Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Weeds and Grasses


The other day I commented to my cute neighbors how lovely their yard was.

He paused a moment and said, "You know I have been working so hard on all the weeds that I haven't taken the time to enjoy the beauty. But people like you have been telling me how much they have enjoyed it."

Isn't that how too often our life is? Do we tend so much to the weeds that we forget to stop and see the beauty right in front of us?

I live in a sweet community that really enjoys their yards! They painstakingly plan and water and nurture until it is, just like Goldilocks says, "just right."   The common areas are very well tended.

When I was putting this post together I took a walk and realized there was a theme here.




I recall pulling and tugging  tons of grasses out of my yard when I lived in Montana. It was a weed to me...  but here in Utah, the gorgeous whispy grasses are used for texture and backgrounds to showcase the color pops in front. No longer a weed but a beauty alone or in combinations.





The lavender against the green grass is glorious!





The tall grasses almost look like spraying water.





The grasses sway with the breeze and if you pause a moment and listen,  you can hear it rustling.



 Side walks are designed with curves and twists to them.





Now this is urban planning at it's best!!

Have you been tending your garden? Or looking for your weeds?



Oh!! one last thought.  Regarding Abstraction.  Sometimes something wonderful just can happen. And while, typically this photo might have been deleted... Leigh's theme of Abstraction prompted me to save this fun one.



I think I accidentally clicked the shutter as I was driving by some trees-- fun to study huh?   :)



12 comments:

AFishGirl said...

Ah, great post and here in my early time zone,I get to be first commenter, whooo hoooo! What a stunning neighbourhood. Oh my. I have sidewalk envy. Big time. There are no sidewalks here, out in the sticks. You just walk alongside the secondary highway. I miss sidewalks, very much. The pictures made me realize that. Beautiful neighbourhood. Yes, that we slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labours. For sure. That we slow down period. And enjoy. Period. Each small thing. A shower. A cup of tea. Reading FOL. Every single thing. The key to it all, slowing down, the savouring. Thanks for this reminder.

Barbara said...

Gorgeous yard, love the purple.

Deanna said...

What a beautiful neighborhood and yes, grasses can be a wonderful addition to the landscaping. Thank you so much for taking us on a walk thru your neighborhood. It is quite lovely and your photography adds to the beauty!!

Dotti said...

HA-HA-HA - Laughing out loud because you've described my husband to a "T"! He cannot sit and relax on our back porch because he constantly sees the weeds. I, on the other hand, ignore the weeds and inhale the colors. That's why so many flower photos show up in my work! :-)

Lovely "walking" with you through your neighborhood, Claudia ... wish I was really there to walk with you.

xo
Dotti

terriporter said...

Oh, what a lovely neighborhood you live in! All that purple and green and the texture of the grasses is just beautiful and your point is well taken. And there can be some beautiful weeds. There is a flowering weed that grows here called a desert primrose and, although some people try to eradicate it from their yards (it does tend to take over), I have actually planted some because I love the soft pink flowers it produces in the spring. It's all in the eye of the beholder, I guess, and I love that you are enjoying (and shooting) what your eye is beholding! Gorgeous shots!

Focusing on Life said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
heyjudephotography said...

What fun to take a walk through your neighborhood. Your images are beautiful and your message an important one. Slow down and take time to enjoy.

stephmull said...

Beautiful colors, beautiful gardens! Perfect for an evening stroll to soak it all in. Feels so peaceful and serene!

Cathy H. said...

Wow, this is such a treat to see your beautiful neighborhood! I'll bet it smells divine, too!! I'm with Pam...no sidewalks here! Lots of trees and woods though!

Linda said...

The lavender is so pretty! I like all the ornamental grasses! Such a pretty neighborhood! So many of the weeds in Texas have been declared "wildflowers" and are planted along the highways, thanks to Lady Bird Johnson. Even our state flower is a weed, er, I mean, a "wildflower"! They are beautiful though!

Anonymous said...

Oh how I love all these photos! What beautiful pairings between the grasses and the lavendar! And I'm really liking your abstract photo! It's so easy to see the weeds, but a nice reminder to look past them and find the beauty.

Kim Stevens said...

I love that lavender! And I guess I've been tending more to my garden, because it's full of weeds! LOL

The banner is gorgeous Claudia!

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