Summer

Yesterday my Sunny Friend, Eve, and I sat on her porch and chewed the fat about Life and Gardens. We both were lamenting the fact that we simply haven't been interested in taking photos of late. Maybe the heat and humidity were keeping us indoors, but whatever. I pondered this on the way home as I drove through the mountains in a bowl of sunshine.

Storms formed all around us and I left Eve's mountaintop home just in time. There was a little rain on me at first, but the dark gray misty clouds wrapped southerward around me, slamming Eve and Morgan in their cottage. They were rocking and rolling with nature while I was rocking and rolling with Bonnie Raitt in the sunshine.

The drive was amazing. A sheet of rain exactly one country block to my left almost to Ditto Landing. Shade on the left side, sun on the right side. To the west and north, more dark clouds lined the horizon while rain pummeled the south and east. Literally, a bowl of sunshine.

Eve and I did talk to make sure each was okay, and I made it inside before the next wave of rain pitty-patted down upon our patio and the Gazanias.


I bought these at the local Co-op. Their bright, sunny colors with stripes caught my attention. Never had gazanias; had never HEARD of gazanias. They want full sun and little water. They get sun, but we've been inundated with rain so they're a little bedraggled. Perhaps a little shocked. "Ma'am....we're great for xeriscaping, but NOT pots on a porch with lots of rain. Get it?"


Got it. But you look so lovely in rows of pots on my patio table, gazanias. Please perform for me? Please? I promise to take the water-catcher trays out from underneath you so that you'll not get wet feet. And I promise to photograph you a lot, okay? Your skirts are just so pretty!


Shades of red, red orange, orange, magenta, yellow and yellow-orange seem prevalent. Some have stripes and some do not. I wanted a "Duke's mixture" and that's what I got. The rainfall left pretty droplets of water in the dimming light of sunset. While the dogs were in the backyard doing what dogs need to do I amused myself with the macro lens.

Maybe the lack of desire to shoot was caused by lack of inspiration. These bright flowers in the graying light really called to me yesterday afternoon. Or, maybe it was lunch with a sunny friend that brightened my disposition. Or both. Yesterday jump-started my creativity gene again. Thanks, Eve, for everything. I needed that.