July - Summer Bouquet

The sweet scents of summer.

Well it is starting to smell a lot like summer. The sweet scent of peonies, the heady fragrance of sweet peas, the delicate scents of roses carried on the warm evening breeze. 

Lavender,  rosemary, mint, oregano and thyme all thrive, sharing their scents as we brush up against them.

The smell of freshly mowed grass and of the ocean mixed with the sweet coconut oil scent of sunscreen; these are summer scents and they make me smile.

The buzzing of the insects busy in the garden, yes it is summer.

The taste of sun ripened berries, the first tomatoes from the garden, meals outside on a summer day .... ah.

 

White peonies, especially those bright red details in the centre are a favourite.

 

These beauties belong to my neighbour.

  

 

 

 

My roses are not bad this year

 

 

Sweet Pea Bouquet:

 

 

 

Close up of one of my hanging baskets

 

 A dragon fly drying its wings:

Oh, those local strawberries:

 

 First raspberries of the season

 

 

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News from the studio

 I am working on a few things in the studio, but this time of year the garden takes priority.

 

New 10" x 10" for fall show.

 

 

Ink drawing of fountain, almost finished

 

 

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Couldn't resist sharing this one!

 

That is all for this time,

 

happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian

 

Plenty

It is summer and we have plenty of sunshine, which leads to plenty of flowers,

 

plenty of fruit,

 

(Yes I love raspberries and the garden is producing plenty this year.)

 

and vegetables.

 

(these are Japanese cucumbers-delicious)

 

(lots of green tomatoes promise a good yield later in the summer)

 

I have been busy keeping the garden watered but I have also been busy in the studio.

 

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First, great news, not only did my painting "Watchful" win an award at the Delta Artists' Guild "Oil and Water Show" but it also sold!

 

Here is another look at "Watchful":

 

 

 

Here is a  painting of a bearded iris that I call "Blue Beard":

 

 

 

"Seagull over English Bay":

 

"Canada Day Crow":

 

 

 

"Stone Bridge":

 

"Island Sunset":

 

Also having plenty of problems with my old computer - time for a change!

 

Not surprisingly I have been "plenty" busy!

 

 

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That's all for this week,

 

happy Wednesday, with whimsy,

 

Gillian