From Our Kitchen Window

 

My husband built two new feeders for the birds in the backyard recently.  One is a tray feeder and the other is a pole to hang the cage type feeder and a suet cage.   I wanted to bring the birds closer so that I could capture them at a closer range.  Of course they are taken through the window so that does make a difference to the quality of the shot.

Birds are so entertaining and I never get tired of watching them.  I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   See you there.   Hope you have a wonderful week.   Valerie

A Easy Houseplant for Fertilizer Friday

 

I am sorry that I am late to post.  I had problems with my modem and had to get another one. I hate that when that happens.   I get crazy without the internet. 

As most of us know we are in the dead of winter and us gardeners are unable to get out an play.  Well, we could but it cold out there and our gardens are snug as a bug under the covering of white waiting for the signal that the earth is warming up again.   Indoors, in the Sandbox there is a few houseplants that keep some colour  and bloom going if I remember to water them.

Euphorbia millii or Crown-of-thorns is a tough plant that does quite well in my house.  It really doesn’t care if you forget to water it and maybe it prefers it that way.  It just blooms away anyway.  I have it sitting on the floor in a room that faces north so wouldn’t think that would be enough light but it doesn’t complain.  In the summer I put it outside on the deck.  One thing you will notice about this plant is the thorns or you prefer spines.  These are nasty but part of its allure.   Leafs are bright green.  The plant is listed as poisonous if eaten  and the sap it secretes in the form of latex is a skin irritant.  That being said maybe not a plant if your cat or doggie eats plants.  I would think the thorns would be a deterrent but who knows.

Here is a macro of the thorns or spines.  Looks vicious doesn’t it?

But, isn’t this a sweet little flower?  How could you resist!  In summary, gives this plant 3 or 4 hours of light and average house temperatures.  Yes, it thrives in dry air. Allow the soil to dry out between watering. Use a fast draining medium for cactus if you are potting up.  Enjoy this really easy houseplant in your home.   I saw these plants growing in Florida in the soil so you know they like it warm. 

I am joining Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday.   Come on over and see what is happening out in brrrrr. Alberta.    Valerie

Amsonia hubrichtii – 2011 Perennial of the Year

It is just about time that I start to work on the first issue of a newsletter that I do for my Horticulture Society.   Each year I include the Perennial Plant of the Year chosen by the Perennial Plant Organization..   Plants chosen must be an all round dependable plant that is low maintenance, propagated easily, good in all most all garden conditions and soils.   This year’s choice is a plant I am not personally familiar with.   It is recommended for a US Zone of 5-9 and that my be why I have not seen it in my area.    I would love to hear from anyone that has grown it and how is performing in their garden.

Amsonia hubrichtii is known by the common names of Arkansas Blue Star and Thread leaf Blue Star.  It is listed in my favourite go-to gardening book “Heritage Perennials Perennial Gardening Guide” so it a plant that does grow in southern Ontario. 

The photos I borrowed from the internet and are not mine.

Amsonia hubrichtii grows 36inches tall and the same wide at maturity in a mounded form.   In late spring or early summer two to three inch (5-7 cm) wide clusters of small light blue clusters of star shaped flowers appear above ferny foliage that alternately arranged and are bright green spring and summer and turn a bright yellow-golden colour in fall.    This plant thrives in full sun to partial share in soil that is average and well drained.  As the plant gets established it will become more tolerant to less water and drier conditions.  Amsonia is best grown in a massed planting and best in borders, native gardens, cottage gardens or open woodland.  It is native to North America which is a bonus.  A long lived plant with no insect problems this plant can be slow to get going but in its second year it should take off. 

Grow this plant with suggested companions of Calamagrotis acutiflora or Karl Foerster ornamental grass, Penstemon digitalis and phlox divaricata’ London Grove Blue’.  Heritage Perennials quotes that this plant is soft as you brush by it but is too tall for an edging plant so move farther back in the flowerbed.

I am going to be looking for this plant when the Garden Centres open again for spring.   For more information visit www.perennialplant.org on this interesting plant.

Winter View for Touch Up Tuesday

Soldier’s Bay on the Holland River  is a location close to home.   The day I took this was overcast but I wanted to capture the boats all shrink wrapped and waiting for summer in the marina next door.   I did up the saturation on this one just to give a little more colour. 

In photoshop CS2 I cropped it to take out the spindly trees and then added Pioneer Woman’s boost action and then using P/W again added the seventies action.   I like the warm tones that appeared.  I then flattened the whole thing and sharpened.   It now seems to have a sepia look to it.  Don’t know which I like better but it was fun playing around with it.  

More Touch Ups can be found at Chelsey’s Paper Heart Camera for Touch Up Tuesday.   Have a great day.  Valerie

A Faded Rose for Mosaic Monday

I was about to take the yellow roses that my Dad brought out to the compost when I noticed that they had dried so beautifully .   What a perfect opportunity to practice some still life photography.   Out of the cupboards came various items that I had noticed that photography bloggers use as props like beads, glasses, music paper etc.  I even stole   borrowed an item I saw Henrietta of Henrietta Hassinen do of photographing a flower placed on the white snow.   I am sorry friends I have very little imagination of my own but I really appreciate those that have it in spades.  My mosaic is a sample of some of my better shots. 

This mosaic was done using the same subject but using a template sent to me from Kristy at lnr-laboratory.   She does some amazing things with Photoshop and allows us to add our own contents to her templates.   You can see I spend far too much time in front of this computer.  Give her a visit and try some out too. 
I am posting to our Mosaic Monday hostess Mary and to lnr-laboratory to share my finished template.    Hope you have a wonderful week.   
Valerie

A Kiss Goodbye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know about you but I overindulge of goodies at Christmas.  I have a terrible sweet tooth and I just can’t seem to turn down anything delicious during the holidays.   So, this week I had to return to eating healthier and getting more exercise. 

Inside us is a thin person struggling to get out but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.   Author unknown

The macro of two Hersey Kisses is my contribution to the Macro Friday meme hosted by Laura at Blogging from Bolivia

Valerie

Open for Touch Up Tuesday

Several bloggers have shared a word for 2011.  This word is a template for their aspirations, dreams and desires for the New Year.   I began to think about a word that I would choose and I settled on OPEN.  Open for me a direction for me to move forward.  There are situations in my life that need change or at least a new direction.  I have belonged to an organization for many years that provided me with wonderous opportunities and I enjoyed every minute. In the past year something happened to that feeling of jubilation.  But, I am open to looking at the pros and cons of continuing with it or leaving it behind and moving on.  I have learned so much about photography this year and I want to be open to expand those learning opportunities.  I just want to take a look around and see what is out there to see and do and learn.  I love to learn new things.   So, my word for 2011 is OPEN.

My image is two open books.  I love books. These are photography books. 

My touch up was just to layer a texture on to it.  I picked Shadow creations Aged Canvas. It just seemed to bring the books to life. 

Join Chelsey at Paper Heart Camera for Touch Up Tuesday. Have a great week.  Valerie

A New Year for Mosaic Monday

Have you cleared your Christmas decorations away yet?  I am working on mine today.  We have had warm temperatures lately and yesterday a great deal of rain.  Today we are down in the minuses again.  My husband is out counting birds for the Bird Count done yearly.   I am counting the birds that land in our birdfeeders at home.    I received an invitation recently  from Kristy at Life-n-Reflection to receive her templates for a calendar and learn how to use Photoshop to make my own calendar.   It was a  lot of fun.   The first square shows my January 2011 calendar.  The remaining squares are just a mishmash of photos from the present season showing yellow roses that my Dad brought, the pinky violet that is blooming on the windowsill, a plate of cookies, some icicles on our back porch, a little bear that my husband put in my stocking, the seed head of a milkweed with a snow cap and a landscape from the river near to us.  As many of you, I am looking forward to the new year with new beginnings and new things to do and learn.  I hope that you will visit often.  I love your company. Have a great week.  

More mosaics can be found at Mary’s for Mosaic Monday.   Come join the fun.

Life in the Sandbox 2010

 

Like fine wine I would say it has been a very good year.    I look forward to seeing what 2011 will bring.   I look forward to your encouragement and friendship dear bloggers.   Happy New Year.   Valerie

Yellow Roses for Touch Up Tuesday

My Dad brought me some lovely yellow roses for Christmas.  They were a welcome addition to the dining table.   This photo is SOOC.

I edited the photo in  Photoshop Elements  using a blending of soft light and then adding a texture from Shadowhouse Creations called Oil painting 1 and then using a blending of overlay at opacity 77%.  

Thanks to Chelsey at Paper Heart Camera for hosting TouchUp Tuesday.    Have a great day.   Valerie

A Christmas Proposal

How was your Christmas? Do you feel ten pounds heavier with all that good food and tasty desserts.  Oh I do.   We had a wonderful day with all the family.  My husband’s uncle missed his first Christmas with us in forty years due to a bad cold.   Our youngest son proposed to his girlfriend Christmas Eve.  We are so happy for them.   Wedding plans have not been discussed as yet.    Just had to share this good news with all my blogging friends.    Have a great week.   Valerie