Power of the Flower

TREEmendous Maple Photos Sampler

2022-09-25T15:26:00.004-04:00

I am finishing up editing a book about the old sugar maple in the back of our yard. It has inspired many people with its resilience.

This is how it looked 23 years ago when we moved in.

This is looking up into the hollow core.

The kids swung from the old rope.

Maple seedling

The Maple Sisters in the snow a decade ago.

Mamoul

2022-03-07T10:11:00.001-05:00

I heard a story on NPR about a woman that needed help with her English on an airplane flight and there was a stir on the plane. An Arabic man came to help and solved the language problem. The woman was so happy for her problem being solved that she took mamouls out of her bag and handed them out on the plane. He said it was the best airplane flight he ever had. These goodies are made in many cultures and religions....and they are fun to make.

Pear Collection III

2022-01-05T14:44:00.003-05:00

Pear Collection II

2022-01-05T14:13:00.013-05:00

Pear Collection I

2022-01-05T14:06:00.000-05:00

Pear Hugs and Amaryllis for Christmas

2021-12-27T10:20:00.002-05:00

Got these two pears in my box and had to paint them. They looked snuggled and looking out for each other. The layered background makes it look like an old fresco.

I got this amaryllis in Saugatuck Michigan at a store called Puddingstone. They create kokedamas with moss. It was a nub at Halloween. It made 8 flowers! This is my Christmas tradition.

Covid Pears Again! Watercolors.

2021-12-20T18:34:00.003-05:00

This pear had all the right curves. Couldn't help but paint it with watercolors.

The salt step....

First attempt. I used some nice handmade paper, but I realized it didnt have enough sizing in it and it was bleeding like crazy. Added some white ground to the paper.

Playing with cobalt blue and yellow green.

Misty Pears

2021-12-01T10:45:00.002-05:00

These are are my favorite pair of "pear pairs." They are quite content in this chaotic world. Watercolor has that feel to it sometimes.

Summer 2021, Flowers, Butterflies and conservatory in Detroit

2021-10-13T13:02:00.004-04:00

The desert room at Belle Isle

morning glory....

Painted Zinnia, a new one for me.

Cosmo....

Monarch on echinacea and goldenrod.

Ceraunus blue butterfly that I found at Maumee Bay. It is in a family of gossamer-winged butterflies.

The Fern room at Belle Isle

Leslie and I checking on the bees.

Scenes from Detroit

2021-09-21T17:11:00.000-04:00

The front of the DIA

The Main Library

The front of Old Main at Wayne State University

Motown!

Dequindre Cut walkway with murals

Viola Liuzzo Playground in Detroit

2021-07-29T15:17:00.001-04:00

I love taking people to visit the Viola Liuzzo Park in Detroit. She was murdered during the Selma march. The park honors the civil rights work of Viola, and is also a bioretention area for the city of Detroit. They were both small and mighty!

Our book, The Roads Between Us should be ready for mailing by the end of next week. The cost is $20. Postage is extra, autographs are free!

Some stonecrop at the garden.

The Roads Between Us

2021-07-27T08:16:00.004-04:00

Our book is out being printed after two years in the writing. We think you will be amused and enlightened by the book. It is historical and personal, and relevant to our times when talking about race and gender.

Email: theroadsbetweenus@gmail.com

Covid Cocktail Book, with Flowers

2021-04-21T07:55:00.002-04:00

Here are a few page samples from my Covid Cocktail Book. Some people call it the Booze Book, some call it a Cocktable book. Enjoy.

Flower Favorites

2021-04-21T07:44:00.002-04:00

Here are a few of my favorite flowers, starting at the top left.

Row 1:

This dandelion makes me smile. It means Teeth of the Lion in French.

The native columbine is very prolific and looks like a pretty dress.

Butterfly Weed is a milkweed, and a great feeder.

Row 2: Blackberry flower.

an early Spring Beauty

Blue Scilla

Row 3:

Close up of Lily of the Valley

Bees enjoying a sunflower

Wild Anemone

Row 4:

Bloodroot

Hawkweed

Canadian Violet- yellow

Bee and Butterfly Encore

2021-04-21T07:29:00.007-04:00

Here are a few of my garden visitors in my yard over the years.

I was asked for some bee and flower photos for a business promotion so I looked through some of my photos over the years. It was fun seeing so many of my little visitors on my favorite flowers. Above is a fragrant Rugosa rose that is quite prolific once it starts blooming.

New England Asters are my favorite because they are like a fireworks of purple blooms in early fall. This bee has legs full of pollen!

Iris and daisy make a nice combo.

Joe Pye weed is a great feeder for bees and butterflies. Another great native plant.

The color of this native Ironweed is spectacular and full of pollen. It is loved by this yellow swallowtail.

A White Sulphur on the purple New England aster.

Daffodils in the Garden

2020-04-30T09:41:00.001-04:00

Daffodils are peaking right now. Different varieties peak at different times. For this painting, I put down a pink background using red paint and a permanent white watercolor ground. While it was still wet, I used a wet brush and created the flower shapes by removing the pink to get back to the white paper. After that was dry I gave the flowers a little more detail. This was a new technique for me. The flowers are bringing me joy during this time of Covid separation.

Pears...Abate Fetel

2020-04-30T09:35:00.002-04:00

These two Abate Fetel pears had a great run. As they ripened they started to get a warm-pink glow.

No Touchy Pears II

2020-04-18T10:51:00.001-04:00

Pears that Don't Touch...Distancing

2020-04-18T10:50:00.001-04:00

Previous Pears that could Touch

2020-04-17T07:57:00.000-04:00

So many kinds of pears!

quicky!

Musical Pears

Single Pears

2020-04-15T20:23:00.001-04:00

Still Social Distancing, Red Bartlett Pears

2020-04-10T12:11:00.001-04:00

Red Bartlett pears social distancing. These are the last two pears I will have during this quarantine. I will miss them as I don't know when I will get another set of pears. Pears have been my friends over the years. Each week I would get two of them and place them on my studio fireplace. I would paint little paintings that are life size. Not big, very intimate. They were my little friends.
They would last about a week until they would pass away and I would put them in the yard for deer to eat.
Until distancing with this virus I would have them touching in lovely ways, an intimacy that I miss. But now they cannot as we cannot.
Here is to remembering and savoring what we have in our house...especially the last lemon or orange, apple or pear. Peace.

Two Pears That Don't Touch During Quarantine

2020-04-07T10:16:00.003-04:00

Tempting..but don't touch.

Abate Fetel pear butts.

see the salt?

Red Red Barlett Pears above

Cupcake Meditation (for Deb)

2020-04-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

March Morning (My Chickadees)

2020-04-05T08:59:00.000-04:00