Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Passing Wintertime


I've been missing the sun and warmth of Spring. Winter, at this point on the calender, always seems endless, and so I did a short tour through some of last Summer's photos yesterday.
I use Photoscape, a free download (and a darned GOOD one) to crop and brush up my photos. Generally it is just for color correction and very simple, old school things we did in the darkroom, in the printing process. A lot quicker with digital, but there is some of the adventure lost.
But the new filter selections for these were just plain FUN.
Images that remind me of going through boxes of old photos. (I have more than I care to admit that look like these...)
Indulge me for a few moments....let's remember when it was warm, bright, and full of flowers!

Fields of iris, swaying in the warm breezes~~nodding their heads that all is well....and I agree.

Peonies, full and lush, like hoop-skirted Southern Belles on the promenade with parasols.....sweet perfume drifting across the landscape.

A shy Wisteria, enjoying the shade and a respite from the bumble bees that make a halo about the whole shrub. They are intoxicated with pollen and scent!

Blackberry blossoms....they seem as far away as the photo. In the heat of Summer's start, they come forth and make a bridal veil across the rough uncut landscape. There is nothing more lovely than walking among them.

So Garden-Heart of mine, wait patiently. Soon enough all this will glow again, and bees will be your companions. Flowers will nod cordially as you walk by and camera time will again be the order of the day.
Until that time, dream sweetly through this Winter grey.


Pax....


18 comments:

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Sweet photos of summer's glories cheer me up to. We have our January thaw ...they give a name to everything these days...is here and the snow is looking so tired. I am praying for sunshine for the both of us today and all week ...but right now we are having a drizzle of rain. I wish you peace sweet friend, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Mary Helen,

I needed cheering too~~all the flower photos were hard to pick from! It was overwhelming how many I'd clicked off! But bright and cheery......
I'm hoping for a bit of sun and a bit warmer, though I vaguely recall a forecast for rain.
It's Indianan; wait 5 minutes and it all will change anyway.
Hope you're doing WELL!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Peonies always mean the beginning of summer and hot weather to me!

kj said...

Oh dear god thank you!! This deminishes the unpleasant view if my very white landscape. I miss flowers and gardens always in winter.

My fav photo is those peonies. They fascinate me, unable to stand on their own, peppered with ants, and yet their beauty is untouched

Happy day, my friend
love
kj

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Debra,

It's funny because while ours MAY bloom when it is extremely hot, they also seem to do well through cool spells. We certainly have had a climate change in our summers~~somtimes everything is bloomed out and gone by August.
But I do enjoy when the peonies bloom.....

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey KJ,

Epsom salts added abundantly to the ground around peonies helps them to have stronger stems. (or have a weed-packed garden like mine, and there is always something to hold them up...lol!)
I often go out after big rains and gently shake the water from the blossoms, then they are upright again.
I find them interesting as they are one of the few flowers where you actively see ants pollinating. Normally I think of that job for bees.

XXOO~~
Anne

Anonymous said...

Oh after this chilly morning walk, your colors just warm me right up. love that textured rough edge....xox

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Corrine,

I like the old photo texture too~~the new program has more things it does, but I got as far as these filters and was in a complete happy dither! (it takes so little....lol!)

XXOO~~
Anne

GlorV1 said...

Oh so nice Anne. Your photos are awesome and isn't it fun taking pictures of your garden areas. Thanks for the reminder of what awaits us. Happy New Year Anne and hope you are doing well. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hi Gloria,

I know when Spring hits in your area, you flora is much more exotic than mine, but in the depths of winter, it ALL looks good!
I'm doing good other that getting over that bronchial bug. Feeling much better; trying to behave....*sigh*.....hahahaha!

XXOO~~
Anne

Jo Murray said...

I feel for you poor cold people on the other side of the world. It's very warm here, but the down side is that it's dry too and the garden is looking a little sad. Your photos have cheered me up no end. Thanks Anne.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Jo,

I'd read about the awful heat and drought down under, along with wildfires.
Glad to be able to perk people up, even where it's warm!
I do think, in these cold Winters, the flowers of Spring are all that much prettier for the long wait! :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

yoborobo said...

Anne!!!! WHEN IS SPRING? We really haven't had a 'real' winter. I heard a guy on the radio call this "winter fall". Really? Because it feels like winter to me! lol! I love your photos, and they remind me that warm weather is just around the corner. Until then I will hunker down.:) xox!!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL! I don't know Pam.....obviously light years away.
Or just around the corner. Read where we are in *January Thaw*, whatever that means. All I know is it's still COLD and sufficient that I don't want to go out.
I am remaining in *hunkered position* too....hahaha! Like the old Civil Defense films...duck and cover. ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Jan said...

I love that cracked old photo effect but of course it is the flowers themselves that are the stars here. Thanks for brightening my day with these lovelies.

Karen S said...

Too pretty -- I so miss the flowers in the winter -- although my hibiscus plants are flowering up a storm this winter...

Carol said...

I've really enjoyed your flowers and the effects you've made on the photos. As Jo says, it really is hot on our side of the world, so I love to hear about your winter. Stay well, Anne dear... xox

Timaree said...

It's cold and wintry even here in the west. Kingman AZ was down to 12°F last night and Hemet CA (where citrus is a common tree in yards) was down to 30°F which was warmer than the night before at 21! I am ready for spring for sure! It was nice to see your flowers for a bit of that spring feeling.

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