The seasons move quickly from spring into summer and this year seems to have moved faster than normal. Everything has turned to a beautiful bright green — the color of new growth, late spring, and early summer. We’ve had enough rain to keep things fresh and the heat hasn’t set in yet. This graceful fern was backlit in the garden, accentuating each leaf and its lovely color. Its beauty was stunning, and I also know it will be fleeting as the green will become darker and not nearly as bright. It’s a reminder to me to appreciate the season and the time we’re in now as it changes ever-so-quickly and what we see today will not be the same tomorrow.
summer
A summer storm rolls in
High heat and humidity can only last for so long. Eventually the atmosphere needs to clear it all out. As the sunshine disappeared, the air stilled and the clouds moved in. There was just a line of light on the far shoreline, but the rest of the sky was filled with billowing clouds – grey and dark. Their reflection in the eerie calm of the lake seemed ominous. A few minutes later the rain started in big drops, the wind picked up, and the rain became steady giving us the much-needed moisture.
Ride the slide at the MN State Fair
Summer’s official closing party took place this past Labor Day as the Minnesota State Fair came to its conclusion. I spent the final day of the fair with 170,000+ of my new friends enjoying the perfect weather, the food, the animals, the rides, the entertainment, and the people watching. One of the oldest rides, and in my opinion one of the simplest rides, is the Giant Slide. Climb up the stairs, sit on a mat, and slide all the way down to the bottom. No flashing lights, no blaring music, no mechanical anything; it’s simple, it’s fun, and attracts people of all ages. It’s a chance for adults to be kids again and for kids to be amazed at the adults around them having fun! This cutout was meant for someone to put their face in, but it became the perfect frame for all the fun and laughter that was going on behind it on the Giant Slide. Wheeeeeeeee!
Butterflies
Delicate and light, constantly in motion, mesmerizing and beautiful – these are the words that come to my mind in describing the Blooming Butterfly exhibit at Como Park. Yesterday morning’s gray and cool weather provided the perfect conditions for a photographer’s visit to the exhibit. The lack of sunshine and temps in the low 60’s allowed the butterflies to rest and not be as active as when the sun is bright and the air is warm. The exhibit is filled with butterflies from Asia, Africa, North and South America, although only one of these can be found native to Minnesota. Some are bright with multi colors, others are one or two colors, but beautiful just this same. This Paper Kite butterfly settled among the bright flowers and rested, as if posing for this photograph.
Purple petunias
It’s summer today – hot, humid and muggy. But in the shade in our backyard I got lost in some everyday petunias. With their bright purple and white they add welcome color to the summer greens and yellows. I began photographing the mass of petunias, but as I got in closer I was captured by their fragile thin petals that blossom out from small stems of green. Their stickiness and tiny hairs catch any small bugs that are near. The blossoms are short-lived and will be shriveled tomorrow and dry by the next, but they are a beautiful burst of color and joy when it’s their moment to shine.
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