Peony Time

Peony Epiphany, a watercolor I did a few years back.  (Now under glass which explains the reflections in the photo.)

Yet another of my favorite flowers is the peony, always so luscious and effulgent--a word my mother liked and one that I feel totally describes what I mean.  But as full and gorgeous as they are, they can be delicate creatures.  We get a lot of rain in June--their month--which sends their blossoms into an instant droop.  So we are well advised to simply and totally enjoy them for the day or two or three when they've opened their beautiful little faces and the rain stays away.

And ... White Peony on Foil (in oils)

A Gallery of Photos: Spring

What a woodpecker did

I'm always sorry to see spring go.  It launches out from the inanition of winter--pow!--and brings on energy, passion, beauty.  It pours down buckets of rain, blossoms forth underfoot and overhead, gives our central heating (and fuel bills) a respite, and makes it simply totally pleasant to be outdoors once again, whether one is weeding the garden, going to the farm stand to buy seedlings, or taking a stroll.

Early May

Same scene just twenty days later

Pure green.  (Day lilies and ferns)

Fallen blossoms

Designs in Sand and Snow

Every so often I offer a posting of sites that friends have sent.*  The theme this time is man-made art in sand and snow.

It is all quite amazing.

Here are the links:

Beach art

Sahara

Snow



*Thanks, XT.

A Watercolor Journal

Prayer flags by the back hill

Yes, I keep a watercolor journal.  Though not assiduously.  More like now and again.  Other than putting in the date and a comment or two, I sometimes include a snippet of poetry such as this by Walt Whitman:  "Warble me now for joy of lilac-time."  It's a casual journal with pages that ripple because they've gotten wet.  But I sort of like the rippled look.

"Blue Chair Afternoon" for the blue chair someone left on the opposite bank.

Iris about to bloom, the woods behind