Leaving Chicago's Fun

I didn't have enough time to gather in all of Chicago's beauties, but I did see the Botanical Gardens on a sparkling day. The gardens were full of spring color, plentiful red-winged black birds, and time to take is all in. I love gardens, and this one did not dissapoint.
 

Full (Corn) Moon

This is as 'corny' as you can get for this month's full 'corn' moon. After I was away for a few weeks, and the home temps reaching into the 90s-100s, I had to pull the dead stuff and replant the planters on the front step. These blossoms haven't budged for weeks. Must be happy. Neither have I!
 

Happy Flag

It's not that much of a jungle in my front yard, just good editing. I finished my lecture for the Festival of Quilts later this month (July 31st at 2 pm). And I wanted to include this shot to let them know I'm proudly flying the flag. It belongs to everyone, citizen or not, blue or red, giver or taker. Whoever is on this soil.
  

It's Time

My serviceberry tree is producing fruit, and I was lucky to grab a handful of these small berries. I'll be off next week teaching a workshop at the Art Quilt Midwest in Missouri, and I'm certain that when I return, the birds will have picked this clean. That's what this tree is for -- bird food!

 

Flower Moon

 

I promised myself that when I get caught up in my computer work, I'd visit the garden stores and add to my garden. For now, this viburnum, as sweet and fragrant as it is, will have to do for the Flower Moon this month. And it might be a few days before I'm ready to get those annuals.

Garden of Delight

Although this day was appointment driven (printing, dentist, physical therapy) I managed to get some garden therapy in for a perennial tour of a local gardening group. This urban garden stretched for three homes (all owned by one person) in an exuberent array. 
 

July and the Full Moon

July's full moon I never saw. I was bed before the light faded, so high a latitude in Juneau, I hadn't the energy to wait for it. So, a fabulous poppy from the Botanical Garden here, posting 9:30 Juneau time, but from 1:30 Rochester time, where I'm landed at last, and we're counting this post as Tuesday. Time!
 

Full Moon

These weeds will always be present. Tonight as I sought a fill moon substitute, available light made them look  better than they represent -- a takeover in the iris bed. Happy full moon May!
 

Dose of Inspiration

Yesterday was the time to go out to drive about the Finger Lakes and stop at this farm market. Each year they plant a 'field' of zinnias. Speaks well for interspersing points of color in a color field, 
 

Home Just Keeps On

The blooms didn't wait for me to return, they plantings here are getting copious amounts of rain. We've yet to have the brown grass, so my first order of business was to cut the grass. I love how everything is green, and these pale pink althea have become a favorite. 
 

No Filter

The quick midday walk around the garden left me with this swath of magenta. This must be why I like to print with this bold color. These are rose campions and they have seeded all the gardens as well as the lawn. Good thing I like them, they are everywhere.

 

June Moon

June's stand-in for the full moon is telling us that it's time to get in the garden and delight with all that is
opening and evolving. These keep returning, which makes me happy. In fact, the whole garden makes me happy. 

Spring?

I'm plenty fine to wait to get spring cleanup underway. I've too much still to tackle in the studio. Good think I don't see these as I come and go from the back door. Then I'd have to clean them up!
 

Loop Around the Hood

There's a Louis Kahn designed church a block away from me, and so I swung by to see what was in bloom. I know that the walks around the Columbus College of Art are lovely, but my neighborhood is pretty keen. Plus I'll gonna miss all my peonies, poppies and false indigo. Not the weeds, though.
 

To Market To Market

It's hard to overstate the gem that we've got in the Rochester Public Market. For about 6 Sundays they run "Flower Days" there. Today was the opening. I managed to exchange cash for pots. And this week I'll start to get the yard ready. I printed fabric as well, but this came first.

 

Early Sign of Spring

After a day of prepping for the workshop I took a few hours to help my daughter plant seedling trees. Her hillside has a cluster of Bloodroot. I had that plant once but had to leave it behind in a move. Seems it's followed my family and is with us again. That's what happens; something left reemerges. 
 

A Day Out

After a rain, a walk around leads me collecting leaves and plant images again, as well as these buds. I'll be looking for images to use this week for printing fabric, and this will serve as one of the motifs. Glad I photographed this for later.
 

Ever Changing

I have an everchanging garden. Not having given enough time, except for watering, I've specimen weeds and thugs that are taking over. But somehow I can't mind. I'll get there in time, or fall will come and it won't matter. Meanwhile, let's see what August will give me.
 

Reasons to Stay Put

I'll start an in person workshop Monday, the first in 17 months. I've gotten used to this stretch of staying put, if for no other reason than too watch the garden evolve. No more missing out on that special thing that bloomed just as I left, and faded just as I returned. Now I have to change back.
 

The Special Ordinary

Last year a talented quilt artist I admire send me hollyhock seeds. This seems to be the only plant that took. It's wonderful to have her name on this part of my garden. What good fortune I have to watch over plants that were gifted.