We discovered a new colour in the garden the other day... this gorgeous powder-blue. It popped up long enough for us to grab this shot and share it but quickly disappeared later that same day. We have yet to see other buds or blossoms from this vine and it makes it all the more spectacular … Continue reading Adding To My Palette
A Natural Choice
I'm continuously fascinated by what happens to the dandelion flower when it turns to seed. I've never seen any plant in the transition from the bright and wet yellow blossom to this bone-dry constellation of seeds. I wonder how it happens. How does each yellow petal change humidity, colour, texture, and shape? These look dead, … Continue reading A Natural Choice
The Backyard is Filled with The Scent of a Single Jasmine Flower
I bought my wife a jasmine plant for our anniversary. They looked dismal at the nursery and I was afraid that they wouldn't deliver the perfume she loves so much. This plant has over-delivered. Sit on our deck at sunset when the neighbourhood starts to get quiet, then an exp.osion occurs. Not of sound, but … Continue reading The Backyard is Filled with The Scent of a Single Jasmine Flower
The Baby Banana Leaf Bursts Forth
We moved out banana plant into a much larger pot and had to put it on the ground. This allows us the view from the top you see here. We see a new leaf slowly emerge and unfurl about once a month, but I have never noticed how the light goes through it, not how … Continue reading The Baby Banana Leaf Bursts Forth
The Trees Have Ears
Perhaps this is a little obvious as a title. I saw the title the moment I saw the mushrooms growing on this tree trunk. I must have said the title out loud while taking the shot because, by the time I was returning past this stump a few hours later, most of them had mysteriously … Continue reading The Trees Have Ears
Oh, That Elusive Purple Again
I was looking for shades of indigo that I might use to get new paint colours for another art project and fell upon my favourite messenger of Springtime. These amazing flowers pop up as the first signs of Spring and often when the snow is still around them. We had a few really dry and … Continue reading Oh, That Elusive Purple Again
Just Starting Out
Hyperfocus is often overrated! I could have used a different lens and gotten all the detail on this shot, but then where would the mystery be? Would I have any tension beyond possible contrasts and shadows? I doubt it. Here we have the possibility of budding cotton flowers where the plant is the furthest thing … Continue reading Just Starting Out
Green Uncertainties
I have all these fern-like plants around my house. From far, they are not too exciting to look at but get closer and they become a jungle filled with ominous possibility. To the naked eye, the bigger and finer leaves appear to be two different plants; they even have different green hues. Up close, they … Continue reading Green Uncertainties
Gothic Leanings
Early this Spring, I took several pictures of the dead milkweed plants in a nearby field. I've always found these beautiful and used to use them in flower arrangements and other wall-hanging sculptures. The grey tones really appeal to me, even before I started to understand Wabi-Sabi aesthetics. They normally last well into the Summer, … Continue reading Gothic Leanings
Contrasts and Compliments
We've been wandering around the neighbourhood for walks to break out of the isolation blues and marvelling at the different plants we see. I would love to build a hedge of this particular bush. The rich, deep red of the flowers contrasts and compliments the deep green of the leaves. Similar to the effect seen … Continue reading Contrasts and Compliments