Longwood Gardens Year-End Photo Shoot

28 December 2011

Lens:

Unfolding Lily, Longwood Gardens, December 2011; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Flowering Begonia, Longwood Gardens, December 2011; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Flowering Maple, Longwood Gardens, December 2011; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Candelabra, Longwood Gardens, December 2011; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Cascading Succulents, Longwood Gardens, December 2011: © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Keys of Aeolian Organ Console, Longwood Gardens, December 2011; © Sally W. Donatello and Lens and Pens by Sally, 2011

Note: Please let me know which photograph is your favorite.

Pens:

When I decoded my journey for the last few days of this year, a photo shoot at one of the country’s premier gardens was a natural choice. One of my passions is gardening and even in the four-seasonal Mid-Atlantic, I garden year round. As Georgia O’Keeffe’s inspirational quote rolled off my thoughts, the journey to Longwood’s floral interpretation of 2011 winter holiday blazed large in my mind.

“Nobody sees a flower, really—it is so small—                                                                          we haven’t time, and to see takes time, like to                                                                         have a friend takes time.” Georgia O’Keeffe

Ms. O’Keeffe was a master artist who plied and unveiled her singular view of a flower’s inner secrets. Her narrative was about human nature and nature–their connection.

Longwood Gardens is a perfect foil for the season’s light that plays with our psyche. Although I did walk through the exterior areas, it was the conservatory that was my destination. I arrived early and the sun followed me as I meandered through the rooms.

In the Lens section are six images from today’s photo shoot. For other images from Longwood Gardens, see the post from 14 October 2011.

Every visit to Longwood is new and inviting; each visit challenges my way of seeing and watching, observing and viewing. As usual visitors come from far and wide to stroll, to ponder, to share, to gasp. I feel particularly fortunate that I can see this wonder at my own whim.

As I ponder the last nine months of birthing my blog, I am grateful and humbled by the community of photographers and others that I have met and continue to know. And I thank everyone who continues to follow me as I explore two of my passions (photography and writing)–thanks for diving into my ramblings.

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