flowers — Page 275

Photographing Flowers and a Mystery Plant

September 5, 2013 at 10:08 am by Claudia

I suppose if someone asked me the question, “What is your favorite thing to photograph?” I’d have to say flowers. And Scout. That’s two things, but can you blame me? Scout is Miss Photogenic. Anyway, flowers, especially if they are from my garden, are my favorite subjects. With my newish camera, I am able to capture so much more detail and that makes me very happy. I love to slowly walk around the garden and play with my camera.

Let me be clear. I’m strictly an amateur. But I’m learning all the time. I took these photos yesterday and I thought it might be fun to share the reasons why they made the final cut for this post – why I like them.

thursspirea

What I like about this photo: The detail on the tiny spirea buds, that portions of the spirea bloom are in focus while the rest is blurred, that the hydrangea in the background is blurred – you can tell I love this effect – and surprise, surprise, that some wonderful bokeh appeared. Bokeh is the way the lens renders out of focus points of light. See those golden orbs on the right in the background? Bokeh. One of the things I couldn’t wait to play with when I got this camera was bokeh. In fact, one of my first photos was capturing the bokeh of Christmas tree lights. I was like a kid in a candy store.

Plus, this photo shows the three stages of a spirea flower. Bud, flower and spent flower. Nifty!

thurscosmos

What I like about this photo: the flowers of the cosmos aren’t centered, they’re off to the right and in the lower left hand corner. The texture of the green leaves predominates with a splash of orange and yellow – all of it against the siding on the house. I like things a bit off-center.

thurslimelight

Sometimes I get lucky and the flower, in this case, my limelight hydrangea, gets framed by a black background, which makes it all the more striking. Add to that the patterns of light and shadow on the hydrangea with the just-starting-to-turn-pink petals and I end up with a winner with a sense of mystery. Gotta love mystery.

thursant

What I like about this photo: the shallow depth of field, which blurs the background (by now you can tell I love doing this) and focuses on the vines and buds of the morning glory. I took this photo to capture the little ant on the bud. Also love the purple of the vine contrasted with the green leaves and buds. The buds and vines are concentrated on the left side of the photo. A little off-center again. (Maybe this attracts me because I’m more than a bit off-center?)

For every photo I get that’s usable, there are many, many more that aren’t. I take scads of shots because I’m never sure what the end result will be. I know what I want it to be, but again, I’m just learning, so it’s all up for grabs. And sometimes there is a happy surprise that is totally unexpected.

thursbeebalm

What I like about this photo: I went in for the shot wanting to capture the texture of the now brown bee balm against the green background of the garden. Blurred background: check. Bokeh: check. The surprise? The gossamer web-like strands that extend on either side of the bee balm. I didn’t see that when I was taking the photo, but there it is. I love that.

Sometimes, editing and enlarging a photo results in a wonderful surprise.

Here’s another one, which will also leads me to a question:

thursmysteryvine2

I took this photo on the porch. See the gossamer strand extending upward from the flowers? An unexpected delight. I like the contrast between the white porch railing with its aging paint and the texture of the vine. Blurred background again. Do you see a pattern here?

Okay, here’s my question for all you gardeners out there. In the two weeks since my last visit home, this appeared on the porch railing:

thursmysteryvine

It has wrapped and re-wrapped itself around the railing and is now making its way to the glider. You can see the pale flowers in the previous photo. I’ve seen it up in the wilder portions of the back forty, as well. Does anyone know what this is? The leaves are heart-shaped, the flowers are delicate and tiny. Is it a weed? Is it a wildflower vine? Anyone?

I’d love to figure this one out. Though I didn’t plant it, I rather like the way it has artfully made a home on the porch.

Happy Thursday.

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A Business That Practices the Golden Rule

September 3, 2013 at 8:54 am by Claudia

pinkzinnia

I always plant seeds in an area that borders the dog corral. Well, I shouldn’t really use the word ‘always.’ I did it last year and I did it again this year. I started off using some seeds sent to me by my friend Nola, but after a few weeks, I realized the seeds were no longer viable. So I had to go out and buy some more.

The end result is that this little strip of garden didn’t bloom until late in the summer. But the zinnias are now tall and strong and are blooming. Some are springing up in my planters. I didn’t plant any seeds there, so I think I have our bird friends to thank for that little surprise. And the morning glory that I planted looks like it has buds. Finally. I so hope they open while I’m home.

orangezinnia

We had big thunderstorms yesterday. In between them, Don went up on the lower part of the roof and tried to determine how to climb up to the upper roof to wrap the lower portion of the chimney with a tarp. Our ladder isn’t that tall, so getting up to that portion of the roof is tricky. We went next door and borrowed our neighbor’s long extension ladder. But we soon realized it was too rickety and neither of us felt right about using it. The whole thing felt very risky and we didn’t think Don should attempt it. Meanwhile, more rain was due.

We called the local guys who have worked on our chimney in the past and who came by a few weeks ago to check out the flashing. They are really busy this time of year and were going to send us an estimate of what the repair might cost. In the meantime, they put some caulk around the flashing – which, in Sunday’s heavy rains, didn’t work. Anyway, to make what is becoming a long story short, knowing it was Labor Day, Don expected to leave a message but one of the guys answered the phone. Don explained that we didn’t have the right kind of ladder, that the caulking wasn’t working, that we needed to wrap a tarp around the chimney and could they come help us out? An hour or so later, in the pouring rain, on a holiday, one of the guys came over, donned rain pants and a slicker and climbed up there. He wrapped the chimney in about 5 minutes.

All he asked for was a cup of coffee.

When Don said “Let us pay you,” he said he lives by the Golden Rule. That you help out someone in need. And, in turn, someday you will be helped out.

This business is family owned and it’s local. And they’ve been generous with us before, allowing us to pay off a repair in monthly payments. Why? Because we’re part of the same community and they believe in helping others.

I have to say that we feel blessed. We still have to repair the leak, whether it’s from the flashing or the masonry on the chimney, but we know we are in good hands. How often do we come across businesses like theirs in this day and age?

They are truly good people.

So it was a crazy day yesterday. But good, as well.

Also blooming: some seeds I planted in the planter by the kitchen door. These were also from Nola, but they were still viable. I wasn’t sure what they were until I did some research. Four O’Clocks.

mysteryflower

My girl is in the ‘tunnel.’ It’s nice to be home.

Have you encountered a similar situation with a local business? One that practices the Golden Rule?

Happy Tuesday.

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I Simply Can’t Call Them Weeds

August 26, 2013 at 8:33 am by Claudia

Some pictures from our property, taken a week ago. I’m sorry, the flowers are just so beautiful that I can’t call them weeds.

purpleweed2

purpleweed3

orangweed1

orangeweed2

prettypurpleweed

dandelion

purpleweed1

Why not call all blooming weeds like these wildflowers? Perhaps I’m lacking in knowledge about this particular form of flora and they are wildflowers. Whatever the answer, that’s what I’m naming them. They do indeed grow wild, all over the property. Their brilliantly colored flowers, as intricate as any other flowers that I’ve officially planted in my garden beds, provide a pop of color and beauty all over the edges of the property.

What’s not to love?

Well, after the most heavenly, perfect weather all weekend – a weekend where I was in rehearsal from 10 am to 7 pm – today, my day off, has dawned with dark ominous looking clouds. Now, that just doesn’t seem fair. I had plans to take a walk and sit in the park and generally laze around. I guess I can still laze around, but the other two items on my agenda might have to be shelved.

I do have to make a run to Trader Joe’s this morning. Three of us (the actors playing Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and I) share a car, so we always check in with each other as to who needs the car when. Lady M needs it around noon. Macbeth needs it later this evening. I’m more of an early riser, so I’m grabbing it this morning. Then I have to come back and write up notes for the actors. We had a run-through of the second act of Macbeth yesterday. Then I just might start quilting.

This week will be full of run-throughs for both plays as we move onstage starting Friday. That, by the way, is why I’m here so long this time around. We are doing two plays in repertory, which means that the rehearsal days are split in two. We rehearse one play in the morning and the other in the afternoon. That also means that two plays have to go through the tech and dress rehearsal process, as well as preview performances. It adds an extra three weeks onto my stay here.

I’m halfway through my time here. As I have no work on the docket after this job, I’m thinking I should enjoy every moment of my time here. Because, right now, I’m employed. That’s a good thing.

Happy Monday.

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Photographing Flowers and a Mystery Plant

A Business That Practices the Golden Rule

I Simply Can’t Call Them Weeds

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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