In the early hours, before the weight of the world's news settles upon my shoulders, I cherish the morning's arrival. It is a time untouched by the clamor of emails, messages, and never-ending Zoom calls. A time when innocence and hope intertwine with the cool breeze in an awakening landscape.
Could not possibly pick a favorite here; they are all so very lovely. I am most familiar with the daylilly as I have orange blooms that grow with vigor every year according to their own design; they will not be coaxed into any order or place. Patches appear and thrive here and there without any human contact. Your words, descriptors are poetry and so welcome on these troubled shores of America where the news of indictments consume and divide us much like a jackhammer by the media. This respite is so very welcome as I still languish reading in bed while my fur kids snooze as well. I love weekend days for I give myself the freedom to ignore the hysteria and pundits and just revel in joy for a while. Thank you for accommodating my weekend passions. 😘🪷🕊️
That's nice to read. I was in doubt if I would write about the beauty or the ugliness that's all around us. I opted for beauty, guessing nobody has missed the photos of Trump's bathroom. I prefer flowers for the Saturday morning (and a normal lamp instead of a chandelier is fine for me in the archive).
I must admit that the military secrets, OMG, lying about in his bathroom was in an odd, bizarre, inappropriate way very funny! Perhaps we take ourselves too seriously? 😂🤣
I love that song! Just listened to it again. Beautiful.
You're really asking us to choose our favorite picture? Love them all and the way you capture them with that eye for detail. I think my favorite is the Bladder Campion. I'll post this comment before I change my mind.
Thank you for taking us along on your wander and for sharing your pictures and thoughts.
You have quite a collection of different beauties, all lovely in their own way. I do love the Daylily, here today & gone tomorrow. I live in subtropical Florida, so am not familiar with most of your flowers. Thanks for sharing.
I love woodpeckers. I see beautiful ones in Ottawa and sometimes I see them on the island (‘bonte specht’) but they are more shy and I have to sit silently for five minutes before they become active again.
Jun 11, 2023·edited Jun 11, 2023Liked by Alexander Verbeek 🌍
Oh, that's why I struggle - it's the sitting silently for five minutes ;-). Saw a Buntspecht (same word in German as in Dutch) just a little while ago on a walk. So beautiful. I hear them a lot, but they seem to quickly hide whenever I look up.
Hands down favorite is the Philadelphia Fleabane. It’s everywhere - in fields, along the road ...Not as magnificent as its fellow aster, the sunflower, but a beauty in its own right.
June is the gateway to summer. Yet in the Sonoran Desert 100's are the norm and our beautiful early Spring "super blooms" have faded. Yet your post reminded me that I have only to look out my windows to see Red Yucca, super hummingbird magnets, yellow Lantana, scarlet Bougainville and evergreen Lavendar and Rosemary beside magnificent Century Cacti.
Thanks for this Saturday read. Making me stop and think there is beauty in nature that continues; in these common desert plants that survive against all odds. And in these lovely flowers that surround you on your walk. It is all beautiful, Alex. Hermosa naturaleza.
You live in such a ununatural area. I love Arizona. I don’t see myself finishing the writing of my Colorado River trip before autumn, but I still plan to share the Utah and Arizona part with my readers later this year.
When first arriving in Scottsdale I was amazed people would create cities in a desert. Amazed there are some 200 golf courses using great quantities of water - in the desert. Amazed Phoenix-born residents knew almost nothing of the extraordinary trees, plants, flowers surrounding us. Seven years later, as I became traffic on Shea Blvd in my tiny, old window-less, roof-less jeep in 120°F, my insides cooking over the asphalt, I decided it was time to leave. It was a remarkable experience. Loved Sedona.
Oct 11, 2023·edited Oct 11, 2023Liked by Alexander Verbeek 🌍
We visited my older sister in Southern California every 2 years always using direct route from Springfield, MO and stopping at the Grand Canyon and on to LA. The summer before my junior year in high school, my parents allowed me to ride the Greyhound bus ALONE (which REALLY dates me!) to visit the friends I'd made over the years in my sister's neighborhood; I felt so grown up! The bus route took a right turn in Flagstaff through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. When my parents came to pick me up, I just wouldn't stop talking about that area and raving about how beautiful I thought it was. Mom was so impressed that I had my nose out of a book and actually looked at the scenery, we took the scenic route home through Sedona. They loved it so much, they actually considered Sedona when they reached retirement age. I love Sedona too.
Hi Linda, I only now found your comment. I love that story. Reading it, I long to go back to Arizona. (Writing this after our first day of snow yesterday).
It's impossible to choose one photo over another, but in this moment, the Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) seems particularly sweet. Thank you for sharing. :)
I like that one too. It is one of the plants that grows in the wild both on the Dutch island and in Ottawa in the same months of May/June. Unlike for instance tulips that grow at least six weeks earlier in the Netherlands than in Ottawa.
Your words remind me of my curiosity of flora and fauna since childhood. Endlessly annoying adults while searching for more details of what I observed. Heading out to gift myself with exploration on the anniversary of my existence in this glorious world. 🌍🌻
Beautifully composed, Alexander. It reminds me to get out in nature more often. The work of sustainable design, elaborates a return to nature. Values which today, are in great peril. Once we figure out how to effectively dispose of waste, I'll be impressed. The day we can harvest energy from empty space, I'm astounded. Nature provides such designs. Thank you again, Alexander.
Thank you, John, Once in a while, someone writes to me that my writing convinced them to go out into nature more often, to start walking, live healthier and more sustainable, or to eat less meat. Such comments are always a gift. Enjoy it out there; in times when the bigger picture gets more and more negative, there is atill so much beauty and inspiration to be found in the details. As I did this morning: there will always be a flower to zoom in to.
Yes. And the aromas found in nature, are exquisitely satisfying. Your work does help me see the absolute perfection, of flowers. Ultimately the topology of the universe. Look all the way in. Then all the way out. Often somewhere in-between. People in many ways, mimmic the efficacy, of bright colors, and breathtaking geometric forms, that is the essence, of the natural world. Me writing this! I am promoting myself. Since your cause, is a good cause, Alexander, I am confident that, this self-promotion of mine, is entirely justified. For the greater good.
“Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” ~ Mary Oliver
Awakening of the senses. Colours infused between spaces and lines. Time suspended in words. Excellent.
Thank you 💐
Could not possibly pick a favorite here; they are all so very lovely. I am most familiar with the daylilly as I have orange blooms that grow with vigor every year according to their own design; they will not be coaxed into any order or place. Patches appear and thrive here and there without any human contact. Your words, descriptors are poetry and so welcome on these troubled shores of America where the news of indictments consume and divide us much like a jackhammer by the media. This respite is so very welcome as I still languish reading in bed while my fur kids snooze as well. I love weekend days for I give myself the freedom to ignore the hysteria and pundits and just revel in joy for a while. Thank you for accommodating my weekend passions. 😘🪷🕊️
That's nice to read. I was in doubt if I would write about the beauty or the ugliness that's all around us. I opted for beauty, guessing nobody has missed the photos of Trump's bathroom. I prefer flowers for the Saturday morning (and a normal lamp instead of a chandelier is fine for me in the archive).
I must admit that the military secrets, OMG, lying about in his bathroom was in an odd, bizarre, inappropriate way very funny! Perhaps we take ourselves too seriously? 😂🤣
Exquisite!
Thank you
Thanks Lizzie 😊
I love that song! Just listened to it again. Beautiful.
You're really asking us to choose our favorite picture? Love them all and the way you capture them with that eye for detail. I think my favorite is the Bladder Campion. I'll post this comment before I change my mind.
Thank you for taking us along on your wander and for sharing your pictures and thoughts.
It’s one if my favorites too :-)
You have quite a collection of different beauties, all lovely in their own way. I do love the Daylily, here today & gone tomorrow. I live in subtropical Florida, so am not familiar with most of your flowers. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. It was just a one-hour walk but there are ao many flowers now everywhere. Unlike Florida, here is only a limited time to see flowers
In the early hours my morning wake-up-call is a tiny woodpecker with a big bang(rattle) on a dead hallow tree . . . (-:
Yellow day lily, Black garlic and Purple flowering raspberry are stroking my day. Thank you Alexander
I love woodpeckers. I see beautiful ones in Ottawa and sometimes I see them on the island (‘bonte specht’) but they are more shy and I have to sit silently for five minutes before they become active again.
Oh, that's why I struggle - it's the sitting silently for five minutes ;-). Saw a Buntspecht (same word in German as in Dutch) just a little while ago on a walk. So beautiful. I hear them a lot, but they seem to quickly hide whenever I look up.
Hands down favorite is the Philadelphia Fleabane. It’s everywhere - in fields, along the road ...Not as magnificent as its fellow aster, the sunflower, but a beauty in its own right.
🌼🙏🌼
It sure is. And yes, everywhere here too 🌼
June is the gateway to summer. Yet in the Sonoran Desert 100's are the norm and our beautiful early Spring "super blooms" have faded. Yet your post reminded me that I have only to look out my windows to see Red Yucca, super hummingbird magnets, yellow Lantana, scarlet Bougainville and evergreen Lavendar and Rosemary beside magnificent Century Cacti.
Thanks for this Saturday read. Making me stop and think there is beauty in nature that continues; in these common desert plants that survive against all odds. And in these lovely flowers that surround you on your walk. It is all beautiful, Alex. Hermosa naturaleza.
You live in such a ununatural area. I love Arizona. I don’t see myself finishing the writing of my Colorado River trip before autumn, but I still plan to share the Utah and Arizona part with my readers later this year.
When first arriving in Scottsdale I was amazed people would create cities in a desert. Amazed there are some 200 golf courses using great quantities of water - in the desert. Amazed Phoenix-born residents knew almost nothing of the extraordinary trees, plants, flowers surrounding us. Seven years later, as I became traffic on Shea Blvd in my tiny, old window-less, roof-less jeep in 120°F, my insides cooking over the asphalt, I decided it was time to leave. It was a remarkable experience. Loved Sedona.
Wow, remarkable it must have been. Many would have bought another car instead 😉
We visited my older sister in Southern California every 2 years always using direct route from Springfield, MO and stopping at the Grand Canyon and on to LA. The summer before my junior year in high school, my parents allowed me to ride the Greyhound bus ALONE (which REALLY dates me!) to visit the friends I'd made over the years in my sister's neighborhood; I felt so grown up! The bus route took a right turn in Flagstaff through Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. When my parents came to pick me up, I just wouldn't stop talking about that area and raving about how beautiful I thought it was. Mom was so impressed that I had my nose out of a book and actually looked at the scenery, we took the scenic route home through Sedona. They loved it so much, they actually considered Sedona when they reached retirement age. I love Sedona too.
Coming over the last hill on Rt 179 and seeing the red rock for the first time always took my breath away.
Hi Linda, I only now found your comment. I love that story. Reading it, I long to go back to Arizona. (Writing this after our first day of snow yesterday).
It's impossible to choose one photo over another, but in this moment, the Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) seems particularly sweet. Thank you for sharing. :)
I like that one too. It is one of the plants that grows in the wild both on the Dutch island and in Ottawa in the same months of May/June. Unlike for instance tulips that grow at least six weeks earlier in the Netherlands than in Ottawa.
Your words remind me of my curiosity of flora and fauna since childhood. Endlessly annoying adults while searching for more details of what I observed. Heading out to gift myself with exploration on the anniversary of my existence in this glorious world. 🌍🌻
Congratulations 🎉. And curious to hear of your explorations. Enjoy!
That anniversary of your existence went right over my head earlier! Make it the best day ever; 😘🎂🎁🥳🪷🕊️
Happy birthday!
Wonderful time. Flowers. Photos. They are all favorites 😍
Thanks Aida 🌸
Alex, I think ALL of the colorful flowers are unique and beautiful. Have a lovely weekend 💐🌷🌸🪻🌼
You too Dawna 🌷
This was so lovely it called me back for a second read. Here, have a ☕️!
Beautifully composed, Alexander. It reminds me to get out in nature more often. The work of sustainable design, elaborates a return to nature. Values which today, are in great peril. Once we figure out how to effectively dispose of waste, I'll be impressed. The day we can harvest energy from empty space, I'm astounded. Nature provides such designs. Thank you again, Alexander.
Thank you, John, Once in a while, someone writes to me that my writing convinced them to go out into nature more often, to start walking, live healthier and more sustainable, or to eat less meat. Such comments are always a gift. Enjoy it out there; in times when the bigger picture gets more and more negative, there is atill so much beauty and inspiration to be found in the details. As I did this morning: there will always be a flower to zoom in to.
Yes. And the aromas found in nature, are exquisitely satisfying. Your work does help me see the absolute perfection, of flowers. Ultimately the topology of the universe. Look all the way in. Then all the way out. Often somewhere in-between. People in many ways, mimmic the efficacy, of bright colors, and breathtaking geometric forms, that is the essence, of the natural world. Me writing this! I am promoting myself. Since your cause, is a good cause, Alexander, I am confident that, this self-promotion of mine, is entirely justified. For the greater good.
It is something that grows in the NE and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US too. :)
Lovely! We have lots of day lilies here, many colorful varieties ☺️
I love those, the whites are my favorite