Tag Archives: Summer

A Different Way of Looking at Things

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Tricolor Beech and Linden
Heatherwood Garden

Too often we get trapped looking at something from only one way. Yesterday I was creating early summer images around the garden. I was intrigued with the multicolored leaves of our Tricolor Beech tree. I took several images of the leaves. The linden tree provided a soft background. As I took my last image of the leaves, I looked through them and saw a unique perspective of the linden tree. The pink of the beech framed the green-toned details of the linden. I created additional images from this second perspective. Sitting at my computer I could not make up my mind what image I liked the best. Why not combine them together into one image. I feel that the combined multi-exposure is better than either of the separate images.

This lesson can be applied to solving most issues. One does not necessarily need to choose between two good solutions. Many times a combined solution is the best.

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Time to Turn the Corner

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Garden Path
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Today is the summer solstice. The garden is turning the corner from spring to summer. The new growth on the trees and shrubs are maturing into their summer shades. The perennials are starting to progress through their blooming schedule throughout the garden. As one fades, another picks up. The garden meadow areas are becoming a flush of colors and textures.

On the personal side, it has been one week since the Yakima Arboretum tour of gardens. The weeks of time in preparation have led a very successful tour of our Heatherwood garden and other gardens in the area. It’s time to turn the corner from a very busy time of garden preparation to a more relaxed time of enjoyment and contemplation in our Heaterwood Eden. Summer is here!

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Summer Color

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Color in the Meadow
Heatherwood Summer

The hot temperatures are back, hovering around 100 degrees. The perennials in the meadow are displaying their bright summer colors. The high heat cause blooms to fade fast, but new growth and color continue to emerge. During these hot times, the best time to be in the garden is before 8:00 am and after 8:00 pm. These are great times for morning coffee and evening refreshments.

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Respite from the Heat

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Yukimi and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

During these hot summer days with the temperature in the high 90’s to mid 100’s, Heatherwood’s pond and waterfalls cool things down. The sight and flow of water creates a feeling of coolness even though the temperature is hovering around 100 degrees. This vignette was created while I was sitting comfortably in one of our Adirondack chairs overlooking the pond and waterfalls. I know that one typically does not see an Adirondack chair in a Japanese garden. We have chosen to mix a couple of cultures to provide a comfortable place to relax and enjoy nature.

This sitting area is a works-in-progress. It is shaded from the east and south but is relatively open to the afternoon sun from the west. We have planted Japanese maples, a Japanese pagoda tree, and an akebono cherry on the west to help enclose the seating area. This year we planted a honey locust tree to finish the enclosure. Now we just need to wait until the trees get a little taller to provide a 270 degree protected room with an open view of the waterfall and pond to the north.

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A Palette Full of Color

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Summer Color
Heatherwood Meadow

Heatherwood’s summer meadow is like a painter’s palette full color. The colors are brilliant and constantly changing. They blend into each other creating a vignette that reminds me of a Monet painting. My imagination wanders as I envision how Monet might view the scene.

Garden Meadow
Monet’s Perspective

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Another Hot One

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Early Morning View Over Lower Garden
Heatherwood Summer

Today will be another hot one with the temperature forecast to reach 104 degrees. The early morning, around 7:00, is the most comfortable part of the day to be outside. I took the opportunity to stroll around the garden with my camera. This is the first scene that I encountered after I walked out to the upper yard. It was a great way to begin my morning walk.

Now it is time to put on my farmers straw hat and mow the yard.

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It is HOT!

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Lower Meadow Area
Heatherwood Summer

The temperatures are in the mid-100’s. We are watering 24 hours per day to keep the garden healthy. The heat is taking its effect, but so far we have not lost too many plants. Even with the heat, the garden continues to put on its beautiful display of color. We try to get out in the more comfortable times of the day to enjoy its gift us.

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What a Difference a Couple of Weeks Make

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Cherry Allee
Heatherwood Early Summer

Two weeks ago, I posted a similar image with the start of our perennial bloom. In the time that has passed since then, the whole Cherry Allee is full of summer blooms. As the summer progresses, some blooms will fade, others will take their place. The nickname for this perennial bed is “Bright and Shiny”. It fits its name.

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Welcome to a New Day

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Early Morning Glow
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Nothing is better than an early morning stroll through the garden to start a new day. The early morning sunlight filters through the leaves of the deciduous trees and shrubs. It sparkles around the edges of the conifers. The garden bursts out in life. As I look east through the garden, I feel the gentle morning sun on my face. I take deep breaths and become one with the nature that surrounds me. Today is going to be a great day!!!

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Experimentation & Practice

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‘Color Infrared Practice’
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I have been practicing infrared photography in preparation for an upcoming photography workshop in South Dakota’s Badlands. All of my previous infrared (IR) work has been in monochrome. I thought I would play around with a little color IR processing as a change of pace. This image was created using a color IR filter which adds a yellow/orange tint to elements that reflect IR and a blue tint to elements that absorb IR.

The jury is still out regarding the color processing.

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