Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Contemplate the Garden

Although there is much work to be done in the garden, there are times just meant for observation and regard. Forms, textures, and colors are the backbone of a garden--giving it the beauty we often intend.

Walk around the garden and contemplate the seed pods as they form on spring trees looking like gold dripping from the network of branches. If you look closely, a small chickadee sits on a branch on the left.




The fluffy white blooms of a cherry tree cross and blend to form segments that look like large cotton candy balls.


I am joining Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk for Word for Wednesday. The word is tracery. Tracery is defined as the ornamental work of ribs and bars in panels and screens or the delicate work of lines in a network. Leaves, branches, and trees create a network as they converge and intercross.

The blooms and branches of spring intertwine with the leftover leaves and branches of winter.


The labyrinth of veins in leaves seems complex and yet beautiful and intricate. Emerging leaves are blurred with fuzziness as pathways are still in development.


The intricate workings of a spider's web is woven like the most delicate of fabrics.


The graceful upper branches of a large tree reach up and crisscross to form a grid of design against the sky.


What do you see as you contemplate your garden?

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Earth Day Celebration

I am planning to have the second annual Earth Day Reading Project blog meme to celebrate Earth Day 2012 starting on April 1. The Earth Day Reading Project is a month long blog meme where bloggers are asked to share what books inspired them to live more sustainably and post it to the meme. Because there are some bloggers who participated last year and already shared what books inspired them to live more sustainably, I will add another category that will allow them to continue to participate. I will be doing things a bit differently this year to make it easier to participate and refer back to the books mentioned in the meme. All the books from last year's Earth Day Reading Project are listed here.

© copyright 2012 Michelle A. Potter

30 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks, Claudia. It was an interesting exercise...

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  2. One of my favorite views is standing under leafless trees looking upward to a clear blue sky. Tree structure is beautiful and worth study.

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  3. I agree, you have wonderful lines and tracery in your garden and photos. You are right, it takes a keen eye to notice the patterns and grids. Most people (not gardeners though) see it, but really do not 'see' it. We are just more attuned to the details and forms than most. Gardeners realize why things like tracery are garden elements, even if many do not know the term for it.

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    1. I think you are right, Donna, gardeners see many different things in the garden.

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  4. Such beautiful examples. I love your images under the branches looking up. One can see how the architects of the vaulted ceilings got their inspiration.

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    1. The architects made such good use of nature's lines Thanks, Karin.

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  5. Absolutely stunning photos! You've inspired me to get the camera and head outside right now! Thank you.

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    1. You are welcome, John. I love photographing the garden, and now is when things happen every day.

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  6. What beautiful pictures to capture spring busting out in your area. Spring is so wonderful.

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    1. I agree, Lona, spring is beautiful. I love watching the garden come to life.

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  7. All the photos are beautiful. New growth intertwining with the leftovers of winter is such an accurate way to describe spring. "Like gold dripping" - I loved that description. It will open my eyes to the gold in my own garden.

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    1. Thanks, Holley. There is so much going on in the garden. The 'gold' tree has had many visitors from squirrels eating the 'gold' seedpods.

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  8. That fluffy cherry and the large tree canopy silhouette would be nice paired in a double-frame. Love the spider web!

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    1. Thanks, Eliza. I like your idea of the pairing...would be nice...

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  9. Michelle, this word made me contemplative as well...lovely pictures showing tracery...lovely thoughts as well...excited about the meme again!

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    1. Thanks, Donna. It was easy to contemplate when looking for the lines and designs of tracery.

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  10. Breathtaking photos as always. And your take on tracery is stunning.

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  11. Your photo's are so lovely. And sometimes I wish I was a butterfly and had time enough. I have not at the moment
    gr. Marijke

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    1. I know how you feel, Marijke...time is an elusive thing these days.

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  12. Excellent post - your pictures reflect 'tracery' perfectly.

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    1. Thanks, Elaine. I had a great time looking for it...

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  13. All your photos are so beautiful and looking so alive that i wish i am looking at them in person. I always appreciate the macro shots, but i also would like to see the whole scene and your photos promise a lot for me as a viewer. Again, i wish i can take a shot like that spider web, i am envious.

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  14. Spending time in contemplation makes the garden completely worth while! Yours is beautiful this time of year!

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  15. Beautiful illustration of the word "tracery"! I especially love the photo of the redbud in bloom next to last year's leaves.

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  16. I was not familiar with the word "tracery" until I started reading some of the W4W posts. The spiders web was a great example of tracery that I would not have thought of myself.

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  17. Wonderful blog! ~ I'm now following ~ Best, Anne

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'I see trees of green, red roses, too
I see 'em bloom for me and for you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world'
--What a Wonderful World

Thank you for visiting The Sage Butterfly blog. I enjoy reading your charming reflections very much. Have a great day!

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