The Blush of a Spring Amaryllis

The pots of giant amaryllis bulbs are lined up in a row in front of the eastern windows. All year long I wait, water and watch. It starts sometime in January when the first little green nub starts to push up through the dark soil. I wait more and check the other pots to see if there are any more tentative green shoots. Within the next month they all start to push upward in various stages. Usually the giant crimson flowers are first with the lightly blushing pink ones last. The display goes on in the eastern light for weeks filling my home with various shades of crimson, scarlet, white, and pink until finally the last bloom fades and they all rest once again.

First Kiss
The first tender color of blushing red emerges from an amaryllis bud.
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Deep Kiss
A brilliant red amaryllis is deeply revealed in intimate detail.
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Flaming Bud
An amaryllis bud in flaming colors of red, orange and yellow emerges into the spring light.
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Red Flower Photo Set -8x10 Set of Three Photographs
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Indian Paintbrush in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Spring is coming. Can you smell it in the air? I can. It puts a bounce in my step and anticipation in my heart. The spring wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains are spectacular when the winter snows are deep. This should be a very good year. One of my favorites, Indian Paintbrush or sometimes called Prairie Fire, grows at high elevations and low. Spring will come and new paintbrush will sprout. I can't wait!

Ruby Jewel
This bright and cheery photo of Indian Paintbrush was taken in Colorado's remote high country near Ruby Jewel Lake at an elevation of 11,000 feet.
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Paintbrush Cliff
A brilliant red patch of Indian paintbrush grows between the rocks in a cliff at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.
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Rocky Paintbrush
Indian paintbrush grows on a rocky slope in northern Colorado.

Paintbrush Log
Indian paintbrush springs up beside and old log.

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Hidden Treasures

Karen Casey Smith's work with mandalas started in 1995. She started with colored pencils but now primarily uses flower photography to create the most extraordinary pieces of art. Her interest in mandalas combine two of her great interests, that of creating art and healing. She says, "it is always an amazing experience, and a delightful surprise to see the patterns that emerge while making the flower mandalas. Each mandala has its own vibrational frequency. They bring in healing energy where they are displayed."

I hope you enjoy Karen's unique talent as much as I have. Visit her shop at Etsy or 1000 Markets to see all of her mandalas as well as a variety of other outstanding photography.

Hidden Treasures
The Hidden Treasures flower mandala guides us to look for the treasures within. It was created from a photo of a beautiful yellow lily.
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Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade karencaseysmith.etsy.com

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Sunday Morning Gallery - Florilegium

Summer is fleeting in the high country of Colorado. The mountain mahoganies are starting to turn burnt orange and the wild currants are loaded with berries. Before summer is totally gone I could not resist doing a few more flowers. We will soon be watching snow fly and I wanted to hold on to the soft blooms just a bit longer. I hope you enjoy these newest flowers in my Flower Collection.

Florilegium first appeared in the English language in 1711 describing a collection of flower illustrations. Today it more commonly refers to a collection of literary pieces or an anthology, but I thought it appropriate to use its earliest definition for my newest flower collection.

Wild Geranium

The term geranium is confusing. The first geranium most gardeners encounter is not a geranium at all, but the less hardy Pelargonium. Hardy geraniums are sometimes referred to as cranesbill geraniums. The flowers float on top of the plant, in shades of white, pink, magenta, purples and blues. Some species are sometimes grown for the edible bulbs.

Yellow Lily

Lilies are leafy stemmed herbs. They form underground bulbs from which they overwinter. The large flowers have six tepals, are often fragrant, and come in a range of colours ranging through whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples.

Monument Plant

Monument Plant, common in mountain meadows, is a robust and showy plant that scatters itself over large areas. The tall flower stalks erupting from a very large basal rosette of leaves attract our attention, but a careful look around will reveal numerous smaller Monument Plants not in flower. The broad leaves are shaped like the ears of a deer, giving it one of its common names, Deer's Ears.

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Friday Favorites - Whisper Soft

This week's theme is "Whisper Soft." Soft summer breezes, downy ducklings, soft snuggly warm winter scarves, bubbling brooks dancing over water softened stone, all come to mind when I look at this collection of beautiful handmade items by talented artisans. Click on the pictures or titles and check out their wonderful work!

If you would like to be entered into Friday Favorites check out submission information below.

Like a Whisper
emilydreaming

what would a whisper look like-Grass photograph
zuppaartista

Whisper Soft Scarf
jnoriginals

Whisper Soft Petals
fussjewelry

Whisper - Wood Ducklings
SavageArtworks

Next week's theme is "Rushing Water". Submit your WATER INSPIRED item. It's an easy TWO steps.

1. Leave a comment below on your favorite items in today's favorites.

2. Hop on over to this Etsy Forum and post your item you would like to submit for next week's Friday Favorites.

Good luck!

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Friday Favorites - Oriental Influences

I greatly admire oriental paintings and sculptures. From my early days in art history and visiting the Chinese Exhibit that was in San Francisco, I fell in love with the simplicity and beauty of the Far East. Although these artisans are not from Asia, I can see the influence to their craft in these works. Enjoy and be sure to visit them!

MFA Orchid 8x10 inch Photo, White Mat
by JudiFitzPatrick

Teakwood Bracelet
by Mem's Pocket Palette

willow...original 5x7 fine art photograph
by allieart4children

Small Vintage Clip On Earrings
offered by heidijo1

Wintry Rose - vintage glass, AAA black spinel and sterling silver necklace
by realisationcreations

Pink Blossom

Thank you everyone for all the birthday greetings and well wishes for my time off! It was wonderfully relaxing to visit with dear friends and share many old memories too.

I am going to get back in the saddle today and share a new flower fine art photo print with you. Tell me what you think. Is it too monochromatic? Too off center? All comments and suggestions are welcome! It's great to be back!

Pink Blossom

Columbine in Blue

The faded background resembling Grandma's worn apron, perfectly highlights the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain Columbine. This original fine art photo was taken in the foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Visit here for additional information.

Sunday Morning Gallery - Black and White Photography Part 2

I have been working on black and white photography again this week. To work without color requires a different attention. Instead of clarifying color to the truest eye popping hue the focus shifts to light and shadow. It is a distillation of the very essence of photography for me and I hope it will help me to become better with my color photography. Let me know what you think, and please, valuable criticisms are welcome!

Sunday Morning Gallery - Wildflowers of the Rockies

It is not easy to define a wildflower; what one person considers a wildflower may be a weed to another. All we may safely say is that they are wild plants with flowers and that they may be found almost anywhere. Here are a few from my neck of the woods.

Stemless Daisy

Rocky Mountain Columbine

Scotch Thistle

Narrowleaf Penstemon

Datura

Western Wallflower

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Friday Favorites - Sunflowers of Etsy

This week I would like to shine the spot light on the fantastic photographers of the Photographers of Etsy.

Here are a few of my favorite discoveries from POE. Be sure to visit each shop by clicking on the item name or shop name. Enjoy!

Sunflower Morning
by
JMcGuinness

As Far as the Eye Can see
by
The Eye

Bee and Sunflower
by
Cat Ludwig Studio

After The Storm Sunflower
by
Celtic Cat Photos

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Mystery at Night

Here is my latest treasury on Etsy. To find any item you would like to have a closer look at search for the sellers name on Etsy. Enjoy the romance of a mystery at night.



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Friday Favorites - Butterflies

The Genesis of the Butterfly

The dawn is smiling on the dew that covers
The tearful roses; lo, the little lovers
That kiss the buds, and all the flutterings
In jasmine bloom, and privet, of white wings,
That go and come, and fly, and peep and hide,
With muffled music, murmured far and wide.
Ah, the Spring time, when we think of all the lays
That dreamy lovers send to dreamy mays,
Of the fond hearts within a billet bound,
Of all the soft silk paper that pens wound,
The messages of love that mortals write
Filled with intoxication of delight,
Written in April and before the May time
Shredded and flown, playthings for the wind's playtime,
We dream that all white butterflies above,
Who seek through clouds or waters souls to love,
And leave their lady mistress in despair,
To flit to flowers, as kinder and more fair,
Are but torn love-letters, that through the skies
Flutter, and float, and change to butterflies

Victor Hugo

ferventbutterfly

peaseblossomstudio

theeye

allieart4children

Gypsymoondesigns

Please support these wonderful artists by clicking on their name to view or purchase their work.