Suzanne Kreitzberg Photography: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Project 365 - Ferns

It seems unlikely. Counterintuitive. But grow they do. Green from rock. The ferns are unaffected by this miracle. The trees unmoved. I smile.

Project 365 - Curtains

Tiny fairy curtains hung
Out to dry
In the late afternoon
Light.

Katie and Maddie and I hiked down the bank and into the creek. The flowing water of spring has diminished to half it's volume in the warm summer air. The skunk cabbage has wilted and dried on what was the bank of the creek just weeks ago. The ephemeral flowers are gone, replaced by sprigs of less dramatic shades of summer green.

Katie ran ahead. Maddie picked her way on the drying creek bed, picking up a walking stick along the way.

I am disappointed. I have lugged my camera equipment down the bank to find nothing that interested me. But then, Maddie turns and quietly waves me over to her perch on a rock over a still pool of water. I clank my way over in time to see a dart of green disappear under a rock. Maddie patiently waded into the pool and gently reached under the rock. Seconds later our beautiful green friend came out to play.

Project 365 - Night Yoga

A little golden frog sits in meditation in my garden. His mudra resting on his froggy knees. At night I can see him from my bedroom window. A little night yoga...

Project 365 - The Stewartia

About 10 years ago, my sister in law and I travelled to Virginia for Garden Week. We planned our trip around some the most beautiful and historic gardens throughout the state. One of our stops, and perhaps my favorite, was at Monticello. There is a rather unremarkable area where you can purchase plants that have been cultivated on the grounds. Some can be traced back to Thomas Jefferson's time.

There was no historic value to the 2 foot Stewartia sapling I purchased for next to nothing. It rode for the remainder of of our trip and all the way home between my sister in law's feet.

When I got home I planted it. It grew a bit, but was not happy in it's new home. So I moved it one day to a sunny spot that allows me to see it from my family room window. We were both happy.

Today it blooms with white purity in spring for up to 6 weeks. In winter, it's multicolored mottled bark outside my window reminds me that spring is really not that far away.

Project 365 - Katie's Tree

Smack dab in the middle of my front yard stands a 50 year old Shag Bark Hickory tree. It is home to and food source for a wide variety of birds and animals that my dog, Katie, finds objectionable. They trespass daily. Katie stands guard at the base of that tree. A sentry of vim and vigor that will abandon her post for a piece of cheese and belly rub.

Project 365 - Sweet Bay Magnolia

I have never purchased and planted a tree that is over 6 feet tall. I know how large a tree will fit in my little car. So, 10 years ago when I planted this Sweet Bay Magnolia it met those specs. I planted it right off the back deck. It is nestled into a corner garden I created just for this tree. When it blooms it's sweet lemony fragrance drifts through the late spring air. When you open the back door it's beautiful blooms and fragrance greet you.

This tree is now 15 feet tall. Mature and beautiful.