In and Around the Garden

Posted in Dianne's Blog | Tagged azaleas, Begonias, chrysanthemums, Cyclamen, garden of eden, garden protography, pansies, photography, spring | 2 Comments »

Start the Week Right

March 10, 2014

Start the Week Right

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged motivation, photography, words of wisdom | 2 Comments »

The Road to a Tranquil Experience

March 4, 2014

. . . is often found in a peaceful walk.

FINAL

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Posted in Dianne's Blog | Tagged meditation, nature, photography, spring blossoms, tranquil experience, walking | 2 Comments »

Here Comes Spring

March 1, 2014

Here Comes Spring

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged March, photography, poppies | 3 Comments »

Fine Art Studio

February 27, 2014

The “Fine Art Studio” (see sidebar) is now open for orders. Proceeds will go toward a new and better camera. I am excited about the possibilities and sharing this journey with you. More image options will be added from time to time. Nine of the eleven images for sale were photographed in and around my home.

If you have any questions please contact me via email, inthegarden@softcom.net or leave a comment.

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This image was taken early this morning after last night’s rainfall.

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Posted in Dianne's Blog | Tagged Fine Art Studio, image options, images for sale, photography, prints for sale | 3 Comments »

When I wake

February 23, 2014

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The slow morning sun appears to lift up a dark gloomy sky.

I see a cross in the distant land, a dim image of the sacrificial lamb,

a sign of good times and of great days to come.

I watch the cross.

I imagine the earth rotating silently around the sun.

When all is revealed, supportive lines come into view.

Communication is open through prayerful hearts and man-made wires,

both linked day and night to a symbolic wooden cross.

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Posted in Dianne's Blog | Tagged communication, morning light, photography, poetry, sunrises, the cross | 3 Comments »

Pushing Towards the New Goal and Finding the Past

February 20, 2014

The past two days I have looked through digital photographs, selecting the finest images to sell right here at inandaroundthegarden.net. The funds will go toward the new camera.

It was fun opening file folders, via CDs, then unexpectedly come across forgotten images from when my perennial garden was first established. So much has changed. The images you are about to view are not anything special as far as photography goes but I thought you would like to see how my garden has evolved.

The front of the garden had a variety of plants, most of which had to be cut to the ground come late-fall through early winter. During the blooming season, I had a lot of deadheading to do. It was an enormous job, inside the garden as well. As the snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum) ground cover spread, I removed plants requiring too much work. Now, the bed has a beautiful display of silver green year round with white spring blossoms.

Before

After

Instead of herbs and a picket fence leading into a tiny vegetable garden, I now have Santa Barbara Daisies (Erigeron Karvinskianus) along the path and a garden house in place of the fence and vegetable area.

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The potato vines behind the bench arbor was removed last fall to repair the fence. We planted new potato vines about a month ago. Soon, the fence will be completely covered again. It doesn’t take long for potato vines to take over. A few years ago, the arbor posts rotted so my husband replaced them. Then the seat rotted. I don’t think my husband is going to replace the wooden seat. A new arch, probably wrought iron, will most likely be a better solution.

In the garden’s early years, yellow columbines bordered the inside beds. It was stunning. Each spring they grew three feet tall. Then as soon as the temperatures heated up, the columbines died back and were cut to the ground. This left empty spaces until the following spring. There was too much pruning and too many empty spaces for my preference, so out they went.

Gardens and lifestyles have to marry or it just doesn’t work.

Before

After

More later on photographs for sale and fundraising for a new camera.

Posted in Dianne's Blog | Tagged cameras, columbines, garden tips, Home garden, perennial garden, photography, Santa Barbara Daisies, snow-in-summer, vegetable garden | Leave a Comment »

Challenges | Photographers input needed

February 18, 2014

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Dianne Poinski Photography

This picture reminds me of a time, twenty-one years ago, when I had completed cancer treatments and decided I would take on any activity that sounded like fun. That decision led me to a creative writing course, getting published in major magazines, and earning an honorary college degree in journalism. BIG! REAL BIG! For a girl who had struggled academically in elementary grades and high school.

I came upon this picture the same day Photographer Dianne Poinski posted it on Facebook; two hours after finding out I have papillary thyroid cancer. What I saw and still see in this photograph is dense fog slowly drifting AWAY from strong upright trees that have most likely endured many storms. Immediately, the image took me back twenty-one years. I don’t know why. But it did. A half second later I decided once again to do whatever sounds like fun. The difference this time is that I know what the activity will be—to pursue my love of photography, my passion for landscape, macro, and still life.

Thyroid cancer is not a death sentence and easily curable. But I also learned a few months ago that I have two conditions requiring a difficult life-changing diet, and I have glaucoma. Fortunately this disease progresses very slowly. I have faith the fog will not overcome me, that these health issues are merely placing me on an extraordinary path.

I don’t share this with slouched shoulders. (Okay, slightly slouched.) There are worse health conditions and people far worse off than me. I don’t know where this new venture will lead. But I know where I need to begin and now that I have cranked up my nerve and shared the bad stuff, it is time to move on to the next step—a new camera.

I’ve done a little online research, but there is so much information it leaves one confused. Most readers are nervous about commenting and I understand. Still, I hope a few photographers will share their knowledge. I already received one suggestion, from Dianne Poinski, “. . . lenses are where you want to get the best you can afford.”

If there are any other professional photographers willing to comment, I would love to hear from you.

(Thank you Dianne Poinski for allowing me to share your beautiful work.)

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