And then? Flora and Fauna....

So yes, one can flounder after a life changing event, like losing a parent, a sibling, a loved one. Dad passed about 4 weeks ago. I just haven't had too much to say and so, poor blog, sits here on a long pause. I think it's the first "blog pause" I've had for such a long time. I'm sorry if you missed me, ha ha!
I don't have much to say, but I do have some interesting photos to share. Images of Spring in the Midwest, starting with the return of the Sandhill Cranes, which are easier to hear than to see around here. But I did catch a flock resting in a nearby field when they began to move in this Spring.

Rite of Spring - Mariah climbs a tree.

Other signs of Spring including flowers trying to grow, and getting smacked down by late snowfalls and frosts.

I channeled my dad the first week of April and planted onion sets, some cool weather seeds, pea pods, radishes. My dad and mom raised us all to work in their gardens and I do have very early memories of different tasks. So it felt good to dig in the dirt when the weather was friendly...lately, it's not friendly. Very cold and wet....

That's OK. I'm finally catching up on indoor studio work: back orders, commitments, creativity. It's all in there, somewhere, I just have to dig for it a bit. Campground will reopen in just about a week....Happy Easter Weekend to all.

April Showers, April Flowers, Part Two

Didn't what to be overwhelming by putting all this pretty plant stuff into one post yesterday, so here's another batch of things that are looking really good to me in the gardens here right now. Lots of pink, which is just wonderful...plus this blue and white medley that I just love. And I'm so happy to say that it has been raining now for a couple of days, which will be like a shot in the arm for plants that were getting pretty droopy from becoming too dry. Of course, this will give the weeds a good shot, too....but at least the soil will be soft enough to pull them.

I was surprised to discover Dakota and Mariah got into this last shot (I was too busy focusing on the plant arrangements!) It's a wonderful time for the garden as there is a combination of flowering shrubs and trees, some later bulbs, and perennials all peaking together.

Best wishes for a beautiful Sunday and hope yours is full of flowers, too!

Winter Ready Flower Buds

I find these buds to be just fascinating, even a bit miraculous. They are formed during the summer and will go through the entire winter in the state photographed here. And the fact is, they don't just survive stretches of seriously subzero weather--but will open in about March to be large magnolia blossoms. Seems sort of incredible, especially when I think about how delicate those flowers are when opened.

I adore pussy willow buds, and these are a fair substitute and last much, much longer. I'm thinking about how I might try to reinterpret these as wearable art....hmmmmmm? To be continued.....

Meanwhile, yes, the photography continues, too. Boy, I've got a lot of new work here! I must have been "in the zone" because it seems, it all just sort of "happened!" The new widget for my Etsy shop, on the top right sidebar here, scrolls through work now listed in the WillOaks Studio Etsy shop.

Exuberant Orchids

A few weeks ago, I photographed the beginning of new buds for a couple of orchids I acquired last winter. They are a type of orchid that I haven't grown before and I bought them out of bloom because they were so much less expensive this way. I got 4 new plants and now, two of them are in full, glorious bloom and I'm just thrilled! What a special treat even as the darkness comes so early and lasts so much longer each day.

Related, but not Similar

I've had to wait a few years for this "Solomon's Seal" to get up to speed and bloom. I have very little shade to plant in here, but there's a special pocket of cool, moist and dappled shade under an old crab apple tree. I wove an old, pierced hose into her lower branches in order to maintain this ecosystem, with a bit of extra watering, during the often brutal heat waves in July and August. And so I have a few primroses, ferns and other rather alien plants calling this niche home now.

Finally seeing this plant bloom was a new visual reminder of organic structures that some of my neckpieces are meant to evoke.

Preview New Pieces

Enjoy a sneak preview of new photos! These neck pieces are part of a series of new "pearly branches pieces" that will go into my Etsy shop over the next few days, definitely by the weekend.

I love this design so I keep "revisiting" it. Check this link for earlier pieces in the same spirit. I decided to experiment some with new photography approaches and I'm happy with how this is going, too. It's important to me to "keep things fresh" and to always be on the hunt for new ideas, new ways to look at things, better ways to revisit ongoing ideas. These photos link to the new listings in my etsy shop, if you'd like a closer look and other views.