Seven years old today!

Today marks the seventh anniversary of this site.  Below is a re-issue of the first post.  It failed to attract any viewers at the time.

POPPY DAYS

May is the month when the poppy brings a vibrant splash of colour to the garden.  Often, overnight, the furry green protective shell of the bud explodes, exposing the tissue-like petals of the new flower.  Backlit by the afternoon sun, the petals produce a palette of shades ranging from yellow to deep red.

Regardless of the inauspicious beginning the site has blossomed and has given me  much pleasure.  WordPress statistics tell me that today’s post is No. 1378.  Every post has included at least one (unrepeated)  photo/image and sometimes more.  There have also been more than 97,000 ‘views’ recorded.  (I have yet to become involved with the social media in any of its guises!)

I would like to thank all of the visitors to this site and hope that my enjoyment in the creative process has been shared.

Orchards in Ibiza

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Spring, the orchards of Ibiza are carpeted with wild flowers.

 

Poppy days are here again. Thank you.

Today is the fourth anniversary of this blog and I would like to thank all who have visited the site and, particularly, those who have ‘stayed the course’ and passed comment.  Your support is valuable and is truly appreciated.

I am marking the occasion by re-publishing below  the very first post.  Unsurprisingly, at the time it was scarcely noticed –  just a handful of views and no ‘likes’.  Here you have it.

‘May is the month when the poppy brings a vibrant splash of colour to the garden.  Often, overnight, the furry green protective shell of the bud explodes, exposing the tissue-like petals of the new flower.  Backlit by the afternoon sun, the petals produce a palette of shades ranging from yellow to deep red.

 

 

Meet the Poppies

The title was prompted by the similarity between the arrangement of the seed heads and a typical family photograph of parents and children.

Welcoming shades of early summer.

 

 Click the image to enlarge

 

 

 

By the way

More from the flower garden in June

Poppies and shadow

No further elaboration is needed  –  except perhaps to suggest that the low angle of the shadow provides a clue to the time of year.

The White Poppy

I mentioned a few days ago that the pink and white poppies had fared better than the earlier flowering reds.  The ‘Perry White’, pictured below, is a beautiful flower and has been prolific this year.

When enlarged, the gentle undulations of the seemingly pure white individual petal collect and reflect other colours and shadows to create an abstract image of delicate, subtle tones.

Poppy abstract 1

The rain and high winds of the past week have played havoc in the garden.  The red poppies have been particularly badly hit and their flowering season has been shortened.  On a more positive note, the fading petals have produced patterns akin to abstract paintings.  I shall be posting one or two of these images over the coming days.

Poppy time

This view of our garden was taken through a rear window of the house  –  hence the interference of reflections in places and a consequent softening of the focus.  But, in particular, I wanted to capture the impact of the few vibrant splashes of red.  The poppies add a ‘zing’ to the scene.

But stay a little longer with an individual flower.  Marvel at the pattern at the heart of the flower.

Notice the nuances of colour as the petals reflect the sunlight.

Poppy Days

May is the month when the poppy brings a vibrant splash of colour to the garden.  Often, overnight, the furry green protective shell of the bud explodes, exposing the tissue-like petals of the new flower.  Backlit by the afternoon sun, the petals produce a palette of shades ranging from yellow to deep red.

 

 

Heart of the poppy

See also The Gracious Lady of Spring, Blue Iris, Garden in June, Lupins after rain, Garden Flowers