February inspiration

Showy blooms at the garden show

February can seem dreary, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Yet there is beauty everywhere, and a promise of more to come.

February is also brings the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. After two days of show bliss, all I can say is, "Wow!" Floral displays, uniquely designed gardens, seminars, and a marketplace of plants and all things garden. I was in heaven.

I was especially drawn to all the garden ornaments. Here are some of my favs.

Glass blooms

Hanging ornaments

A sleeping giant in the grass

I found the succulent displays particular inspiring. (If you hadn't noticed, succulents are very de moda these days.)

A vertical display

The show inspired me to create my own little landscape. It's made from an old soup terrine I haven't used in years.

My succulent landscape

What inspiration will March bring?

Hello Fall

Here I am, once again waiting for my soul to catch up. The past months have been a blur of movement. We crossed two continents by air, an ocean by sea, and three states by land. Whew!

We arrived in Seattle, where fall is on full flame. It is beautiful, but promises the bareness of winter.

This week I went out to discover a new park, the Washington Park Arboretum. If you have not visited the gardens here, I encourage you to explore its expansive collections of maples, birches, poplars, and mountain ash.

These exquisite gardens remind me of Turkenschanz in Vienna.

I hear the Arboretum azaleas and rhododendrons are amazing in early May. You can bet I'll be back around Mother's day.

Until then, I will embrace fall and wait...

Hello Fall!

Blossoms and a new camera

Roses at Turkenschanz

I've been playing with my birthday present, a Canon EOS Rebel T3i. It's a lot of fun. BUT, I'm feeling the learning curve. I've taken a lot of blurred photos!

A rose in the Volksgarten

Thankfully, it's summer and the parks in Vienna are full of blooming plants. I've been experimenting with flower shots. So much possibility; so much to learn...

In the Volksgarten - An orange iris?

Any thoughts on how best to learn about a new camera?

Expressions of rhythm and color

Tulip and Willow designed by William Morris, 1873

I am a big fan of the decorative colors and patterns from the Arts and Crafts period - swirling vines and twisting leaves of sage green and prussian blue, stylized flowers, birds, and fruits. So when Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts - the MAK - opened an exhibit on English textiles from the period, it was only a matter of time before I was there.

Wandle designed by William Morris, 1884

The exhibit is down in the MAK's basement, where the pieces are protected by glass and low light. The rows of fabric panels are breathtaking. Each piece hypnotizing.

Decorative fabric by Silver Studio, 1898

What an extensive variety of English textiles the MAK has collected! Most of the pieces were acquired during the very period in which they were produced, the late 19th century. Back then the MAK was called the Imperial Royal Austrian Museum of Art and Industry (or die k. k. Österreichischen Museums für Kunst und Industrie).

Decorative fabric, unknown

The MAK's textile exhibit is open until October 13, 2013. If you love textiles and are in Vienna this year, I encourage you to visit the MAK.

Exhibit entrance

See you soon!

When Turkenschanz turns crimson and gold

You know you're in Vienna when... 

Turkenschanz turns crimson and gold

Leaves rustle along the path

Birds nestle as air cools

Calm settles in

The bustle of long waking ends

And days of muffled snow await

Ducks in the park from Valerie Tonus on Vimeo.

Links to You Know You're in Vienna When:

Introducing You Know You're in Vienna When
When excellent wines are but an hour away
When sturm is on the menu
When you don't carry a watch
When dinkel's in your bread
When there's beauty in a regentag
When you've got the Gluhwein boost
When it's Silvester