Inspiration

I feel like I have been lacking in inspiration lately. I was going to say that I've been searching for inspiration, but frankly it's all around me this fall and I just am not being moved by it.


I want to make a small promise that I will create a small post at least four days a week for the next six weeks. I can do that, right?


This morning as I was walking Mystic, about 20 egrets and herons flew across the back of our property. So the egrets have not gone south just yet.

I did like my haiku last week; I just wish I had a great photo to go with it. Perhaps tomorrow I will leave early and take my camera with? Perhaps???

Layers of fog rise,
threading through the morning sun.
September settles.

Papaver 'Ruffled Patty' Starts to Open

I was cleaning out my purse . . .

And I found this haiku I had written:

Books can be the source
Of comfort, laughter and tears,
Wisdom, well-written

The yellow magnolia was photographed at Northwind Perennial Farm on May 10.

Emerging Maple Leaves with Flowers

Emerging Maple Leaves with Flowers
Originally uploaded by Veronicastrum

Maples are most famous for their fall colors. But have you ever noticed the spring leaves as they emerge? Or the flowers?

Madness in Merry May

One of the things that I resent about my job is that, just as things are starting to pop in the garden, things at the office are exploding and I have such limited time in the garden. But I did get a chance to get out today and see a few things.

A couple of years ago we planted a white garden behind our firepit area. I've been surprised to find that I really like working with this very limited color palette. The first year that we had the garden, I made a very, very brief stop at a garden center that was almost out of spring bulbs. I grabbed some all-white daffodils, white hyacinths and white tulips - variety unknown. I had very small numbers and spread them sparingly through the garden. I've been surprised to see that the small numbers of bright white flowers make as much impact as some larger displays.

One combination that I've really liked is Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy', Artemisia 'Nana' and the white tulips.

























Over in another area, Papaver 'Ruffled Patty' is getting ready to bloom. I read somewhere that the flowerbuds of Papavers are very frequently photographed, and I understand why.



Purple silk unfurls
Emerging from flowerbud
Beauty a-borning

White Trout Lily

White Trout Lily
Originally uploaded by Veronicastrum

Trout Lily is one of the native plant survivors. When all other woodland natives are long gone, Trout Lilies may remain. I've heard of people who live in "converted" woodlands who have these come up in their lawns. The flowers make me think of pixies.

Mayapple flower emerging

DSC_0023
Originally uploaded by Veronicastrum

The bud of a Mayapple is nestled between two sets of emerging leaves. The speckled leaves in the background are white trout lily.