the buds of dogwood

my dogwood buds are swelling...and the air smells of spring

a flower for Japan

matt matthus @ growing with plants sent out this image for his friends in japan
 
such a gentle delicate sadness
a cup of sorrow offered over an ocean
a bloom in midst of the darkest days
~camellia

parrot tulips

luscious, frilly things too hot for cold, cold ground... 













when autumn comes, 
i put the garden to bed.  
so tired from the busy year past that my back screams when i think, hmmm, some tulips would be nice!  so, i don't.  spring peaks greenly through the moldering soil, and i curse my smoldering back again, wishing i had planted those luscious, frilly tulips by my front door.  sigh.   

it's nice when i can create flower bouquets for people.  i paint with living things!