WaterDragon Sunday Post: Sunrise

SUNRISE (definition): The colors and light visible in the sky on an occasion of the sun’s first appearance in the morning, considered as a view or spectacle.

6:15 A.M. sunrise in Ocean City, Maryland.

“We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise, if we have waited in the darkness.” ~Unknown

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Today

Today was good.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow is another one.  ~ Dr. Seuss

Part of my garden….TODAY.

Thanks for visiting TODAY!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Daisies~ Forever Love

Daisy Time

by Marjorie Pickthall

See, the grass is full of stars,
Fallen in their brightness;
Hearts they have of shining gold,
Rays of shining whiteness.

Buttercups have honeyed hearts,
Bees they love the clover,
But I love the daisies’ dance
All the meadow over.

Blow, O blow, you happy winds,
Singing summer’s praises,
Up the field and down the field
A-dancing with the daisies.

Golden daisy.

Flowers don’t worry about how the’re going to bloom.  They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.  ~Jim Carrey

❤ I dedicate this post to my beautiful friend, who valiantly fought a horribly tough illness for months with an incredible upbeat attitude, but sadly passed away a week ago.   She was elegant and funny, giving and loving, talented and modest, and much more.  I miss her terribly.  My thoughts and prayers are with her family, whose ache is a million times my own.❤

Grace & Peace~

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Beautiful Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania~

 How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.  ~Benjamin Disraeli

On our recent spring trip, we visited our cousin who lives near Wilmington, Delaware.   There are  at least two beautiful gardens in the Wilmington area that are connected with Dupont estates.  One is Winterthur and the other is Longwood Gardens.   Longwood happens to be nearby in Pennsylvania.   Both garden estates are spectacular and seeing them in the springtime was wonderful, as all the early flowers had bloomed and trees had budded.   Put these gardens on your “must-see” list.  You will not forget them.  I will post Winterthur’s home and gardens at another time.  

Both Longwood and Winterthur have incorporated naturalized plantings.  As you walk through the woods, you are greeted with redbuds, cherry trees, creeping phlox, scattered daffodils, blue bells, azaleas and many more delights.   It truly is a treasure to behold;  a fanciful, magical setting, and one I’d love to create at my home.  (in my lifetime?!!)    Join me as we begin our walk through Longwood Gardens in the more formal flower beds.   Then we’ll walk through the woods, passing a lovely pond, and finally finish in the huge conservatory.  Let’s go!

Please click on a photo to start the gallery.

Formal beds.

Foxglove setting.

Whisper in one corner, you can hear in the other corner of this bench.

Lovely yellows.

All plantings are naturalized.

Redbud.

The naturalized plantings in the wooded area were gorgeous.

Some were Double-Bloom Redbuds.

I loved the pond, as you can see!

Purple creeping phlox.

Peace….

Wisteria was everywhere! Stunning!

Conservatory entrance….

The “Living Wall”. Plants on both sides of the hallway. Incredible!

I love these “Cones”! Haven’t looked them up yet.

Massive hanging basket of Fuchsia.

Newel post in the extraordinary children’s area.

Hanging baskets of geraniums.

The Orchid Room….

another orchid…..

Passion Flower.

Allee~a path through trees. (no accent available)

I hope you enjoyed our abbreviated  tour of Longwood Gardens.  There’s so much more to see than what I presented here.

If you’d like to learn more about the Gardens at Longwood, click here.

Thanks for visiting today…have a great day!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

WaterDragon Weekly Sunday Post: Door(s)

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.  ~Walt Disney

Got Paint?

Green doors.

All these Parisienne doors need is a little TLC.  A can of paint and some brass hardware, perhaps?

Thanks for stopping by.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Summer

When I think of summer, I think of going to Lake Michigan.  Our daughter and her husband live there and it’s fun to visit them for a day or two. (hope they agree!)  The beautiful beach is five minutes away,  the pier is a great place to walk,  and even the ice cream tastes better!

Sunsets are gorgeous over the lake……but this photo shows the setting sun’s reflection on clouds in the eastern sky.  It was a double delight that night!

The setting sun reflects on the clouds in the eastern sky.

It’s time to enjoy summer!  Yay!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Water Dragon Weekly Sunday Post: Pets

I could not let this challenge slip by without posting a photo of our beloved miniature Schnauzer, Schatzie.
In German, Schatz means Treasure.   Our Schatzie was certainly a treasure to us.
She was smart, loving and full of character.
Schatzie was a gift to our son for his 10th birthday.  I bought books on raising dogs so he could practice his reading skills.
One of the techniques he discovered in the books was to teach your dog to ring a bell when they want to relieve themselves outside.
It didn’t take long for Schatzie to learn that skill!
Starting when she was about a year old, she’d lay on the window seat, watching for squirrels and rabbits.  Soon we’d hear the bell ring every time she saw a rabbit or squirrel in the yard!
“Let me out! I want to chase them!”
Thereafter, the bell rang a lot!

Our precious Schatzie…..our special little Treasure.

 Nowadays, Schatzie is playing happily with all the other pets in Heaven.  We’re sure she’s ringing bells.  And we miss her so much.

 Thanks for visiting!  If you want to learn more about miniature Schnauzers, click here.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

postaweek2012 /Weekly Photo Challenge: Hands

When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of creation is completed inside us, the doors of our souls fly open, and love steps forth to heal everything in sight.
~Michael Bridge

These are the hands of my good friend.  We spent five days mudding and sanding drywall in a home devastated by Katrina in New Orleans.

Even wearing heavy work  gloves didn’t stop the drywall dust from coating our hands.

My friend’s hands at work, spreading the love in New Orleans.

Thanks for viewing my post today.  This is a special one for me.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Blue

We’re singing the “Ocean City Blues” in this photo!

Ocean City, Maryland

It’s a nice breezy day; a few whitecaps sparkle in the blue water, and a young man flies a kite on the sandy beach.

Ocean City, Maryland.

Thanks for visiting!

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.

Sublime Savannah~

Savannah is a lovely southern city.  We went with our friend, Gail, since it’s only two hours from St. Simons Island.  I’m a fan any kind of architecture and Savannah has beautiful examples of southern style, Colonial, low-country and even the influence of New Orleans style home designs.  We took the trolley tour instead of walking.  Because of that, you will notice  the roof of the trolley in some of my photos!  And there are a few that may look like we were zipping by!  It’s true!  We had one trolley driver with a lead foot!  I tried to take as many photos at stop signs as I could!

One of the charming aspects of Savannah’s city plan and layout, is the implementation of city “squares”.  These parks are throughout the historic section of the city; providing a wonderful green space, a place to sit under the cool shade of trees, a place to walk, and a place for children to run and play.  The squares were part of an original, elaborate plan by the Georgia colony’s founders.  General James Oglethorpe, a colonial representative of King George ll to the colonies, developed the Savannah Plan.  His plan consisted of a series of wards built around central squares, with trust lots on the east and west sides for public buildings and churches.  Tithing lots were planned for the colonists’ private homes on the north and south sites.   Originally there were 24 squares.  Today 21 squares remain, and all are beautifully maintained with fountains, benches, statuary and gardens.   

Click on a photo to start the gallery.

Shops, restaurants…..

The beautiful Talmadge Memorial Bridge over the Savannah River….

The lower level was for horses.

Thanks for traveling with me to Savannah!

If you’d like more information on the history of Savannah, click here.

Judy

All text and images are copyright © 2002-2012 and are the exclusive property of Judy Johnson (unless otherwise indicated). All Rights Reserved. All Images are protected under United States and International copyright laws. None of the images on this site are in the Public Domain.