Every August, I look forward to the blooming of the hibiscus at the corner of my front yard, with it’s lunch-plate sized blossoms. It never disappoints!
The Rose of Sharon trees follow suit.
The honey crisp apples begin to ripen and so do the tomatoes!
The Sneeze Weed is in full bloom. . .
the Hydrangea & Zinnias are hanging on. . .
and the Coleus still stands its ground brilliantly. 🙂
A season of mixed messages . . .
At the end of July, I had the unexpected opportunity to visit Beaverton, OR. I accompanied my mother to visit her ailing sister. What a surprise to find a beautiful rose garden just minutes from our hotel!
The International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, a multi-level spread of color, captivated me (and my camera) despite the 90+ degree heat.
It was a bit too hot for my mother, but she found a nice bench!
You’d think that roses would be nothing much to look at in the heat of mid-summer, their best days behind them. But what a treat we found! I’m sure you’ll agree. And can you imagine the splendor of this place in the spring? It might be worth another visit, if it weren’t for the 6-hour plane ride. 🙂
“Weathered” usually conjures up images of water-worn rocks or sun-bleached wood or time-worn skin. But the howling winds of a New England blizzard can carve the snow like desert sand…
In response to this week’s photo challenge: Weathered
Just when the mild temperatures had lulled us into the conviction that Spring had surely arrived…Mother Nature played a heavy, wet, early April Fool’s joke on New England.
In response to the Daily Post’s weekly Photo Challenge for this week…
A Christmas gift from one of my daughters, who is quite the photographer, was a set of “macro” filters to fit my lens. I call them my “cheat macro lenses”. I’ve only begun to experiment with them. 🙂
This mug was a gift from another daughter. And the rooibos chai seen steeping within was a gift last year from this same daughter, who has taught me that THIS is not really tea!
And the circle of life is ever present…
I admit it. I was not the kind of mother who dressed her daughters in lacy ruffles and patent leather shoes for the holidays. Shameful, I know!
This was taken on Easter Sunday at their grandparents’ house and all I can say is they were comfortable. 🙂
This weekend I watched as my nephew was awarded his 4th black belt. Extraordinary! Part of the ceremony included a loved one helping to tie the new belt. A mother’s hands are ordinary and extraordinary at the same time:
The pole beans are producing, even as many other plants and flowers are past their peak and turning yellow or brown. Here, I’ve got some help with pole bean pest control:
Every August, this beautiful hibiscus produces blooms the size of lunch plates:
I like to try something new each year. I found this bell pepper plant at the Herb Farmacy in May. I had no idea peppers came in amethyst!
How’s your garden?
The ocean has always inspired me…something about it’s vastness and power and peacefulness. And sunset over the ocean is doubly inspiring.
This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge
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Chapter 3 