Thursday, June 19, 2014

Flowers, Colors, Beauty

This is what summer is about, for me anyway....flowers, colors, beauty,  Many times last winter I found myself going back through the images from last summer just to replenish my soul with the colors and beauty of summertime.  Back in the 80's my sweetie and I took a trip to England and I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the gardens there, from the simplest front yard garden to the massive beauties found around the estates and castles.  I was determined to create my own little patch of beauty when I returned home.  My first garden was no more than about 20x20 feet at the side of our home.  And since that time I have added front yard gardens, back yard gardens, mailbox gardens, driveway gardens.   All began as sun gardens only to be gradually converted to shade gardens as the trees began to grow blocking the sun.   I have a few sun flowers, but they are gradually being overtaken with shade.  Remembering back when we first moved into our home some 35 years ago, like all new subdivisions there were absolutely no trees in sight.  As we planted our trees, no more than sticks at the time, I never would have imagined the shade that those small trees would later provide.   And since there is so much shade, I find myself going to garden centers with camera in hand, taking pictures of the bounty of colors that I cannot grow in my shade gardens.  Eventho I cannot grow many of the flowers that grace gardens filled with sun, my trees provide shade and coolness during our hot summer days.  So trading sunny gardens for the coolness that the trees bring is a good thing (as Martha would say).  







Yesterday,during our weekly girlfriend gathering at Barnes & Noble, we watched the dark clouds begin to roll in.  We all decided perhaps it was time to leave and reach home before the heavens opened and the rain began.  I made it home right before the rains came and took this image of the gathering clouds.  Pretty scary huh??  Nothing dangerous happened, just lots and lots of rain.


Which made for nice raindrop pictures after it subsided....


And finally, my contribution to Theresa's meme (TexWisGirl - Run A Round Ranch) Good Fences. Nothing better than a good old adorned, rusty fence.



"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." ~Gertrude Jekyll

Until next time.....

21 comments:

  1. just gorgeous images, deanna! i think the columbine is my favorite! and, of course, the rusty fence!

    (i fixed your link - it was missing the blogsite.) :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You certainly found some gorgeous color! Like you, I'm nourished by color and the grey of winter really gets to me. This time of year, it's all I can do to keep from running outside every ten minutes with camera in hand. And I have to nod my head: when we bought our home, almost 30 years ago, we had just a little shade from a big maple. Now, we're scrounging to find places to put my favorite coneflowers and daisies. But I like having shade in my yard, it feels cooler just to look at it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What fantastic photos! That sky looks like it is going to explode.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I came here for a Good Fence and found some outstanding flower fotos. The rusty fence shot is of the same quality. Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I so agree - we both endure long white, gray, and bleak winters - so the color is all the more special come spring and summer!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That image of the storm gathering is AH-mazing! We saw the same storm, but I don't have a clear view to get a shot such as yours!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always love and enjoy your beautiful photographs . . . Today one of the "emeralds."
    Rolling clouds with vast greens . . .
    Oh my . . .

    ReplyDelete
  8. Spectacular photography, Deanna. I love the rusty iron fence.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A most excellent post from beginning to end. You and your camera know your way around a flower. Mercy, they are exquisite! Cool shot of the rain clouds, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such beauty in all those divine flowers. I'd look at them over and over again too in winter because they would be a big pick-me-up. Wow those were some clouds in that sky, your shot is awesome. Loved the rusty fence, very cool looking.

    ReplyDelete
  11. gorgeous blooms. love all the color. enjoy the fencing too. those clouds look so scary? i hope all is ok & no bad weather. we had thunderstorm this evening. ( :

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful photos! What is the flower in the second photo? I love it. Love the old rusty fence too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I always enjoy your flower photos--they are so clear and colorful! They soothe my soul. :-) I like that rusty fence, too. Looks like it was quite fancy in its day.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful picrures, lovely colors of Summer!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful pictures, lovely colors of Summer!

    ReplyDelete
  16. love the old rusty look.... timeworn......

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are all such wonderfully beautiful photos! Love the last one...but all of them are truly breathtaking!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Deanna, your flowers are just gorgeous!
    I wish you a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your photos are always breathtaking and these are no exception! Love the amazing detail of the flowers and those storm clouds are an incredible capture. I, too, garden in the shade (with little pockets of sun) and wouldn't trade my shade giving trees on a hot summer day. Besides, there are always begonia's and they are sometimes more beautiful than any sun loving flower anywhere. Hope the skies have cleared for you now - I have been watching the news and the storms have been terrible. Hugs xo Karen

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful photos, Deanna! Love the rose with the drops of rain and the rusty fence ... gorgeous!

    Happy Summer!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment, I read and cherish them all. I will do my best to return the favor.