Mood Board - Tropical

The inspiration came from the lovely orchid my friend Cindy picked up from the florist. The color and delicate bloom really set the stage and color palette for the whole board. The placemat in the background added a definite tropical feel lending a warm of corals to the color palette. The butterfly/moth page lent itself to the creativity from the start and the sparkle of the seashells just completed the picture. The sweater piece added a nice texture and a bit of the unexpected to the scene. Grabbing my camera and I'm off to the beach to see what wonderful things the muse has in store for me today!

Mini Daffodil Color Palette

I loved the way this mini daffodil looked up at me at the right moment. The wind was blowing and the little blooms were dancing from side to side but at this moment, our eyes met and the moment stood still. Click click, I got the photo, captured forever, just lovely! This tiny bloom is only about 1.5" wide but full of so many wonderful colors that I couldn't help but create a little color palette from it. Notice the wide range of warm colors, just a feast for the eyes. Who knew something so small could contain all those luscious hues just waiting to be discovered?

Violet Color Palette

I just loved the close up on this hyacinth bloom. I was able to capture this glorious moment on a windy day and am so grateful. I loved how it draws you in and shows you all the lovely details one blossom offers on a stalk of hundreds. Mother Nature knew what she was doing when she was playing around with these plans. I was totally in awe of the various hues displayed and thought a color palette would be an interesting way to see all involved and the range for which it encompasses. From the pale lavender to the deepest blue violet, just beautiful!

Rustic Happiness

This little group of crocus just made me smile. The sunlight was enveloping them making their petals open wide to take in all the warmth being offered today. Their yellow orange stamen smiling from inside just adding the right amount of color to make it such a happy scene. Combined with the natural elements of leaves, bark and their greenery surrounded them with a rustic attitude that thrilled me beyond belief. I do hope their little magical brings a smile to your face today!

Venus Peek-a-boo

We have three star magnolias surrounding Venus in the front garden.

I loved the way she played peek-a-boo with me while taking photos. Sometimes she would vanish behind the tree but other times she just came into view just letting me get a glimpse. I always look forward to these trees blooming because it means winter is over and spring is here to stay. Welcome spring!

Word - Luminous

The word for this week is luminous.

Its adjective meaning is emitting light; lighted; clear, intelligible.

The petals in the sunlight, is there really anything more beautiful than this? Not in my mind, really, it almost brings me to tears the way the color overlaps and mixes with the sunlight to create an orchestra of luminous quality that my artistic muse can't ignore. I just can't say enough, the beauty is there to see, you just have to look, it is everywhere. The soft delicate values show the fragility of each little petal on these mini daffodils. The deep orange centers just give them so much depth and darkness really making you see the transparent nature of blooms in general. I think this is one of my favorite photos I have ever taken and well, it is one I will be thinking about for weeks to come. Look around today, see what every day presents and find that one thing that makes you grateful for its existence. Find the magic!

Daffodil Color Palette

The daffodils are in full bloom right now and I am taking advantage of the nice weather to shoot as many as I can with my camera. When I was looking at this photo I became entranced with the colors in the bloom. There is yellow, yellow orange, yellow green, green and browns throughout but I wanted to focus on the yellow color scheme. Isn't it a great one. These palettes really focus you attention and see all the glorious shades included in just one simple bloom. Just magical!

Laughter

All the daffodils lined up together made me think of a marching band. As they blew in the breeze, their heads swayed in unison gently bobbing from one side to the next. I just couldn't help myself from laughing. To find humor in the most ordinary of things and really appreciate them for all they are, isn't that a wonderful gift to have bestowed upon you? I know I feel very lucky to have such a curious muse just waiting for the next opportunity to find something special in the everyday!

Just Lovely!

I love this photo, I mean love it!! The soft background layers of nice muted colors really helps push our undivided attention to the flower in the foreground. The tiny blossoms tightly together to form one large bloom is just astonishing in itself. Mother Nature had to be smiling when she created these because she gave them the most glorious of colors just to make you stop and take notice. Believe me, as I came around the corner of the house, the sight almost took my breath away, just lovely. Today, let yourself be taken by surprise, let your mind wander and look for inspiration all around you!

Well, hello Spring!

The temperature reached 76 degrees today, yes, 76, wow!! How could I not adventure out with camera in hand? I couldn't help it. I just had to go outside for an impromptu nature walk. I couldn't believe all the lovely flowers hidden among last years leaves, just waiting to be discovered. I stumbled upon this little mini, the early one of the group, in the little bed surrounded by our driveway. It is so small, as tall as your hand from stem to flower tip, yet so brilliant in appearance you really can't miss it. Its beauty was just standing there blowing in the breeze, welcoming Spring home once again.

Inspiration 22/30

I cropped this iris extremely close because I loved the ruffles, water drops and the extreme value difference of the lovely petals. Did you notice all that in a single glance? I sure hope so! This blue violet iris is just a plethora of inspiration to my artist side. I actually want to paint this large, I mean really large using bold directional strokes of a very limited palette. It would be a huge challenge but the outcome would be a journey of learning the curves and gentle contours from within the structure of the flower. Adding the water drops would be the final step. The step that says you are finished, you have released your energy into the canvas now just sit back and enjoy it! Who knew that one flower would evoke such passion? What is your flower today?

Star Magnolia Palette 10/30

I wait for these blooms all winter long. The Star Magnolia means that spring is really here and they are the start to a phenomenal beginning in my yard. I love the delicate petals and although we bought them in a tiny planted pot, they are now formidable bushes standing about 3' tall. Scattered among the gardens, they are little white sparkles against the lime green grass sprouting after a long winters end. I thought it would be fun to study the colors found around the flowers center. I pulled each palette swatch from that area. Can you match them up. I love that the deep barn red is found right in the heart of the flower. That Mother Nature knew what she was doing at her botanical easel that day.

Illumination 8/30

These are Resurrection Lilies and are a remarkable flower. Their leaves appear early spring, disappear then these clusters arrive on a tall spike of soft dirty pink in the fall. They always capture my attention because as you can see, they have a illuminating quality to their petals. The sunlight always seems to make them shine from within, like a miniature light bulb has been turned on for the mid afternoon. Brilliance, soft, serene, magical and mysterious are some of the words I would use to describe these lovely lilies. If you ever get a chance to attain some of these vintage flowers, say yes, you will not be disappointed!

Red Sparklers 7/30

I spotted these beauties from the front porch. They were just standing there all brilliant red and spectacular. I couldn't wait to go take a closer look. And yes, they are just as beautiful up close. Their petals are so thick and waxy in appearance yet the flower seems so delicate. I love that they present their stamen to Mother Earth first. A testament and thankfulness to the soil that keeps them nurtured all year long from heat and cold. I think they are always looking for a startled gasp of bewilderment from spectators. I know it got that reaction from me! They are tall too, almost 3'6". Oh yeah, a force to be reckoned with. I do hope the next time you see a sparkle of red in a garden, you will imagine this wondrous sight awaiting your arrival!

Summer Snowflake 6/30

Some Thesaurus words for "cluster" - array, assemblage, band, batch, bevy, body, bunch, bundle, clump, clutch, collection, covey, crew, gathering, hunk, knot, lot, pack, party, set.

I love, adore, seek out Queen Anne's lace whenever possible. Its tiny white cluster of flowers remind me of a summer snowflake. Lacy, frilled edges, a softness around the perimeter getting stronger towards the middle. This one even had a tiny magenta red center, a little surprise for those who have taken the moment for a closer inspection. What do you think was going through Mother Natures' mind when she was at her easel? Do you think she was longing for winter after the steamy, hot days of August? That is what I'm going to believe. After all, it does make me think of snowflakes and cool, crisp air!

Word - Cluster 5/30

The word for this week is cluster.

Its noun meaning - group, bunch

Its verb meaning - to grow or gather in a cluster

I picked this word after looking at the definition for the flower I photo-graphed and loved it.

Phlox - any of a genus of American herbs that have tall stalks with showy spreading terminal clusters of flowers.

The Phlox are huge this year, about 4 feet tall and their colors just say

"I'm here!" I couldn't resist the vibrant color and the massive clusters throughout the garden. I love the teardrop buds just waiting to open speckled here and there amongst the blooms. I also loved the composition of this photo because of the way the bottom flower is all by itself and the dark green of the right gives me such a pretty edge to appreciate. The veining and the ever so slight touch of white in the center really helps make this a beautiful flower. Would you stop to get a closer look? I sure hope so!

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Bee Garden 2/30

The bees were crazy today, I am actually surprised I didn't get stung. They were swarming the coneflowers like they had never gathered pollen before but it was a perfect day. After a day of drizzle, the sun was out, the skies were blue and the clouds were amazing. It is really no wonder the bees were taking full advantage of it. I actually closed my eyes while shooting just to see if I could hear their excitement over their joyous discovery. Guess what? It was so loud, you would not have believed it. It was a purr, a practiced hum of work, busy work but also a great day in the garden. Close your eyes, what do you hear today? I hope it is magical!

Let the Sun Shine 1/30

We have one sunflower right outside the back door and I have been watching it evolve from bud to bloom after bloom. It isn't tall, it isn't large, it isn't spectacular but I absolutely love it. The brilliance of the yellow hue. The intensity of the sunshine on its petals. The quest for its face to be in the direction of the sun. Could you really ask anything more of a flower? I think not. This one is straight up reaching for all the glorious sun rays it can soak in, love that! When was the last time you just opened your arms and stood still, listening, letting your skin warm, soaking in your environment around you? Oh yeah, I think it is time...give yourself the gift of being surrounded by sunshine. What are you waiting for, the sun awaits your beauty!

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Solar Ball

 

My mom has these little solar butterflies in some of her backyard planters and I am just intrigued by them. Not only are they an interesting color combination, the copper butterfly and the shimmering luminescence of the solar ball. But the idea that the sun will make it glow softly in the evening is just magical to me. I wanted your eye to really look at all the fun stuff in the ball and the interesting texture it is. Now, close your eyes and imagine a slight glow - pure wonderment!



Crab Apple Star

This is how the end of the branch looks on my prairie fire crab apple tree. I just loved the composition it shows off and wanted to share it with all of you so you can experience it's brilliance too! I love the way it starts as a long oval shape radiating out of the middle like a spiral creating a lovely firework of glorious color. It is the star of the yard at the moment and well, it really deserves the title wouldn't you agree? I love this tree!