What can I say?
The Oriental Poppy is blooming.
From this:
To this:
This plant has been in the garden for several years. For the past three years or so, the spring bloom has been spectacular. These flowers are short lived; they emerge in all their exotic beauty, with paper thin petals, and leave within a day or two.
Think you can’t use orange and purple together? Mother Nature begs to differ.
Simply stunning. Made for a painter to immortalize. Or for me to immortalize through the lens of my camera.
I love taking photographs of flowers. This time of year, when every day holds a new discovery, a new bloom? Heaven. I spend hours walking around the gardens, looking through my lens, trying new angles, new views, seeing the world through fresh eyes. This blog, this act of blogging, has opened up a whole new world to me. Yes, I loved taking pictures before I started blogging, but only with a small point-and-shoot. And pre-digital? I had to remember to take the film in to be developed. I wasn’t always successful on that front. Once I started blogging, which is such a visual medium, I started to observe the world around me with renewed and inspired eyes. I got a DSLR, which completely changed everything. Looking through a camera lens expands my horizons in the best possible way.
Speaking of photography, my other blog, which is called Through a Lens Daily, was started by me a few years back. My intention was to capture a single image every day and hone my photography skills and I did just that for a while. But I’ve been hit or miss the last year or so. I’m happy to say I’ve begun posting there again. The link is in my sidebar if you’re interested in stopping by. Just one image (more or less) every day. I also moved my blogroll over to Through a Lens Daily. It used to be in the navigation bar of MHC, but the plugin that I needed to use for that has been acting up. I keep up with other blogs in a variety of ways, one of which is my blogroll. So if you’ve ever used my blogroll to find new blogs, just hop on over to Through a Lens Daily. I do believe that it reflects my eclectic taste in blogs – there’s a lot of variety there.
Speaking of interesting blogs, if you dream of going to Paris as I do, you will love Paris in Four Months. Written by a Swedish photographer who moved to Paris for four months in 2012 and ended up staying, (and who can blame her?) it’s full of gorgeous images of that beautiful city.
I read her posts and I dream of going to Paris. With my husband, of course.
We will. Someday.
Today would have been my parents’ 68th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom.
Happy Sunday.
Beautiful, I had no idea the blooms were so short lived. I have some Poppy seeds but have never planted them :)
You should plant them, Dawn. They are so gorgeous! I used to have California poppies in my garden in San Diego – smaller blooms, but still beautiful.
speaking of colors “not working together”…when i got married FORTY-TWO year ago….MY favorite color was blue…dan’s was green…so i made them my wedding colors…you should have heard the COMPLAINTS i got!!! i looked at everyone and said…the sky is blue, the grass is green..GOD thought of it first…no more complaints!!! happy 68th to your parents….my aunt and uncle were going to celebrate their 60th anniv. at their church 1 week before the actual date, because that was the day they could get all the family together…as they were getting ready to leave for the church…my uncle yelled loudly to my aunt…she found him on the floor…she leaned down, he kissed her, said i love you, and died in her arms….she was naturally heartbroken…and said they missed their 60th…i told her no she did not…they WERE together for 60 years, and they would have started their 61st year the day after there wedding anniv….we lost her last year ….together again!!!
Yes, my parents were actually together for 68 years, almost 69 years. I told Dad that they are still together. xo
Claudia, your photographs of your garden and flowers are stunning! I appreciate the opportunity to enjoy them through your blog. I have moved to an apartment from my home with a large garden and do miss it. I have beautiful flowers on my balcony and overlook a nice green area, but there is nothing like your own garden with ground soil to dig in. I took over a little spot outside my garage area so I can keep my hands in the soil.
I truly appreciate the beauty you share via your blogging. You make the internet a better place. Annie
I feel for you, Annie! I never really had a garden of my own to dig in until we moved out East. Now, I don’t know what I’d do without it. So glad you have a little spot to dig in!
Thank you for your kind words.
Claudia, I have always thought the poppy looked made of crepe paper and hand painted. I wish we could dry them to look like that. xoxo,Susie
Crepe paper is the perfect way to describe them, Susie!
Claudia there is something about studying flowers through a lens….I adore poppies too!!
You really do see things differently, Donna!
Claudia — your garden photography is STUNNING! I am especially enamored of the last poppy image. Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know I’m redecorating my bedroom with shades of purple & orange playing central roles. I’d say mauve and coral, but mauve is such a late 1980’s shade, isn’t it? What would be a more modern description of a more pink (as opposed to blue) undertoned light purple?
Also, do you sell prints of your photographed flowers? I definitely think they’re worthy of purchase and might help the cash flow a wee bit.
Gosh I don’t know! I’m sure there is more modern word for it, but darned if I know what it is!
I’ve never really looked into selling prints but I should. Thanks, Sharon.
The poppy is a gorgeous flower…stunning! It really is unfortunate that it is gone all too soon. I’ll take a peak over at your other blog…I forgot about it. Happy Anniversary to your Dad and Mom! I’m thrilled to share the day with folks I know…it’s our 40th today! Our purple iris’ are in full bloom today…I used to have some planted with poppies…now that was a beautiful sight! Enjoy your day! ;)
Happy Anniversary, Donna! 40 years is quite an accomplishment!
When I was little, I always wondered why people said “today WOULD have been…” this or that when speaking of family they’d lost. After all, I’d been taught that both Life – and Love – were eternal. To my mind as a child, of course that person was still “around” – it was just that we living people couldn’t see them anymore. And as I grew older, I confess I haven’t really been able to find a good reason to change my thinking on this. So I’m going to send Very Happy Anniversary wishes to your Mom and Dad, Claudia. They ARE still together – your Dad just can’t see your Mom. Not just now. But I have no doubt your Mom’s spirit is spending the whole day with your Dad. And a big (( hug )) for you too. I feel the same way on my parents’ anniversary – October 1. xoxo
Wise words, my friend! Thank you. xo
I’ll live vicariously through your poppy success, Claudia. I’ve tried – and failed – to grow poppies. We just don’t get enough sun. I’ll pass along that Paris blog to my Amanda. She went for a week’s vacation to Paris all by herself a few years ago and LOVED it. I’m sure she’ll enjoy the blog and will probably recognize many places she wandered through and visited! Happy Anniversary to your mom and dad. I hope your dad especially feels her presence today because I’ll bet she is right there spending the day with him.
Hugs,
Donna
For some reason, this plant, which is in the sunny end of the big garden bed, now that I think of it, does really well. It’s always one of the first plants to bloom. Thank you for your anniversary wishes. xo
Absolute gorgeous photos Claudia!
Judy
Thank you, my friend! Happy Sunday to you and John!
I love poppies, I think they look so delicate. When I lived in NY I used to sow Shirley Poppies every spring. I’ve not tried poppies in IL.
They DO look delicate, Debbie. I have two that have opened – gosh, they are beautiful!
I planted poppies for many years, and the very first year I had a bloom I couldn’t believe how fragile it was. My first thought was my daughter and her friends had made crepe paper flowers and stuck them in the ground!! Their color truly is amazing.
Your parents are and always will be together. I do believe that.
Hope you have had a grand weekend!!
They are very fragile and eventually, the stems droop and they are gone for the season. But while they’re here, they are spectacular!
I’ve always loved poppies but never tried to grow them..if I plant some now would they grow or should I wait till Spring??
I can’t imagine why not, Nancy. I’m sure I planted it about this time – maybe even later. Go for it!
It’s beauty is short lived, but during the time it blooms it’s so spectacular. Poppies always remind me of Vegas showgirls with the huge feathered headdresses…open the arms wide it’s a stunning display of color, close them it’s the poppy in bud.
Jen
Perfect description, Jen. Perfect!
I’m sure glad you are back to blogging everyday! I missed you and thought of you during your brief hiatus.
I love Oriental Poppies..I had dark red ones at my old house. They were gorgeous and called Indian Chief..I bought more for here and they’re orange so I moved them..They didn’t bloom this year (yet)..I moved them too often but they’ll be fine..