Summer's Inspirations

Okay, where or where has the time gone? I am finding myself in the middle of July already! There's been soooo much to post and I just couldn't bring myself to take the time to do so until now (instead I have been luxuriously! away from the computer and choosing to instead be out in the midst of it all). So to catch you up to speed, here are just a few of the inspirations (in their texture, color, or form) I've seen in my garden this last month and a half: 

Crazy cool roots!

This garden season (for me) is all about defining (which can also be interpreted as pulling growing things (weeds or flowers, it doesn't matter) and scrapping/composting those that no longer fit into the picture of it all for a given area. I have had to harden my heart, so to speak, to be able to pull the plug on these living, growing green things that I love! But it's all about balance and finding the negative space, the space in between plants can be just as beautiful). And so I was tackling an area that had grown out of control when I gave a pull and a yank and I came up with this handful. The violet appearance above earth certainly didn't reflect what I found connected below.

What in the world?

My husband's son, Art, came across this one day as he was visiting me in the garden. This flat, grey, with lots of long hairs caterpillar was on a rock wall under a bridge in our backyard. It's something I would imagine seeing in a far away place, someplace exotic, instead of central Minnesota. I guess it just goes to show you don't need to travel far to witness such natural wonders. They exist all around us if we just take the time to see.....

Caught

One morning I lifted a pot on the back deck to move it slightly when I spotted 2 tree frogs nestled together underneath. By the time I returned with my camera to capture the romantic spooning they had put space in between themselves. I think they don't seem very happy by the disturbance....

Lovely veins

It almost sounds like something a nurse would say as she is about to poke you with a needle..... This is from an ornamental oregano plant, new to my garden this year. The color and minute detail is incredible! Check out the flower:

Underside/Backside of flower

Frontside of flower

I hope you are enjoying this season as much as I! I look forward to sharing with you what else I have been up to. Stay tuned  :)

Suction pads like no other

My friend, Leah, shared her find with me the other day as she knows I love bugs. It was a brilliant lime-green and 2 1/2" long luna moth caterpillar. I immediately was captivated and marveled at all of it's characteristics - from it's not so pretty head to the girth of it's waist to the hairs on it's pads. Days later, I am still in awe I was able to witness such a creature - a bit of Alice-like-wonderland amongst life's usual routine....

Oh!

My dear dog, George, found this wonderfully large beetle the other day. Unfortunately, it was down in the basement, so unnatural-like, I moved it back outdoors where hopefully it could proceed through the day much more natural-like as a beetle is meant to.  I need to figure out what kind it is - it had to be close to a quarter's size in diameter.... and the details are amazing! I'm sorry my camera couldn't capture it's unique tiny-ness! Though my mind has and it may eventually come out through the tiny brushes of my paint brush (not the beetle, but the idea of it's details in miniature form).  :)

Bugs, bugs and more bugs!

I was recently introduced to the artwork of Christopher Marley and am completely taken with his story and that he creates art using bugs.... though actually they are art in and of themselves with all of their shapes, colors, textures and patterns (but I'm guessing he already knows this as this is most likely what has drawn him to do what he does).

Personally, I've always liked bugs (my dad built me a 'bug house' when I was little - it was where I could put all of what I had found inside a miniature world that I had planted and cared for) and I am always excited by the possibilities of coming across some strange and unknown creepy crawly when I travel. I'm always the one looking for and even wanting to touch what I come across (though perhaps not always the safest thing to do as I found out on our recent trip to Costa Rica). Regardless, I am fascinated with them and appreciate the approach Christopher has taken. Check out his link: http://www.formandpheromone.com. "Center of Focus" and "Carnivorous Plants" (both found under 'Artwork') are my favorites....

"Time flies like...."

an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx

A new-found favorite quote of mine as I am curious about the passing of time and I am intrigued by fruit flies (on a side note, I think a fun title for a painting would be: " the nose of a fruit fly" (as I think they must have a wonderful sense of smell in order to locate the source of their food!)). I also like the play on words and the sense of humor in this quote....