January Thaw - 1.17-18.15

Every year in this area of the country, the upper Midwest, we have what is called the “January Thaw”.  After weeks and weeks of freezing temperature and many night well below 0 degrees F,  it warms up – relatively speaking!

 You can notice the difference

as the snow melted from Saturday above to Sunday below

This recent weekend was the January Thaw of 2015 in the Gardens at Waters East.  Everyone hopes there will be more days than just these two, but this is it for now.  I often ask – why do people even live here???  Winters can be soooooooo cold!  However Spring, Summer, and Fall make up for even these very cold Winter days.  A day or two of “thaw” like this weekend where the temperature reaches +40 F helps people to survive.  Everyone thinks - only a couple more months of this cold and the gardens will once again begin to show life.

People in this area of the country are a hopeful and positive crew who see the glass as half full and never half empty.

 Again, notice the difference from Saturday above

to Sunday below

The photos posted today, though grey and rather dull on this Winter weekend, show signs of water from the melting snow – we are all true believers - better days are coming.

In the following photos you will see that the deer knocked down the logs

but who cares

the snow is melting!

If you wish to make a comment, please do.

Encouragement during these Winter months is always welcome.

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@yahoo.com

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

Chicago Botanic Garden - Holiday Part 2

Part - 2

A trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden is always something to look forward to any time of the year.  In this posting the focus will be on some of the many flowers blooming during the recent holiday season.  Even in the cold and snow of winter here in the heartland – there are plenty of blooms to see and enjoy.

In addition to the blooms in the conservatories, the Japanese Gardens look great and “quieting” any day of the year.  Walking the paths there is a profound meditation experience whatever the season.

This posting and the last posting share some blooms and some views of the Japanese Garden a favorite.

Enjoy this short two-part tour

 reaching for a cocoa bean pod

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@yahoo.com

Chicago Botanic Garden - Holiday Part 1

Part - 1

A trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden is always something to look forward to any time of the year.  In this posting the focus will be on some of the many flowers blooming during the recent holiday season.  Even in the cold and snow of winter here in the heartland – there are plenty of blooms to see and enjoy.

In addition to the blooms in the conservatories, the Japanese Gardens look great and “quieting” any day of the year.  Walking the paths there is a profound meditation experience whatever the season.

This posting and the next posting will share some blooms and some views of the Japanese Garden a favorite.

Enjoy this short two-part tour

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@yahoo.com

Want a "Quickie"? Today 1.13.15

“Quickies”

(All “Quickies” are photos taken and posted the same day)

These photos were taken this morning at the Gardens at Waters East. - - 1.13.15  Even with the snow flurries outside, the flowers continue to bloom inside - that is a good thing!  It is difficult to tell from the photos but the snow flakes are falling like feathers from a pillow - quiet and beautiful.  A great day to enjoy the gardens even if staying inside.

Enjoy

 Hibiscus - ignoring the snow!

 snow flurries

 snow flurries

Patio Arch

Peace Plant - happy to be indoors

Buddha ignoring the cold

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@yahoo.com

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

Abstract Expressionism #2

Abstract Expressionism – “art for art sake”

An ongoing series of “art” photos:

The photos here are in the style of abstract impressionism, wherein the emotion is the thing.  Much like the work of Pollock, Sato-Leui, Zampedroni, and others;  these pictures release unconscious creativity through the use of colors, shapes and lines.  The following photos were all taken at Gardens at Waters East.  Each original photo is followed by the exact same photo, only with a change to the computer settings “making” an abstract expressionism “painting”.  The final product is interesting.

The possibilities are unlimited.  Just a slight adjustment as the photo is “saved” in the computer makes the variations never ending.  It is another way of viewing the garden with a creative eye.  This is a great “project” when the gardener can not be out in the dirt.  These dual photos also make great note cards that are given out to visitors at Gardens at Waters East.

Enjoy

 Wild Grass and Daylily Leaves

Wave Petunia

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

A Quote - Degas

Here is a quote from Degas and three Plein Air paintings of the Gardens at Waters East.  It was a joy to have the painter Diane here from Chicago.  She loved the gardens and expressed it in her work that day.  Do enjoy a painter's view of the Gardens at Waters East.

"A painting requires a little mystery, some vagueness, some fantasy.  When always make your meaning  perfectly plain you and up boring people." - - Degas

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@yahoo.com

BLOG SHOTS #64

Each month Gardens at Waters East (GAWE) will post a few never before seen photos of “garden life” called - - BLOG SHOTS.  Here are the photos for this posting. This is the first Blog Shot posting for 2015.  May you enjoy all the postings to come in the days ahead.

moments in the garden - - enjoy

 Coneflowers

Lake Michigan in background

 Crocus

 Goldfinch

resting in the garden

 Pasque Flower

 view from

Middle Walk

 Tardia

 Weigela

Rainbow - Panorama

Gardens at Waters East

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

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

unless otherwise marked.

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

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:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com