Waking Up Early

I am working hard at trying to be more of a morning person. This morning both of us work up very early. There are advantages. I caught the first trumpet vine bloom covered with rain.

 I found the first morning glory blooms hidden below the clematis.

 I also found Mary Oliver's poem again today and reread it and enjoyed it as much this time. 

Why I Wake Early
By Mary Oliver

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who made the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and the crotchety—

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light—
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness.

Makeover Time

I spent today figuring out what I wanted to do with my blog and how I wanted it to look.I think I am pleased with the "new look", but time will tell. I love the idea that there are more posts for people to see, but need to get used to the idea of clicking to see the rest of a post. I collected some pictures of life around our place the last few days to post tonight. The bird above is a treasure I found at the Rose Shop at the Rose Garden in Portland.

 Grayson is tolerating our new dog visitors, but misses his time with us.

 I found this lovely chime a week ago and today it made pleasant sounds.

The native grasses in the evening sun were lovely.

Beautiful Garden Sights

It is hard to pick which time of year the gardens is the most beautiful. When I returned home from my trip it took me a few days to tour, deadhead, examine, and enjoy the gardens. Here are some images I collected. Right now I am loving summer. Enjoy!

Rose Lovers Unite

When we visited the Rose Garden in Portland yesterday it was obvious many people share our love for roses.  Here is brother Bill posing with The Rose Guy.

What a perfect place to paint. Below a tour bus arrived with many rose lovers excited for a tour.

Umbrellas were also a big part of the rose garden tour.

People of all ages enjoyed the roses.

Everything Coming Up Roses

Today when my brother and I toured the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, OR I knew I would see lots and lots of roses. I was not prepared for the overload beauty of the roses, hydrangeas, fuchsias,and other complimentary flowers and plants. I think you will see what I mean. 

 Astibiles

 Fuchsias like shrubs

The smoke bush and hydrangea.

It Is All About the Process

 Today I met an old friend face to face for the first time. Jane and I got connected on Facebook through my brother Bill. We share similar interests and today I met her face to face. It was like visiting with an old friend from the past.  As we toured her home, gardens, and studios today I learned that we have very similar beliefs about how we create things in our lives. She has created beautiful gardens. She has done a complete remodel of her house. She is creating a lovely gallery to display her husband James E. Hansen's sculptures. 

The two of us share a common thread. We embrace the process of what we are creating. In conversations today we both discovered it is not about creating perfect gardens that show up in magazines. It is not about reading all the books available on gardening or architecture, but it is about doing. She has put her energy into the doing and the results are all around her.

The end product is what we always strive for.... but I truly believe the learning and growing takes place in the  process. I will continue to have an awareness of that process whether it is in writing, gardening, cooking, teaching, or art.

We also both have the belief that you create a place that feels right. A place to call home. I loved the place she has created and calls home. Thanks Jane.