Dahlias

I have always loved dahlias. In fact, it was a photo I took of a dahlia, back when I was in college, with my lens turned around to simulate a macro effect, that ignited the spark of my photography passion. Until then, I had merely been messing around. But that image, flawed though it was, taught me there were worlds to be seen inside a bloom, if one could just look closely enough.

Fast-forward to last year, when my husband’s friend - not just any dahlia grower, but someone who is passionate about cultivating the most beautiful dahlias around - gives us some to plant because all the dahlia shows are canceled and he doesn’t want them to go to waste. We planted them, but missed the bloom last year because we were in Wyoming. This year, however, we did get one to thrive and it has the most magnificent color, as you can see in the first image.

It was no accident that when I went to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden recently, the dahlia show was also happening. I got a peek at the exquisite blooms before judging began, but only got a few pictures of these winners (last three photos) before I had to leave. What fantastic marvels they are, looking beautiful from afar and providing almost infinite detail when you look closely.

Jardins de Metis

Eastern Canada Road Trip 2019

The Jardins de Metis was one of our favorite stops on the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. These lovely botanical gardens were a great place to stretch our legs and revel in huge lupine as far as the eye could see. For this alone, you should visit. But what really made it a must-see stop was The International Garden Festival, comprised of more than two dozen magical, interactive works of art that connect the viewer to nature in creative ways.

La ligne de 100 ans, hatem+d

This was my daughter’s favorite. You could actually paddle around this man-made flooded landscape.

Forêt, Ronan Virondaud, Mathilde Leveau

Ici et ailleurs, José Luis Torres

Le caveau, Christian Poules

Réflexions colorées, Hal Ingberg

This last one was my favorite, a large equilateral triangle made of a reflective green glass. I was fascinated by what was reflected back to me - a sort of hyper-real, over-saturated forest where I found myself looking back. I enjoyed walking around the exterior and then also standing inside. Every little movement resulted in a different view, with things like the aspen trunks or the foliage taking prominence and then disappearing.

We spent hours here, and I could have spent hours more. There are so many more art pieces that we very much enjoyed - it was like a playground that both children and adults found equally fascinating.

Elephant Ear

Back in South Carolina

After my 7-week trip across the country, I still wasn’t done! No summer is complete without a trip to South Carolina to visit my parents. The elephant ears growing beside their back door were huge in August when I was there. They were practically glowing in the late summer sun when I took this.

Great Basin National Park

Seven Weeks Across America

The aspens were moving and shaking at our campground in Great Basin National Park.  This one stopped for a moment so I could get its photo.