Tuesday, June 8, 2010

One of my all time favorite perennial garden flowers, the Peony. All of these images are from the Cornell Plantation's Botanical Collection, where I found a nice variety to explore. To me these flowers have always represented the true beginning of summer. The flowers are big, bold, and stately, yet delicate and ephemeral. They almost look like something from a dream, timeless, with a scent to match that of the most lovely and deepest memory...




I arrived at this bloom the same time as a native bee. This appears to be the same variety that I remember around the house I grew up in. Almost white at first glance, but the center is a soft yellow and the outermost petals are soft pink.








This last image is a Chinese Peony or Paeonia lactiflora. In Chinese medicine the roots of the peony are used to treat gastric and intestinal disorders.

Foxglove









Tuesday, May 25, 2010

All My Wishes In One Hand...







Walking up the road, camera in hand. Wildflowers blooming on the roadside and out of the ditches.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

FLIGHT





These images have been composed for the juried show, FLIGHT, that will be held at the local airport here in Tompkins County. Hopefully I will have a piece or two in the show... It was a great theme for me to work and be inspired with. All of these images will be available in my Etsy store.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Spring Skies



Black days of winter all were through
The blossoms came and they brought you
Clouds left the sky
And I knew the reason why
They made way for you and the blossom.

The seasons cycle turned again
An april shower now and then
Trees came alive
And the bees left their hive
They came out to see you and the blossom.

People were laughing, smiling with the sun
They knew that summer had begun.

The nights grew warm, the days grew long
Spring turned to summer and was gone
It seemed so fine
All the cider and the wine
But I knew you'd go with the blossom.

When spring returns I'll look again
To find another blossom friend
Until I do
Find something new
I'll just think of you and the blossom.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Waking UP










The past week was, by far, the most beautiful week for weather in the past 5 months. It was nothing but sunny skies and gentle breezes. The thermometer even dipped a toe into the realm of "low 60's." Rare for these parts, but deeply appreciated.
The local landscape went from snow covered (some parts above my knee) to that dry-light-ochre-yellow-brown, hinting towards green color. Though it is a barren landscape, it is bursting with promise. Passing though the landscape with a window or two open just a little, you can hear people of all ages playing in their yards. Several homes were undergoing yard work. It is the most exciting time of year for this. It is not like work at all. It is a little visual game, pulling back the fall leaves we missed and stones that the snow plow pushed into the yard. We know we are winning when the ground looks like earth again and the old skeletons of winter are in a wheelbarrow. After so many months of snow and ice we really missed the earth.

Two weekends ago I remembered that I am lucky enough to live so close to a little piece of paradise- Cornell's Botanical Gardens. I checked their website and according to the "Bloom Report" witch hazel was in bloom. I went to fetch my camera, dog, and significant other for the first official nature walk of the season. This weekend I did the same. I could not believe all the things happening in the gardens despite the weather. Just a brief stint of mild weather and this place was lit up with all kinds of life and color. I don't know how our little plant friends can bloom after so many days of grey cold.

These plants passed onto me the feeling of joy coming alive again in a new season. Now I can't remember the last time anything inspired me so much...