Flowers

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. ...

[caption id=“attachment_1630” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] With Toronto’s freezing cold weather and ice storm this winter, my heart has many a day reflected on sitting out on a beautiful Summer’s Day.[/caption] To make myself feel better about the extremely cold weather we’re experiencing now, I took a look at some of last year’s images. These collages are a result of that time. Seeing these does make me feel better and brighter in spirit. ...

 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_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. ...

 [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_448” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Beautiful flowers and eyes!”][/caption] Flower-arranging is one of my hobbies. It gives me great delight to choose flowers at the florist’s and to pick flowers from the garden to create an arrangement. Some arrangements I’ve made are small and some have been larger. I’ve made arrangements to give as Birthday presents, Christmas presents, and lots of “thank you’s.” Working with flowers gives me a wonderful feeling. The images in this collage are of a smaller arrangement I did to take to a Memorial Service three weeks ago. I took the photos at home. The eyes in this collage are those of a baby boy nine months old and the caption in the collage was photographed from the cover of a journal in my local bookstore. These three elements just seemed to come together - beautiful flowers, beautiful eyes, and the caption “Beauty for your eyes to see.” ...

[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. ...

Spring comes to us bringing its own magic every year. Nowhere is this more evident than in the earth coming to life and producing a spectacular showcase of colorful, fresh blooms to make our hearts joyful. Spring is truly the Earth’s Birthday. [caption id=“attachment_59” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] To everything there is a Season[/caption] As I went about the garden and neighborhood taking the photos that are in this collage, I was mindful of the seasons that have passed in my own life and of the old verse, “To everything there is a season.” These kinds of thoughts were remote to me when I was in the springtime of my own life as I’m sure they don’t come to many people at that time of life. We tend to take life for granted. ...