plants

Haiku June 18, 2012 Girl Talk

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Girly walk and talk

Unselfconscious friends stride

Say what’s on their mind.

Art Prescription:  No matter how close you are with your significant other, a friend who you can walk and talk with is precious. This afternoon I took a break from my home remodel project to go for a nice afternoon walk with a good friend. We took a sandy path through a bit of woods to get over to the North Carolina Botanical Garden. I wanted to see the current art exhibit that features the teachers of the Botanical Illustration Program. Colored pencil, pastels, watercolor, and graphite, nice! a chance to have a meandering conversation, priceless! Black-eyed Susans at the garden, cheerful yellow dots of color.

Haiku June 16, 2012 Echinachea

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Echinachea

Grows tall, petals nod gently

No apathy here!

Art Prescription:  Actually more commonly known as Purple Echinachea, or Echinachea purpurea, Eastern Cone Flower. My blooming group stands tall and proud in the corner of a plant bed that rounds the sidewalk to my studio. These big, bold blooms say hello! And Echinachea has antidepressant properties, and is believed to stimulate the immune system.    

We could all use a bit of this. I’m distressed by apathy – or the seemingly spiritlessness of some people’s lives. The human will is a fragile thing. For me the simple act of watering and caring for my blooming garden creates moment after moment of peace and joy! The spirit of nature renews me, to study and sketch, sublime!

Haiku June 15, 2012 Sunflowers

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Bout to bust open

Show off big yellow petals

Wide rich green veined leaves.

Art Prescription:  So, the squirrels planted a couple of sunflower seeds last fall in my deck pots. Now with regular water and sun, these “volunteers” are growing tall and about to bust a bloom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting quietly and sketching with pen and ink is so Zen. No matter what’s on your mind, you can escape for the moment and study your specimen. Stay in the moment…stay in the moment…life is all about moment to moment. When we spend too much time worrying about the past or the future we are literally losing the moments we are living. I’ve tried meditating, but sitting still is a problem for me. A moving meditation like walking or drawing, or swimming, works magic. Namaste.

Haiku June 8, 2012 Balance

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Vines grow up, over

Tendrils spiral, wrap around.

New green shoots flourish.

Art Prescription:  I love wandering vines. Most vine-like plants are dependent on another structure in order to grow towards the sun. If planted with intention…grape-vine, clematis- vine, honeysuckle-vine… and there is adequate support to grow and prosper, things work out pretty good. If, however, vines are invasive (kudzu), or poorly planned, then the vine and the support suffer. Invasive plants can smother whole living trees.  So just as in life when planting something new, a little planning goes along way. Everything needs balance!

 

Haiku June 6, 2012 Lavender

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Pure lavender buds

Essential oil, good for stress

Breath in, ah, breath out.

Art Prescription:  Blooming now! beautiful tall stalks of lavender. Take a bunch and rub it in your hands to release the fragrance. Cut several stems and tie them up in cheesecloth, run hot water over it, for a delightful bath. I’m percolating a few new ideas…really like the idea of combining pen and ink with watercolor!!

Haiku June 3, 2012 Bee Balm

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Red spiky bee balm

Sweet nectar for hummingbirds

Buzz in, hover, drink.

Art Prescription:  I have two patches of bee balm in my garden, and the one nearest the house blooms first. I can look out my kitchen window and see dazzling hummers coming to and fro, their iridescent color reflecting in the sunlight. As in life, you can attract what you need and what makes you hum in various ways. My point of view is that of having something real, something that goes beyond the external (the glossy pages of a magazine), life in the here and now…inner peace comes from the inside out.

Haiku May 30, 2012 Luscious Hydrangeas

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Lush hydrangea

Rainbow colors of blue, pink

Big vase of Southern.

Art Prescription:  All the spring rain has made my hydrangeas very happy. They are covered in big blue blossoms and rich green leaves. Not a shy flower to have in the garden…they bloom shades of pink and/or blue depending on the kind of soil they are in. I think we humans bloom differently in the kind of environment we are in too…so think about where and how you want to plant your roots!

Haiku May 28,2012 Gardenia

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White gardenia

Sweet fragrant flower, silky

Fills a room with scent.

Art Prescription:  There is a lot going on in my garden. I cut a small arrangement of fragrant gardenias to bring in and enjoy. No wonder the bees and butterflies are romanced. Bring a little sunshine inside!! A toast to nature…