photography

Purple Saturday…

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My face and jaw are still hurting, so I took myself out of the office for a while and went out into the garden, hoping to relieve some of the pain. It was one of those wonderful early summer mornings, perfectly quiet for once. (we live in a very noisy neighbourhood)

I wanted to check out my favourite rhododendron. I had seen some huge buds last week, so expected to see bursts of purple, and I wasn’t disappointed. I stood and gazed at the display, the warm sunshine creating a summer meadow atmosphere down at the bottom of my increasingly wild paradise.

On my slow walk back to the house, other patches of purple caught my eye. First, a wild Granny Bonnet, I can never remember the name, growing through a crack in the crazy paving. The last one in the collage, grows all over what passes as a lawn and is called a Bugle, I think.

Back in the office, I feel more relaxed and the pain is less, so I can put my writing cap back on and get cracking.

See you later… Jaye

Another #Six on Saturday… and why ever not?

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I don’t really need an excuse to walk around my garden, but after an incredibly busy week, I was more than glad to do it.

Always first on my visiting list are Acers.

This one is right outside my back door and is looking so bright and cheerful right now. There are such amazing colourways in acers, and I cannot get enough of them!

The second Acer lives at the bottom of my garden. A delightful pale green with delicate, lacy foliage. It started life as a bonsai but refused to be confined in a pot. It is now taller than I am!

Third is a creamy pale pink Rhododendron, just starting to burst into flower.

Evergreen, it has been one of the few patches of green in the garden. The only sign of life all winter long and these early flowers are a joy to see.

Fourth is another Rhododendron, a purple one. Always late, but well worth it. Those huge flower buds promise an amazing display this year…

Fifth is a tree I once found in a garden centre and fell in love with, which has never quite lived up to its promise. I didn’t realise it was supposed to be a column cherry, one that grows up and not out if you know what I mean. It is 8 feet tall now and as thin as a bean pole. Good for small gardens, I suppose. I love all the different varieties of cherry and I do love this one for trying, bless it…

Sixth and last on my visit is my bonsai Laburnum. I grew it from seed seven years ago, and it sometimes produces those amazing yellow flowers. I just love the leaves!

That was a quick visit, mainly because here in the UK, it is still very cold.

Hopefully, we have some warmth coming, as the jobs are piling up out there…

Jaye Marie

Looking Back in Time… Remembering…

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This post was written a while ago and is one of my favourites. I really must do more of these…

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My Screensaver

I am in the habit of changing my screen saver/background image quite often. I  like to have something lovely on my computer screen, as it is the first thing I see every morning.

This picture appealed to me for several reasons. I love trees, and this one is lovely but also ethereal, the mist hiding most of the scene. I particularly like the contrast between the nakedness of the sleeping tree and the tree covered in blossom.

I have recently found myself  ‘skimming’ when reading and writing, and I am not seeing or describing anything enough, which is not good. This post is an exercise not only for my eyes but also for my imagination. I don’t want to think of my old age robbing me of so much of my enjoyment of life.

The blossom tree in this image attracted me first, being frustratingly out of focus enough to prevent easy identification. The blossoms are pure white, with no hint of colour, and the petals are delicate and small. The branches look old, but the slender double trunk would suggest otherwise. Are there any more clues in the picture?

The tree is blooming very early. The companion trees are still bare, their branches stark and austere looming through the mist. Winter has not long departed, as I imagine the chilly dampness of the morning on my skin. The shrubbery in the background is sparse, too, confirming that Mother Nature is not fully awake yet.

My mind sifts through my knowledge of flowering trees and comes up with a likely choice. Is it a Magnolia, one of the small-flowered varieties, maybe Stellata?

Moving on from the details of the image, my mind is not finished. I wonder where this lovely little tree is. The setting would suggest a park, for the area seems too big to be someone’s garden. Vague images hide in the mist, indicating far more space than first thought.

Could that be a roof I see? It doesn’t look like the roof of a house, though…

My mind yearns to explore this scene, visit the tree and then walk into the mist to see what I can discover…

Jaye

And Then It Snowed… #SixOnSaturday ~ #Flowers…

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Luckily, I took these pictures just before the Siberian weather moved in…

We inherited this beautiful bush, so I have no idea what it is called. Usually first to bloom, it becomes a mass of white flowers. It is a weeping variety and seems determined to dominate the garden, although I don’t mind at all…

This magnolia was a gift a few years back. It still hasn’t made up its mind to thrive, so I was delighted to see these flower buds this year!

This Japanese Quince was once a bonsai, but it never thrived, so I planted it in the garden. Seems that was just what the doctor ordered!

I love Candytuft. You start with one and end up with loads. I am thinking of getting a pink one to keep him company!

This unusual Camelia has struggled since we introduced it, but the flowers are divine. Any ideas to improve its condition are very welcome. He will love you for it too…

Finally, my favourite bonsai is waking up. The leaves are still tiny, but the colour is so beautiful. I love Acers…

I wonder what I will find next Saturday?