"But a weed is simply a plant that grows where people want something else. In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit. Weeds are people's idea, not nature's."

~Author Unknown

  

Started life near beautiful Crawfordsburn, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, or as CS Lewis might say, Narnia. Live now on lovely Southern Vancouver Island B.C. Canada.

 

dnausers.d-n-a.net/cslewis/brochure8.html

 

Photography provides a welcome opportunity to switch off and drown in nature's soothing greens, all while listening to joyful bird song :) How lucky am I to be able to enjoy this!

 

Falling petals, weeds and seeds, even rotting plants are intrinsically beautiful. We just need to pause, and study.

 

I take most of my photos in our normal sized garden..this forces me to be as creative as possible in a small space The real beauty of macro is you don't require vast landscapes :) I 'm a casual gardener; a plant has to be hardy to survive me. I used to laugh at my dear Uncle Sam for his gardening obsession .. and groan at his formal garden slide shows..... life is FULL of irony.

 

A few summers ago I was reading a book while waiting for my daughter. The writer used the term golden fire to describe the evening prairie sun hitting the wheat. I looked up, savouring the words. At that moment the rain stopped, the sun came out ..and a beautiful golden haze arose from the ground. I have always loved that sight. The flickr dilemma was solved, I was named!

     

Lately I have become a poster child for caution in the noon day sun....and following ones instincts. Winter '06 I had a mole that was itchy, felt weird, looked normal. Luckily I pushed to have it removed and tested, and damn if it wasn't melanoma. So now I have a shark bite out of my arm, and a big reminder to focus on the present..and my skin checks!

I am including this in my flickr profile as a warning to you all..... look closer at your skin, be alarmed by changes, trust your instincts. Mine could have saved my life.

   

educational support for melanoma

 

www.mpip.org/bb/bbindex.html

  

for more info..dying for a tan

  

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dQSJNbiH480

  

And a brave Victorian girl...

  

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=miZHXxng9UE

   

gf

      

Please read the following

 

ATTENTION:

Do Not Blog Or Use My Photos WITHOUT MY Permission! THEY BELONG TO ME!!!

ALL of my photos are for my private use ONLY!