Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary~Sculpture of Rose McClendon

Solitary: definition~ “occurring singly and not as part of a group or cluster”.  
Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  

Solitary, singular, alone, lone, special, sole, unique.

This sculpture of Rose McClendon stands alone proudly on the grounds of Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural commission for the Edgar Kaufmann family.  She graces the garden near the walkway that joins the main house and guest house at Fallingwater.

Standing in a prayerful pose, she is startlingly beautiful, serene and reverent, as she tilts her head back toward Heaven.

Rose indeed was special and unique.  She was ‘one of the most renowned African-American stage performers of her time’. *  She starred in eleven Broadway productions.
Ethel Barrymore once said: “She can teach them all distinction.”  Aside from stage work, Rose directed and produced, and was co-founder of the Negro People’s Theatre in Harlem, and supervised the Federal Negro Theatre. *

When we visited Fallingwater, I was mesmerized by Rose.  It was raining lightly, so she had droplets cascading down her face. She looked as if she was crying in prayer, becoming more realistic than just a cast-stone sculpture.  I was very moved by this lovely piece.
I hope you can also feel the emotion as you look at the photo.

Sculpture of Rose McClendon (1884-1936) by Richmond Barthe

*Taken from: Website about Fallingwater click here.

Thanks for coming to visit!  I really appreciate it!

Judy

COPYRIGHT

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.

 

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Weekly Image of Life: Seasons and Changes~ Red Leaves?

“The one red leaf, the last of its clan, 
That dances as often as dance it can,  
Hanging so light, and hanging so high, 
On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.”
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772-1834

Our Japanese Maple tree is green for most seasons in bloom~ from spring through summer.  In fall the leaves usually turn a bright, beautiful shade of red.
It truly lights up the garden with its seasonal change.

The Japanese Maple contrasts nicely with the strap-like green and white leaves of the Yucca below it.

Last year’s Japanese Maple in fall…

Last year…

But this year there were changes, even before we got to September.
Our normally green Japanese Maple leaves began turning a bronze-green color in July.
They’ve remained that color for the rest of the summer.  I believe it has to to with our extremely hot, dry weather this summer.  All of our plants have suffered in some way or another, even with watering.

Just this week I began to see a tinge of red around the leaf edges.
Perhaps we’ll get some red after all!  Changes!

This year…

“Change in all things is sweet.” ~Aristotle

The Weekly Image of Life post: Seasons & Changes, is brought to you by Island Traveler’s blog: “This Man’s Journey”.  Check out his post on Seasons & Changes, here, and join the rest of us…by sharing photos or stories of Seasons and Changes.  Each Wednesday, Island Traveler will post a new challenge.  Come join the fun!

Judy

COPYRIGHT

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 Image of Life: Discovery~Dahlias

“I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”  ~Claude Monet

I have to wonder if Claude Monet had observed Dahlias when he made that remark!  Dahlias are my new discovery!   I’d always known they existed, but it was just recently that I became obsessive about them!

A blogger friend, Cee, has been a big influence for me in my “Dahlia Discovery”!  Cee loves Dahlias and takes gorgeous photos of these lovely flowers.  Here’s a link to a post on her blog with amazingly beautiful dahlia photography. Click here to see it.  Cee knows the names of the flowers and has been a dahlia fan for a long time.  Check out her blog!  Thanks, Cee!

Dahlias range from 2″ in diameter to over 10″ in diameter!

Beautiful multiple-petaled flowers smile in the sunshine.

Did you know that Dahlias were introduced in Europe at the end of the 18th century?

A bright and cheery yellow dahlia.

The dahlia is the Official Flower of Mexico, Seattle and San Francisco.

There are two pink dahlias in this photo. One is hiding behind the dahlia in the foreground.

Dahlias are in the same family as Chrysanthemums, and often are hard to tell apart.

Dahlia or Chrysanthemum? 😉

There are approximately 50,000 named varieties of Dahlias.

Without the use of my tripod or macro lens, besides taking photos in the middle of the day….I knew I was in for some iffy shots! But I was tickled Pink with this one. 😉

 “The Queen” ~in the middle of a garden, being “guarded” by other flowers!  I could not get close enough to take a clear photo.  However, I thought this dahlia was a stunning example of the species.

“The Queen”~so named by me~ 😉

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”  ~Luther Burbank

The Weekly Image of Life post: Discovery, is brought to you by Island Traveler’s blog: “This Man’s Journey”.  Check out his post on Discovery, here, and join the rest of us…by telling us what you’ve discovered in your life.  Each Wednesday, Island Traveler will post a new challenge.  Come join the fun!

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

Gardening for the Soul

My daughter, Kara, has a lovely garden.  It’s just steps from her door, and it brings abundant color to her living room.  She’s a great gardener, tending her plants with the care of a “flower mother”!  Her garden is a riot of color: blue, red, yellow, purple, orange, white,
and pink.

Gardeners know how good it feels to dig in the dirt and watch their plants grow.
It surely feeds our inner being, our soul.  It’s a connection to the earth and life.

This year Kara’s garden is extraordinary because she dedicated it to the memory of our close friend, who passed away in May.  She told me she wanted to have a beautiful garden because our friend was such a beautiful person inside and out, and always doing things for others.  I think our friend, who was a fantastic gardener herself, is watching over Kara’s garden and smiling. 😉

“Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul.”  ~Linda Solegato

Kara’s Garden~

~Zinnias, Salvia, Petunias~

~Impatiens, Salvia~

~pretty orange flower~

~pink daisy-like flower~

“When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.  If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.”
~Author Unknown

~daisy-like flower bud, unfolding~

~purple daisy opening~

~Kara’s Garden….a burst of color from containers!~

Kara’s Garden is not situated on a large piece of land.  She and her husband have a condo and the garden is on the deck!  The deck has benches, so flower boxes fill the benches, railings and the floor below the benches.  She even has a corner with an Herb Garden.  Two “upside down” bagged tomato plants hang from the upper deck, loaded with large green tomatoes!  Those tomato plants are about 6′ tall!
An entire garden in containers!

Do you like to garden?  Do you use containers?

Thanks for visiting.  Please excuse the construction on my new theme!  I’m still playing with the features! 😉

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.

 

Stand-Off at the Bird Bath~

Watching the behavior of the birds at the feeder, on the ground and around the bird bath reminds me a lot of human beings. 
There’s quite a bit of dynamics and drama that goes on if you take the time to observe!
Just like humans, the way they relate and react to each other,  and to the group as a whole is very interesting.

  “A simple rule in dealing with those who are hard to get along with is to remember that this person is striving to assert his superiority; and you must deal with him from that point of view.”
~Alfred Adler 

~ Stand-Off at the Bird Bath~ 

Settling in for a nice time at the local spa, Blue Jay is content and peaceful.

…………………….

All of a sudden he has company  as Mr. Robin and Mr. Cardinal appear.  “This is MINE!”, Mr. Blue Jay squawks, protecting “his bath time.
The look he gives Mr. Robin is very intense.  Mr. Cardinal stays off to the right near the roses. 

……………..

“It’s STILL MINE!”, grumps Mr. Blue Jay, claiming his territory loudly. Mr. Robin slips into the shadows, not desiring to create a scene.
Mr. Blue Jay scolds Mr. Cardinal, who slinks further into the rose bush.

……………………..

Finally the others disappear.  Mr. Blue Jay has what he wants….his spa tub, peaceful and ready just for him, ALONE
He decides to take a sip before his dip. 

………………………

.
Mr. Blue Jay is alone and ready now….

SPLASH!  BUBBLE, GULP!

……………..

THRASH!  GLUG BLUB BLUB….!

………………….

Mr. Blue Jay finally comes up for air.  “AHHHHH”, he says, “this is the life!  I love my spa tub!”

………………

“MINE !!”, said Mr. Cardinal.   “I LOVE MY SPA TUB!”

oops!  😉

……………………

And that was the end of the Wednesday afternoon Stand-Off!

Until the next Bird Tail/Tale…….

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 Image of Life: Happiness

Hello dear blogger friends~

My friend, Island Traveler, from the blog This Man’s Journey has started a new photo/writing challenge for Wednesdays.  It’s called Weekly Image of Life.   This week’s challenge is Happiness.  If you’d like to join, go to his site ..click on his blog name.  You are not required to do the challenge every week, but go to his blog to read the exciting details he has planned.

“A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.”  ~Author Unknown

Happiness is sitting on a bench, pondering life together.

One joy scatters a hundred griefs.  ~Chinese Proverb

May you find happiness wherever it blooms today and forever.  Sometimes we look all around for happiness, but instead, it may come as a surprise.  A smile from a stranger, a note or email from someone we haven’t heard from in a long time, a flower blooming by itself in the center of the garden, or the car ahead of us paying our toll.   Happiness can come in many forms.  And when we Give Happiness to others, we also receive the gift back to us. ~

Have a Blessed day full of happiness~

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.

“A Rose is a Rose is a Rose”? (Gertrude Stein)

The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.
~Author Unknown

……….

Roses from my garden,

Giving me smiles every day.  

When the roses fade in fall

I have  memories to keep me smiling

Until summer again comes my way.

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.

Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI.

Hi everyone!

I’ve posted about Frederik Meijer Gardens before;  but we went there in late April, and I wanted to share some of the spring photos.
Frederik Meijer began one of the largest grocery chains in Michigan.   It ultimately grew to serve Illinois, Ohio and Indiana too.   Since Grand Rapids is his home base, he began Frederik Meijer Gardens as a place where the community and visitors from all over the world, can come, relax and enjoy the surroundings.

 A pond in the garden with a simple bench for reading or relaxing.

A pond in the gardens with an inviting bench.

 

A simple shed turns into a magical place with pink dogwood branches making an entrance arch.

A shed is tucked away under spring flowers, like a secret house.

Pretty falls sparkle in the sun; splashing water on the rocks as it tumbles to the bottom.

Cool spring water flows softly down the rocky falls, diving into the pond.

The palace must be her home, she thinks, as this dainty royal purple tulip bows her head.

A heavy water-laden purple tulip bows royally.

After a sleepy winter, the pond awakes with soft colors, mirroring the new buds around its perimeter.

A pond shows off its reflection with new spring buds.

A quick storm blows through and sets off a flurry of activity in the sky.  The clouds form amazing, cotton candy puffs and colors to dazzle the eyes.

The storm is over; the clouds have a party in the sky.

Shades of blue and pink decorate the late evening sky. What a treat!

Thanks for going to Grand Rapids with 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.