I am crazy about flowers. I’m pretty sure I can find some everywhere I look at home. From pink-flowered wallpaper in the living room to my stash of floral-printed fabric, it’s kind of a theme in my life.
Our world seems pretty dark and ugly, much more so than at any other time I can recall. So I like to keep Philippians 4:8 in mind:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
I’ve been making a concerted effort to find the beauty in my day and flowers are a big part of that. Let me share some flowerscapes with you.
This is part of our raised bed veggie garden. The snapdragons were volunteers. I let them be and I’ve sure enjoyed their colorful contribution through the spring.
The first morning glory of the season popped out.
This is a succulent I bought for only $6 at a new and thrifty nursery I found in Chatsworth called Four Seasons Nursery. I’m going back. Succulents can be as colorful as flowers.
The front yard is looking colorful.
I can’t draw but have a new fascination with “zentangles”—drawings meant to put you in a calm, zen-like state. Here are some of my first efforts.
They’re not meant to be true representations, which make them even more fun.
I’m even experimenting with color:
This is a colored pencil piece.
Here’s my experiment with water color pens. I took a water color class when I made Madeleine an artist in A Keepsake Love and I still have supplies. I even think I know where they are. Wow, it just occurred to me, the little tiles for zentangle are the same size as Maddie’s tiny works of art! Anyway, I was not much good at watercolor, and especially not good at drawing. My tree looked like a piece of green Swiss cheese. I wonder if I still have that?
If you’d like to give zentangle a go, I highly recommend looking up Kelli Blouin on YouTube. She has short videos titled “15 Minutes of Zen,” that are a pleasure to follow. Kelli is super tranquil and makes her viewers feel like everything they draw is great. Not only do I use tangles to put some relaxation in my day, it only takes a couple minutes to add an embellishment to a card or envelope. Hopefully, as I continue to draw, I’ll improve.
Let’s take a look at a serious garden. Otto and Sons in Fillmore is one of the premier rose growers in the state. It might have been a June gloom kind of day when we recently visited, but the flowers were incredible.
Their display gardens are a sight to behold. Some are color-coordinated, but I especially like the areas where everything just grows, mostly because that’s the only way I can grow things. What survives stays, regardless of color. What dies gets replaced. If professionals can get away with wild color combos, I guess I can.
They even have a Koi Pond complete with water lilies.
This is their rose garden. Ahhh, more color madness.
That large stand of orange flowers is alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian lilies. They supposedly bloom all year. We’re checking them out after buying two in red and purple. So far, so good.
What puts beauty in your day? I’d love to know. Be sure to share in the comment section below.