The color white evokes so many feelings and emotions. For those on the east coast, white is the color of the snow that has enveloped their area. For brides it is the color of newness and purity. For funerals it is the color of new life and light. As we celebrated the life of a family member recently departed, we were surrounded by flowers and plants of many colors and scents. The white roses seemed to be strong and yet tender all at the same time. A symbol of hope and love, circling around and around as the petals unfold from the bud.
florals
A Christmas pause
The weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday have been hectic. Filled with things to do, people to see, places to go, packages to get, and the usual commotion of the season. The tree sat unadorned in the house for a week, asking for my attention. Then family came to visit from Kansas, and I was reminded of what the holiday is really about. My niece helped me decorate the tree; it now sparkles with lights, and the ornaments are carefully chosen in honor of people, places, or times of our lives. The packages got wrapped and wait to be given to those we care about. We filled the days of family with sharing, remembering, laughing, and new adventures — all those things that are familiar and special. And now that Christmas Eve is here, I pause and appreciate the family and friends that are important to me. May your holidays be merry and filled with love, and may good memories stay dear in your heart.
100 years of the McNeely Conservatory
Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the McNeely Conservatory in Como Park. I’ve been fortunate to enjoy it in my neighborhood for the past 10 years, and even in that time there have been many changes. Throughout the seasons the conservatory has welcomed people to its warmth and its plethora of beautiful flowers. In a state where we have a definitive four seasons, it’s been delightful to have an oasis of green and color during the wintertime when our landscape is reduced to black and white. This weekend the Conservatory was filled with the music of 1915 including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Muddy Waters. The changes I’ve seen in 10 years can’t begin to compare to the changes in a century. I trust that the conservatory will be around in another 100 years, and that people will continue to marvel at the Victorian glass houses that have attracted visitors for all these years.
A study of flowers in movement
I was recently out photographing before sunset. What I was hoping would be a calm evening was developing into just the opposite. The heat of the day and the increasing humidity were causing the wind to be quite blustery. My first instinct was to turn around and go home, but instead I decided to go with it. Silhouetting the flowers behind the glow of the western sky, and using a longer shutter speed, I let the flowers “dance” in front of the lens. The more I watched, the more I enjoyed the unpredictable movement of the flowers. The images seemed to take on a life of their own almost as if knowing that summer is fleeting and now’s the time to celebrate it.
Summer roses
We’re in the height of rose season – their colors and scents abound. We have a wonderful John Cabot climbing rose that blossoms out in profusion mid-June, becoming engulfed in a riot of color. I’ve had cuttings in almost every room of the house, and yet the bush itself remains full too. The blooms hold for many days and then they drop their petals all around – a reminder of their beauty even as they move past their prime.
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