on patience
White flowers was one of those subjects I had to be in the mood for when I was working on white. Because photographing a white flower on a white background was tricky, and took a little patience. Most days I don’t have a lot of patience. Like today. But I didn’t need patience today. I now have a black background. And that has made all the difference.
Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
a freebie
My husband and I have been repairing a deck at one of our rental properties this week. While I has cleaning the job site, my chosen role, I saw this still-fully-intact cottonwood catkin on the ground and pocketed it. When I got home I placed it beside my computer and promptly forgot about it. Until it exploded. So I gingerly picked it up and placed it on my black background. I love this photo. And the ease with which it happened.
cottonwood tree catkin gone to seed fluff
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Although it’s a totally different plant, it has a similar vibe to the recent smokebush post, huh? I think wind sown is my favorite seed dispersal method, how about you? But exploding seed pods are pretty cool also…
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When does summer begin for you?
June 1 is the beginning of meteorological summer. June 21 is the beginning of astronomical summer. Larry Weber, a naturalist up in Duluth, Minnesota that I follow, defines the beginning of summer as “when the open field flowers begin to outnumber the woodland flowers.” I like Larry’s definition the best, and have adopted it for myself, and I think I can even refine it further (for me personally) as when I first notice the musk thistles on the roadside. Today was the day. Happy First Day of Summer everyone!
musk thistle or nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)
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I tend to go with June 1. As a child, summer began on the last day of school!
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Hmmm, good question. I could make quite a list of suitable answers, but I think at the top of the list would be when I am forced to turn on the air conditioning! Not exactly magical, but it is what it is! Beautiful thistles, but wicked thorny!!
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i’ve had my eye on you
I have been eyeing this smoke bush for weeks now. It sits on the roadside between my house and our closest major shopping area. Are you familiar with smoke bush/smoketree? It is one of my favorite plants to decorate with. Big and dramatic, yet soft and inviting at the same time. I cut enough to fill two large vases–one sits on my mantel and the other on my new kitchen island. Instantly, my house felt elevated and hint more pulled together. I wish it bloomed all summer long.
American smoketree/smoke bush (Cotinus obovatus, syn. Rhus cotinoides)
every breath you take
I attended the funeral today of my friend’s dad. He was 86 years old. It was a truly beautiful tribute to a life lived fully. It celebrated the kind of life we don’t see much of any more: 64 years married to the same woman, 60 years in the same house, and 60 years in the same church as a member of the choir. 2 kids, 4 grandkids, and 2 great-grand-babies. A long career in the same company. And travel to over 40 countries. A rich life. And at the same time quietly and humbly midwestern–integral to his family, his neighborhood, and his church. I was moved.
dandelions with airborne seed fluff
