Spring on Late Blooms

Happy Easter!

Fri, 25 Mar 2016 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_2933” align=“aligncenter” width=“5256”] “The symbolic language of the crucifixion is the death of the old paradigm; resurrection is a leap into a whole new way of thinking.” – Deepak Chopra[/caption]

It’s time to celebrate Easter once again. Like Christmas, Easter is one of the big celebrations in the Christian calendar year. The crucifixion of Jesus took place on Good Friday and the resurrection followed three days later. On Good Friday, many people go to church but not quite as many as on Easter Sunday. Even people who don’t attend church the rest of the year sometimes go to church on Easter Sunday. I once heard a priest lament about the numbers that come out for Good Friday services. He said that people aren’t as much interested in the death of Jesus as in his resurrection. Below are some interesting statistics I found on the internet showing the percentages of persons of different faiths (age-of-the-sage.org). As you can see, there are many people for whom Easter is just a secular holiday.

Fresh-fallen Snow

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_2858” align=“aligncenter” width=“800”] “Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, nor time unmake what poets know.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson[/caption]

It was very beautiful outside yesterday with the fresh-fallen snow. I couldn’t resist going around the building that I live in to capture some of all the white stuff. I’m used to snow now but remember vividly the first snow flurries that I saw and felt. Seeing snow for the first time was exciting! That was in 1968. Prior to that, the only snow I ever saw was on Christmas cards and in pictures. The only Christmas I had ever known was a green one. These days when there is a huge snowfall, as we have now, I’m happy to say that I relish the snow’s beauty.

Winter Blahs!

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~John Steinbeck

This is the time of year when it’s easy to feel “down” with the weather. Christmas is over and all the bright lights, Christmas trees, get-togethers, and festivities of the season have come to an end. The freezing winter temperatures have descended upon us and it’s only January. Winter is a challenging time for getting around especially for those of us who are Senior Citizens. We worry about slipping and falling, getting the flu, shovelling the snow, not to mention all those layers of clothing we have to put on to even go outside.

A Toronto Neighbourhood

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

The above quote by George Moore came to mind as I admired how pretty and well-maintained the homes in the neighborhood look. This is a particularly lovely time of year with the Spirea in bloom. Many people have their hanging baskets and planters on their porches and their garden chairs out for when they are relaxing at home. As I get older, home is really the best place to be now for me. My own porch is just like going to a cottage for me.

Spring Magnolias

Sun, 18 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Magnolia tree

Attracting me,

Gladly blooming.

Nothing to prove

Only to bloom profusely,

Lovely you are with your pink hues.

Imbuing all with joy at Spring’s arrival

Annulling all the hardship of the winter past.

How lovely it was in High Park today. Sheer beauty! The magnolia’s time for blooming has come and irregardless of who’s watching or what anyone’s saying, she’s mesmerizing to everyone. Photographers are there trying to capture her beauty from all angles and positions. Some are taking microcosmic views and others macrocosmic ones. She knows how to be both beautiful and still.

High Park's Bloomin' Trees

Tue, 13 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000

No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. ~Hal Borland

This past winter was a long and difficult one for us in Toronto. We were all looking forward to Spring and it seemed too long in coming. But the good new is that it’s finally arrived. High Park was filled with people yesterday enjoying the “bloomin’ trees.” The cherry blossoms have started to blossom but the blooms are very young. They aren’t in bloom for a long time though so if you’re planning to go, try to get over there within the next few days. I spent a lovely afternoon in the park enjoying a glorious spring day. All the photo collages are images that I took there yesterday and without further ado, here they are!

Falls Views

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Niagara Falls has always been one of my favorite places that makes for a nice get-away from Toronto. Fortunately for me, through the generosity and kindness of a friend, my visits there are once a month. It doesn’t matter what time of year it happens to be, the Falls are spectacular. As you can see from the images above, the recent ice storm left the Bridal Veil Falls (American side) frozen. The Horseshoe Falls (Canadian side) continues to flow and is the larger of the two. Such natural beauty!

Top Ten Collages of 2013

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A new heart for a New Year, always! (Charles Dickens, The Chimes)

As the New Year draws closer, some of us are already thinking about what resolutions we are going to make to usher this ritual event into our lives. It’s definitely a chance for our hearts to be filled with hope for new beginnings and further realizations of our dreams and wishes - for ourselves and for others in 2014.

A Visit from the Muse

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_974” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“TheThree Graces (with forsythias - in bright sunshine)”][/caption]

_“Each of the arts whose office is to refine, purify, adorn, embellish and grace life is under the patronage of a muse, no god being found worthy to preside over the_m.” (Eliza Farnham)

[caption id=“attachment_973” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“The Three Graces (in greenery - in shady location)”][/caption]

The lovely bright, yellow forsythias, were in full bloom in our garden a few weeks ago. I don’t know how the idea came to me, but it did, to take my painting of “The Three Graces” and put it in the forsythia bushes and take some pictures. I also decided to try it in some greenery and you can also see the effect of this idea. I did this acrylic painting about ten years ago since dance and dancers have always had a special appeal for me. I was captivated by the beauty, elegance, and the poses of these ladies in their white, flowing dresses, in this work of art. I liked how their hands were intertwined and since the visual appeal was so great, my “muse” got to work.

A Garden Paradise ~ A Sanctuary

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_953” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures. (Francis Bacon)[/caption]

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don’t want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don’t have a soul.” (Thomas Moore)

Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)

Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

“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.

Impatiens (impatience)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

[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.

Canada Blooms

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

[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

Bridal Wreath

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_221” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Spirea Cantoniensis (Bridal Wreath)”][/caption]

If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

A few weeks ago, Spirea Cantoniensis (Bridal Wreath) was in full bloom. My soul, spirit, and every other part of me, was glad to receive this wonderful gift from Mother Nature. This shrub blooms for a short time in Spring and then fades to green foliage. As you can see from this collage, cascades of white blossoms hang on the branches and distill a feeling of purity, simplicity, and sheer beauty.