Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf. ~Albert Schweitzer
Each day brings more plants into leaf and flower. As I wander through the woods and gardens each morning, I realize that it wasn’t just color that I missed in this long winter past. It was the amazing cornucopia of shape and form that emerges from the trees and shrubs, the miracle of plants springing up from the bare earth in fresh new clothes. The early morning light gets caught in the shape and trembling of leaf and flower and I get lost in the looking. Enjoy.
The heart of the bleeding heart
Daphne Carol Mackie
Oakleaf hydrangea leaf
Lily of the valley
Weeping Japanese maple
Hakone grass
Brunnera leaf
Japanese maple
Peach iris and lamb’s ear
Tulip in light
Weeping red Japanese maple
Spirea and daylily foliage
Golden bleeding heart
Geum flowers
Lamium leaves
Solomon’s seal
Viola whiskers
Oak trees
composerinthegarden 
Pretty pics. My bleeding hearts and lilacs are just now blooming. We’ve had a crazy cool Spring and not much is happening. Tree and shrubs are just starting to leaf out. But we need some sun and then things would really take off!
Oh, mine are done already! We had hot weather last week, which really brought everything out, followed by very cool weather this week. The warmth is supposed to return tomorrow so we should be moving into rose season soon. Hope you have some sun soon!
Beautiful photos of such lovely plants. Weather has turned warm this week, at least it had up until today when it is now rather chilly.
Thanks, Chris! We are having the same up and down temperatures as you, it seems. It has been perfect weather here all week but we are due for another cold snap this weekend. Our official last frost date for this area is May 20, so I tend to be conservative about setting out tender annuals until then. The perennials should weather the temps just fine; actually the blossoms will last longer in cooler temps, even if humans find it less comfortable 🙂
Some truly splendid images, Lynn. I’m particularly fond of the repeating patterns evident in the Lamium leaves shot.
High praise indeed from you, Kerry – many thanks! I love the Lamium shot too; very fractal. I challenged myself to take all the Nikon photos with the 50 mm prime, good discipline I think. I’m leaning towards acquiring mostly primes; I just love the sharpness and quality of image that I’m getting.
I see the morning walks delivering joyful energy to you for starting your day. Thanks for sharing … love the Japanese Maples!
Thanks, Frank, what a lovely way to put it – “joyful energy” – exactly!
🙂
Isn’t getting lost the best thing ever? The Bleeding Heart is beautiful, I want to smell the Daphne, and I too love Oak Leaf Hydrangea leaves’ shapes. Lilies of the Valley? – let me smell them, too!. They are a childhood flower – they were mixed with Forget-me-nots by the side of the garage near the woods in my childhood home in Syracuse – a sweet memory. Those feathery Japanese maples are exquisite (as are all the photos). The Hakone is in its spear stage – did you see I have a shot of Hakone later in the season on my blog today? : ) The peachy iris – I was just thinking about Iris today – there don’t seem to be so many around here, or maybe I haven’t found them. I was feeling nostalgic about an extraordinary Iris Garden I used to visit in New Jersey – all that saturated color, from delicate to dark, nothing like it. I love your foliage shots – Lamium! I used to have that (oh, nostalgia again, for my garden) and how I loved it early in the spring, especially against a rough gray boulder. The Solomon’s Seal – “false or real” I love that plant for its utter grace in shady spots, and the way it blends with others. And the violas – I am always partial to those with pale colors and fine whiskers, like yours. Yummy!!
Looks like this post hit a lot of good memories for you! I do have a lot of nostalgic plants in my garden; they remind me of my mother, my grandmother, and my aunts who grew them in their gardens. Or of songs – “lilies of the valley line my garden walk” – I’m hoping to add white coral bells this year to complete the song. I will have to look at your Hakone photos – mine is just starting to catch the morning sun but it won’t be long before it is cascading out of the pot it is in. Delighted you enjoyed the post so much, bluebrightly!
Oh your flora is much further along then us. It really sucks to be you.
Textures, colours and patterns in your photos reminiscent of Victorian prints and antique textiles. I did enjoy. Thank you for the offering.
I like the comparison to prints and textiles, Hudson. Makes me think of the stylized floral patterns from the Arts & Crafts era. Hang in there, the world will green up for you soon.
I couldn’t have expressed the onset of Spring any better. And we’ve had to wait so long for it this year and now it has exploded in a dazzling display. Lovely set of images
I just visited your place and realize that we are both engaged in capturing the same wonderment! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Andy.
Your garden (and pictures) express so well the magic of everything starting to grow and flower – . Beautiful!
Thank you, Diversifolius – it is all (or mostly) about the “diversifolius” 🙂
“Any leaf a miracle” -Walt Whitman
Dear Lynn,
The magic of your garden infuses me. To live in such beauty must surely transform you. Thank you for sharing this treasure with us. Sharon
Sharon, thank you for such a gracious compliment. Yes, living in a beautiful place is transformative, and working on it rarely seems like work, more like a privilege. Thank you and I am delighted that you enjoyed your visit here!
I just wondered through my garden with my camera to welcome my roses, oh my did I read your mind? I love all things small and blooming in the morning light. Did I say beautiful?
Ooh, I can’t wait to see the rose photos, Carol! I often think that we are in sync, even though on opposite coasts 🙂
Your photographs are beautiful, Lynn. Such contrast of texture, color and you have captured the light so perfectly. Thanks for transporting me today. 🙂
Ogee, thank you for visiting. Capturing the light was my theme this past week, with our unusually sunny mornings and all that fresh growth. Glad you enjoyed!
Such beauty as usual Lynn-
Your blog is very inspiring all the time and I have nominated it for The Sunshine Award .
http://margieinitaly.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/the-sunshine-award/
Margie, thank you for the honor, you are so generous. I have always been inspired by your posts as well – here’s to spring, to flowers, and to Italy!
I couldn’t agree more. It’s not just the color, but the incredible shapes and texture on texture. I’m always surprised, when everything starts to leaf and flower, how much I missed being surrounded by the abundance of life in general. It’s a wonderful time of year. LOVE the photos!
Thank you so much; it is always great to know that someone else loves shape and texture in the garden and in nature! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Ah, such a glorious tour, Lynn; thank you! Your photographs are stunning. My Carol Mackie blessed us for about three years and then died; I think I may be a “zone too cold” for a daphne, but maybe should try again. Your Japanese maples take my breath away. Thank you for this lovely interlude in a busy day. I can always turn to your blog for gifts of beauty and peace. 🙂
Thank you, Kitty; nice to know that this is a refreshing stop for you 🙂 Daphne Carol Mackie is tricky; I think it is more about drainage than winter cold. I had one in my previous garden that barely made it to spring each year and had to be coaxed to survive – that garden was zone 6B/7A. This garden is more of a 5A (6 miles away, go figure!) but CM is very happy at the top of a hill and on the edge of the bed, never misses a beat, which convinces me of the drainage requirement. It may be worth another try – here’s a link for growing it in Wisconsin. http://wimastergardener.org/?q=DaphneCarolMackie
The Japanese maples are a blessing, some of my most beloved plants in the garden. I seriously love foliage, the backbone of the garden 🙂
I agree; it’s all about the “shrubbery,” as Monty Python might say. 🙂 I appreciate the link and will try again; I loved my CM and her beautiful scent! Greatly appreciated!