June Bloom Day

Here's what's abloom in June!


Cannas look so exotic and Victorian to me. What a pleasure to leave them in the ground and have them survive the winter. I have two varieties in my yard--I'd love to have a few more.




Spiderwort. I know, I know, it's a weed around here...but it's also a beautiful, hardy native. Love the little blue faces.



Cherry Tomatoes Sweet 100. I think the tomatoes look gorgeous against the brick--although they don't much like this soil.



More cannas. This doesn't really show the flowers....but it does, to me, convey the feel of the garden on a hot summer day.

Gardens at the American Rose Society

Took a road trip the other day and stopped in at the American Rose Society gardens near Shreveport, Louisiana. We missed peak bloom by a couple of weeks, but there was still much to enjoy.













I would shower you with roses, 

Dozens of roses,
and peonies, lilacs, camellia, gardenias.
A thousand ruffled, scented blossoms
piled all around you.
A roomful of plundered gardens, and you,
The sun to which they turn.
You, the sun.
I follow you across the sky,
Dizzy, thirsty, longing.
See this light on my skin?
it turns golden, it shimmers,
each fine hair rises to your touch, 

limned with your light.
How do I make you see? held by your gravity,
I am free to fly.
And so I bring you roses,
and peonies, lilacs, camellias, gardenias.
Perhaps you will see my face in theirs.
Perhaps, then, you will know.

Another floral--a bouquet this time

Sunday Afternoon, 18x15 inches, soft pastel on Wallis.

Started this a while ago--finally had a chance to finish it today. I have no idea how this image looks--I got a new monitor and haven't quite gotten it adjusted yet, LOL.

Painting flowers is not my strong suit--but it feeds something in me. I can't get enough. I'm sure you'll be seeing more soon!

another oil pastel quickie

I'm having fun now! This is from a reference at Wet Canvas. I don't get over there often, but it's well worth a visit. I spent a little over an hour on this one. I need more oil pastels....


Iris, 6x12 inches, oil pastel on Wallis.

Big Bouquet!

Big Bouquet, 16 x16 inches, soft pastel on Wallis.

I was further inspired by flowers from the garden. I don't particularly like Asiatic lilies in the flowerbed...but in the vase they're irresistible! This may have been the most fun I've ever had painting. I'll definitely be painting more flowers. Why haven't I done this before?

I'm going to try and get a better photo--this one is a bit dark. This piece is so bright, it's downright gaudy!

15-minute Bouquet

Just had to test-drive some of my new colors! This is 9x8 inches, soft pastels on Wallis.