Play

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct."

Carl Jung

A high school art teacher once told me to never lose the ability to create like a child.

I'll never forget that.

Every time I sit down to make something, I always think of what that teacher said.

Now that I have my own child, it's like reliving my youth. You see everything with young eyes again.

You get lost in a museum, dream of wondrous fairytale landscapes.

You believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and even the Tooth Fairy!

Toys come to life, books carry you off to far away lands.

I really like what Henri Matisse has to say.

"Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play."

Never lose your love of play!

Here's what I've been playing with this week, a little paint, a piece of gessoed wood and purple horses swirling around in my brain. I just wanted to paint something out of my head, not from a photo. Something fun and colorful.

And I started a painting of my cat Pumpkin Pie called 'Played Out'. It's just a work in progress, I think I will paint many more of his toys around him. I love toys, my studio is filled with toys, children's  art and little bits and bobs of paper and what-not that inspire me.

"If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society."

Jean Piaget

Sakura Painted Pony

50% to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

CLICK HERE for auction.

'Sakura' is the Japanese word for cherry blossom. These spring flowers hold special meaning in the Japanese culture where their ephemeral beauty symbolizes the transient nature of life.

Japan gifted the United States 3000 cherry trees in 1912 which are planted in Washington, DC. This is about the time of year when they start to bloom drawing thousands to our capitol longing to view their beauty. The blossoms here often symbolizing hope, springtime and renewal.

 

Six Years Ago

I was reminded by my Dutch friend Solange today that we were visiting her 6 years ago.

What an amazing vacation! I didn't have the nice camera I do now, but I got some good shots of her town of Alkmaar and also Edam, Hoorn and Amsterdam. We also visited Egmond aan Zee and the fortified, star shaped town of Naarden. What a beautiful country, can't wait to go back!

 Cheese Market in Alkmaar

 A quiet canal in Alkmaar.

 One of my favorite artists, Vermeer, in the Rijksmuseum.

Amsterdam

 

Hoorn 

Kasteel de Haar

Blue Poppies

 Longwood was setting up for a very large orchid show and sale yesterday but I couldn't help

falling in love with these blue poppies. Hundreds of orchid growers were setting up displays of the most amazing flowers but these delicate poppies were my favorite flowers in the conservatory that day.

My friend Hope bends down for a closer look.

I think I could have sat all day and stared at them!

A maidenhair fern graces Longwood's new 'green wall'.

The largest one in North American (read about it).

Wouldn't you just love to have walls like this in your house?

A graceful purple flower in the Mediterranean Garden (see photo below also).

A blue forget-me-not kisses a spring daffodil in the Children's Garden.

Colorful fountain dances, inviting young hands to play.

My heart lept with joy when I spotted the single bloom on this iris plant.

There were a few plants blooming outside as well like witch hazel.

Korean Azaleas



And Hellebores galore!

 I need some of these in my garden.

Squirrel grabs a quick bite. We see him on the way out and I have to snap his photo.

And a magical sunset on the way home.

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Super Moon!

The super 'perigree' moon on Saturday was as big as she's been in 18 years. I got a few neat shots the night before. I had the lighting on my camera set to 'tungsten' and got this shot that made her look blue.

Then, I eagerly awaited her appearance on Saturday night when she was at her fullest.

At first I had to drive out to meet her since she wasn't visable from my backyard.

She was an awesome shade of orange as she rose above the horizon.

Ever wonder why the moon is orange?

Click here for the answer.

About 30 minutes later she was golden.

And then a beautiful silvery white before I went to bed.

I hope you had a chance to see the full perigree moon.

If you want to be blown away by some really neat full moon photos, click here!

Happy Spring at Winterthur!

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn 

 The March Bank at Winterthur was stunning this weekend with spring blooms of Glory-of-the-snow, Siberian squill, snowdrops and a few early daffodils.

Photos will never show hao beautiful it is in person!

I love this pink Glory-of-the-snow. You don't see many of these.

Looks like a snowdrop but this one is a Spring Snowflake.

Star Magnolias are just starting to open.



Looks like a pale pink Forsythia??

Lavendar crocus &

yellow Adonis.

Happy Spring little chipmunk!

Yes, you can come out and play:)