“Ice Plant in Transition”
Heatherwood Winter
We have been busy with Heatherwood’s spring cleaning. During this time of year, I am always looking out for the little things that have started their spring growth or color change. In the image above, the ice plant is changing from its winter orange/red to its summer lime green.
“Siberian Iris”
Heatherwood Woodland Garden
This small patch of Siberian Irises is one of the first harbingers of spring in Heatherwood’s woodland garden area. The early morning shadows of a bare redbud tree adds a little perspective.
“Bleeding Hearts”
Heatherwood Spring
Bleeding Hearts have always been a symbol for Valentines Day even though they bloom in May. This Bleeding Heart was the first plant that I planted in our garden after moving to Selah in 2016. Each year I anxiously await for it to present its spring glory.
“Daffodils”
Heatherwood Spring
We have had snow on the ground since Christmas. I am ready for a little spring snow created by a drift of daffodils. We have enjoyed the beauty of the snow covered garden, but are anxious to get back to gardening activities. There are bushes to prune, grasses to cut, perennials to trim back, and beds to prepare as we get ready for the spring planting season. We have a little over one month left before we start. In the mean time we are selecting new plants and planning our spring projects. Spring will be here before we know. Now it’s time to get back to enjoying the quiet beauty of winter.
“Red Barn & Winter Wheat”
The Palouse, Washington
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!”
“Lone Trees & Clouds”
The Palouse, Washington
I have many wonderful memories of my childhood growing up at the “Ranch.” Many times I spent what seemed like hours, laying on the lawn, gazing up at the clouds, watching them move across the sky changing shapes. Some things never change. On my recent trip to the Palouse, I saw these two trees out in the middle of endless hills of green fields. The bright blue sky was filled with puffy white clouds. I stopped and watched the clouds move across the sky casting shadows on the green hills. An hour went by like a flash as I watched and waited for the shadow patterns in the background to frame the tree while not shading the tree itself or the area in front of it. What a great way to spend a peaceful early afternoon in a beautiful part of our state.
“White Barn”
The Palouse, Washington
We were hot and tired after a morning photo excursion during a Palouse Photography Workshop with John Barclay. Driving along headed back to the hotel for a break and maybe a nap, I saw this lone white barn. We glanced back as we zipped bye the barn. “Should I stop or should we just go back to the hotel.” On I went, thinking, “I should have stopped, I should have stopped!” I dropped my ride partner off at the hotel and decided, I am going back. I am glad I did.
Lesson Learned: When I see something, STOP! It may or may not be worth creating an image, but at least the memory will remain.
“Sunlight on the Curves”
Palouse, Washington
Springtime in the Palouse is a wonderful time to practice my skills using infrared photography. The bright green winter wheat and the great clouds add to the experience. It was a cool windy day with rapidly moving clouds. Patches of sunlight rolled along the hills. I spent about an hour and created almost 100 images trying to catch different patches of sunlight crossing the two curvy hills at the same time. Patience paid off as I was able to catch the bright strips of sunlight on the two ridges.
“Conifer Corner View”
Heatherwood Spring
This image is the springtime perspective of the view from the southeast corner of Heatherwood looking north. A semi-circle of conifers and junipers surround an Adirondack settee from the back. Specimen conifers encompass the sides. And, the foreground area with shrubs, dwarf conifers, and ground covers focus our immediate interest. We borrow the distant background hills frame the view. We call it our little “Conifer Corner.”
“Meadow, Rock, & Japanese Gardens”
Heatherwood Spring
Heatherwood is comprised of several separate garden areas. Each one has a distinctive feeling and character. Even though the gardens are distinct, common elements link them as they flow from one to the other. The scene above illustrates three layers of gardens; the foreground meadow, the mid ground rock garden, and the distant background Japanese garden. Conifers and rocks are repeated to transition from the Japanese garden to the rock garden. Perennials are repeated to transition from the rock garden to the meadow. Together they harmonize with each other.