"May and June. Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months in the
garden year: cool, misty mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun,
followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights. The discussion of philosophy
is over; it's time for work to begin."
- Peter Loewer
- Peter Loewer
 |
| Ajuga reptans |
Spring this year has been an array of mixed temperatures combined with harsh rains and gusty cool winds but the gardens are all in bloom with an abundance of May color. I decided to take things a step further and look deeper into the art of the spring garden.
 |
| Azalea |
The garden is like a painting with many textures and colors. The simplicity of this azalea flower stands out against the background of its deep green foliage.
 |
| Coral Bark Maple & Golden Oriental Spruce |
The delicate foliage of the Coral Bark Maple and soft bottle-brush limbs of the Golden Oriental Spuce are exquisite with their varying textures.
The garden boy sits quietly in the nook of the garden.
I used a couple of techniques on this photo of a single hosta to bring out the uniqueness of its foliage.
 |
| Weeping Japanese Maple |
The cascading Weeping Japanese Maple in the front yard is a work of art in itself with its delicate light green foliage and twisted nature of its trunk..
 |
| Nepeta 'Walker's Low' |
I took this photo while a gentle breeze was blowing and then used an oil filter to bring out the softness and motion of the foliage of the hosta and nepeta in the back garden.
 |
| Purple Bearded Iris |
Iris...a simple but yet sophisticated flower makes such a statement!
 |
| Spirea Double Play 'Big Bang' |
My new Spirea Double Play displays such a beautiful variation of color throughout its foliage that the digital art really brings it out...
 |
| Stachys (Lamb's Ear') |
and the soft delicate foliage of the Lamb's Ear highlights the garden border.
The May garden is really nature's palette...a work of art which I have grown to appreciate more than I could have possibly imagined. Through the eye of a camera and some digital art the garden comes even more alive and one can appreciate its true beauty.
As Always...Happy Gardening!
Author: Lee@A Guide To
Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2013. All rights
reserved
Hi Lee...didn't you just recently start doing this technique with your camera? Your pictures are so good! I really like them...so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you Christy! I just got the Adobe Photoshop over the winter and am getting so much enjoyment from it. I can look at the garden in a whole different dimension now and play around with the different filters to get effects. It will take me years to figure out the entire program but I am having so much fun!
ReplyDeleteThey turned out wonderfully Lee. I can see you really are having a good time. It allows a whole new perspective on plants we see everyday.
ReplyDeleteThank you Donna. You have been my mentor and I appreciate all your help...especially the tip on using the Oil Filter! I am starting to play around with the layering a bit and can't wait until I have more time on my hands to investigate all the wonderful tools the program has to offer.
ReplyDeleteSo artistic and beautiful! The colors are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThese images are amazing. Very clever!
ReplyDelete