Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Seasonal Contrast - Stone Bench

Seasonal Contrast in the Gardens at Waters East

Postings in this ongoing series will show the same garden “area” and “objects” at two or more different times / seasons of the year.  The contrast will offer the viewer an appreciation of the beauty found in the same spot but in different months.  Some of the photos have never been seen before, others were collected from earlier postings in order to provide the needed contrast.  Each season has its own “feeling”, has its own beauty.


There is a stone bench at what is called “Middle Arch”.  It is one of three stone benches specifically place in the gardens so that a visitor can stop and sit at certain “viewing point” taking a few moments to appreciate the views of Lake Michigan and of the nearby plants.
Here are some seasonal photos of the Middle Arch Bench - - winter through summer.
Enjoy this one small aspect of the Gardens at Waters East.  Imagine the views you can see while seated there.






Always try to add an extra - view of Lake Michigan from the gardens.


Reference Note:  If you check out the archives for this Blog, you will find a number of “contrast” postings in this series.  All help in understanding the gardens throughout the year.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:


Saturday, April 23, 2016

Guatemala Eternal Spring #4

While it was Winter in the Gardens at Waters East, I flew off and worked as a volunteer in Guatemala for two months while enjoying the country often referred to as “The Land of Eternal Spring”.

in the garden at my cottage

It is a beautiful place, something always blooming everyday of the year.  This will be a four-part series sharing with you – a fellow plant lover – a few of the many sites on this “working” trip.  No doubt I was able to help in the lives of the people I worked with, but make no mistake, I too was nourished by them and the beauties of this wonderful land.

private garden in Nueva Santa Rosa

Though this series is mainly about the flowers of Guatemala, I did post some other photos.  In addition to the many flowers discovered while on walks, in private gardens, along the back roads, and in nature preserves, there are photos from the Mayan archaeological ruins of Iximche where I spent a day exploring, and photos of some of the people and places where I spent the days in Guatemala.  This will help place the flower photos in the “context” of this beautiful land.

enjoy visiting
The Land of Eternal Spring

 Lake Atitlan as seen from my cottage

 growing wild in the field in San Isidro

 Mayan ruins at Iximche

 private garden in Santiago

 private garden in Nueva Santa Rosa

 Mayan inscriptions at Iximche

 Private garden in Santiago

 the streets of Solola

 growing wild in vacant land in San Isidro

 sunset in Panajachel - Lake Atitlan

volcano - San Pedro - Lake Atitlan


Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Guatemala Eternal Spring #3

While it was Winter in the Gardens at Waters East, I flew off and worked as a volunteer in Guatemala for two months while enjoying the country often referred to as “The Land of Eternal Spring”.

private garden in Santiago
blooms only for the day - then dies off

It is a beautiful place, something always blooming everyday of the year.  This will be a four-part series sharing with you – a fellow plant lover – a few of the many sites on this “working” trip.  No doubt I was able to help in the lives of the people I worked with, but make no mistake, I too was nourished by them and the beauties of this wonderful land.

gardens at my cottage - Lake Atitlan

Though this series is mainly about the flowers of Guatemala, I did post some other photos.  In addition to the many flowers discovered while on walks, in private gardens, along the back roads, and in nature preserves, there are photos from the Mayan archaeological ruins of Iximche where I spent a day exploring, and photos of some of the people and places where I spent the days in Guatemala.  This will help place the flower photos in the “context” of this beautiful land.

enjoy visiting
The Land of Eternal Spring

 private garden in Santiago 

 fishing people - early morning Lake Atitlan
off the shore of my cottage

 rags stuffed between the boards
to keep the boats afloat 

 Mayan ruins at Iximche

 private garden in Santiago

 more of the Mayan ruins at Iximche

 gardens at my cottage at Lake Atitilan

 private garden in Santiago

 Sunday market - Santiago

 private garden in Santiago


 private garden in Santiago


Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Guatemala Eternal Spring #2

While it was Winter in the Gardens at Waters East, I flew off and worked as a volunteer in Guatemala for two months while enjoying the country often referred to as “The Land of Eternal Spring”.

private garden at Lake Atitlan

It is a beautiful place, something always blooming everyday of the year.  This will be a four-part series sharing with you – a fellow plant lover – a few of the many sites on this “working” trip.  No doubt I was able to help in the lives of the people I worked with, but make no mistake, I too was nourished by them and the beauties of this wonderful land.

growing wild in an undeveloped area of San Isidro

Though this series is mainly about the flowers of Guatemala, I did post some other photos.  In addition to the many flowers discovered while on walks, in private gardens, along the back roads, and in nature preserves, there are photos from the Mayan archaeological ruins of Iximche where I spent a day exploring, and photos of some of the people and places where I spent the days in Guatemala.  This will help place the flower photos in the “context” of this beautiful land.

enjoy visiting
The Land of Eternal Spring

 Iximchie - overview

 found on a hiking trail

 flower at the Cayala nature preserve

 This was a surprise
as  I walked out the door of the house in San Isidro.

 private garden at Lake Atitlan

 ruins at Iximche

 private garden at Lake Atitlan

 morning clothes washing at Lake Atitlan - Santiago

 private garden at Lake Atitlan

 view crossing Lake Atitlan to Panajachel

sunset at my cottage - Lake Atitlan



Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Guatemala Eternal Spring #1

While it was Winter in the Gardens at Waters East, I flew off and worked as a volunteer in Guatemala for two months while enjoying the country often referred to as “The Land of Eternal Spring”.

This was growing on the "scrub land" in an undeveloped area.

It is a beautiful place, something always blooming everyday of the year.  This will be a four-part series sharing with you – a fellow plant lover – a few of the many sites on this “working” trip.  No doubt I was able to help in the lives of the people I worked with, but make no mistake, I too was nourished by them and the beauties of this wonderful land.

This was growing near the shore of Lake Atitlan

Though this series is mainly about the flowers of Guatemala, I did post some other photos.  In addition to the many flowers discovered while on walks, in private gardens, along the back roads, and in nature preserves, there are photos from the Mayan archaeological ruins of Iximche where I spent a day exploring, and photos of some of the people and places where I spent the days in Guatemala.  This will help place the flower photos in the “context” of this beautiful land.
 
enjoy visiting
The Land of Eternal Spring

 a very interesting flower
private garden in Santiago

 a closer look

 Mayan ruins at Iximche

 private garden in San Isidro

 private garden in San Isidro

 Mayan ruins at Iximche

 gardens at my cottage on the shores of Lake Atitlan

 private garden in Santiago

 one of many native children met while on tour

 check this out!
The wings of this butterfly are transparent!
hiking at a nature preserve in Cayala

private garden in Santiago


Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.