Poppies

Last Chance 2024

/ Leya / 55 kommentarer

Luckily we all have a last chance for forgotten pictures or those that just did not fit in. My chosen pictures are from a glorious poppy field in Denmark this summer. I already posted one or two from that day, but there were so many more that I loved. I had a delightful hour in their company. Lying down was the favourite position, even if it is a bit harder to get up again these days.

While driving down a small gravel road, I caught sight of this wonderful field and urged my husband to make a photo stop. And he did – he too loves poppies and their irresistible colour. There is something special with this flower…it only thrives where it stands. Pick it up and it will die in a few minutes. Its slender and fragile beauty is otherworldly.

Treading slowly into that field was one of those dreams come true that I always have at this time of the year.

The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance of those who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. And aside from the connection to war, the red poppy symbolizes resilience and hope. These flowers are known for their ability to grow in not-so-good conditions. In this sense, the red poppy points to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity and tragedy. Maybe that is why I wanted to lie down among them –

A big thank you to John, for last week’s Challenge – Winter. That challenge brought me more lovely Winter than I have had looking out of my windows these last weeks…

As we approach the close of 2024, the Lens-Artists team will be on hiatus, returning on Saturday, January 4. As is our tradition, we will open the New Year with our Favorite Photos of 2024. 

Thank you all for a great year of photography, creativity, support, empathy, thoughts and discussions – I am so happy we can meet here and stay in contact! This world is not always a comfortable place, but You make it warmer, friendlier and a better place to live in.

Wishing all who celebrate a Happy and Joyful Christmas, and everyone Happy Holidays! One last wish I have – that of a better New Year for us all on this planet, Earth. Imagine…

Thursday Thoughts – Garden News

/ Leya / 30 kommentarer

So far this Spring and start of Summer has given the ideal weather for the garden: Raining during the nights and sunshine during the days. Such wonderful difference from last year’s extreme heat. Come along for a short walk!

 

These are only some of my flowers – but I am so glad they survived last summer’s heat! I adore the little rain gauge my son bought for mother’s day.

My wild roses were planted maybe 20 years ago – I got them from a friend who in his turn had got them from a little old lady in a forest cottage.

I love those little ones – a sea of pink! If you study the bumble bees below, you will understand how small these roses are.

This year, the Painted Lady, being a long-distance migrant, caused the most spectacular butterfly migration observed in Sweden.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, recolonizing mainland Europe and reaching Sweden and even Svalbard. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, but never as early as this year. I usually see them in my Buddleijas in late summer.

This year they migrated in millions, and Gotland, our biggest island, received more than 6000 of them in some hours. In my garden now, I have hundreds of them. Some battered and torn – but who wouldn’t be after such a flight!

 

My Garden Today

/ Leya / 27 kommentarer

This hot and dry month is going to be the warmest since we started the statistics some hundred years ago. And there is no rain ahead…so as the lilacs and other flowering trees and bushes faded away these last weeks, I decided to photograph my garden – as long as it lasts.

Walk with me, and I will try to give you some pearls from my garden today.

My fallen and dying trees are all in front of the house. They are with me still – Birds are nesting in the old apple tree and the one lying down still gives us apples.

The old bushes with very tiny little roses are some of my favorites – given to me by the little man with the fantastic Dream Garden – now sold. (You who have followed my garden posts will know who he was.) From that dream garden I also have some rare and unusual tulips – see the header and the first one in the gallery below.

The lilies and poppies and other well known flowers live happily together on the other side of the house, hidden from the street. I like to think of it as a secret garden…(I truly loved that novel)

But the shining stars this week are the Irises. Under their massive canopy, you just cannot get enough of their colours and shapes – the intense green and the just as intense orange, yellow and lilac. Their every bud is a slender wonder in a sea of elegance.

 

 

Thursday’s Special: Saturation

/ Leya / 12 kommentarer

For Paula this Thursday – Saturation.

I chose two natural ones from the garden. No enhancing – they are saturated by Nature!

 

 

jupiter najnajnoviji

CFFC: Letter M – Needs to have 2 M’s in the word

/ Leya / 6 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Letter M – Needs to have 2 M’s anywhere in the word

My contribution is a picture of summer clouds and summer flowers…

…and two mushrooms – very close friends…

A Sunny Day…One of Few

/ Leya / 17 kommentarer

To remind me of one of the few sunny days this summer. Cold, windy and showers every day – this Swedish summer of 2017 will not be one remembered for its glorious weather. This week is also the last holiday week for many Swedes – always a bit terrifying…but nowadays it doesn’t matter that much how the summer was. I am lucky to be free!

Thank You – All

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

All my love to you out there in the blogosphere! We are so lucky to have each other in this supportive community. Today it was my turn to feel your warmth and sympathy, as I have lost a dear friend.

You being out there…listening, reading…I so appreciate your kind thoughts and words. I want to believe Anita is – someway, somewhere – aware of them as well.

Thank You All ♥