By Any Other Name

Vineyard Rose


Have you ever read "Beauty" by Robin McKinley? This photograph reminds me of that novel, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Build me Up Buttercup

We had a lovely weekend on Martha's Vineyard with our dear friends. We spent more time socializing than taking photographs, which was OK with me :-) I did bring my camera around the Polly Hill Arboretum, where the Rhododendrons were blooming in full force. I'm sure I'll have more pictures to share later this week!

This little buttercup photograph was edited using Picnik.

Just Remember...

...even if it's cold and rainy outside, and feels a bit like March, it's still May, and we still have beautiful May flowers to enjoy. (This is what I keep telling myself, anyway!)

A Chilly Mid-May

It's a bit sad that I turned on the heat in mid-May. There are good sides to this chilly weather though - the flowers are lasting longer than usual, and it's the perfect weather to cook up something warm and comforting with one of our farmer's market finds - Jacob's Cattle Beans. This dish is simmering on the stove as I type.

Crabapple


How's your weather lately?

Getting Ready for the Weekend

Ahhh, Friday. We've had a lovely day here. The weather was beautiful, and it was the perfect day for the first grilled pizza of the season! We've got a few things up our sleeves for the weekend, one of which is spending some time in the garden. I'm guessing we won't be able to leave the Southside Community Land Trust's 19th Annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale without a few purchases in tow!

Do you have any great plans this weekend?

Apple Blossoms

All This Beauty

On some days, joy is a little harder to find. I hope some cheerful pinks and greens will help you find some bliss today.

Pink Azaleas


I can see your new awake
Let me assure you friend:
Every day is ice cream and chocolate cake
And what you make of it, let me say
You get what you take from it so be amazed
And never stop, never stop, never stop
You gotta be brave...

May Flowers

It's been a strangely cool Spring, but there's a silver lining - flowers seem to be hanging around longer than usual!

Azalea

Happy Mother's Day!

We spent a lovely day with my family (including my Mom, of course) at Lilac Sunday in the Arnold Arboretum. My sister performed with the Ladies of the Rolling Pin, a Morris dancing group. Of course I brought the camera, and took a plethora of flowering tree photographs. Much fun was had by all.

Catbird Calling

A Damp Spring Ramble at Goddard Park

Despite a bit of a drizzle, my mother and I had a lovely walk at Goddard Park today, searching out flowering trees. Unfortunately, the magnolias were out of reach to all but golfers, but at least the cherries were starting to put on a good show.



The local wildlife was quite active as well, despite the damp.



How was your Wednesday?

Springtime

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and for those of you who celebrate it, a blessed Easter. We spent the weekend with family, and it was wonderful. We had unexpectedly good weather, which brought several flowers into bloom in the yard.

Spring Purples


How was your weekend?

Signs of Spring at Last

It's been a long winter, and a drearier than usual March. Spring seems late this year - the forsythia in our yard hasn't bloomed yet, and the maple trees have only just begun to blossom. So today, it was refreshing to walk around the yard with no jacket without feeling cold, and to see some of the signs of Spring finally arriving.

A Hint of Magnolia


Lilac Leaves

Patches of Blue Sky

April Showers


The sky was lovely as we drove home from running errands over the weekend.

Mother Nature Gets the Hiccups

I'm sad to say that it's snowing right now in Rhode Island, with 3-5 inches of accumulation expected. Apparently, someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it's officially Spring, and thus there should be no "winter weather advisories" in the forecast.

I'm consoling myself for this seasonal setback with cut flowers. Pink carnations, to be exact.

Purity

It's Looking Like a Beautiful Day

This song by Elbow just about sums up my mood this morning...



Also, I have a confession to make. I'm a perfectionist. It took me 45 minutes to get the color, contrast, and crop just right for the image below. And I loved every second of doing it.

Spring Fling

A Little Springtime for Your Soul

The nearly-sheer roman blinds in my office are pulled all the way down. The sunlight can still stream in, but I can't see the snow and bare trees outside. Ssshhhhh.... I'm pretending it's springtime!





1. Ranunculus Blossom
2. Tufted Titmouse
3. Lilies of the Valley
4. Specimen 652
5. Solar Powered
6. Chive Blossoms

Late May in Bloom

I couldn't resist picking up some cut peonies yesterday. I love the pale pink ruffles of color. My own garden peonies (which are more magenta) are growing daily, and will soon bloom!

Pink Petals

Been a Long Week

Mom's Violets


My mother has beautiful flower gardens, and she doesn't mind me photographing them :)

Ant's Eye View

Lawn Gazing

Yellow

A Dandelion for Me

Life is But a Dream

In the midst of about a bajillion other things going on, not the least of which are some unwelcome house guests (carpenter ants), I had a fabulous thing happen today. The macro attachment for my Lensbaby arrived in the mail! I think you can probably guess what I will be doing while the pest control folks are evicting my visitors...

Need a hint? Two words: Outside + Close Up. (OK that's technically 3 words.)

In the meantime, I've been contentedly playing with the plain Jane version of my Lensbaby Control Freak, though I've been using it more like a "Muse". Experimentation is fun, fun, fun.

A Hidden Wilderness