June's Tune

June 30, 2020

Hi there,

I hope you all had a good month!

Here in Canada, June with its puffy, free floating clouds, bluest of skies, and blossoms running riot everywhere you look is the best of months. And one truly longed for which makes it even sweeter. Actually, for me, June is like a poem or a song from nature, and to heap accolades on it, it's the best painting of all.

Greens intensify.

Container plants take off.

Ivy trails.

                                                             
                                                               Peonies bloom.

Bees forage and buzz out arias.

Weeds show off.

Roses bloom and bushes too.

Woodland Ferns grow large. And so much more, but I will move along for now.

           * * *                

 On the making front, this month I tried eco-printing. I don't have a heat press, and a press would really enhance the colours. But, overall, it worked quite well using a regular iron and pressing everything between two sheets of Teflon. Another time, I will experiment with lighter weight paper, and, of course, a wider variety of flowers and leaves. And who knows I may brave it and boil everything up in an old pot on the stove. Dahlias would make a lovely print. I don't have any, but I may be able to 'borrow' a few.

                       
Bunting also piqued my interest, so I decided to make one, drawing whatever comes to mind with gel pens on black paper. Approximately 12 more to go, although I may make it smaller and string it across my desk.

 I left comments for everyone who visited last time. Thanks for your company!

'Til Next Time...

Cultivate Your Dreams

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Do drop in for a visit. Thank you ladies for hosting. 

In the Green

Hi lovely people,


After nearly three months of lock down, it felt lovely to drive to another town, catch the breeze and feel the wind in my hair--sans a convertible.
And O the view. A sight to behold as the earth, once again, clothes herself in the vivid new green of spring.
 

A tanker with places to go.

 Next stop the Iroquois lock.

A lovely old church I happen upon. I adore stone buildings. Such character! I bet the stained glass windows are magnificent. Unfortunately, I couldn't step inside because the churches are still locked down.
Perhaps I will be lucky enough to find it open sometime.

Doors waiting to be opened. 
To me old doors are so inviting and never fail to make me want to turn the handle or lift the latch. What's inside? I have a feeling this church would surprise me.

 

Notice the Solomon's Seal against the stone facade. The only time I've seen it growing outside of the woodlands.

Heady blossoms and sunshine. Perfectly perfect! 

* * *

When I was sifting through my drawings, I came across a wildflower Bloodroot drawing that I drew about two years ago, so I thought I'd paint it.

They are mostly white but a few are a lovely pink.

The season was short this year for the Bloodroot.  They succumbed rather quickly to a frosty spring. 

For those who may not know, if you cut into the root, a red sap greets you. Hence the name.

Be well and stay safe!

'Til next time...

Cultivate Your Dreams!

Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. Do drop in for a visit. Thank you ladies for hosting.

Summer

Hi there,

I hope life has been treating you kindly.
Here we have skipped from a late spring to summer. Oh so lovely, especially the warm breezes that are loaded with, depending on where you are, the delicious scent of all sorts of blossoms and wild roses.

  “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” 

                         Henry James                                     

Somewhere along the river.

Bearded Irises. So grand!

On a neighbourhood fence, a Trumpet Vine. When it blooms, I hope to take a few pictures.

Peonies

Even the blooms are eloquent. 

I love hostas too. ( Me and my shadow.)

Next...On the Wild side.

Wild Flox. 

Wild Geranium 

 

  Wild Roses. They smell heavenly.

Once the petals begin to fall,  I'll dry the them for potpourri. 

 * *  *

Moving on to a few pictures from my container gardens. I don't remember sharing any of my container plantings before.  Even though I said I wasn't going to plant many, I planted 27 containers this year. They give me joy! So I can't help myself.

My Fuchsia.

Cosmos. I love how they wave about in the breeze.

 Ferns are a must.

On the grow. Pansies and Sweet Potato Vine.

You may remember this watercolour painting. I didn't like how the fern stock was leading the eye.  Contemplating, but I think I will be satisfied with a few more twigs and a small piece of fern.

* * * 

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it is always June."

Lucy Maude Montgomery

 

'Til Next Time, lovely people.

Cultivate your dreams.

Linking with My Corner of the World and on Thursday with Wandering Camera at Whims and Fancies.

Natural Magic

 Hi there,

Thank you for the lovely comments on my last post. I was excited to have a painting chosen for the juried art show. From the vernissage, to the day I hosted along with another lady, it was fun and I learned a lot. The best, of course, was chatting with people and admiring the wonderful paintings that covered the walls at the show.
 

My framed entry. Snowdrops--a slight obsession of mine.

 * * *

The crab apple trees and lilac trees are in bloom. And the newly hatched, fresh-faced leaves are waving in the breeze.  When I look out the window, there are so many lovely hues of green--rich, deep, subtle, and, well, the whole landscape looks gorgeous. All those spring greens do animate the spirit.

The birds woke me up at 4:45 this morning. They were singing their hearts out. How industrious and celebratory they are. After opening the window, I crawled back into bed and found myself imagining spending an afternoon under a fragrant crab apple tree, drinking tea, knitting and/or sketching. I even  fancied I could feel a lovely soft breeze blowing in from the river. (Time to make that reverie a reality, I reckon. Even an hour would be lovely.)

Wild honeysuckle.

Yes, Emerson. "The earth [ really does] laugh (s) in flowers."

 Ms. Squirrel dressed to the nines.  Hurrah! She made it through a hard winter and is in fine form.  I think I have mentioned before that it takes about 3000 trips for this little one to fill her pantry with enough seeds to get her through the winter. She's an independent wonder.

  I am contemplating painting a bearded iris. Just look at the colours...as rich as a fine tapestry.

It was raining the day I was out taking these pics. It's still raining and that's okay. Blossoms need moisture. I'd like to get a few closes ups with my big camera; I hope to go tomorrow rain or shine.

A red-winged blackbird searches the area for a mate. (I love to hear his discordant melodies.) Since it's breeding season, the red bands on his wings are brilliant. What a charmer. I hope he soon finds his lady love.

Speaking of charmers/charming, how about that royal wedding? I loved it. Wouldn't it have been grand to be a butterfly on the wall at the receptions at Windsor castle and Frogmore house?

'Til next time...

Cultivate your dreams.