flowers – donna bogosto kearns

Now you see it, then you don’t

November 9, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

This was last week in the garden. Times have changed dramatically in one short week.

This was the morning fog a few days ago begging you to peek and see what’s under that heavy mist.

This was this morning’s frost.

The characteristics of fall are encompassing, softly bringing introspection, showing off its in your face color while quickly becoming sparse signaling that the end is near. The garden is like an old friend saying goodbye but that you’ll see again someday. It shows the beauty of time gone by while making us think about the winter that’s coming.

Faces that were hidden all summer peeking out now from behind the branches.

Have a good week!

Knock-knock!

October 13, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

Have you looked around lately? You can’t help but notice that orange is beginning to come into its own all around us. Orange is the color of transition, the color of change. It’s vibrant, emotional, positive, and organic while being spontaneous, full of energy and warmth. It’s the WAKE UP color! Right now it’s giving us the message of changing seasons, leaving the heat of summer and preparing for the cold of winter. All of that energy has given me the push to “get er movin”, something that’s been long overdue for me. It’s all good so for me, change is in order and happening, a good thing. I hope orange is helping to give you a push if you need one.

Have a good week!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

October 5, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

It’s fascinating to me that sometimes my life and my garden seem to be on the same path at the same time. Maybe their energies mimic each other; I don’t know. Even though I do believe that the seasons of a garden are reflective of the seasons of life; I haven’t quite thought about it exactly this way.

This has been one of those weeks. I have been busier than busy pushing out, listening to, and thinking about as much as I can. While some of the things that were happening or I was doing were absolutely wonderful; others were stressful, or sad, or just not very good. You know those times that I’m talking about – really full and bursting with energy and stuff, good and bad. Some plants in my garden are pushing out their very best and as much as they can while others have given up and are either dying or going to sleep until next year. Some look very tired and others are screaming “look at me’. This is one of the best times.

I Get By With a Little Help from My Friends

September 28, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote “With a Little Help from My Friends” for Ringo Starr. Cool, huh? friend stuff. Enter more friend stuff. The song’s real success came when Joe Cocker changed it from 4/4 time to 3/4 time which completely changed the feel of the song, and it gives us the opportunity to do that back and forth sway thing when we hear it. I hope my piano teacher is paying attention because my challenge with timing really frustrates her. Anyway, John & Paul were thrilled with the change and they gave Joe major kudos in the music world and as a result, we all know this time honored song.

Fast forward to September, 2015 with a completely different cast of characters. It’s week 18 of my ongoing 365 project, and I just couldn’t pull it together this week. Major aha moment – call on “A Little Help from My Friend”. I reached out to my friend Jane, yeah, that’s her real name, and da-duh, lucky us, we have flower pics. They aren’t just your run of the mill pics, they are beautiful representing her garden which is lovely, loved, and so well maintained. This gave me a chance to get re-energized and re-focused while sharing a friend’s love of her garden. I sometimes like to show you other gardens because each one is unique and has a personality of its own, just like us.

So, this week, not only am I “getting by with a little help from my friend”, but like John & Paul, I’ve been given a chance to re-examine and love my project. Just like flowers in a garden, we all need tending.

Thanks Jane.

One of THOSE Weeks

September 14, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

This past week was one of those weeks. You know the kind I mean. You have so much to do that you feel like you’re going in every direction AND you just aren’t feeling well to boot. Of course you do, we all do. I have a spider flower that grows along the walkway entering my home. It’s tall, wispy, is busy growing seed pods from its stems and blows in any direction the wind is blowing. It has a botanical name but I can never remember it. It seems to reflect and verify that the person who lives here is mimicking its growth pattern by just going in every direction and doing way too much. These flowers are currently shedding their seeds. “Enough” they’re saying. They’re going to take a rest, protect the seeds they dropped, engage in a little self care, and then work on their own strength to prepare for next year’s show. Lots to do but because it’s for themselves, you can’t see it. This season of all that blowing everywhere and anywhere is ending for now.

Have a good week.

It’s September?

August 31, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

Where did this summer go? Tomorrow is September 1 – really? The kids are back in school, days are shorter, and plants are dying back. Simultaneously, some are so full they resemble children in the back seat of a car trying to claim their own space, “he’s touching me”. I fondly remember those days. So many of us say to our children and grandchildren as they are approaching life milestones such as first grade, graduation, college, marriage – “I can remember holding you when you were just a baby” – so bittersweet. Time does seem to go by quickly, and already I’m realizing I’ll be missing the garden in the not too distant future. I remember when you were just a mere seedling. He-he!

Have a good week.

FREE PROGRAM – WHO KNEW?

August 10, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

If you go to South Park on a Tuesday afternoon you’ll find volunteers working in a demonstration garden who can answer your questions about flowers that do well in our area – even with deer; who knew. These folks are members of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County and they are testing these beautiful pollinating gardens.

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County will host a special annual event at South Park and North Park on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00am to 1:00pm educating county residents about gardening in our area. They will have tasting stations, tons of information and children’s activities. In addition to this special event and the knowledgeable volunteers, you’ll want to check out their website, Allegheny County Penn State Extension – TONS OF INFORMATION.

Yellow Sunshine!

July 26, 2015 by donna bogosto kearns

After weeks of rain, rain, rain, we finally had a week filled with sunshine. I wonder if people who don’t have rainy day after rainy day can fully appreciate the feeling of warmth and happiness of the sun shining on their face. Hmm, I wonder; I know I can. Anyway, I loved all that sunshine this week and it made me think of yellow. So let’s celebrate yellow. Yellow represents happiness and optimism. It’s stimulating, it’s hope when things seem down, it’s cheerful and oh so positive. It can’t help but make us feel good.

So this week…close your eyes and pretend to skip down the yellow brick road. Or you can bop your head from side to side while singing “We all live in a Yellow Submarine” while you look up and enjoy the warm sun on your face. I’ll bet you smile. Enjoy this week’s pics, they’re YELLOW.

We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine……