October

278/365: top of the ridge, autumn

There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.
–  Nathaniel Hawthorne

dancing queens

264/365: red and yellow dahlias

Can’t you just hear the music? I see a dance hall full of swirling red and yellow skirts, smiling faces, warmth and energy.

There are no wallflowers among dahlias.

beautiful mess, part two (autumn)

255/365: early autumn riot

This image expresses the tangled mess of nature and the absolute profusion of life that exists anywhere the natural world is left undisturbed if even a small space or a limited time. The energy and chaos and intermingling of so many different life forms, colors, textures – to me this is what nature is all about. It’s not an idealized concept of ‘landscape’ but it’s very real. For me, these scenes are full of hope – a testament to the how strong, robust & resilient nature can really be.

see ‘beautiful mess, part one’ here.

every diva has her day

250/365: zinnia

Zinnias are a beautiful but humble flower. Planted by haphazard handfuls of seed, they spring up cheerfully wherever they’re thrown. It’s never about choreography, just a riot of joyful color.

The spotlight changes everything.

hey, beautiful

226/365: monarch in the prairie garden

I could tell from the tattered wings that it’s been a tough journey. What a relief it must be to come upon a native plant feast like my neighborhood prairie garden!

It is SO good to see each and every monarch this year. Wishing them safe travels and plenty of flowers along the way.

growing like a weed

221/365: wild senna

You can tell the native plants BELONG here because of the way they thrive.

We chose the wild senna for the cool shape of the leaves. We had no idea that it would grow taller than me the first season (I’m 5’3 so it’s not a huge feat, but still).

If you live in the Twin Cities, please let me know if you’d like one of these giants for your own garden. I’ve got babies all over the place and I’m happy to share. Be ready for a soundtrack of contented buzzing – the pollinators are coming in droves.

 

snow in july

A new friend from a current garden photography project i’m working on. It was a snowflake I was happy to see in the heat of the summer.

208/365: yellow-fringed water snowflake

golden hours

Capturing this photo felt akin to bottling sunshine. Now if I can just figure out how to do it with time…

202/365: prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

unexpected guest

The new dark gray deck stain provided a perfect backdrop for my exotic visitor. This long-haired wonder hung out on the railing most of the day, giving me the perfect thing to shoot while the 2nd coat dried.

175/365: caterpillar

this, too

Still beautiful.

172/365: spent flowers