Sunday, May 31, 2009

what the plants learned at school

today, as you can see, i haven't spent much time here...


that's because the weather has been beyond glorious outside, so i was called out into the garden by birds singing and sabin's cheerful voice and husband asking me exactly where i wanted that new purple rhododendron planted. so i came in the house only to make a big pitcher of fresh lemonade and then to make dinner late in the day. but we ate it outside. and now although it's nearly dark out, we've lit candles all over the garden and will stay out until we can't stay out there anymore. but first, i had to sneak in and share a bit of the gorgeousness with all of you...

in danish, a nursery--as in the kind for plants--is called a planteskole. i love that name, because it makes me think that the plants go there to learn how to behave when they come home to your garden.

and here's a bit of what the plants learned at school...


and then, after dinner, we ate our fill of these...the first of the local strawberries. with sugar and cream.


it would have been a fitting end to a wonderful weekend, but tomorrow's a holiday, so it's not over yet!

note: these photos are just as they came out of the camera. no retouching, no turning up the colors. they've never been near photoshop or lightroom and i didn't even do the little snazzy iPhoto enhance magic wand. nikons are just that good at color.

30 comments:

Mrs.Rotty said...

very pretty. i love flowers.
I too spent most of yesterday outside. i love summer!

Bee said...

What well-behaved flowers . . . and what "untouched" loveliness! I especially admire that fuschia.

Wasn't today GORGEOUS? We were eating raspberries, meringue and cream out in the garden until almost-dark.

PerfectMomentProject said...

I am so jealous. I used to have a green thumb but moved to Arizona 5 years ago at which time it turned very brown and dusty. Not having much luck with this xeriscape living.

Mary Ellen said...

Inspirational - lovely flowers. I have a baby Nikon (S230) which I recently bought and it does seem good on flowers, but less so on landscapes. I just turned over some soil in a fallow garden - questioning whether to throw in seeds or get some already-started plants. Hmmm . . . decisions!

rxBambi said...

Amazing photos! And doesn't DK (or is it DM?) anyway, aren't there weeds there?? I'm impressed. My weed beds have very badly behaved flowers. I think they need to go to plant school as well!

Enjoy the holiday tmro and remember most of your cult will be working!

Janet said...

wow! that's about all i can say. wow! gorgeous!

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Beautiful pictures...I love that second one with the fuzzy green skirt. Almost looks alien before it opens!

Optimistic Pessimist said...

Our purple rhododendron just bloomed, but I don't have a Nikkon, so I guess there's really no point in even trying to take a picture. I definitely have camera envy right about now.

Fantastic bright-colored pics (types the jealous girl from her Dell laptop)!

*Sigh*

rxBambi said...

M81: How did you know I'm the jealous girl typing from my dell laptop? You must have ESP(N)

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your flowers too. I never thought of putting out candles so I could sit outside at night. I'll have to try it, though they'll probably have to be citronella.

Pattern and Perspective said...

I love the dutch word for nursery and your thoughts on that word, as well. Sounds like you have a fantastic imagination. I had to look up the Thise Piskeflode, too, which was in the berry shot. Piskeflode is cream and Thise is the 2nd largest producer of dairy products in Denmark. Who knew? I might learn to read dutch by reading your blog (or at least some terms). Lovely photos. Sounds like a great day.

Delwyn said...

Hi Julie

Your flowers have been well schooled, stood very still, smiled and wow, now they enthrall us...
and my favourite today is the screwed up party dress in the green casing about to turn into a taffetta tutu....

Happy Days

Amanda said...

We spent most of the day outside in our part of the world too, but it was very warm here, 93 degrees F. Unfortunately, I didn't even get out my camera today.

Mari Mansourian said...

spectacular photoes
glad you enjoyed the day outside today, we had a nice hike as well this morning, love being outside
it makes you feel so energized and yet relaxed at the same time :)

SD said...

Wow! I wish I was that good at gardening :S
They truly are beautiful.
Strawberries with sugar and cream...I envy you!

FJSasso said...

Perfect flowers and photos of them. Very beatiful really.

Elizabeth said...

Such a celebration of spring!
What joy.

Just Jules said...

Obviously your flowers were listening while at school. Fabulous examples any teacher would be proud of. Love the orange flower - my favorite color!

Ruslan said...

Great post, Julochka. I love Copenhagen when the weather is good. And what will happen when these flowers go to university?

Polly said...

Your Sunday afternoon sounds wonderful.

And the flowers are stunning...

Unknown said...

I love the fushia! I got a plant from my daughter this Mother's Day and have it potted in the house. It gets waaaaay to cold here at our home to keep it outside. I couldn't stand the thought of loosing it... So Inside it is! I am rapidly coveting a really good camera - and maybe some lessons on using it!
Thanks so much, Julochka! You are an inspiration!

Fidgeting Gidget said...

Gorgeous flowers. I'm in the process of purchasing an SLR and I've been referring to your flickr as something to aspire to...thanks for sharing!

BTW, if you're interested, I'm giving you an award on my blog in a post scheduled for later today.

jane said...

oh how pretty! i also took about a million flower pictures yesterday. gotta love june! happy holiday! p.s. candles in the garden- sounds perfect!

Meg said...

I had a very similar day outside as well! And gorgeous photos, by the way!

Cyndy said...

A nursery rhyme for your students (early 19th c.)

"Go sip the rose's fragrant dew, The lily's honied cup explore; From flower to flower the search renew, And rifle all the woodbine's store. And let me trace thy vagrant flight, Thy moments too of short repose; And mark thee then with fresh delight, Thy golden pinions ope and close."

The Nikon is fabulous, but it is the eye behind the lens that captures the beauty. I know you will gag when you hear that I use a FujiFilm camera (Olympus lens), but I have always loved the vibrant colors it grabs, raw and untouched...

With fresh delight, enjoy the day!

Lorac said...

Those strawberries look so good I could eat them right off the page. Ours won't be ready fro a couple of more weeks here.

Anonymous said...

I like the ones with the big pistils. The pink ones. What are they called?

Abby said...

ohmygosh! these are absolutely gorgeous... nice job! i wish my backyard looked like that... you are so lucky!

Sarah said...

See! This is WHY I don't post pictures. Cannot live up to the VERY high standard you have set for me. Oh, too late. Some included in today's post.

Laura Doyle said...

I love how the warm weather allows us to revel in the night air!

Your flowers all appear to have learned the art of looking effortlessly beautiful at skole.