goldenrod, mums, and asters

in our garden right now, the goldenrod is blooming right over some purple-ish asters that i transplanted from my mom's old garden...surefire evidence that they would make a great bouquet! i added in a few unopened mums and some deep green acanthus leaves.

words & photographs by rinne allen

grasses, poke, and fall fruits

this has been a hectic week for me, and it is only monday! therefore, a walk through the yard was in order...i found some river grass, pokeberry, virginia creeper, pears, and persimmons and scooped them all up and brought them into the studio. they fit perfectly in this crock that i had found while in nebraska for work this spring...i already feel more relaxed, now that i have gotten my hands a little dirty. enjoy.

words & photographs by rinne allen

early cotton

yesterday, i went down to photograph the olive harvest with these folks(more on that soon...). on the drive home, i stopped to take photos of things i saw...it is rare that i have the time to do so, so i really enjoyed it. it was such a pretty early fall day. right now, the fields of cotton are beginning to whiten up. i had to bring a little bit home with me.

words & photographs by rinne allen

seasonal bloom, another way

it is the time of year when there is alot in the yard, but there is alot in the yard that has dried out from the summer heat. making bouquets is still fun, but, as we wait for the true fall flora to come in, i thought i would share another way to bring in beauty from outside. i have been making these light drawings for almost ten years (really 20, if you count when i learned in college). i coat the paper with light sensitive pigments, then place specimens from our garden on top of the paper, and then i wait for the sun to work its magic. i make them in cyan and sepia and love how each is one-of-a-kind. these light drawings act like a garden journal for me- they help me keep track of what bloomed or leafed out when. here is a sample of some from this time of year...figs, ferns, flowers...

words & photographs by rinne allen

hearty begonias and jewels of opar

two of my favorite things are blooming right now, both pink: hearty begonia and jewels of opar. love them! especially when they are in salvaged jars that we find when we are digging in the yard...

words and photographs by rinne allen

late summer: lines

while there are many colorful, full blooms in the garden right now, it is also a good time to dry flowers. here are some that have been lingering in my studio...some for a few months, some for a few years- i just can't bring myself to throw them out because i love their shapes too much. i thought i might make some light drawings of them today, but it is too rainy. so, for now, i hope you enjoy their lines as much as i do...the forms of black-eyed susan, allium, acanthus, maple, datura, cardoon, peanut, & collard.

words & photographs by rinne allen

3 porch farm at the southern

mandy once again made some beauties with flowers from her farm, this time for the lobby of the georgia museum of art for the southern c summit. some were for tables, but others were over 8 feet tall and lined a long wall. these photos do not do them justice, but you can still see her mix of textures and plant material. beautiful!

fire cracker bloom

photo by kristen bach

Aging Magnolias

there's nothing more pristine and creamy white than the petals of a young magnolia blossom. the soft white curves of the petals,the golden architecture of the stamens,the glossy,dark green leaves that frame them all, it's  a vision of perfection. but even when they age, they exhibit a statuesque beauty as they dry and turn to golden brown.

photos and words by rebecca wood

the brightest blooms

photo by kristen bach

thistle

photo by kristen bach

magnolias

boy, if you ever get a chance to study magnolia flowers, do it! they are so elegant and mysterious and grand. not to mention the richness of their white petals, so creamy!  i studied and drew magnolias while they bloomed. here's a magnolia study for you.

photos and words by rebecca wood

petunias

photo by rebecca wood

another magnolia

photo by rebecca wood

Iris Beauty

we’ve had lots of rain this spring. the grass is green and the irises have been abundant. here’s a heavenly view of some afternoon iris.

photos and words by rebecca wood

flower girl fleurs

photo by Kristen Bach

pressing flowers

we love pressing flowers.... it's a great way to preserve the season!  if you don't have a fancy flower press...press them inside of some books and place a big book or two on top.  wait a couple of weeks and enjoy!

photos and words by kristen bach