Nature

“When we go out among nature, clay is returning to clay. We are returning to participate in the stillness of the earth which first dreamed us.” (John O’Donohue) High Park was packed with lovers of the natural world and beauty last Friday when I visited. It was a spectacular sight to see the Sakura in bloom. We all enjoyed nature’s bountiful beauty. We weren’t happy to just see the sight, we wanted to take it away with us. Photographers were everywhere. I had my camera along with me and the collages you see here were from that wonderful time. ...

 [caption id=“attachment_854” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption="~ Impatiens Flower"][/caption] Synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have eyes to see. (Jung) I’ve been finding myself very impatient with myself lately. Spring is officially here and the weather is still cold in Toronto. In addition to that, although some shoots are out in the garden, nothing is in bloom. I can’t seem to wait for the flowers to bloom. While I know that “patience is virtue” and it’s better to be patient than impatient, I can’t seem to bring myself to the possession of this virtue right now. This led me to looking at some of last year’s Spring and Summer garden photos that I had taken. The “impatiens” flowers with their bright colours caught my attention and the results of my impatience can be seen in this collage. ...

 I hope some day to meet God, because I want to thank Him for the flowers. ~ (Robert Brault) When I visited “Canada Blooms” yesterday, my heart resonated and echoed these words. The flowers were magnificent and it was truly a taste of what we are all looking forward to seeing outdoors in the not too distant future. In my last post, as I mentioned, I had not yet started collaging or blogging. I have also never used several collages in one post. However, in this post I will share several photos that I took yesterday and made into collages. Springtime is truly not very far away. ...

 [caption id=“attachment_744” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Canada Blooms”][/caption] We can all do with seeing a few flowers in bloom here in Toronto after our last few weeks of snowy weather and cold. I noticed that the garden show called “Canada Blooms” which is now in its seventeenth year is presently on. All the images in this collage were from last year’s Canada Blooms. At that time, I hadn’t started to use my photos in the way I’m doing now. However, I was so uplifted in body, mind, and spirit, by being there that I wanted to capture lots of those special moments on my digital camera. Apparently, there is no other garden show as large as this one in Canada. It covers many different areas of gardening: (i) Flowers which come from the magnificent floral presentations of the Toronto Flower Show and innovative displays from well known professional florists and growers (ii) Education, featuring the best known garden and landscape experts from across Canada (iii) Marketplace showcasing the latest and greatest garden products and services (iv) Feature Gardens created by Ontario’s premier landscape designers (v) Special Sponsor Features ...

 [caption id=“attachment_722” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”][/caption] I wandered lonely as a Cloud I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host of dancing Daffodils; Along the Lake, beneath the trees, Ten thousand dancing in the breeze. The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: – A poet could not but be gay In such a laughing company: I gaz’d–and gaz’d–but little thought What wealth the shew to me had brought: For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils. ...

“Just remember, in the winter Far beneath the bitter snows Lies the seed, that with the sun’s love In the spring, becomes the rose” I was at Niagara Falls just after the snowstorm we had two weeks ago. All the images in this collage are from the 22nd floor hotel room we stayed in that overlooked the Horseshoe Falls. The Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side and is the bigger of the three Falls. “Did you know the Canadian Horseshoe Falls crest line is approximately 670m(2,200ft) wide? It drops about 57m(188ft) into the Lower Niagara River. The American and Bridal Veil Falls have a total crest line of about 326m(1,100ft). It drops about 57m(188ft). The broken rock at the bottom of the American and Bridal Veil Falls is called talus. This talus reduces the interrupted fall of the water to as little as 21m(70ft).” ...

 [caption id=“attachment_687” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Simple Flower Arrangements”][/caption] Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. - Ralph Waldo Emerson These simple flower arrangements were put together for use in my home a couple weeks ago. It was a special occasion. I decided to use Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila) as a big part of the arrangements and not just as a filler flower as it is often used. It is one of my favourites because it has such a delicate, light look, to it. It goes well wherever it is used. ...

 [caption id=“attachment_681” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Flowers - Niagara-on-the-Lake”][/caption] It’s lovely and white today in Toronto with all the snow that has fallen. I’m lucky that I didn’t have to go out or shovel snow. While I very much enjoy the beauty of all this whiteness, my soul and spirit longed for colour tonight. Luckily, I found some images that I had taken while visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake this past summer that brightened my spirit. Hope this collage will brighten your spirit too. For all those who like gardening and are looking forward to the time when flowers bloom again, here’s a poem for you in the dead of this winter. ...

[caption id=“attachment_641” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Let it Snow”][/caption] We’ve been hearing a song by this name playing in many different places prior to Christmas and some of us were “Dreaming of a White Christmas” as is sung in another song. Toronto received all this white stuff Boxing night - over ten inches. Beautiful and white, isn’t it? I was out for a walk yesterday and took these snow pictures in the neighbourhood. Even the little angel on my porch is now sitting in snow. All the little children love the snow and can make their own snowman now. They also like to lie in the snow and make “snow angels.” ...

[caption id=“attachment_574” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“The Rose Arbour Collage”][/caption] One thing in life calls for another; there is a fitness in events and places. The sight of a pleasant arbour puts it in our minds to sit there. One place suggests work, another idleness, a third early rising and long rambles in the dew. - Robert Louis Stevenson At the entrance to our garden, there is a rose arbour. It is particularly beautiful in the summertime when a variety of roses are out and we can enjoy walking under this canopy of roses to get to our door. When we sit on our front porch, we are also graced by this view. ...