Sunday, May 3, 2009

Friday Field Trip

It was like field trip day at school. I anticipated the day with great excitement. I made sure the camera was well-charged and was ready much in advance of the designated departure time. Virginia will be 100 on May 28, 2009 and I first toured her garden with my perennials class when I was studying for my third career in the early 90's. Pat started the local chapter of the Wild Ones: Natural Landscaping organization where I learned much about native plants and ecosystems and where I made connections that filled out the parts of my education that could not be gotten in schools. Both of them know more than I ever will and both of them are willing and eager to share their knowledge and advice and wisdom. Virginia's garden was in its peak of spring wildflower bloom. The day was a little overcast to get really great photographs, but that happens! With us was Jan who has a park with a beautiful prairie border named after her, and Denise who also has a natural landscaping company, two more heroes. I am grateful to have people like these in my life. I was proud and humbled to be in their company.


Liverwort


Rue Anemone


Rue Anemone


Liverwort


Birdbath with white violets and Virginia bluebells


Mayapples and Virginia bluebells among many other species


Mayapple


Trillium
Merrybells and a wide diversity of other species


Merrybells


Purple Smoke


Bleeding Heart


Dutchman's Britches


Virginia Bluebells
Charming Squirrel

3 comments:

Chuckles said...

I disagree regarding the lighting conditions. Too much sun equals too much contrast. Your cloudy-bright (f/16 at a shutter speed equal the film ASA) is very nice. Well done...

Unknown said...

Please do not take personally the comments in MY blog regarding concrete bunnies, squirrels and other wildlife. Individual taste accounts for an amazing variety of decorative abominations...er, there I go again.
-Stella

goprairie said...

I taught a class a few times on garden art. We made planters and birdbaths and birdhouses and arbors and trellises. We talked about the design priciples and how garden art related to them and we talked about garden art having a function. It is a lot like wall art, some good stuff and a lot of bad shit. I had a slide show of successful garden art and . . . well, less successful stuff. The plywood cutouts cannot weather into delaminated oblivion fast enough to suit me. Friends and family have stopped me from vandalism. Barely. I thnk maybe you need just one of those red-hatted garden gnomes to loosen you up.