Usually, I take pics of tulips in my garden (see here, here and here). This year I have been impressed at how easy it was to draw them on the iPad with Paper. I use this app often at work to sketch key concepts.
Tulip Season
Spring in Boston
The days that used to lie
curled up,
numbed
by penetrating frost,
bit by bit
stretch out
their limbs
now that winter’s past.~ Sri Dharanidhara
from Vidyadhara’s Subhaashita Ratnakosha
Translated from the Sanskrit by Daniel HH Ingalls, Harvard University Press
The original verses were composed between the 8th and 10th century. Vidyadhara probably compiled these before the year 1100, when he had access to the library housed in the ancient monastery of Jagaddala.
Continue reading “Spring in Boston”
Tulip Mania
It was a dreary weekend; overcast, drizzly and cold. Perfect time to snuggle under the goose down and sip warm almond milk.
After putzing around the house for a few hours, I realized the rains had stopped – whatdayaknow. An overcast day is perfect to take flower pics. In the diffuse light, the subtle colors get well saturated. So what the rains over the last weeks had washed out the sakura blossoms. So what all the daffodils wilted in this cold blanketing us. So what we haven’t see the shiny orb in the sky since …whenevah. The tulips cloaked in misty droplets, swayed proud. Enjoy this parade. Continue reading “Tulip Mania”
Azaleas Blooms: Pink Madness!
Its the long Memorial Day weekend and we are at home!!! The last three years, we were always away on holidays at this time.
This was a great time to work in the garden. Many bushes are blooming and others are just sprouting. A good time to clean, trim, add compost, de-weed and general maintenance. This morning was very overcast with an intermittent light drizzle; perfect weather to shoot pics of these blooming azaleas. This one must be a variant, coz the blooms on the others are very different. This one looks more like tiny roses. Verily, pink madness! Oh, the droplets on the flowers are from the drizzle.
Enjoy the week!
My Flower posts:
A few Tulips
I promised a few tulips from the Public Gardens here. But work, and life in general, have been exceptionally busy. A major deadline looms at the end of the month, delaying even my India trip. M leaves a week earlier and I complete the project and join the festivities later.
When I finally made it to the gardens on monday, the blooms had already started to wilt. 😦 So, here is Plan B: Tulip pics from last year. … and when I arrive in Mumbai in june, the mangoes better not all be gone.
Pics of our tulips from previous years here and here; and a recent ipad sketch of tulips.
Spring Flowers: Hyacinths and Tulips
These tiny grape hyacinths are the most abundant in my yard, and pop up in every nook and cranny. With blooms only a couple of inches tall, they get overlooked amongst the brilliantly proud tulips. Also because they are so tiny, they pose a particular challenge to photograph. I planned this composition for weeks, even before the tulips had started to bud, and crossed my fingers that by the time the tulips bloomed, the hyacinths would still be around. Continue reading “Spring Flowers: Hyacinths and Tulips”
Crocuses: Blush of Spring
Last week, winter's icy claws loosened. The frozen ground yielded; and like butterflies from an underground vault, these golden crocuses burst forth! Passing strangers paused and held their breath. Kids pointed to this burst of color, in an otherwise forlorn landscape, and their eyes gleamed in joy.
For how much longer will dogwoods, cherries and maples hold their blooms. How much longer before blue jays dance on japanese maple boughs? How much longer before freshly painted toes grace open sandals, and mini-skirts rim slender legs? The blush of spring is spreading!
Continue reading “Crocuses: Blush of Spring”
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms in the Boston Public Garden; click image for larger version
This is a variant of the cherry tree and the Japanese call it kanzan yaezakura. Here it is called the double-blossomed cherry. While the common cherry flower has only five petals, these have more than 20.
Previous pics from the Boston Public Garden:
Magnolia Blooms!
Magnolias are blooming all over town. Pandemonium in pink! This is right outside my health club in downtown Boston.
Looks like the Muse has been visiting all my friends. So when she knocked, I let her in:
Cupid shoots
Scarlett tips
Of quivering maiden lips
Nikon D70, Nikon 50mm (75mm effective) f/1.8
© Arun Shanbhag
Hyacinths and a Daffodil
A few white hyacinths in the foreground. Note the leftover little yellow crocuses on the right, and daffodils in the background.
An Hyacinth pod is made of nearly 50 distinct blooms. WoW!
I blame the long winter for the mediocre daffodils this season. This one turned out picture perfect!
Nikon D70, Nikon 50mm (75mm effective) f/1.8
© Arun Shanbhag
Crocuses: Spring's first sigh
With the last snow just melted, crocuses are the first spots of color in an otherwise bleak landscape. These tiny bundles of joy have blooms barely an inch tall. At night, crocuses bundle-up. At first light, these are getting ready to lazily unfurl.
An hour later, they are in full bloom! *sigh* Yes, there is a God!
Which orientation did you like? In the background, you may notice the daffodils still a few weeks away from blooming.
And a few more closeups. Note, the blooms are an inch across, or less! Enjoy!
Tulips from my Garden
May these bring joy and color to you life. Have a Great Day!
Pics of our tulips from previous years here and here; and a recent ipad sketch of tulips.
Arun Shanbhag 