7/25/12

By any other name...

The rose still smells sweet and its beauty remains regardless of whatever we may call it. In the case of this post, I’m including all flowers. I believe Juliet would approve.

As opposed to “green” my thumb is brown. Decaying, even. Cracking and crumbly. Maybe more of an ashy-gray-brown than merely brown. Nice visual, eh? Just trying to get my point across as firmly as possible. How’s this? Someone once said of me that when I visit a nursery the plants quake in fear that I might actually purchase and take one of them home with me. A death sentence for the plant, to be sure. Not on purpose, mind you. I bear no ill will toward plants of any kind. Mercifully (for the plants sake), I gave up on gardening years ago. Now I stick strictly to taking photos or doodling plants and flowers.

The well-manicured holds little interest for me and my taste runs to wildness or at the very least deliberate unkemptness. As such, rather than receive a flower delivery or cut and arrange them in a vase, I much prefer them in their natural element: growing in gardens (other peoples), waiving delicately from fields, or my favorite springing up unexpectedly by the side of the road and sprouting from cracks in the pavement. I’ve always felt this is Nature’s way of saying “Fu*k you, humans. Think you can restrict me? Hah!” in the nicest and most beautiful way possible. Nature is amazingly resilient and Beauty always finds a way to be expressed in the world. Sadly, ugliness also always manages to have its say, but that’s not what this post is about today.

Due to the sticky, at times unbearable, and generally annoying uncomfortable heat of summer like many others, I’ve taken to hiding indoors. One day I’ll find a lovely cool cave, preferably one located behind a waterfall, and I'll wait out the summer from there, but until then the walls of our home will have to do.

I still take my early (early, early) morning walks; however, the darkness at this time is not brilliant for taking photos. I need to force myself to do things other than (and totally unrelated to) work. Photography generally fills this spot for me. Since the burning sun of summer is not my friend, I’ve been going through and cataloging my prior photo endeavors. A girl has to have some fun, right?

 A couple of years ago my husband and I took a trip to the country he left for me, the UK (I call it the “old country”). For three amazing weeks we traveled by plane, car, bus, train, and foot from London to Edinburgh and quite a few spots in between. I won’t go on and on about it (for now), but I will say that I fell hard for the UK. And ouch, it hurts to be parted from a place that you love so much. Under what (for me) passes as normal circumstances, I take a considerable amount of photos. But in the UK? I went insane(r). If I wasn't stuffing my face with chips or slurping a beer, I pretty much had a camera glued to my face. And because I literally took thousands of images, I’ve been meaning to sit down and catalog them. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, don’t you just love digital? I could have never taken so many photos with good old 35mm film.

I already had the photos sorted into files by date, but I decided that organizing merely by date or even place isn’t interesting enough, so I’m also creating collections by subject matter. Regardless of the tediousness of the process, I am finding it enjoyable sorting through our memories. And you may find it a relief that I'm finally getting back to the subject of this post by saying that below are a few images from my still-in-the-process-of-cataloging Flower Collection. If wherever you happen to be is also too hot to enjoy being out and about, I hope you’ve found some fun ways to occupy yourself indoors during these summer months. 


Hyde Park, London


Hyde Park, London

Leasowe Promenade, the Wirral

Thurstaton, the Wirral


Thurstaton, the Wirral


West Kirby, the Wirral


West Kirby, the Wirral


Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Harrogate, North Yorkshire


Ripley Castle Gardens, North Yorkshire


Ripley Castle Gardens, North Yorkshire


Ripley Castle Gardens, North Yorkshire


Ripley Castle Gardens, North Yorkshire



20 comments:

  1. Oh thank you my friend! I'm missing looking at beautiful flowers, mine aren't doing well at all. Even though I'm watering them every couple of days. (it's the reason I haven't wrote in my garden blog)

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    1. Aww, I'm sorry Natalie! The temperatures you've been having out your way is not good for people, animals, or plants! I really hope you get some relief soon. xoxo

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  2. Gorgeous photos! Traveling to the UK is on my bucket list.

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    1. Thanks, Suzie! I hope you get over there soon! :)

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  3. Hi Intricate Knot!

    I know it's been awhile and I do apologize for not stopping by in the past few weeks. I sort of went on a hiatus because my transition from the end of the school year (I teach) to the summer was a little rough. So the past couple of weeks I've been finally getting back into the blogging world.

    Your photographs are absolutely beautiful. And I completely understand how you feel about the heat. On the east coast we really didn't get much of a winter and this summer has been unbearably hot. I am more of a fall and winter girl. I love layered clothing, curling up with my boyfriend on a cold night with hot chocolate or tea, watching the snow fall and the world turn white. It's hard to get motivated in the heat. I think you taking the time to catalog your photos is a great way to still be involved with photography but staying cool while doing it :)

    Not everyone is born with a green thumb. My father is absolutely amazing with growing things. I didn't realize it until one day I looked out in our backyard and saw he had like 4 different gardens going. Cucumbers, watermelon, peppers, onions, pumpkins, cabbage, lettuce, radish, etc. In fact, my parents just got done canning pickles. Crazy, right? I know growing your own food is a bit different from planting flowers, but it is definitely an art.

    Anyway, glad you are keeping cool! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. I'll be stopping back soon!

    xxoo,
    Mia @ The Muses Circle

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    1. Hellooo Mia!

      No worries, I completely understand. The summer months are (a crazy!!) busy time for a lot of folks, anyway: kids out of school, vacations, the heat!!

      So glad you like the photos. I hear you all are really suffering back east this year. Although I do enjoy the spring, like yourself I am totally a fall and winter gal!! And I always get so excited for all the holidays, especially Halloween.

      It is absolutely an art and your father sounds like he is blessed by the Green Man or green fairy! How wonderful to grow your own veggies! I do a little preserves, etc, but it would be even better if I had grown the produce myself.

      Thanks so much for stopping by and I Iope you're managing to stay cool, too, Mia! xoxo

      IK

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  4. Hi and Howdy, My Wild Friend! How are you?!

    We traveled west to Colorado a few weeks ago to pick up our niece and nephew (thought of you), whisked them away with our crew to spend a week or so in Miserably Hot Missouri! Even the green thumbs are wasting away in this Severe Drought we're under! Fortunately we are on a well here and are still able to water pasture for the horses. God knows hay prices are going to be sky high!

    Your photographs are beautiful! As they always are! Almost makes my mouth water thinking of all the rain that must be falling up there. LOVE the flowers growing in the pothole! Life sure does find a way, doesn't it?! (;

    I've missed you, IK!! I've read what I could from my phone this summer, but just have not had time until now to sit with my computer. In fact, I should very well be bending over in my gardens right this minute, since the heat has dropped into the 90's, but alas, I just don't feel like working outside. This drought has sapped all of my energy and motivation.

    So, here I am saying hello to my favorites! I did get a little summer reading in, as I watched over countless children in the pool, in my kitchen, in my bed, in my head, in my bathroom, in my way, in my LIFE, thank you universe!

    Read two young adult novels (meh), three VERY adult novels, one lovely book called "Landing Run", and am now reading Johanna Garth's, "Losing Beauty". Loving this one! This is a great accomplishment for me. I had all but given up on ever reading a book again after inviting kids into our lives.

    Still a month to go before they're back in school. Now to find some time for me. #1 Stop in for a visit with, IK. Check.

    Love! and Rain ~ Glorious rain.

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    1. (A Great Big) Howdy, Scarlett!

      How wonderful to hear from you!!

      This summer has been a bad one for a lot of folks this year, and I'm afraid you're right and all the prices of hay and produce will be sky-high! Unless my friends and I can figure out this whole rain dance thing, it doesn't look to be getting better. :(

      I hear you about feeling "sapped." Our bodies are just not made for these temperatures!! I am soooooo looking forward to fall. The oak tree out our bedroom window has started to drop some of her acorns, a small sign of what's to come and this year I'm especially glad to hear it!

      Glad you've got some reading time in between summer madness. I've not managed to read much of anything due to trying-to-get-a-small-business-up-and-viable madness!! Hoping that will change with the seasons. We will see. I'll add "Landing Run" and "Losing Beauty" to my (now infamous) To Read List.

      I've really missed you, Scarlett(((big hugs))). We will have to catch up on your lovely front porch with a large glass of iced tea and some glazed doughnuts SOON!!

      Hope you manage to squeeze in a little bit more me-time and that the weather takes a turn for the cooler and wetter.

      Love & Rain, Rain, Rain!

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  5. I'm glad you found time to post some pictures of the flowers in the UK. the pictures are wonderful and I love the one from West Kirby, of the daisy growing by the side of the road. And that beautiful purple flower from Harrogate is wonderful too!

    I'm looking forward to more from your Flower Collection, IK

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    1. As they say, "there's plenty more where that came from"!!! Thanks, Mr.GG! My fav is the daisies growing in the street at West Kirby, too. :)

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  6. I, too, have a black & murderous thumb, so I always enjoy images of flowers since there's no risk of me killing them. You have a gorgeous collection here, which I am appreciating from my air-conditioned home office. Always so happy to see your name pop up in my feed --- even if I don't get a chance to read your posts right away, just knowing one is waiting makes me smile! So look at that --- you are spreading joy just by appearing in my reader! :)
    xoxo

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    1. The "Black & Murderous Thumb" sounds like the title of great horror classic. Good thing plants don't read, or they'd really be terrified!

      And Andi-Roo, I'm so glad I'm not alone in my lack of gardening skills AND really glad you have A/C!!

      Happy to hear you enjoyed the flower pics! Thanks for stopping by! :) xoxo

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  7. I have to agree with Mr. Green, i love that picture of the daisy growing out of the road! You can't stop nature!
    all the pictures are wonderful! What an amazing time you must've had and absolutely beautiful!

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    1. Yeah, that's my fav, too. Nature does as She Pleases, and only let's us think we're in charge. I can't wait to post more flower pics and I hope you'll enjoy those, too, Dev! xxx

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  8. Such amazing beauty in the UK. No wonder you were loathe to leave and hope to live there some day. Those flower images are simply gorgeous!

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    1. Yep. Really glad you enjoyed the photos, Amberr!! :)

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  9. beautiful pictures....and beautiful memories!!

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    1. Thanks, Annmarie! My apologies for the late reply, I've been off-line for a while.

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  10. I'm going to use this your blog as an excuse not to cut my grass...I'm with you:)

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    1. I'm glad my post could be put to such good use, RA! My apologies for the late reply, I've been out of commission for a while. Looking forward to catching up with you. :)

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