To compliment the various winter interest shrubs and perennials, we have added various ground covers. The one with the most brilliant winter impact is the ice plant sedum. From its bright light green summer color, it turns into an intense orange-red color in late fall and winter. With a light dusting of snow it is particularly striking.
Now let’s add a little flash of red to brighten up the winter garden. This species is a non-invasive dwarf reaching about two feet tall and wide at maturity. Here in the inland northwest it will maintain its red colored leaves during warm winters. Being a non-invasive plant, it does not have the typical white blossoms in the spring or the red berries in the fall and winter. But it is still a nice all season highlight to the garden.
A red barn, stately tree or two, shadows in the background, waves of wheat in the foreground, and sunlit ridges … sounds like a post card from the Palouse. Little vignettes like this are peppered all around the Palouse farmlands. As I drive around the country roads, I tend to stop for each one. I ask myself if there is something that is special. Is it the color, lines of the rolling hills, texture of the crops in the fields, light flowing across the landscape, or does it just catch my interest. Most, I just pause then drive on. A few, something inside says, “Take your time, wait for the shadows and highlights to flow across the scene to just the right position.”
And I recall John Barclay’s guidance, “When you see red, shoot!”
While searching through old images to help me come up with new ideas for enhancing our meadow for Heatherwood, I came upon several images of an arrangement of red and purple beebaum perennials. Aha! … the images blurred in my mind and I came up with the above abstract.
More practically, the image did give me an idea. We currently have red beebaums in the garden. They are relatively sparse and the tall blooms droop after a wind. The purple beebaum is a lower growing species and will prop the taller growing red blooms up as well as provide a nice complement shade to the arrangement.
What couldn’t be a better way to spend a vacation?
Leaning back in a chair on a wonderful sunny afternoon in Hawaii. Not a worry crossing my mind. Holding a beautiful glass of Cabernet up to the light. Gazing at those wonderful bubbles. And sharing it with the one I love! What a great day!
Brilliant beauty is everywhere. This single red maple leaf, edges covered with hoarfrost, made me stop in my tracks. It was just hanging there waiting for me to discover. Just a few ice crystals held it captured on the branch. After taking several photos, I turned around to look for other treasures. I glanced back, the red was not there. The leaf had fallen to the ground.
“Red, White, and Green … the Natural Colors of Western Washington”
When you see RED, SHOOT. This little advice from John Barclay sticks in my mind. Fall has a multitude of color contrasts. A red maple leaf always catches my eye. I saw “Greeting Card” written all over this image when I snapped the shutter.
A fallen red leaf nestles into a bed of green, getting ready for a long winter’s sleep
“Peaches” Capitol Hill Eastern Market, Washington DC
Fresh produce is the center piece of any Market. Ripe peaches made my mouth water.
A stroll through a Market brings something for all senses: sight, smell, feel, smell, and sounds. This day on a warm summer Sunday Morning offered it all.
Red Maple/Yellow Ginko – Washington Japanese Garden
This is what fall color is all about. I was able to photograph in the Washington Japanese Garden almost at its prime this fall. Colors were gorgeous everywhere. This particular scene caught my eye contrasting the brilliant reds and yellows,
I am taking an on-line course, “The Compelling Frame” by Dave duChemin. My focus for this excursion was to explore how different types of light created different effects. Here, the soft mid-morning light set the colors of these trees on fire. I am always searching and exploring ways to help me progress through my never-ending journey in photography. I strongly recommend Dave duChemin’s course.
Fuji X-T1, XF10-24mm @24mm. f/22. 1/13 sec, ISO 1600
The sky was very dark and covered with clouds. The landscape was very dark and covered with shadows. Â Then for a few seconds the sun popped out in a small gap in the clouds. Â The landscape opened up its arms for me to enjoy. Â The three hour drive starting at 3:00 AM to catch the sunrise was worth it!