The Inspiration of Spring Flowers.

Dogwood.

There are two dogwood trees in front of my house which I can see from my bedroom window. 

I’ve lived here now for 2 springs, and have come to look forward to their flowering. Especially after this last winter, which was more difficult than usual, I found inspiration in the white blossoms. 

A magnificent sunset seen from my window - dogwood tree in the foreground

The Poems.

two weeks
since the last mow
dogwood petals

The lawn at my apartment building is taken care of by an inconsistent landscaper. It’s often weeks before he comes to mow the lawn. I enjoyed the petals falling onto the ever-growing grass, like little stars in a green sky. 

dogwood leaves
just in time
for the snowbirds

The house next door to me is rented by seasonal residents. They come back to town in spring when the dogwoods bloom, then leave again in the fall. I greatly enjoy having them live so close, even though I’ve never met them. Through my open kitchen window, I can hear them on the porch playing mahjong, or in their own kitchen cutting vegetables and cooking. I love hearing the sounds of life that come from my quiet neighborhood.

The Cyanotype.

The deep Prussian blues reveal textures and details that often go unnoticed

When the dogwood bloomed this spring, I was eager to photograph the blooms. However, I’m relatively short, and the branches were way up high. I was able to grab these two flowers.

I propped them up with bag clips, which I then covered in a black cloth. Using natural light from the window, I took a series of photographs of the flowers. This one was my favorite.

“Dogwood flowers symbolize durability and resilience.”

Dogwoods symbolize resilience. I look forward to them each spring along with magnolias and cherry blossoms. 

This original cyanotype will be available for purchase on August 3 for my subscribers, and August 7 for everyone else.