Wednesday’s Flower Gallery

Did it originate in Ireland or Chile?… Luckily for me it grows in Dublin, Ireland where I was visiting the lovely National Botanical Gardens, but it’s actually from Chili. Off in the distance it caught my eye. Once seen, I dreamed of having it in my own gardens, but that is not to be since it doesn’t grow in my Zone 5. Instead, I will daydream upon this five-petaled violet bloom from a dist...

Happy New Year! What will your year look like? Will you pause more to breathe and enjoy? Will you look for moments that take your breath away? Are you hoping to live your best year ever?!? Let’s start if off with some fireworks, earthly ones that is, to celebrate being alive and all of the wonderful things to come.

Take a moment… To breathe. Be thankful. Repeat (many times). Now breathe again and take in nature’s beauty.

A burst of red… Like fireworks exploding to bring in the holiday season against a green, leafy “sky”. The holidays are such a busy and hectic time, so here’s to taking a moment to breathe and take in the awe and beauty of nature and life.

Flowers elude romanticism… And this flower, especially, has a mysteriousness and elegance that entices me and alights my imagination. I think about its long life dating back to its known origin from the Song Dynasty of 960-1279 AD. Crazy! To me, there is so much history and romance, which conjures all sorts of mysterious questions of its existence. This flower’s origins allow me to let go of...

It’s that time of year… For Autumn and Chrysanthemums, and of course, here in the United States, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving for me, is a wonderful reminder to be thankful and grateful for allthat I have in my life. As Oprah says, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Wishing you a time o...

Pink joy!... It doesn’t come from a plant. It doesn’t come from a flowering bush. It blooms on a tree that is 40’ tall, and can even grow up to 100’. The fruit it bears is in the shape of a canoe. How truly fascinating nature is.

This flower gave me… Some restful moments in my day: A moment to imagine its unfolding. A moment to take in its beauty. A moment to reflect on its many details and nuances. A moment of peace and quiet in my day.

Lady in Red… As this variety is called, is stunning as it takes its time unfolding to its full, brilliant, color. It starts with light greenish-pink petals standing upright. Then as it matures through the summer, each stem, ever so gently, bends forward. With this transformation, it surprises us with another view of its burgundy rose petals. I find this transformation a gentle reminder that b...

Cortona, Italy… We traveled there late in October. To my dismay, but not a total surprise, all of the fields had been cleared of the much loved sunflowers of Tuscany. Fortunately though, at our hotel, Villa di Piazzano, a garden was still producing fresh vegetables for the chef’s meals. It also provided me with a violet bloom that is probably, more often than not, overlooked.