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.
summer
Peonies in a row
If you travel west out of the Twin Cities on Highway 12 you quickly leave the urban life behind for farm fields and open spaces. We did just that yesterday morning – our destination was Swenson Gardens near Howard Lake. Celebrating Peony Days at Swenson’s was a true delight – to sight and smell alike. With fields of peonies in bloom, and a view of the horizon all around, we enjoyed learning about all the different varieties of peonies in so many colors that I’d never seen or known about. It was a wonderful place to explore and immerse yourself in the sights and smells of late spring.
Rhubarb
We mark the transition into late spring and the beginning of summer when the rhubarb is ready for harvesting. Our reliable and wonderful old plant is from a cutting taken years ago from one of the family’s plants. As the ground starts to thaw in the spring the plant grows vigorously and quickly, spreading its large leaves all across the garden bed while its stalks take on a beautiful red hue. Today was harvest time as I pulled the stalks from the base. Before taking them into the kitchen I was drawn to them photographically — their lines and curves, textures and colors. Now that I’ve captured the intensity of their color, we can look forward to fresh rhubarb crisp.
A new year with a look back to 2014
I was reading another photographer’s blog and she had posted her 12 favorite photos of the past year. With a nod to Kim Manley Ort, I culled through 4,142 images to pick 12 photos that were my favorites. Some have personal meanings, like the family photo after my mother’s death or the Royal typewriter that has been passed down through my father’s family. Others transport me to a cold winter morning (much like today!) or an unusually emerald-green lake with a sandy beach in north central Minnesota. The year took twists and turns that weren’t expected, yet I’m learning to embrace the changes, meet the challenges, and appreciate each day that is given – with joy and wonder. May the coming year be filled with 365 such days!
Hollyhocks
Summer seemed to come to an abrupt end this past week as our temperatures slid into the upper 30’s at night and the 50’s during the daytime. Autumn will soon grace the Minnesota landscape with its oranges, reds, and golds. I was in our backyard this morning as the sun made its way above the trees and backlit this lovely white hollyhock. The greens and the whites reminded me of summer. The long stems of the hollyhocks were blowing in the cool breeze, yet the colors had me focused on the warmth of the summer sun. We may have some days of late summer left, but I know that all-too-soon we’ll be passing into autumn and winter, each with its own special colors and characteristics.
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