Digital Art
Iris-Bicolor Trio. I was never a fan of the iris flower. Maybe because they were so short lived. I really don't know why. About five years ago my sister gave me my first Iris rhizome. I agreed to take it because it was my favorite color yellow. After a few years I became attached to the yellow iris I had planted in the front of my house. I really studied the flower and suddenly realized just how beautiful the iris bloom was. As I result, I started to buy other rhizomes of different colors. Today, I have about 16 different colors, all bearded Irises, some are even rebloomers. I am partial to the bicolor blooms and not so crazy about the really dark solid blooms.
RUDBECKIA-VINTAGE RUDBECKIA is a family member of the sunflower family, the species being blackeyed-susan. The duo is from one of the many plants I have flowering in my backyard garden. It is biennial, growing new plants from the seeds it sows at the end of the flowering season. It is a wildflower found in many grassy fields. It's golden color making it one of my favorites.
Hydrangea-Nikko Blue Blooms. This Blue Hydrangea is one of the most popular hydrangea. Hydrangeo macrophylla Nikko Blue or mophead as it is often referred as, has large rounded flower head approximately 5 inches is width. The shrub perfers partial shade but will tolerate full sun providing you water the shurb frequently. To keep the intense blue color the soil has to be acidic otherwise it will turn pink. I have one hydrangea in my gardens that is multicolored-pink,blue and purple. I leave the soil as is because I like the variations in the color.
A lovely Pink rose, McCartney, from my Thornton backyard garden that I have digitally painted and added a white vignettes around the image.
ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA-BUTTERFLY WEED
ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA-BUTTERFLY WEED My butterfly weed and milkweed are in full bloom and I just saw my first Monarch today. I don’t know why they are so late returning to our area, the weather has been favorable so that can not be why. Usually by now I have quite a few caterpillars munching on the milkweed. In fact I usually have tons of Eastern tiger Swallowtails fluttering around my butterfly bushes, so far I have seen two. Hopefully they will come back soon!
Rose-A Rose is a Rose. Roses are one of my garden passions which I learned from my mother. I will always remember her garden filled with rose bushes which she tended to well into her later life. When she passed, my siblings and I dug out all her rose bushes and divided them amongst us. Some have survived and some have not. This is one that has survived the transplant process of 17 years ago. I have no idea how old this rose bush is but it still produces lovely blooms every year and hopefully for many more.
Echinacea-Not So Purple Coneflower
Echinacea-Not So Purple Coneflower. Another beauty from my backyard gardens. I really enjoy photograhing flowers at all stages of growth. When I am not tending to my gardens, I am out taking pictures. I added a texture to this image to give it a more vintage look, and added a slight white vignette around the edges. This image would really look best printed on a canvas, framed or unframed.
Eryngium Yuccifolium-Rattlesnake Master Plant. I thought it was a weed when I first approached the plant. After stepping back and taking a really good look at it, I began to appreciate its beauty! This North American native plant with its distinctive flowers made up of a number of short flower stalks, called pedicels. They spread from a common point, resembling the ribs of an umbrella, which is why they are referred to as Umbels. The foliage on some of these varieties resemble that of a Yucca. This plant is host to a lot of insects, one being the Swallowtail butterfly.
TULIPS
SUNNY BR DSC_5531
Iris-Blue and White. I was never a fan of the iris flower. Maybe because they were so short lived. I really don't know why. About five years ago my sister gave me my first Iris rhizome. I agreed to take it because it was my favorite color yellow. After a few years I became attached to the yellow iris I had planted in the front of my house. I really studied the flower and suddenly realized just how beautiful the iris bloom was. As I result, I started to buy other rhizomes of different colors. Today, I have about 16 different colors, all bearded Irises, some are even rebloomers. I am partial to the bicolor blooms and not so crazy about the really dark solid blooms. This blue and white one is probably my second favorite after my bicolor yellow and white.
ROSE-MR LINCOLN One of the many roses from my rose gardens. Roses are one of my favorite flowers. This year, in the early spring, I noticed something was eating holes in my leaves. I have around fifty rose bushes in my gardens. I am use to a few bushes getting hit by some insect feasting on the leaves but this was happening to most of them. After inspecting the bushes, to my horror I found lantern fly nymphs on the branches. Our area has become quite infested by these destructive insects. I have tried many methods of erradicating them in my yard. I did notice my roses were not as productive blooming this year. Hopefully the damage done to them will not be permanent.
SPELLBOUND PAINTED
RUDIBECKIA PAINTED started as a photograph that I took of this lovely Rudbeckia which grows in my backyard gardens, I am taking a digital painting class and decided to try my skills out on this image, Liking how it turned out I decided to post it. Hopefully it is well received.
WATER LILY-YELLOW WATER LILLIES
WATER LIL-YELLOW WATERLILLIES was taken at Longwood Gardens, in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania. The water lily display is open after Memorial Day. There are several man made ponds exhibiting my different varieties of water plants. This pretty lily was one of my favorites because it is so delicate looking and my favorite color! I added a texture to the photo to give it a non photo look.
LILAC-WHITE LILAC WITH SEPIA TONES
LILAC-WHITE LILAC WITH SEPIA TONES. This is one of my favorite flowers of spring. The daintiness of the flowers and the intoxicating fragrance fill my senses mid spring. Unfortunately, the flowering of this shrub does not last long. A simple bouquet of lilacs can easy perfume a small room. I have several lilac shrubs in my gardens, white, deep purple, light purple, varigated and two minis. This print captures the daintiness of the flowers. I added some sepia tones and a vignette around the flower to center ones attention on the flower itself. This print would look really nice printed on a canvas.
RUDBECKIA-VINTAGE RUDBECKIA IN COLOR
RUDBECKIA-VINTAGE RUDBECKIA IN COLOR is a family member of the sunflower family, the species being blackeyed-susan. The duo is from one of the many plants I have flowering in my backyard garden. It is biennial, growing new plants from the seeds it sows at the end of the flowering season. It is a wildflower found in many grassy fields. It's golden color making it one of my favorites.
KNIPHOFIA-RED HOT POKER - also known as a torch plant. This plant loves full sun, hot, dry temperatures. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees love these beautiful flowers, stopping multiple times during the day to taste it’s nectar. I have several planted in my backyard gardens. It is fun to watch all the activity surrounding these blooms. The organge and yellow blooms sit straight and tall on long green study stems, surrounded by masses of flowing green stems. It blooms in early summer and after the blooms fade, the masses of green leaves hang around well into late fall before they start to die off.
ECHINACEA-A VINTAGE LOOK One of my favorite flowers in my backyard gardens in Thornton, Pa. Although I have never tried this, there are supplements produced from this plant which is believed to boost the immune system and aid in reducing infection, including the common cold. It seems short term use of the supplement is safe, but it is not known if there are any complications with long term use. There is no scentific evidence supporting the effectiveness of the supplement against infections. There are many species of this plant which is also known more commonly as a coneflower. The echinacea is part of the daisy family, found in dry prairies and open wooded areas, and growning in abundance in my gardens.
CORAL ROSE DSC5965
GARDENIA-VINTAGE WHITE is one of the many houseplants I have growing in my house. For years, I have purchased these challenging plants but I have never had much success with them. The plants always died before they ever had a chance to bloom. After all these years I have finally found the secret to growing gardenias in my house. I give it a pint of water daily! Not only has the plant thrived (tripled in size), I had 7 lovely blooms!! I was in heaven! The only drawback to this thriving plant was it grew so fast it was getting a little leggy, it was in need of a good pruning. I knew this but I had a decision to make. This new growth had buds starting to form-about 20, so I had to decide to let them go and bloom or cut the plant back. So I cut it back reluctantly, but I am now happy I did. I have new growth where I pruned, and the plant has a more appealing shape.
Rose-A Bed of Roses. Roses are one of my garden passions which I learned from my mother. I will always remember her garden filled with rose bushes which she tended to well into her later life. When she passed, my siblings and I dug out all her rose bushes and divided them amongst us. Some have survived and some have not. This is one that has survived the transplant process of 17 years ago. I have no idea how old this rose bush is but it still produces lovely blooms every year and hopefully for many more.
ECHINACEA-WHITE SWAN VINTAGE LOOK
ECHINACEA-WHITE SWAN VINTAGE LOOK One of my favorite flowers in my backyard gardens in Thornton, Pa. Although I have never tried this, there are supplements produced from this plant which is believed to boost the immune system and aid in reducing infection, including the common cold. It seems short term use of the supplement is safe, but it is not known if there are any complications with long term use. There is no scentific evidence supporting the effectiveness of the supplement against infections. There are many species of this plant which is also known more commonly as a coneflower. The echinacea is part of the daisy family, found in dry prairies and open wooded areas, and growing in abundance in my gardens.
STAND ALONE_PF02972
