maureenthomasdesigns.com blog

Hot, hot, hot! We apparently are paying the price for enjoying a beautiful and “cool” summer. Record-breaking temperatures over the past week have left the garden pretty tired-looking. I can’t wait for things to cool down…let the autumn colors begin please! This week’s garden photos felt a bit unexciting so I decided to try a little Photoshop magic on them.

Getting the studio ready for the Placer county studio tour (AAST) in November and beginning to panic as I realize that I need to have something ready for the tour preview show by the end of next week! More creating and less computering would help…..bye!

Maureen

You would think that lots of bright sunshine would make for beautiful garden photographs, but that’s just not the case. Morning seems to be the best time for me to take great pictures, while it’s light but before the sun really starts shining. I typically go out about 6am to take my weekly garden shots, but I got a late start today. So, I went on the hunt for some interesting shadows about 9am. I think these are the most interesting shots from today.

Maureen

I like to take my Monday morning garden pictures when it’s light, but before the sun starts to shine-bright without shadows. Got a late start this morning so I raced out with my macro lens and no tripod. I lucked out and got a few good closeup shots just after the sprinklers ran. I’m encouraged to try some more water droplet shots with the macro lens. If you do a Flickr search with the word “drop” or “droplet” you’ll pull up some amazing pictures.

I’ve got a tip to share (unless I’m the only one who didn’t know how to do this). A fellow Flickr member noticed that I have been watermarking my photos with (c) before my name. He filled me in on how to create a © instead! I’m running Microsoft Windows XP and I don’t know if the steps would be different if you have a different system:
~Hold down the Alt key
~Using the number keypad type 0-1-6-9
~Release the Alt key
~Voila!

I learned another cool trick today, but I’ll save that for tomorrow…

Maureen

While on my weekly garden photo shoot this morning I was just about to snag a closeup shot of one of the pots on my back deck. As I was about to snap the picture a hummingbird zipped right in front of my camera. The first shot turned out OK, but the bird blends into the plants. In the second shot the little critter is just a blur as it’s making its getaway. I’ve peen picking pears, plums, and (finally) tomatoes. I often put underripe tomatoes on the kitchen windowsill, which catches the attention of the hummers. They’ll hover just outside the window checking it out. I’ve been noting their favorite plants: grevillea (their absolute hands-down favorite), lantana, butterfly bush, lavender, salvia, bottlebrush, and agapanthus.

Here’s what’s interesting in my garden today…

Maureen

The tomato wars continue. First, weird spring and early summer weather (as in, not our usual sunny and hot “Sacratomato” weather). Then continued deer attacks. A bout of blossom end rot. Finally got the 8 foot deer fencing up and now the tomato hornworms are in full force. Veggie gardening is certainly not for the faint of heart! Here’s what’s happening in my garden today…
Maureen

Hot, hot, hot! The garden is looking hot and tired as is typical for this time of year in the part of the world. It takes a little harder look to find things that aren’t a bit droopy, but they are there. We finally broke down and put 8-foot deer fencing around the tomatoes – something which we’ve been meaning to do for a while. So, hopefully no more nightly shearing of the plants!

I’m enjoying my weekly forays into the garden. It sharpens my photography skills. It also simply gets me out there, something I am pretty loathe to do at the peak of summer!

Maureen
Maureen Thomas Designs

I’ve been faithful about getting out into the garden every Monday and posting a few pictures on Facebook. I’ve also gotten hooked on a few Flickr photography groups. Color groups, artistic inspiration groups, etc. Meanwhile, I’ve been neglecting this blog.

The Sacramento summer heat has arrived, making the garden look a bit tired. So, some closeup and macro views to focus on the things that still have some life left in them.

Maureen

I’ve been heading out to the garden every Monday morning for the past six weeks to take pictures. It not only serves to sharpen my photography skills (practice makes perfect), but also allows me to look for the beauty on my property rather than just seeing the undone chores. Since I’m a very undisciplined blogger I thought that posting the pictures here as well would get me here at least once a week!

Today is an overcast, drizzly day…perfect for garden photography. We are in a “Mediterranean” climate and are fortunate to be able to grow many Mediterranean plants as well as plants from Australia and New Zealand. There are many beautiful natives to the Sierra Nevadas as well. As in gardens everywhere, there is always something blooming in the springtime…

Maureen

I thought I’d start posting a message now and then about an unusual tool, gadget, or material that I can’t live without. I used this little scrub brush a number of times today so thought I’d start with that. What artist doesn’t love having an array of tools to make their work easier? I’ve used these little nail scrubbers from Lee Valley Tools for years and have recommended them to lots of friends. They are sold in pairs or by the dozen so I have them stationed in lots of places in my house and polymer clay studio. They are actually manufactured for hospitals and surgery scrub rooms. I use them for scrubbing veggies, cleaning my rubber stamps and texture sheets, and they are especially great for cleaning hands and fingernails of polymer clay, paint, garden dirt, etc. Plus, you can’t beat the price!