited run! www.rainhayes.com/product/2026...

Is there a more lush beauty than the coral peony? Four thousand years of cultivation brought this perfect specimen to us. I try to bring flowers into my life every day. They remind me that beauty and perfection are easily accessible, if you just stay open. #flowers #photography

Methods of distraction include wigging out over the hidden details of nature. Proven effective time and again! Unrelated pro tip: There's only one way to host Thanksgiving, and that is to do as much as possible in advance. #flowers #photography

Ooh somebody made a 2026 calendar. Just sharing! Happy Friday everyone #flower #photography #calendar

Check out this pincushion protea I found growing on the other side of the lake! It almost looks like something microscopic you'd find growing IN the lake. The 2026 calendar is looking great and I'm excited to share, but had to take a time out to photograph this beaut first. #flowers #photography

Just your garden variety starfish... or a teeny, single milkweed flower. Man, the things you can find growing right out of the ground are just amazing. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend with plenty of offline, outdoor time. Happy Friday, everyone! #flowers #photography

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Before I tried UV, I worked in a different 'invisible' light, Infrared. I started doing infrared macro flower portraits, like this clematis seed head, during the 2020 pandemic isolation. People are often still drawn to this one amid all my colorful UV work. I agree, sometimes minimalism is best.

A "weed" I found growing in the verge. This may be the happiest little flower I've seen all year. 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑇𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚 #flowers #photography

I will soon be offering a 2026 calendar of my floral images. Greeting card sets as well. I can't wait to see them from the printer! #flowers #photography

Gold dust! Fall mode, time to pull out the wool comforter and consider thinking about possibly making an apple pie. #flowers #photography

The best part of doing the Autumn Lights Festival Art Market last weekend was the kids' reactions to my UV macro floral photos. Shout out to the little boy who asked, "Are these all different diseases?" I will always enjoy that. #flower #photography #macro

I've got a ton of images in the Autumn Lights Festival this week. Come see it! Bring the kids! It's a super fun time. There'll be food trucks, a wine bar, and of course a million amazing light-based art installations. gardensatlakemerritt.org/autumn-light... @oaklandside.org @sfgate.com

I'll be showing over 80 images in the 2025 Autumn Lights Festival. Here's a little teaser clip of my garden video installation. bit.ly/RainHayes_Ni... There are still tickets available for this awesomely fun family event, Oct 16 - 18 in Oakland, CA. bit.ly/AutumnLights... #photography #flowers

This Coleus flower smells strongly like skunk. I think it's pretty neat looking, but it needs to go wait outside after our glamour shots session. #flowers #photography 𝐶𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑢𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑎

Have you ever noticed how beautiful thistles are? We have so many varieties here in California. They're generally regarded as "noxious weeds" but they're an extremely important food source for pollinators, and help restore poor soil. They are wonderful. #flowers #photography 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑢𝑢𝑠 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑖𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑢𝑠

When I was five years old, I snuck a frosting flower from my cousin's wedding cake and devoured it in one huge bite. Friends, it was the most awful, bitter thing I had ever tasted. Just horribly disillusioned. These milkweed flowers, which look like delicious little candies, bring it all back.

Live view of one of my brains cells at the moment I was jolted awake by a strong, *very close* #earthquake last night at 3:00 AM. (Not actually, but sometimes my botanical subjects are a good representation of how I feel.) Good morning, #BayArea! #flowers #photography 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑜𝑠𝑎 seed head

I recently discovered that this all-yellow Azalea bud turns into a disco queen under black light. I do enjoy nature's little surprises and distractions. #flowers #photography #PhotographersOfBluesky

This is called an African Wonder Flower, and that may be the most exciting and optimistic thing I've heard all week. Part of the fun for me is learning about each subject. We take reading for granted, but I think a lot about how it's changed my life. #flowers #photography 𝑂𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑦𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠

An allium flower, apparently taking the old 'dance like no one's watching' adage to heart. I love its unruly spirit. #flowers #photography #PhotographersOfBluesky

After three glorious days in the Sierra Nevada, reentry to city life and media is a shock to the system. View from our campsite at an alpine lake, right about at the treeline. #landscape #photography

Pie for breakfast thoughts: I bet nobody is creative in just one field. I spent yesterday making pot roast and apple pie for my darling's birthday. I love cooking – it's fully engaging, I'm always learning, and it serves a purpose – so my inner 'be productive' nag stays blessedly silent. Mm... pie.

A curious visitor says hello. I am enjoying the distraction of flowers now more than ever. #photography #flowers #photographersofbluesky 𝐿𝑒𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑢𝑚

I think that I shall never see A poem as lovely as this ameno... anen...anenem... this flower that I have such trouble pronouncing. In any case, this is what I'm up to today, and tomorrow, and hopefully all my days beyond that. #flowers #photography 𝐴𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑝𝑒ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑠

This pure white Bougainvillea shows its true colors of coral, periwinkle and lilac under UV light. Naturally, I'm off to ponder the nature of reality and perception for the rest of the season. (Just kidding – see you tomorrow as usual.) #flowers #photography #interior #interiordecor

Because I do long exposure, and nothing sits still, I rarely get a live critter 'on film'. I did capture some plant lice on a phacelia bloom once. These bugs are highly UV reactive – they glow like Slimer, and sometimes create motion streaks.

Abutilon flowers remind me of my grandma hanging colorful paper lanterns around her patio. I know those things are a dime a dozen but they still seem a little magical to me. #flowers #photography

I heard it was razzle dazzle Wednesday, so here's a neat little protea flower I photographed over the weekend. People often associate my flower images with sea creatures, but this one looks to me like it's coming at us from outer space. 🪐 🌺 🔭 #flowers #photography

My newest favorite 'wall flower' is a delicate butterfly ranunculus. As ever, we'll be printing this at maximum size. #flower #photography