Larkspur

One of my favorite flowering plants has to be the larkspur.  The flowers unfurl along a long, sinewy stalk, which gracefully curves and bends upwards to the sun.  Each flower along the stalk opens one at a time, from the bottom of the stem to the top, so that looking at the whole, you can see the entire progression from bud (still at the top) to full bloom (at the bottom).  The colors, too, follow some sort of progression, from the palest cerulean blue at the tip, to deep, shimery blueish purple further down.  And those blossoms!  Ever look at one closely?  It reminds me of a snapdragon, but more angular.  The inner petals curve in on themselves and enclose the stamen, all loaded with bright yellow pollen. Any bumble bee or butterfly that gets trapped in there looking for nectar is going to get a pollen shower, like it or not! At the back of the bloom, a long, green spur juts out, in true larkspur fashion.  It is surprisingly stiff and rubbery.  I suppose it serves some reproductive function, but I think it makes the flower so balanced and beautiful.  The delphinium (it's scientific name) is a relative of the buttercup but is very toxic. 'Delphinium' comes from the Latin word for dolphin, alluding to the shape of the opening flower... isn't that cool?

Azalea -- final drawing

Finally I finished it!  As time drags on in a lengthy drawing, I sometimes wonder why bother?  Why do I spend so much time trying to capture the likeness of something that is so perfect and so beautiful?  My version of it won't come anything close to God's version!  Well I wouldn't get very far if I let this thought stick around for very long.  All I have to do is look at the spent specimen when I'm done and I realize my drawing is an homage, an offering of sorts.  Gratitude that this little blossom graced the earth for a few days and made a beautiful spot of color in the landscape.  It is gone now, preserved only in memory.  And in my small drawing.  Is it enough to hold us over until next spring when the azaleas bloom again?

You are invited...

to come see my garden!  These pictures don't begin to do justice (probably because I took them at about 8:00 p.m.!).  We are having a fabulous spring in the garden, thanks to the good Lord sending plenty of rain and cool days.  We are now in The Pinks.  Spring in my garden always begins with the yellows of the daffodils and forsythia and witch hazel; then moves on to the psychedelic phase, which I've mentioned before and is blessedly brief; and then we get to The Pinks.  Pink peonies, pink roses, pink rhododendron and late azaleas.  All fragrant and feminine.  My favorite time of spring! 

I know I should be in my studio, hunched over my drawing table in hushed concentration, but with this heady, glorious, heavenly Symphony in Pink happening outside, how can I keep indoors?  Soon it will be over, and I'll begin the annual battle with the Japanese beetles and the voles and the slugs and the deer.  But right this minute, it is sublime.  If you're so inclined, do stop by and take a look this week.  Seriously!  And I'll leave the clippers on the back porch, in case you want to snip some peonies to take home . . . A bounty like this should be shared!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I'm making progress . . .

Excuses, excuses!

Well, for any folks out there who are actually checking up on me, I must apologize for the lack of interesting things to look at on this blog, of late.  We are in the thick of it this week -- 40 of Peter's students are coming over for dinner tomorrow and 40 more the following night.  Henry is in the midst of his AP exams, followed on Saturday by his SAT subject tests, poor fellow!  I am so dog tired I can hardly lift my arms to type.  I know these college kids don't give a darn what the place looks like, but you know me -- way too house (and pool and garden) proud for my own good.  So another day goes by without a daily draw.  Please don't give up on me!  I will return!!