Saving the Best for Last
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2018 08-19, 3950 – SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST – The last of the daylilies are now in bloom, and I think their lavender flowers are the best of the summer. Sometimes when we try to save the best for last, we miss the moments when they are their best. I just enjoy each moment.
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2018 08-18, 3949 – AUGUST AFTERNOONS – Now that the summer obligations have slowed down a bit, when the opportunity arises, we escape up the mountain to sit on a bench and connect to the peace and quiet.
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August Afternoons
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Understated Beauty
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2018 08-17, 3948 – UNDERSTATED BEAUTY- The small blossoms on the large leaved Hosta plants can easily go un-noticed as one walks by the flower garden. There are people who have understated inner beauty that can take a moment of focusing on them to find it.
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2018 08-16, 3947 – GRASSING IN – Last fall I cleared a small patch of land next to the Lupine Field as best as I could with the old tractor. It looked raw this spring, and now it has begun to grass in. Nature is healing the scars, as it does with time with humans.
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Grassing In
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A Journey Through the Woods
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2018 08-15, 3946 – A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WOODS – There is nothing like a short journey through the woods to help bring your senses alive. There are many sights, sounds, and smells to discover. It gives your mind the opportunity to focus on the moment.
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2018 08-14, 3945 - A GREAT YEAR FOR PHLOX – This has been a good summer so far for the tall flowering phlox that grace our flower gardens. There has been plenty of moisture to help sustain them. Positive thoughts and beliefs can help sustain us during dry times in life.
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A Great Year for Phlox
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Late Yellows
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2018 08-13, 3944 - LATE YELLOWS – The last of the yellow lilies are now in bloom as the parade marches through August. I have had the pleasure of observing several varieties of yellow daylilies throughout the season. My goal is to celebrate their beauty on a daily basis all year.
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2018 08-12, 3943 - TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE – The bright red blossom of a single beebalm plant caught my eye. Sometimes we have several of them, sometimes less. I thought of when the forest soil is disturbed and plants spring back to life. The same is true with positive actions.
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To Bee or Not To Bee
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A Frog in the Pond
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2018 08-11, 3942 - A FROG IN THE POND – As I passed by the small pond at the Center, I remembered that I had not taken the time this year to spot a frog. I scanned the surface saw one half submerged in the water. I felt refreshed as I paused to appreciate.
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2018 08-10, 3941 - A BEAR SAMPLING A PEAR – I spotted the yearling black bear wandering through our small fruit trees, and, as I watched, it paused by the old pear tree, stood on its hind legs and sampled some of the fruit. I was grateful to have the opportunity to watch and learn.
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A Bear Sampling a Pear
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A Place to Contemplate
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2018 08-09, 3940 - A PLACE TO CONTEMPLATE – Half way up the Robbin’s Way Trail, there is a large flat boulder that was placed beside an old hemlock tree when the path to the top of the mountain was worked on. It is a place to rest and contemplate, surrounded by the wise forest.
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2018 08-08, 3939 - AUGUST GOLD – The goldenrod is now in bloom. They are a bittersweet reminder that we are in the last full month of summer. Observed on a cloudy day or when the sun is going down, they brighten the landscape for those who are paying attention.
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August Gold
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Double Orange
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2018 08-07, 3938 - DOUBLE ORANGE – The parade of daylilies continues and we now are enjoying blooms of the double orange plants. I first discovered them growing at the Center in the old gardens and have transplanted some to our house. Life is such a blend of many different ingredients.
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2018 08-06, 3937 - GROWING WILD – I have enjoyed discovering the different wildflowers that grow in the Lupine Field. Some we may have planted, and some may have found their way there on the wind. Life is like the field. We choose to work with Nature rather than control it.
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Growing Wild
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Aliens Among Us
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2018 08-05, 3936 - ALIENS AMONG US – I saw an insect that I had never seen before. It looked alien as I didn’t know or understand anything about it. I thought of all the things that we don’t understand on earth that we know nothing about.
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2018 08-04, 3935 - ANOTHER SIGN OF LOVE – It seems as though lately I have been seeing many signs of love in Nature. I wonder if this is just my imagination or is it when I breathe in and out the Cosmos’s love that it is what is coming back to me. Actually, I know which it is.
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Another Sign of Love
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Faces in the Fungus
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2018 08-03, 3934 - FACES IN THE FUNGUS – With the recent rain and humid warm weather, the forest is alive with many shapes, sizes, and colors of fungus. I discovered one red group filled with faces. I wonder if it is my eyes alone that sees the often unseen in Nature.
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2018 08-02, 3933 - AN ANGEL IN THE SKY – As I gazed at the sky, as I often do, I decided to photograph what I saw. On further inspection it appeared as if an angel was looking down over the landscape. To me, it was another sign that we are not alone on earth.
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An Angel in the Sky
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Showing the Way
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2018 08-01, 3932 – SHOWING THE WAY – A large hawk swooped over our truck as we drove the old road to the orchard. It landed on a limb and waited for us to catch up and then was off again. I wondered who had brought the hawk to affirm we were on the right path of life.
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2018 07-31, 3931 – PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE – The partially grown green apples in the orchard show promise for a future harvest in the fall. Right now, I am already beginning to imagine the smell of a hot apple pie. Dreams become realities when we focus on their potentials.
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Promise for the Future
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Nature's Investment in the Future
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2018 07-30, 3930 – NATURE’S INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE - A single Lupine plant produces many seeds that will provide new growth in future years. Nature can often heal what man ravages. Man can help by sowing seeds of gratitude and kindness, investing in the future.
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2018 07-29, 3929 - FILLED WITH LIFE – The little “frog” pond at the Center is filled with life. Besides frogs there are several varieties of water plants that create a peaceful focus for visitors to the grounds. Some minds are filled with life while others remain stagnant.
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Filled With Life
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Kissing Cousins
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2018 07-28, 3928 – KISSING COUSINS – Two flowers that are related but one is wild and the other is cultivated are Queen Ann’s lace and Yarrow. The white wild blooms have spread in the Lupine Field. I am reminded how we may be related to unrelated people.
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2018 07-27, 3927 – A MOMENT OF SILENCE – I walked on the soft rain-soaked ground to the Lupine Field and gazed across the valley. The mountains in the distance were covered with clouds. I stood alone in silence, finding peace from within from the busy world below.
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A Moment of Silence
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Many Shades of Green
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2018 07-26, 3926 – MANY SHADES OF GREEN IN HOSTA LEAVES – When I photographed the leaves of a Hosta plant, I wondered how many shades of green were in the leaves. There are so many different shades in life for us to discover.
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2018 07-25, 3925 – NATURE PROVIDES A DRINK OF WATER – It has been a hot dry summer, and fortunately Nature has provided a lingering drink of water for the earth over the past few days. It is also a great time for humans to pause for a moment and refresh their souls.
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Nature Provides a Drink
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The Lilies Just Keep on Blooming
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2018 07-24, 3924 – THE LILIES JUST KEEP ON BLOOMING – It seems as if my whole focus this summer has been on lilies although my attempt is to be mindful each day of all the beauty surrounding me. There is always something new to discover, even in the lilies.
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2018 07-23, 3923 – JUST OUT OF THE NEST – I saw movement at the base of a large maple tree and upon further investigation realized that there was a tiny bird clinging to the bark. It must have just taken flight. Our positive thoughts and actions take flight every day if we let go of fear.
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Just Out of the Nest
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The Season Moves Along
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2018 07-22, 3922 – THE SEASON MOVES ALONG – The summer season is now more than half gone. It seems as if we wait through the long winter to get a short glimpse of the weather we dream about. Each day of every season is an opportunity if we are mindful of it.
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2018 07-21, 3921 – ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO MEDITATE – As I sat on a bench looking out at the orchard and my Bobcat-with-mowing-machine-attached, I realized that cutting the grass was one of my favorite ways to meditate. It really is heartfelt gratitude.
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One of My Favorite Ways to Meditate
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Another Transplant
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2018 07-20, 3920 – ANOTHER TRANSPLANT – A few years ago I transplanted about ten hydrangeas to the Center and now white blooms grace the edge of the lawn near Barbara’s Garden. Most of us are transplants, and like the flowers we bring beauty to wherever we go.
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2018 07-19, 3919 – LIKING THEIR MOVE – A few years ago I moved three pink spirea plants to the Center and now they are growing tall, liking their move. Taking the risk of transplanting oneself or actions that can benefit others helps us share our blessings.
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Liking Their Move
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Beautiful Brown Eyes
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2018 07-18, 3918 – BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES – I became aware that I was being watched as I walked beside the Lupine Field. As I investigated, I saw a group of Brown Eyed Susans dancing in the breeze, and I knew they had focused on me. I moved closer to gaze into their eyes.
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2018 07-17, 3917 – A NEW FIND IN THE FIELD – A friend told me they had seen an orange lily on top of the mountain. I searched the area, and there in the middle of the field was a wild wood-lily. It could have been overlooked, if I had not been mindful.
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A New Find in the Field
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Angel Reminders
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2018 07-16, 3916 – ANGEL REMINDERS – There are people who believe that they are watched over by angels, and there are those that don’t. Each individual has a choice. I personally am fascinated by signs such as dragonflies, animals, or found pennies that just appear.
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2018 07-15, 3915 – MORE LILIES – As the parade of lilies continues, I find more old friends with unique colors in bloom. Sometimes when I am in a hurry I have to remind myself that it is time to pause and take in the beauty surrounding me. My thoughts slow down and life blooms.
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More Lilies
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The Great Race
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2018 07-14, 3914 – THE GREAT RACE – Today I honor the memory of brother-in-law Bruce Glines by telling a true story about when he was recovering from cancer and unable to attend his favorite stock car race and how he was presented a flag of the winner.
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2018 07-13, 3913 – SUMMER DELIGHTS – It is the season of summer delights. There are lines at ice cream shops, and the beaches are full. There are also flowers in bloom that provide nourishment for the soul. Many people share photos of flowers that bring delightful smiles.
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Summer Delights
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A Growing Brood
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2018 07-12, 3912 – A GROWING BROOD – A summer favorite of my childhood was a plant that grew shoots that took root and created new baby plants that grew and they sent out shoots. I am reminded of when we do acts of kindness and positive thoughts they grow like that plant.
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2018 07-11, 3911 – A YEARLY GIFT – The summer after my wife’s father passed, twenty-four years ago, a tiny wild rose sprouted in an unusual place and continues to bloom each year. It is a reminder of the souls that travel with us as we travel the earth plane.
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A Yearly Gift
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A Big Treat
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2018 07-10, 3910 – A BIG TREAT – We sat on the bench at the top of the Lupine Field, pausing on our morning hike, and watched a bluebird find a big treat in in the tall grass. It posed for a picture before flying off. Nature provides us with big treats every day.
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2018 07-09, 3909 – BLACK AND BLUE – I watched a bluebird perched on the roof of a birdhouse in the far end of the Lupine Field. It took flight and landed on a branch not far away from me. I saw its silhouette in the shade. Then it landed in sunlight and I saw its real beauty.
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Black and Blue
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Peek-A-Boo
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2018 07-08, 3908 – PEEK-A-BOO – I watched a chipmunk scurry under the tall grass from one hiding place to another and then back again as if it was playing peek-a-boo. I was reminded of all the thoughts in our conscious and unconscious minds that we play peek at.
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2018 07-07, 3907 - RAIN DROPS AND SUMMER – There is something about a rainy day in summer. It often changes our plans, and if we let that upset us, we may miss the new opportunities that Nature has provided. Each day has nourishment for our souls.
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Rain Drops and Summer
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Butterfly Food
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2018 07-06, 3906 - BUTTERFLY FOOD – The delicate milkweed are in full bloom in the orchard, and I love to watch the butterflies flit around, tasting the sweet nectar. I feel spiritually nourished when I mentally sip the beauty that surrounds me.
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2018 07-05, 3905 - A DIFFERENT KIND OF LILY – I love following the parade of lilies as it stretches throughout the length of summer and different kinds of lilies touch special memories of younger days. Water lilies always bring a smile to my face as I inhale their sweet smell.
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A Different Kind of Lily
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Celebrating with Orange Lilies
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2018 07-04, 3904 - CELEBRATING WITH ORANGE LILIES – On a day which is traditionally red, white, and blue, I am celebrating with the orange color of daylilies that decorate the flower gardens and roadsides. They are traditionally a sign of summer, and I welcome them.
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2018 07-03, 3903 - THROUGH THE HAZE – A summer Haze has engulfed the mountains, and it is just possible to make out their outlines across the valley. Even in these conditions, my clarity comes from walking the land and reaching to the sky.
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Through the Haze
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An Old Fashioned Rose
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2018 07-02, 3902 - AN OLD FASHIONED ROSE – We are in the middle of an old fashioned summer with a heat wave, and an old fashioned rose given to us by my sister many years ago is blooming in the garden. It is now our chance to create new old fashioned traditions.
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2018 07-01, 3901 - A FIELD OF FLOWERS – The lupines have faded but the field is still filled with wildflower blooms from several varieties. They provide an ever changing palette of inviting summer colors. I am reminded that life is always a field of flowers, no matter what the season.
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A Field of Flowers
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Boats and Roses
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2018 06-30, 3900 - BOATS AND ROSES – We drove down to Rockland on our anniversary and walked the waterfront admiring the boats of all sizes and the beautiful roses in full bloom. It was a tranquil experience filled with the wonderment of the adventures yet to unfold.
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2018 06-29, 3899 - TAKING IT ALL IN – The summer afternoon was filled with magic as I sat on the bench at the top of the Lupine Field. The clouds drifted by as I watched swallows plucking insects out of the air to feed their young. I felt renewed as I began my journey back.
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Taking It All In
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From Nut to Tree
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2018 06-28, 3898 - FROM NUT TO TREE – The acorn fell from an oak tree last fall and over the winter split open and rooted in the soft spring soil. Now a miniature tree has emerged that over time may become a giant in the forest. When we sow positivity, we are like an oak tree.
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2018 06-27, 3897 - DESSERT IS READY – Nature has set the table and the wild strawberries are ready to enjoy. They are a sweet treat for both man and birds and animals in the wild. All one needs to do is bend over and pick. Nature provides so much nourishment for our souls.
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Dessert Is Ready
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Hiding Behind a Leaf
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2018 06-25, 3896 - HIDING BEHIND A LEAF – I caught a glimpse of brown movement in the lower Lupine Field close to the woods. It was a rabbit munching on the grass. I took a picture as it hid behind a leaf. I felt very grateful that nature shared this special moment with me.
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2018 06-25, 3895 - THE FOXES ARE BACK – I discovered the first Fox Glove of the season, not yet full with flowers. It was a sign of more beauty to unfold on the landscape that I so enjoy. It is with gratitude I attempt to reflect to others the joys of connecting with Nature.
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The Foxes Are Back
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Another Summer Beauty Is Back
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2018 06-24, 3894 - ANOTHER SUMMER BEAUTY IS BACK – Another summer beauty has returned to grace the landscape. The Cone Flowers pop up here and there and are a delight to focus on for a moment or two. I wonder how many people pass by the beauty that surrounds us.
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2018 06-23, 3893 - BLACKBERRY BLOOMS – The small white delicate flowers on the blackberry and raspberry vines are easy to overlook with all the other blossoms vying for pollinators’ attention. Still, they are a very important part of Nature as food for birds, animals, and the soul.
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Blackberry Blooms
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Family Portrait
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FAMILY PORTRAIT – I wanted to put together a family portrait of the columbines I have been enjoying this year, so I choice individual photos to group together. Just like human families that look more or less alike, each flower is unique and different.
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2018 06-21, 3891 - HONORING AN OLD TREE – We are not sure exactly when the old dead tree fell to the ground, but it was sometime after March 1st. It was a couple of months before we realized it. Now we honor the memory through many photos - a part of Nature that has changed.
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Honoring an Old Tree
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Something Missing
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2018 06-20, 3890 - SOMETHING MISSING – Someone told me they thought that the old dead pine that had stood proudly at the edge of the Lupine Field had fallen over. It must have been gone for a couple of months and we didn’t notice it. Things disappear in life the same way.
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2018 06-19, 3889 - WILD VINES – The wild bindweed that grows seemingly out of control at the edge of the Lupine Field has taken over the pole for a bluebird house. Our thoughts are sort of like wild vines that can take over our critical thinking unless we learn how to cut them back. |
Wild Vines
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Checkerberries
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2018 06-18, 3888 - CHECKERBERRIES – I remember, as a child, picking and eating checkerberries that grew wild in nature. I think of old-fashioned flavors like birch beer, Moxie, and checkerberry tea. Then there is old fashioned kindness and thoughtfulness.
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2018 06-17, 3887 - YELLOW AND BROWN IRIS - I love the color combinations that Nature puts together all year round and especially during the growing season when flowers become art exhibits. It is true of the yellow and brown Iris. There is so much to appreciate all around us.
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Yellow and Brown Iris
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2018 06-16, 3886 - LUPINES AND MOUNTAINS – There is something very magical in observing lupine blooms with a mountain backdrop. I look forward to this wonderful experience all year long, I breathe in the sky and the earth as my heart sings a song of gratitude. |
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2018 06-15, 3885 – THE BEGINNING OF THE LILY PARADE – The yellow daylilies are now in bloom. They announce the beginning of different colored lilies that will last the whole growing season. A day without seeing a lily is a day that will not be replicated again. |
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2018 06-14, 3884 – THE FLAGS ARE FLYING – The flags are flying proudly in the June winds. The Blue and Yellow Flag flowers are in full bloom. It is a wonderful time to take a moment or two and appreciate the vast beauty that Nature gives us. |
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2018 06-13, 3883 – A WELCOME SIGHT – We were greeted by a welcome sight as we stood at the edge of the Lupine Field. There was a bird on top of one of the birdhouses installed there last year. It was a bluebird. I am grateful that our “field of dreams” is now a manifest reality.
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2018 06-12, 3882 – ANOTHER COLOR – I love to see the different colors in like-kinds of flowers, such as the deep red columbine growing in a garden at the Center. I am reminded that we all are made up of different colors, sizes, and abilities. That fades when we blend positively together. |
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2018 06-11, 3881 – RECHARGING CENTER – We recently discovered a small flat boulder with quartz crystals in its surface. I thought of modern electronic recharging centers and ancient crystal healing centers and knew this was a place to renew my soul’s energy. |
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2018 06-10, 3880 – CLOSE TO THE WOODS – This year the biggest lupine blossoms are located on the newer portion of the field close to the woods. We walked along the edge to get a closer look. The landscape of life is constantly changing, but there is always beauty to find. |
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2018 06-09, 3879 – FLOWERS IN THE FIELD – There is a circle of wildflowers that bloom in the same place year after year in the field where the apple trees grow. I love being greeted by my old friends in Nature. They will be there until the fall frost. I am grateful for that. |
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2018 06-08, 3878 – PRETTY ENOUGH TO TAKE A BITE – The single white Iris looked like a vanilla ice cream cone ready for a bite although I knew it was not edible. I feasted on its beauty and inhaled the image for spiritual nourishment provided by Nature. |
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2018 06-07, 3877 – A NEW DISCOVERY – A small flash of a deep blue caught my eye as I walked the trail along the top of the Lupine Field. It was a flower I had not seen before. I love to discover something new in Nature as I do in all aspects of my life every day. |
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2018 06-06, 3876 – READY FOR A ROYAL WEDDING – The Bridal Wreath is dressed up in its whitest blossoms ready for a royal wedding. This old-fashioned shrub is a reminder of days gone by as well as dream realities of the future. |
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2018 06-05, 3875 – THE FIRST LUPINE – The first lupine blossoms of the season are beginning to open. I will enjoy a visual feast over the next few weeks of this beautiful flower blending with the majestic mountains in the background. Nature always has something to contemplate. |
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2018 06-04, 3874 – COLORFUL SURPRISE – My eyes caught a splash of pinkish orange as I drove into the Center’s parking lot. Many years ago I had moved an azalea there and it had never grown much until this year. I am grateful that it survived. We all have surprises in us. |
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2018 06-03, 3873 – A GOOD YEAR FOR THE RHODIES – It has been a great spring for the rhododendrons at the Center. The pink blossoms shine especially bright in contrast to the woods in the background. If we didn’t keep the surrounding growth under control it would disappear. |
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2018 06-02, 3872 – DESIGNED BY NATURE - The many different, colorful, beautiful flowers all have custom designs created by Nature. Each one of us has been designed by the Cosmos and, like the flowers, we all have a uniqueness that can enhance the landscape of life. |
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2018 06-01, 3871 - TINY PEARS – The blossoms on the pear trees have floated away in the wind, the insects have done their pollinating, and now tiny pears are growing. It is a time for the ideas in our minds to begin their growth, just as the pears on their way to be harvested. |
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2018 05-31, 3870 - HIDING UNDER ITS LEAVES – I had to bend down to find Jack’s face hiding under its own giant broad leaves. Jack is an old friend that comes to visit every year, growing under an pear tree. It feels good to renew an old friendship. |
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2018 05-30, 3869 - PLANTED BY THE BIRDS – The small honeysuckle bush adorned with white blossoms in the corner of the orchard was probably planted by birds. I think of our positive thoughts and actions planted randomly that help spread similar actions. |
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2018 05-29, 3868 - VELVET LADY – The reddish lady slipper stood out among the pink ones growing in the partly shaded woods on the mountainside. It appeared to be clothed in velvet as it grew in this peaceful setting. I felt privileged to be in its royal presence. |
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2018 05-28, 3867 - MEMORIES OF MEMORIAL DAYS PAST – Lilacs evoke memories of Memorial Day observances after my father returned from serving in World War Two. I marched to the cemetery carrying a flag to decorate a veteran’s grave and lilacs were cast into the lake. |
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2018 05-27, 3866 - EYE CANDY – The photo of the snowball-shaped bloom on a shrub at the Center looked almost good enough to eat. It reminded me that Nature’s landscape is filled with sweet treats for my eyes all year round. All I need to do is take the time to look.
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2018 05-26, 3865 - BLUEBERRIES IN BLOOM – All the fruit trees are in full bloom including both the wild and domestic blueberries. These tiny blossoms are often overlooked due to the much larger displays like the apple trees. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to beauty.
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