Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Gardening Through the Seasons: Digital Art

On this chilly February day I decided to get into the creative spirit and portray the seasons with some digital art.  I went through my photo collection from throughout the past year and selected four captures that are reminiscent of each season.   After several hours and using a combination of adobe filters, I arrived at these finished views. Descriptions of each photo are supplied explaining the combinations of filters I used for each one.  I hope you enjoy the tour of the seasons from a different perspective!
Coral Bark Maple Oil Filter and Dry Brush Stroke
Throughout the seasons the gardens are changing.  In winter the harshness of the landscape can be brightened by the glowing of red bark or golden hue of some evergreens.   The drifting snow blanketing the garden adds its own softness and beauty.
 Oriental Spruce Skylands Oil Filter (Double Applied)
Ice Crystal on Spruce Oil Filter-Dry Brush-Poster Edges

Winter Scene Oil Filter (Triple Applied)


Spring is an array of hues resembling watercolors on a painting.  When spring comes to mind I think of the some of the first signs...tulips, crocus, daffodils and allium rising up from the once frozen ground.
Tulip Art Cut Out Filter
Crocus Pallete Knife and Poster Edge Filters
Daffodil Oil Filter (Applied Twice)

Allium Bloom Cut Out and Oil Filters


Summer reminds me of roses, dragonflies and petals of brilliant colored flowers, all combining into a wonderful palette of color.
Rose Garden Oil Filter
Dragonfly on Salvia Oil Filter
Stella D 'Oro Daylily Oil Filter


Stargazer Lily Cut Out Filter


Autumn is its own mosaic of all the colors together with hues of reds, golds, tans and oranges that are the highlights of the garden.  I also think of fall as a time when wispy plumes of ornamental grasses and dried seed heads are seen throughout the landscape.
Sunflower Cut Out Filter
Nandina domestica Oil Filter
Maiden Grasses Oil and Dry Brush Filters

Fall Seed Pods Filter Grain and Oil Filters

I like to think of the garden as a fluid or changing canvas or perhaps a painting in motion.    I hope these seasonal photos helped to brighten your day. I am linking this post with Creative Country Mom's Tuesday Garden Party, Today's FlowersFloral FridaysMosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart Macro and Macro Monday 2.  Please be sure to give them a visit.  Thank you for stopping by....

And As Always...Happy Gardening!



Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved


Sunday, February 15, 2015

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up February 2015: Frosty Garden Views

February Garden
It is mid-February and several storms have passed. After Blizzard Juno on January 27th delivering 20 inches of snow, and with temperatures in the 20's, the gardens have been covered in a blanket of crystal white.  Today there is another blizzard warning in effect for here on Long Island and it is time for another Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Foliage Follow-Up!  While not much is blooming this time of year, the garden is magical with nature’s artwork. Since the snow is too deep to walk out into the property I am using my Canon telephoto lens to share some frosty views. I think you will get an idea of how cold it is here in my northeastern garden!
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Before we start the tour I would like to make a very special announcement.  On February 17, it will be the fifth anniversary of A Guide to Northeastern Gardening.  I am also very excited to announce the recent publishing of my very first book. There are links to access it in the sidebar and below, and further information will be forthcoming! 
Skylands Oriental Spruce 
Ice Crystals on Blue Spruce
Coral Bark Maple Acer 'Sango Kaku' Winter Bark
Ice Crystals on Blue Spruce and Skylands Spruce
Globe Montgomery Blue Spruce
Skylands Oriental Spruce
Barberry and Gold Lace Juniper
Weeping Norway Spruce
Thundercloud Plum Winter
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Barberry 'Rosy Glow' and Golden Oriental Spruce 'Skylands' 
Weeping Pussy Willow Catkins Forming
Garden Gal Waiting for Spring!
Here We Go Again...

The blooms at this time of year take the form of ice crystals so I am counting on our warm climate bloggers to show off some early spring or summer blooms.  There is hope for spring with some buds starting to form despite the snow and cold temperatures. Please be sure to visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens who makes it possible for us to have blooms on the 15th of every month with her meme Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for hosting Foliage Follow-Up.  I am also linking with some other wonderful hosts and hostesses at Creative Country Mom's Tuesday Garden Party, Today's FlowersFloral FridaysMosaic Monday at Lavender Cottage, I Heart MacroMacro Monday 2, and Nature Notes at Rambling Woods.  

I hope you enjoyed your winter garden visit. If you leave a note I will know you stopped by and will be sure to visit you as well.  Also please visit the Blurb Book Store or Apple I-Tunes to preview my new book!  Also...just in...Amazon Kindle. More information to follow.

And As Always...Happy Gardening!


Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2015. All rights reserved