Sister's Garden, Leppla household, Minnesota

A wonderful late spring visit to family and friends in Minnesota led to a lot of gardening and shopping in garden centers. My sister, Elaine and her family have plenty of room to plant, and have lots of beautiful corners in their yard. I have great photos (for family only!) of my strong sister leaning into the tiller and my strong niece leaning into the lawnmower. It is Minnesota after all, where all the women are strong and good looking! Besides the joy of reconnecting with family, there were quite moments prowling around among the flowers in early morning light. These flowers are all very small, singing with color in their corner of our world.

Anniversaries

There are two wedding anniversaries in our family this weekend...

Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite National Park - Two becoming one, the waters plunging together into a deep pool, seems a wonderful image for the 57th wedding anniversary my parents are celebrating tomorrow. Especially since this picture was taken when their grandson/my nephew, Joshua, and I were on a trip out west to celebrate his graduation from high school and turning 18. That was four years ago, after a particularly rainy season in the park. We were treated to spectacular displays of water on long hikes. Now he's off to the adventures of adulthood, another generation exploring deep waters...

Today is his parents' wedding anniversary - something close to 28 years for them. My sister loves yellow roses and they used them in her bouquet. I've tried for years to make a good picture of yellow roses for their anniversary card. This one is special because these are more like wild roses; they were brightening up the corner of a park in Tallinn, Estonia last June.

Tartu, Estonia

Blue Poppy from the Tartu Botanical Gardens.

Estonians love flowers and gardens. It may be that the depth and length of winter makes summer's colors all the more precious. The botanical gardens were full of people and beautiful blossoms in the mid-summer light.

Kõrgoya

Great Grandmothers' roses have been growing at Kõrgoya for generations - through invasions and Czars, through Nazis and deportations to Siberia. Not quite sure who planted them, but it was a grandmother somewhere up the line, and grandmothers have nourished and treasured them through the generations. The apostrophe is strangely located in this title, but perfectly appropriate! The first time I saw the huge bush that these roses grow on, it had just rained, and I was seeking relief from the long drive from the capital city (Tallinn) to the family farm in Tori, Estonia. Outhouse; rosebush; bare feet on dirt farmed by family since the 1500's. Tears of joy and nurture and healing as eyes drank in the horizon of the distant river.

Mari's Favorite Wildflower: Mari is my grandmother's cousin; they are descended from the same father but different mothers. Mari is a talented poet, a survivor of the "Russian times" and a strong, clear presence with strong arms and a big heart. We don't speak a common language, but as we walked up from the river through the pasture which is full of wildflowers, she was able to clearly communicate that she wanted me to take a picture of this flower, which is an inch wide.

At the Gazebo

The Gazebo at Goodwins was built by my husband for me, and is an attractive sanctuary in the green space just off Peachtree Road. A sanctuary within a sanctuary, a gift of a place where you can put your feet up, breathe clean air, enjoy trees and be refreshed. These little narcissus come up every year for a few days. They are about one and 1/2 inches wide. It is usually late February, and the first burst of color and vibrance announcing spring.

Yosemite

Vernal Falls - the falls of spring - were full in Yosemite in August of 2005 because there had been so much rain. My nephew was the naviguesser on this trip, and read in the guide book that the trail to the falls was 1/4 mile. I stayed in my sandals, he went barefoot. Only the 1/4 mile turned into a mile - straight up. Just a friendly challenge from the next generation...

OK Josh, it's true, the rewards were worth it - coming around a moss-covered turn of footpath to see the fall of rainbow-colored water over rock with personality and faces, then finally arriving at the tranquil river that feeds the falls - well, I wouldn't have seen it without the bravado of the 18-year-old young man pushing ahead. Yosemite - it's a mystical place that seems to be something from another world. A wonderful feeding of deep soul. Bridal Veil Falls was equally amazing!