25 Aug

Green Healing ~ Discovering Macro

Posted by DOGKISSES in Green Healing, Nature, Photos. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

 

Whoa!  I discovered macro mode!

Big Bright Yellow Sunflower and clear Carolina sky

BEAUTIFUL SUNFLOWERS!

Bright Yellow Sunflower Image with Macro Lens

Ingredients for GREEN HEALING:

A beautiful day. A classic Carolina sky.

A lovely bright Sunflower. A little silver Canon.

My little silver camera surprises me.  I see people walking around with very fine cameras.  They are impressively large and I’m sure those carrying bags include an assortment of lens.  One day I might like to have a bigger and more powerful camera, but that’s a secret.  I don’t want my sweet compact little Canon to hear me say that.

I love the ‘macro’ view of various insects, along with the delicate intricacies of tiny flowers.  Photographing the life around the pond garden is always fun but again, a closer look is better.  ‘Little Frog’ has grown.  He (or she) mostly sits in the sun when I visit. 

The newest garden critter, a baby turtle with a serious face and grand personality, usually found within a few feet of the frog doesn’t seem to like me, or my camera.  I’m not sure which one bothers it more.  The frog had to go clear to the other side of the pond to get away from the determined turtle while I took pictures.  I must admit that although I love taking photos of wildlife, I don’t want to disturb the beloved critters I meet.  I’ve noticed how some don’t like being photographed, particularly lizards and turtles.

Turtle and Frog, together

Baby Turtle chases Frog

My favorite part of the day was photographing Butterflies in the Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower) garden.  I was in awe!  Truly, I was.  

Painted Lady Butterfly and Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)

Painted Lady and Mexican Sunflower

Above, Our beautiful Painted Lady Butterfly sips sweet nectar from Tithonia.  (Below) Swallowtail enjoys the same.  Tithonia are my favorite flowers because of their prolific blooms, hardiness and obvious nectar production.  Of course, the deep (and bright) orange color is pretty cool too.

Swallowtail Butterfly on Mexican Sunflower, Macro by Michelle for DogKisses's Blog

Below: Our pretty Carolina Sky and a Swallowtail Butterfly

Swallowtail Butterfly in the blue Carolina Sky

I’m very glad I took the time to play with my camera in the garden.  The images of butterflies are vivid and clear in my mind.  I can close my eyes and see swirling colors and merging outlines of transparent wings.  I’ve had a few dreams of winged colors, which were nice to wake up with in my mind.  I guess you could say I’m having macro ‘Green Healing’ dreams!  Mother Nature is amazing.

In Gratitude to Mother Earth, Father Sky, the Butterflies, and one very special person who decided to plant the Tithonia Garden!

Thank you for visiting Michelle’s  DogKisses Blog.

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18 Aug

Painted Pretty in Nectar

Posted by DOGKISSES in Green Healing, health. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Another Green Healing Day has passed leaving me with memories (and plenty of photos) of all kinds of different butterflies.  I have literally dreamed of colors and patterns, blending together and it’s almost as if I am those butterflies in my dreams. I can feel the colors and movement in the dreams. I like that 🙂

Painted Lady Butterfly, in the colorful garden.

‘Painted Lady’

I got some really great shots of the Winged Wildlife in the garden, but for some reason, I particularly like these two photos.  I hope I’ve identified this beauty correctly as the Painted Lady.  The wing patterns are complex and stunningly colorful.  I also happen to love the orange Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia).  If you ever want to attract different species of butterflies, then I highly recommend planting this prolific and bright blooming annual.

Painted Lady

A Closer Look at the Painted Lady

My apologies for not posting/writing more often, as well as my lapse in communication.  I have a lot on my mind and so for now, I hope you enjoy the images I share.

Thanks for visiting DogKisses!

14 Aug

Winged Wonders

Posted by DOGKISSES in Nature, Photos. Tagged: , , , , , .

Winged Wonders by Rosa Blue
Winged Wonders, a photo by Rosa Blue on Flickr.

Red-spotted Purple!

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11 Aug

Butterfly la Blue

Posted by DOGKISSES in Green Healing, Nature, Photos. Tagged: , , , , .

A colorful play in blue, with the Red-spotted Purple Butterfly. 

Butterfly, You are so pretty!

The photo above is of a Red-spotted Purple, but of course, with a little play in the colors.  I got some awesome shots of this beauty that clearly show its true colors and hope to share those soon. 

The butterfly came to visit while I sat inside the little oasis of green that I created on my front porch.  My winged friend liked the dog-bed cover hanging over the side rail.

I’m very tired as I write, but I must admit, I really like the photo that surprised me in blue, so I just had to share 😉

Until I can show you the Red-spotted Purple in all it’s glory, a quick scan of “Related Articles” tells me that I’m certainly not alone in my love for our flighty friends!  So if you’re interested, below are interesting links.  (It was hard to choose between all the links to folks writing about Butterflies).  Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting Dogkisses’s blog.

Note:  I also had another visitor to my ‘Green Healing’ garden the same day the Red-spotted Purple stopped by for the photo shoot.  A brand new, as in new-born, and very, very tiny lizard took its first crawl on a leaf in my favorite container of flowers.  I was truly in awe. 

Pop over to my other blog, Green Healing Notes, for a look.

Peace and Pass it On.

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5 Aug

She knows better,

Posted by DOGKISSES in Canine companions, dogs, Photos. Tagged: , , .

She knows better, by Rosa Blue
She knows better,, a photo by Rosa Blue on Flickr.

Via Flickr: than to lie on the sofa, but she was enjoying herself, immensely, right in front of me.  And, not just curled up in the corner of the sofa, but she had all the cushions, fixed just right, for a dog!

🙂  My pretty girl, Ruthie Mae.

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2 Aug

I am A Full Woman

Posted by DOGKISSES in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

From the wonderful blog, “Beyond Meds”

I love this video! Beautiful images!

Monica Cassani's avatarBeyond Meds: Alternatives to Psychiatry

Beautiful and haunting in a really good way. A celebration of the lives of women everywhere. 

–

from youtube:

Over the past 45 years photographer Linda Wolf has lived and traveled world-wide collecting portraits of women. Her work celebrates the inherent dignity of all women—inclusive of culture, race, color, shape, size, age, religious affiliation, spiritual belief, sexual orientation, abilities, and life experience. Her images celebrate the strengths that make each woman a full woman—to be valued and respected simply as women: resilience, heart, wisdom, intelligence, compassion, experience, intuition, beauty, love. Mostly contemporary, the images were taken in China, Thailand, India, Mexico, Guatemala, the USA, Europe, Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine.

“Full Woman,” the song that inspired this video, was graciously donated for use by the composer, Rachel Bagby. For more info about the dream that gave birth to “Full Woman” go to ez.com/fullwoman

This video was produced, directed, photographed, and edited…

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23 Jul

Green Healing ~ Lotus and Little Frog

Posted by DOGKISSES in Green Healing, horticulture therapy, Nature, Photos. Tagged: , , , , , , .

“Hey,” one of the Horticulture Therapy Interns whispered to me during a recent group session.  “Did you get a look at that Lily?” 

I looked across the way toward the pond garden.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  It was floating almost three feet above the water and extraordinarily large. 

“That’s a Lily!” I exclaimed. 

“Uh huh,” she murmured, smiling in a playfully delinquent way. 

She knew I would get excited and I did!  I quickly found myself standing on the side of the garden’s frame taking pictures.  I was in awe.

Beautiful Lotus Lily! 

Image of Large White Lotus Lily flower, "dokisses blog photos"

Lotus Lily

“I finally understand about the Lotus now,” a co-volunteer and friend said as we stood there, altogether captured by the flower.  By that time the intern had joined us. 

We talked about acknowledging the darkness in the waters where the flower comes from.  I’ve noticed the dark waters of the ponds, as well as all the life living in and around them.  There’s the frogs, the various kinds of Lily pads, some with intricate designs and one with a smiley face.  Pretty little red fish swim around and all kinds of moss and plant life grow that I can’t name.  Of course, there is my gorgeous winged friend, whom I met there at Noon one very hot day. 

So, after hanging around the pond for a few weeks, a surge of adrenaline hit me when the large white Lotus flower appeared.  Nature took me again to a place where I feel connected and my senses peak.  This surely qualifies as a Green Healing.

My companions and I were standing on the garden’s frame when the Horticulture Therapist walked over to ask that we re-join the group.  I suspected by the look in her eyes that she would rather not see any of us up there again.  She’s a terrific therapist and I respect her a great deal.  I also trust her.  I won’t be standing on the sides of our pond gardens anymore, besides, that’s for “Little Frog!” 

A cute little pond frog

Possible Prince Charming?

"little frog" posing by the pond garden

“Little Frog” definitely has potential!

Back at the gardens this afternoon, I checked the pond where the Lily was showing off for us.  The plant looked very different after four days!  In fact, I think I’ll end with one more photo of what it looks like today.

Lotus Lily Flower, Closed Petals

The Lotus Lily Flower, Closed Petals

There were also new Lilies coming up.  Some stay on the water when they bloom and the others grow on top of a long stem, straight up toward the sky, like this beauty did. 

Thanks for visiting DogKisses! 

Copyrights Apply.  See Terms of Use for more information.  Thank you for respecting my work and this license.

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18 Jul

Green Healing ~ The Sunflowers

Posted by DOGKISSES in Green Healing, horticulture therapy, Nature. Tagged: , , , , .

Visit my photo/journal blog to see the lovely Sunflowers! 

 

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DOGKISSES's avatarGreen Healing Girl

Well, I’m back sooner than expected to share more Sunflower photos.  I really can’t help myself.  If I wasn’t tired, which I am, I’d give fun names to the ones I saw today!  I guess some folks might think if you’ve seen one Sunflower, then you’ve seen them all, but today only strengthened my personal observation that each one is unique.

Note:  Click on images to see the original size.

Drop Dead Red Sunflower, Green Healing Notes Blog Images

My friend and I had gone to the gardens to have lunch under the naturally vine-crafted Gazebo by the herb garden.  I thought it would be cool spot to sit, but I used all except one napkin for wiping the out-pour of sweat on my body, and I had on a summer dress! 

I may be a mountain woman in my heart, but I’m not sure.  We lived in the mountains when I was a toddler, but soon moved to…

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