Life Goes On

Posted on February 16, 2022 by johnvic8

I am saddened to post that My Arranger died on Friday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and cancer. Hospice was there at the end to keep her comfortable. Sixty-three years and eight months of marriage, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She loved flower arranging, tennis, volunteering, her church, and her family and friends.

But life goes on. Cherry trees nearby are showing the first hint of pink. I’ve seen my first daffodil. My great-granddaughter Charlotte is starting to crawl.

Life goes on.

Posted in Things I See Around Town | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

A Photo a WeekChallenge: FOOD

Posted on November 18, 2021 by johnvic8

What a great challenge this week from Nancy Merrill Photography: FOOD.

I love food. Probably a little too much, but at my age, who cares? I have removed from my files countless pictures of full holiday tables before the kids made their way through every platter, turkeys about to be carved, roasts dripping with juices, and the grandkids licking ice cream dripping down a waffle cone. Alas, those photos are gone somewhere out there in the blogosphere.

Here’s a photo for me with my favorite fruit: peaches.

And here’s a photo for our squirrel colony’s favoite food: acorns.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/11/16/a-photo-a-week-challenge-food/ to see her contribution this week.

Posted in Gardening, Holidays, Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Photo a Week Challenge: GATEWAYS

Posted on November 9, 2021 by johnvic8

This week’s photo challenge from Nancy Merrill is Gateways. I love to see creative entryways to gardens or within gardens. Here a few favorites taken over the years.

Barnsley House, the garden of the late Rosemary Very in Gloucestershire, England, is one of the most beautiful I have visited. This photo of her “Laburnum Walk” is iconic, an inviting gateway into her garden.

Another invitation to investigate a garden is this arbor covered with weigela in bloom. I placed the pot to pull your eyes through this gateway in my former garden in Chapel Hill. I still miss it.

Weigela florida variagata

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/11/09/a-photo-a-week-gateways/ to see her offering this week.

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A Photo a Week Challenge: Injuries

Posted on November 6, 2021 by johnvic8

Nancy Merrill Photography has given us an unusal challenge this week: share a photo of an INJURY. I had a selfie of my face all puffed up from an eye infection, but I have decided that would not be very interesting to anybody other than myself (Alas, the judgement that can be attributed to most selfies).

In my garden critters file, I found this photo of a Writing Spider (Argiope aurantia) preparing to have lunch on a captured and injured swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes). It may seem harsh to us butterfly lovers, but the food chain is the food chain.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/11/03/a-photo-a-week-challenge-injuries-none-serious-please/ to see her offering this week and that of others who contribute to her weekly meme.

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A Photo a Week Challenge: Vanishing Point

Posted on October 7, 2021 by johnvic8

Nancy Merrill Photography’s challenge this week is Vanishing Point.

I captured a young man cutting the grass on a gargantuan front lawn of a local stately home. The cut lines give a wonderful perspective of a vanishing point.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/09/29/a-photo-a-week-challenge-vanishing-point-2/ to see her offering this week.

Posted in Gardening, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Posted on September 17, 2021 by johnvic8

A Photo a Week Challenge: Gates and Fences

This week’s challenge from Nancy Merrill Photography is “Gates and Fences.”

Gates and fences can be important features in a garden. I would like to share a gate and a fence in gardens in the Charlotte area that I found to be quite lovely.

This gate is a welcoming invitation to enter a peaceful inner garden.

In this garden, the owner added arched windows to the fence. They don’t allow a view through the fence to the garden next door. Rather, the windows are fitted with mirrors. The reflections give the sensation that the garden extends past the fence. It is one of the most creative fences I have seen.

Please visit Nance at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/09/14/a-photo-a-week-challenge-gates-and-fences/ to her take on the challenge.

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A Photo a Week Challenge: Multiple Shapes

Posted on September 8, 2021 by johnvic8

Nancy Merrill’s weekly challenge is to share photos involving multiple shapes.

This photo of an heirloom peony is a good example of multiple shapes coming together to make a breathtakingly lovely flower. The peony was a gift from my Aunt Martha, who gave me a number of peonies that started in my family in my grandmother’s garden. Its name has long been forgotten.

There are three basic shapes that make up the blossom: large, almost flat petals on the edge, small ruffles around the center, which consists of a crinkly mass of smaller petals. And, of course, the next bud yet to open is a solid round ball.

I hope you will forgive the wee ant tasting some of the nectar on the peony bud.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/09/07/a-photo-a-week-challenge-multiple-shapes/ to see her offering this week.

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

A Photo a Week Challenge: WATER

Posted on September 1, 2021 by johnvic8

WATER is the subject of Nancy Merrill’s photo challenge this week. I am pleased to offer two contrasting photographs of flowing water. One shows a peaceful trickle in a Charlotte garden water feature. The other is a mighty torrent in one of the world’s most famous falls.

Niagara Falls

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/08/31/a-photo-a-week-water/ to see her offering this week.

Posted in Gardening, Nature, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

In a Vase on Monday: Loving Daughters

Posted on August 30, 2021 by johnvic8

No longer having a garden, I have not been able to participate in Cathy’s In a Vase on Monday meme. But my three sweet daughters have given my Arranger a monthly gift of flowers to brighten our apartment. The flowers come all the way from Colombia and arrive fresh at the beginning of each month. This month’s selection is particularly lovely, so I’m happy to share with you.

The Roses are special in this arrangement.

Please join Cathy at https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2021/08/30/in-a-vase-on-monday-bejewelled/ to see her vase this week and that of others who participate in her challenge.

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A Photo a Week Challenge: PROPS

Posted on August 25, 2021 by johnvic8

Nancy Merrill is pushing the envelope this week with her challenge: share a photo of someone or something that needs PROPS to tell their story.

What would a great garden orchestra need but its props–its musical instruments, of course.

I am pleased to present a photo of The Phrog Philharmonia, performing in my last garden.

The Phrog Philharmonia

The Philharmonia artists include Phineas Phrog on sax, Pharris Phrog on trombone, Phrank Phrog on concert ukulele, and Phylo Phrog on the mini phrench horn. (The sleeping phrog is the manager, Philipi Phrog.) Please note that in front is that wonderful singing group, The Kitty Sisters–Milly, Lily, and Billie.

Please visit Nancy at https://nadiamerrillphotography.wordpress.com/2021/08/24/a-photo-a-week-challenge-props-2/ to see her addition this week.

Posted in Gardening, Photo Challenge, Things I See Around Town, Weekly Photo Challenge | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments