Summer Garden Warmth

We sketched today in Cynthia's garden- sun, flowers, friends. Summer is here. Like Leigh from Curly Girl Designs says, "There is no better way to spend the Day than in good company." I had to add her napkin quotes to my journal page. "To slow down and take a little leisure is the happiest method of living." Sweet peas and roses are two of my favorite summer flowers.






It feels good to be outdoors, hear the birds sing, sip a cup of tea and relax with friends. Hope that you're enjoying your summer, too.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

May celebrates the peony collection in the Lan Su Chinese Garden. The Chinese passion for peonies makes them China's official national flower. A friend and I visited the garden early this week. Many of the tree peonies had finished blooming. Peony bouquets filled the Hall of Brocade Clouds.

I really liked the colorful peony seed pods which I observed for the first time. What inspires my passion for peonies? their vibrant colors, lacy petals, beautiful centers, imaginative names?
The walled garden, located in Portland's Old Town, offers a serene nature respite to the hectic urban environment that surrounds it. "Between Lake and Mountain Lies True Meaning".


Each season brings a different feel and look to this scholar's garden. In Lan Su's study, we found his Four Treasures- paper, brush, ink and ink stone.
This garden is one of Portland's treasures.

Cyrstal Springs Rhododendron Garden Sketch

After pouring rain, the sky cleared and the sun shone giving us a window of opportunity to enjoy the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and sketch a few flowers.
This beauty called "Creole Bell" inspired the above sketch.
The seven-acre garden contains an incredible collection of rare species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas and other plants.
Pale yellow, coral and rose color this gorgeous variety. Unfortunately, I didn't get it's name.

Birds flock to the garden- many varieties of heron, duck and geese. This red-winged blackbird fluffed his feathers and let us enjoy his beauty. It's my first sighting of them in the garden. Being tuned into Mother Nature uplifts one's spirit and connection to all things living.

More Dahlias from Luscher Farm

We sketched this morning at Luscher Farm and it felt so good to be outdoors, to enjoy the sunshine and feel autumn in the air.

More dahlias- a favorite fall flower along with nasturtiums. Nasturtiums make me think of my grandfather. When he retired, he ran a small dairy farm in the Willamette Valley near Gervais. Nasturtiums were his favorite flower. Every time I see them in bloom I think of him.

The community garden is one of my favorite sketching sites, one full of nature's bounty.