Posted on by Donna

Radiant

“Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.”

Henry David Thoreau

 I am linking in  this Wednesday to a new meme from my NY blogger friend Donna at Garden Walk Garden Talk.  It is called Word for Wednesday and this month’s word is illumination.  When I think of illumination, I think of the word radiant.  Both conjure pictures of  bright light, colors, brillance.

As the days continue to shorten in length and we close in on those darker days of late fall, I treasure every day’s sunshine.  This weekend the sun was brilliant.  The morning light burst into the windows in back of the house and bounced off the plants.  It was as if the flowers were smiling like the dahlia above that finally is blooming.

Colors come alive now without the heat, just the light playing on the petals bringing an intensity that was washed out in the heat of summer.  The flowers seem to radiate life.  Pollinators are drawn to them as if the pollen were glistening, sparkling in the light.

The sunrises are incredible with rich hues of orange and red.  The sun sets in peaches, pinks and blues.  The full moon rises against an ink sky with a hot, white light that illuminates my garden through the cooler nights.  These are the wonders of light that catch my breath.  That fill me with gratitude.

I catch glimpses of light playing at new angles through the trees, the flowers.  I try to capture this beauty of light as it dances through the shadows. Every plant that flowers now is a blessing.  We delight in the fact that the blooms have not faded; they continue to flourish, to glow and draw our eyes all over the garden.

And they beckon me to follow suit and show my brilliance.  To shine my light, to feel liberated and unafraid; inspired to radiate. It is important that we shine our light and illuminate the darkness we may find in our lives.  I find it difficult some days to not want to stay in bed and just pull the covers over my head.  Then I see the yellow sunlight against a cool blue sky.  I feel invigorated, full of renewed energy.

 

 

 

 

As I wandered around the garden recently, I found some sights that truly radiated; captured my attention; captured the light and illuminated the late summer garden.

  This ‘Kopper King’ native hibiscus was facing away from me; illuminated by the sun.  The way the light played through it was so magnificent.  It gave the plant a completely different look.

 

 

These beautiful cyclamen were half in shadow, half in light under the trees.  Poking up through all the green and shining so brilliantly.

 

 

You can se the bright sunshine hitting the top of this plant as the face stays in shadow.  The yellow petals were so brilliant in the sun they looked like they were on fire.

 

 

The frogs love to float suspended in the water these days basking their faces in the sun.  It is as if a beacon of light is illuminating them in the dark waters of the pond.

So I am taking my cue from my garden as we move into fall.  I shine my own light as I face the sun and feel its warmth.  I am illuminated as I stand in the sunshine.   I am radiant!

 

 

 

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” –  John Burroughs

 

 

 

 

Shameless Book Flaunt–For those that have asked my poems were published in the book, The Moment I Knew. You can order the book from the publisher Sugati Publications where more of the proceeds go to the womens’ groups chosen by the authors.  Free shipping from the publisher as well.  You can also order it from Amazon soon.  I hope you enjoy the book and I would love to hear your feedback on my poems.

 

Special Note: All flowers pictured here are from my garden.  Flaunt your flowers at Tootsie Time this Friday where she hostsFertilizer Friday.  I’ll be flaunting mine.

Monthly (usually around the 10th) I guest blog at Walkabout Chronicles.  Stop by to read my post on Mindfulness!

Please remember, to comment click on the title of the post and the page will reload with the comments section.

All content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.


46 Replies to “Radiant”

  1. Donna, the changing light does indeed show a different quality to our gardens. Fabulous pictures of your plants, your frog looks a right evil looking little devil.

    1. So glad you enjoyed the pictures Alistair. That frog is one of the barking frogs that was attacking birds this summer so I would say he is a has a bit of the devil in him!!

  2. Donna, since the first photogrpahy contest I participated in on Gardening Gone Wild, I have developed a passion for capturing light in the garden. That doesn’t mean I’m any good at it, just that I try LOL.

    I love the idea of Donna’s meme and will join in too. But your photographs elevate nature and sunlight to an entirely new level. Not only is this illumination for me, it’s aspiration…. to be able to capture even a fraction as well as you have.

    1. Oh Cathy how sweet of you to say so…I gave up on GGW photo contests. I decided to capture what caught my eye and I love it…though the contests did get my creative juices flowing….

      1. I still participate because it is a learning activity for me. I take thousands of pictures of whatever captures my image and delete the majority of them, but it is also good for me to step out of my comfort zone and do something that really challenges me. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m ever any good at it, but I make myself try.

        I had fun taking new pix today and reviewing recent ones for a post on Wednesday.

        Thanks for promoting it and inspiring me!

  3. The sunlight is so welcome and it certainly illuminated your photo beautifully! They are truly radiant. I love the dahlia, but the hibiscus is my favorite!

    1. Becky I hope things are well with you and the waters continue to recede…so glad you enjoyed the photos…the hibiscus was a wonderful blessing that appeared one day when I had my camera…I am grateful for the gift of the photo..I think it is my favorite as well!!

  4. Your photos are inspirational! Getting just the right lighting is the most challenging part of photography for me. I may capture the creature or the bloom at the right time but then the light isn’t right, etc. To get the two at the same time is a small feat for me.

    1. Karin I know what you mean. I look for that lighting and the unique lighting of a bloom or critter. So glad you liked the pics…your photography is simply beautiful!!

    1. Bridget thank you and so happy you enjoyed the pics. The devil frog was fun to capture. I saw that you fanned me on Blotanical. I have not been over there much the last month due to time issues, but I wanted to thank you!! It is always an honor.

  6. Donna, these are beautiful examples. And your words, wonderful as always. I especially like the hibiscus, a beautiful view and perfect lighting. They are so great to capture because their petals are so translucent. Unfortunately, my hibiscus are rather quick to leave in my garden, staying for such a short time. You approached the word almost opposite than I did. You dove into the light where I looked deep into shadow. Great post and thanks for joining.

    1. Donna thx for this wonderful comment. I loved playing with the light. I saw how we approached it from different views which was so cool. That hibiscus appeared one day while I was weeding and was just standing their waiting for her picture to be taken…can’t wait to join the next WFW!!

  7. Lovely post. Light is everything in the garden, transforming the ordinary into magic. I’ve been struggling a bit the last few days because it’s been cloudy – my being craves light.

    I particularly like the photo of the hibiscus. Stunning!

    1. Thx Sheila..seems most folks just adore the hibiscus or the frog…I am a being of light and crave it as well…it gets bad for me during late fall through winter where we can go weeks with no light…just darkness or gray. Glad my post brought you some light!!!

  8. Hi Donna! Love this post and your appreciation for light! I too am very much enthralled with light! The photo of the hibiscus it outstanding and I also really like the sunflower ( I think that is what it was…). I so enjoyed reading this post!

    1. So glad you enjoyed the post. Yes that was a small sunflower that popped up in the garden. It really was so radiant in the sun!!

  10. I love that hibiscus composition and light, and that white cyclamen with those shadows. I find it so difficult to find photos for this Illumination thing! LOL.

    1. Andrea so glad you enjoyed the pictures. I happen to be weeding in the garden and had my camera and was blessed to capture these pictures. It often happens when I don’t plan it!!

    1. Deb so happy you enjoyed your visit to the late summer garden…we have to let our own light shine for without it we would be in darkness!!

  13. The colors in the first photograph are gorgeous, I love the contrast with the bright pink and yellow. I agree that seeing flowers from behind, when they’re backlit, they can look remarkably beautiful. I think without a camera in hand, many of us don’t think to the look at the backs of blooms, only the front, but the sepals themselves on many flowers can be almost as beautiful as the petals.

    1. I love wandering with my camera. Even without it, I have begun to notice more interesting sides to the blooms…back, up close, down and in…so much fun to really explore…glad you enjoyed the pics!!

  14. Wow–incredible! I took a deep breath of appreciation when I opened your blog and saw the first photo–perfect for Donna’s new meme and the word of this week!

  19. You know, I’ve still not made my submission for GWGT’s Word for Wednesday. Hope she stays opened for a few more days. Your post is perfect for her theme. Love the quotes as well as the photos. My favourite is the Kopper King.
    Rosie

    1. Thx Rosie. Donna’s post says that Mr. Linky will stay up for a week so you have until Monday or Tuesday. Can’t wait to see your submission. Glad you enjoyed the post!

  20. Haven’t “seen” you around lately. I really do love the fall light. I had to laugh when you mentioned sunlight and blue sky though–what’s that? We are having the rainiest month in recorded history. I haven’t witnessed a truly sunny day since I left Maine. The cardboard boxes I use to put my customers plants in are so soggy (and they are stored inside) that I couldn’t use them at my latest sale. Send sun, quickly.

    1. Carolyn I was just thinking of you today and here you are. I am so sorry to hear you are also in all that rain. Indeed I have not been around as I would have liked due to a day job that is still too busy at least until the end of this month. I hope to get back to reading more blogs as on a consistent basis soon. If I am not working, I am writing or gardening. Too many projects left undone in the summer’s heat and spring floods. I still plan to visit you but it will wait until spring. I will send some sun right away 🙂

  21. The vibrancy in the first image is fantastic and such a contrast with the images of your hibiscus and cyclamen. Great post!

    1. Bom so glad you enjoyed it…That dahlia was screaming to be picked for a portrait as was the hibiscus…so happy to see you on this garden visit!!

  22. Donna, I really enjoyed this post. I’m in the same weather as Carolyn, so it was nice to see the sunshine in your photos. The hibiscus shot is a keeper! (It would look gorgeous blown up and hung on a wall.)

    1. Jean you are so sweet to say that about the hibiscus photo. Others have encouraged me to print some and hang them on my wall. It sounds like a possible winter project…Glad you enjoyed the post and that I could send you some sunshine. So sorry to hear you are having rough weather… ;(

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