Beautiful Prickly Rose & a Beautiful Family
The recent combination of rain and sunshine has made the prickly rose bushes explode with shades of pink and magenta. We’re letting the area beneath our birch trees develop naturally, and at this time of the year, we are rewarded with showy roses and abundant bluebells. Yesterday, I saw the first clumping of dwarf dogwood as well. I love the way that Mother Nature gardens!
My wildflower garden in the rear of the yard is doing well. The seedlings are now several inches tall. I just wish I had saved the bag, because now I can’t remember what was included in the mix. I suppose I’ll just have to wait and then be surprised. I do hope everything grows well and blooms.
(Click to enlarge the first photo)
My wildflower garden:
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On Friday night, I was scheduled to photograph a friend’s family. The plan was to go to Creamers Field for casual outdoor portraits. As the afternoon passed, the skies became gray and rain began to fall. We had to resort to our backup plan of more formal indoor photos.
I much prefer photographing people outdoors, or in more natural surroundings. The sun (when in the right position in the sky) is better than any artificial light. And generally people are a little more relaxed when outdoors - especially teens and children. And no one can dispute that nature provides some of the best backdrops out there.
Abby’s sons are both teens, and I could sense initially that they were not as enthusiastic about these family photos as their mom was. But, as time passed, and they grew more accustomed to my presence in their home, and a flash in their eyes, they came around. We’re still planning to do an outdoor shoot, as soon as our schedules mesh.
I’ve been friends with Abby for several years. I’ve written about her here, touting the wonderful talent that she and her husband have for making jewelry. Her husband Bo is a lampwork artist, and Abby is skilled in metal smithing and fused glass. She’s also the one who puts together their gorgeous works of art into jewelry pieces. You can see some of their “wearable art” at her Flickr account here.
Abby and her husband Bo are leaving Alaska later this year, and we’d been talking about scheduling a portrait shoot for a long time. I’m glad it could finally come together and I look forward to the outdoor shoot. Abby has given me permission to share some of the photos in this journal. It was a real pleasure to photograph them.
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It’s not even noon and almost 70F here in North Pole. Today, I have plans to install the vinyl tile floor in the camper, as long as it doesn’t get too warm. The good thing is that we have AC in the camper, so I can be comfortable while I work. Steve did a great job of vacuuming up all the debris, and taking care of the horrible squeak we had in front of the dinette table. It turns out that there was a broken staple holding the plywood floor to the joist and everytime it moved up and down, it squeaked against the wood. We managed to tune out the sound during the day, but in the middle of the night, a trip to the bathroom could be quite disturbing to anyone sleeping. I think the sound could be heard outside the camper too. Not good.
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Ever since we started work on the lawn, the birds have left my yard. There was an occasional chickadee making a visit to the feeders, but now even she’s gone. The only birds that come by on a regular basis are robins. This is the first year I’ve had them visit the yard regularly, and they’re only interested in the suet. I miss the chickadees, and I hope that they haven’t left my yard forever. Watching them is one of my favorite activities - particularly in winter.
Until next time….
Oh Susan the Prickly Roses and Bluebells are also taking their spots in our backyard where the wood line starts..it is so beautiful to wake up in the morning and hear the birds and look out to wildflowers.
Oh I am still so amazed at how great the pictures came out. Thank you again. And yes an outdoor shoot will be scheduled soon. Bo was very impressed with the photos and can’t make up his mind which one he wants. LOL! Jared on the other hand already started sharing them with his friends.
I can’t wait to see your wildflower garden!! It will be nice to be surprised with what pops up.
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I love the Prickly Rose and Bluebells. It’s so nice to have flowers in my yard that I didn’t have to plant or take care of. Mother Nature does such a great job of that.
I do hope the weather cooperates for the outdoor shoot. I’m looking forward to it.
See you soon!
[Reply]
Comment by Abby C. — June 8, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Hey Susan,
I love the pictures of the beautiful family. “Abby” is that the lady we saw at Pikes? She is so pretty. You did a great job!
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Hi Kayla - yes, that IS the lovely lady we met at Pikes brunch when you were visiting. She certainly is beautiful - she and her family made the job easy.
Love ya,
Susan
[Reply]
Comment by ~~*Kayla Melton*~~ — June 9, 2009 @ 2:57 am
Susan,
I have never seen dwarf dogwood before–so pretty. I am used to the Southern type. Congrats on your blog making the Fairbanks paper. I really enjoy reading your journal and looking at all your beautiful photos.
Dewise
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Hi Dewise,
I love the Dwarf Dogwood plant and I have an abundance of them growing in the woodline this year. In the fall, the flowers are replaced by brilliant red berries, and the plant reminds me somewhat of Christmas holly.
I remember the beautiful dogwoods of the south. We had two of them in our yard when we lived in NC.
Thanks for the congrats on my blog being in the paper. I’m happy that you enjoy reading me.
Take care,
Susan
[Reply]
Comment by Dewise Bailey — June 9, 2009 @ 3:20 am
LOL, I have a teenage boy who HATES his picture taken. The last one he let me take of him was when he got 2 trophies in his Robotics competition–I told him it comes with the territory, you win prizes, I get a picture.
[Reply]
susanstevenson Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Hi Tracy. Even my boys, who are much older than teenage - don’t like it very much when I try to take their photo. I usually get funny faces, or very morose and non-smiling ones. At least you managed to coerce your son into photos with his trophy!
[Reply]
Comment by Tracy — June 9, 2009 @ 3:40 pm