Category Archives: Garden

What the Storm Brought

Posted on by
38
  • mounds of snow
  • playtime with Angel Eyes
  • breathtaking winter scenes
  • warmer weather and a thaw
  • the last snow storm of the year?

I woke up to a winter wonderland in March, every twig and bough coated with snow. By this afternoon, most of the six inches of snow was melting away. Ephemeral beauty; a black and white world in color.

Angel in the snow
Black and white in color
Forsythia bank
To the road
Snowy pines
The front garden 2
Lacy snowy woods
Lacy branches
Garden and woods
Snowy bench in garden
Snowy bench
Cascading pines
Cherry and mulberry
Black and white woods
Snowy branch

Preparing for the Storm

Posted on by
33
  • Red pennisetumcut down old foliage in garden and prune shrubs
  • rake and clean up garden beds
  • reveal unexpected blooming crocus and say hello to them
  • view handiwork at end of the day before it is covered by white mulch (snow)
  • light a fire in the fireplace
  • uncork a bottle of wine and toast the wilds of March
  • review and revise lists of plants to order from catalogs
  • finalize plans to visit garden shows for a flower fix
  • dream of the garden to come
  • smile

Memories of a garden in motion 

In Like a Lion

Posted on by
30

In like a lion, out like a lamb.  (weather lore for March)

It is my great hope that the saying runs true this year, as more snowy icy weather has arrived with March here in western Pennsylvania. The woods and garden were undeniably lovely this morning as Angel and I rambled about. I spoke on “Fun With Color” to a master gardener’s graduation dinner last night; my inner vision was still filled with all of the color saturated garden photos in my presentation and I dreamed of the garden in full bloom last night. How startling to carry that colorful inner vision into the morning world of white and gray and brown! Nevertheless, the grainy snowfall fell gracefully against tree and stone and I could not but help admire nature’s monochromatic beauty.

Click on any image to start the gallery view.

Snowy rocks
Snowy steps
Snowy garden
Snowy woodpile
Snowy leaves
Snowy tree
Snowy tree roots
Asleep for the winter
Coffee, anyone?

All images ©2013 Lynn Emberg Purse, All Rights Reserved

To see some of those color-saturated garden photos, explore the Flower Portrait and Garden Photo galleries in the Photo Gallery Section.

For another March lion celebration, check out Carol’s Friday dance post featuring Miriam Makeba.

Signs of Spring

Posted on by
39

I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost bright. ~ Millard Kaufman

The onslaught of the freeze thaw cycle is upon us. We have shifted from bitter cold and heavy snow to balmy sunny days twice in the past four weeks. This morning, in the midst of a short lived thaw, I discovered snow drops blooming and hellebores in full bud.  Signs of spring are everywhere, from the green snouts of daffodils poking into the world to buds swelling on the cherry tree. A promise of what is to come.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A Day in the Tropics

Posted on by
33

Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too.  ~William Cowper 

We are fortunate to have the Phipps Conservatory, a wonderful glass house, in the heart of Pittsburgh. A visit to Phipps in the dead of winter is a treat for the senses, and members can take a tripod for photography early on Sunday mornings. Last Sunday, my friend Suzan and I indulged in a ninety minute whirlwind of intense picture taking amid the tropical splendor of an orchid show. Not only was this a great winter interlude, it was also an opportunity for me to give my new camera a workout and test the waters for the equipment I may need for my  A Year in Penn’s Woods project. The challenge of taking photos with limited space in which to maneuver a tripod and varied sources of light was useful in determining what worked with my current camera gear and what needed to be changed. I’m convinced that a few more trips to this warm green space filled with flowers will be required to continue my research this winter 🙂

Enjoy the tour of my morning in the tropics.

A first look at the tower of orchids in the Palm Court
Pink orchid spray below the tower
A tiny orchid along the path
The green path leading to the orchid room
Two Chihuly glass bowls
Maidenhair ferns line the path in the Fern Room
Moss and ferns add texture
Brilliant aloe and orchid flowers in the Orchid Room
Showy orchid flowers
Cream and magenta orchid
Spidery shaped orchid
Rich brown tones in orchid
Lady slipper orchid
Chilhuly Glass flames stand guard along the path
More Chihuly glass bowls
Deep rose magenta orchid
A tiny Phipps Conservatory in the railroad garden
A stream in the railroad garden
Grand orchid display in the Sunken Garden
White orchids are a feature in the Sunken Garden
Chihuly glass sun in the Desert Room
Blush pink spray of orchids
Blush pink orchid blossom

What, I sometimes wonder, would it be like if I lived in a country where winter is a matter of a few chilly days and a few weeks’ rain; where the sun is never far away, and the flowers bloom all year long? ~ Anna Neagle