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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Sunflowers - Here .... There. . .Everywhere

Welcome dear Readers.  I am so happy that you stopped by.  My garden gate is always open for you to come in and sit with a cup of tea and relax for a few minutes in my garden while I share with you the inspirations for my art.

Recently I was driving around the neighborhood and noticed how many Sunflowers and bright yellow flowers were blooming.  I was so taken with the bright yellow and red flowers growing on a picket fence that I stopped and took a photo.  








The owner came out and I introduced myself and gave her my business card so she would not think I was a "stalker".  She said lots of people do the same thing and asked me if I would like a bouquet -
of course I said yes and she picked me a bouquet and gave it to me in a charming little jelly jar.  

Even though I set out on my neighborhood "drive-by" looking for Sunflowers I decided to go to the nursery to look for this charming plant - YEAH - I found two  containers of them and learned that  they are Gaillardia - Gallo Orange.  The same plant that grew around my Grandparents Beach Cottage at Wrightsville Beach, N.C. where my family spent our glorious Summers. I loved picking bouquets of them for the table and the flower brought back many fond memories.

Bentley, my helpful Studio Assistant, immediately checked out our new pots of Gaillardia!



By this time of year there is no room left to plant them in the garden so I planted them in pots until next Spring.





These are not Sunflowers, but I thought they were so cheerful I threw them in to show you my neighbor's pretty yellow flowers.


                                              Next year I want to plant a few of the tall multi -flower Sunflowers like my neighbor's flowers.

This year I bought some mini Sunflowers in containers and placed them around my garden for color as well as pots of fresh cut Sunflowers from the farmers market to paint.






















I hate to throw away flowers when they reach their prime and put the old Sunflower blooms in a basket in the garden for a little more color. I was inspired to paint a basket of Sunflowers and started composing my work.



The Geraniums outside my kitchen door are in their glory and I decided to add two pots of Geraniums to the painting along with the basket of old Sunflower blooms.







This is one of my favorite photos of Bentley smelling the Geraniums and I am sharing it again this year.



 I also added my red scissors and some Lavender and a little pot of white flowers.




                                                             Here is the finished painting.




Thank you for stopping by.  I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate your visits, comments, e-mails and those of you who follow my blog.  As I mentioned previously, I am getting ready to have knee replacement surgery in July and may not be posting as frequently. If you check in and I have not posted that is the reason - my plan is to keep posting once a week - but there may be times when it is every other week so please keep checking in.

Have a lovely week.   Blessings,   Erin

                               "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time."   Ecclesiastes 3:41`



15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Erin,

How kind of your neighbor to give you a bouquet of gaillardes. I have some in my garden but they are not yet in bloom.
I also have a few flowers connected with my childhood memory. I think I can not dissociate flowers and family life and gardens and art as well. I imagine, it is the same feeling for you.
I hope you will feel enough good to give us another tour of your cheerful and beautiful garden, very soon.
I often visit your blog, reading old posts. They make me smile and feeling in good spirit.

In the meantime, take care and keep painting.

Blessings
Hélène

Connie said...

It is easy to see how you can be inspired by your sunflowers . . . just as many wonderful artist before you. There is something very special the the warm glow of the beautiful and bright sunflower :)

Susan said...

Erin, exquisite! Just exquisite. Loved it. You are SOOOOO talented. Susan

Janice said...

What lovely photos, lovely sunflowers, lovely neighbor and a lovely painting! Sunflowers are so cheerful! It is fun to see them in bloom...your area is way ahead of ours here in Oregon. I just bought a packet of sunflower seeds and am going to plant some in the garden this week! Blessings!

My Cozy Casita said...

Hi Erin, beautiful garden so nice of your neighbor to give you a bouquet. I missing a lot California there so many beautiful flower and garden, I hop one day I move back to Cali your Dog is so cute!
Blessing
Isora

Stacey said...

Always just beautiful Miss Erin. Bentley is so precious. :)

Evie said...

Erin, Your favorite picture of Bentley is so cute and the sunflower basket painting is just beautiful. Sunflowers and geraniums! So Sweet!!!!! Here's wishing you all the best on your upcoming knee surgery and a speedy recovery.



Mary said...

Your gardens are gorgeous! Good luck on your surgery and have a speedy recovery!

Marlynne said...

So sweet! I have planted sunflowers and Holly Hocks in a new location next to the screened in porch. Here's hopin!

Aida said...

Hi Erin, your paintings are so sweet and warm. It's always a delight to visit your blog.
Good luck on your surgery, hope everything will turn out well.

Wishing you a good week.

Blessings,
Aida

Kathryn Bechen said...

So pretty Erin!

Anonymous said...

It is always a pleasure to visit with you in your garden, Erin, and to see Bentley's face is simply a delight. Too cute.
One of these days I am going to grow lavender in a pot. I keep wanting to do this and never get around to it.
Your art is as inspiring as ever. Who could walk away from your colors without sunshine in their heart.
Have a beautiful weekend.
xoxo's

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

teeheee....Bentley is the perfect assistant come summer or winter! He is shaggy!

Love your colors and that picket fence is perfect, just PERFECT! Anita

Vicki Boster said...

Erin- sunflowers are one of my favorite summertime flowers-- yours are so beautiful! That painting just screams summer--// Bentley looks pretty happy to be playing outside ;)

Love
Vicki

Marilyn said...

Wow. Erin, thanks for the glorious garden tour. It inspires me to want to paint. Looking forward to our "play date" next week.