Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Photographing Flowers and a Mystery Plant

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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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From the Cottage

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After a cloudy start, yesterday turned into a gorgeous day. I did some work outside and inside, but most of the time I simply delighted in being home.

geranium

I can’t stop taking pictures of the garden. I have a strong need to chronicle the seasons, the comings and goings, the still brilliant color of some of the blooms. It’s something I never tire of doing. Each time I wander around the gardens and the property, I discover something new. Perhaps I just happen to see a plant from a different angle. Or I discover a little critter like this one:

critter

He’s on a morning glory leaf. Perhaps he’s eating the morning glory leaf. That’s fine with me. We all need to eat.

giantzinnia

This particular zinnia is a giant. It must be over 4 feet tall. Zinnias make me smile.

In the afternoon, Don and I took a ride in the car. We were on the lookout for some jeans. That part of the trip ended up being fruitless, but we stopped at Five Guys for some of their fries (to my mind, the best french fries ever.) They give you such an enormous serving, it’s a meal in itself. But did we stop there? Unfortunately, no. We happened to spot a Dairy Queen and we each got a milkshake. We decided that it was a “It’s bad for you lunch day” or perhaps a more fitting title, “Bad for your arteries lunch day.” Since we hardly ever do that kind of thing, it was sort of fun. And so yummy!

We ate much more healthily at dinner time.

Does Scout like to be outside? Does she smile?

scoutiesmiling3

scoutiesmiling2

scoutiesmiling

The answer to both questions is yes. Her daddy has been brushing her and she’s looking particularly fetching.

I love her so.

Happy Wednesday from the Cottage.

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A Business That Practices the Golden Rule

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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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