love these little blue flowers and what a treat to have a little bumble bee visit them 

Anyone know the name of this little jewel?

This past weekend I visited the Cheekwood here in Nashville to check out the Chihuly exhibit.  It is beautiful!  The afternoon was hot with an okay breeze so I did not see everything.  My plan is to return for a Chihuly night to get photos in the late afternoon light and at night when the sculptures are illuminated.

And some lotus flowers and pods. 

Gladiolas in the early morning light.

The magnolia trees are gorgeous this year full of more blooms than I have seen in years.   Each bloom is like it’s own little secret world.  The scent of the magnolia fills the air of the village. 

Recycling the Patron bottle as a beautiful home for the white peonies that bloomed in my backyard this year.  I call this Tequila Peonies.  They look beautiful sitting on the shelf in my kitchen in my money corner.   Most all the peonies are gone for this year.  I am glad I have lots of photos to remind me just how pretty they are.  This print is an open edition print and is available to add to your art collection. 

This past Saturday among the threat of inclement weather, Lola and Sid celebrated their marriage with 250 friends and family at Aden Branch Farm in Fairview, Tennessee.   The day started out not bad weather wise.  I know that here in Old Hickory it was party cloudy skies and as I sat with my friends Seana and Michael at their home Saturday morning for the annual Historic Old Hickory Village home tour, I noticed folks walking in, sweating…. the only thing worse for me than rain is hot, muggy, damp weather!   This day also brought challenges of a sick dog and finally storms moving across the area.  On my way down to Fairview, about an hour from my house, I traveled through rain, thunder, crazy lightening!  But this was good because this was all that the wedding location and folks involved had to deal with.  There were other little hitches but in the end those things do not matter, everything works out and the bride and groom get married.   I just have to say that these two are so perfect together… both have lovely smiles and their faces just light up when they see each other.   

Aden Branch Farm is Lola’s family farm.  The hill where Lola and Sid tied the knot overlooks the barn, house, pastures, woods and 200 plus year old cabin.  Lola wrote in the wedding program, “At the end of a long day of riding, my mother and I would often ride our horses to this field and let them race up the hill.  The horses galloped to the corner where, out of running room, they stopped and turned, as if to survey the expanse of the farm below them.  Over the sound of their blowing, my mother would talk to me about our connection with each other and this land, our sanctuary.  That sense of spirituality in the outdoors is one that Sid and I share.”  

I present the sneak peek for the couple and their family and friends!  Also, the doggy is feeling much better!

Lola and Sid after their first kiss as Mr. and Mrs.-- such a great connection!

Lola's present to Sid, a sterling belt buckle. Sid was beside himself!!

The dress and bride's boots.

The ladies wore dress shoes for the ceremony and then changed into their boots. These are real cowgirl boots!

Amazingly simple floral arrangements by the Tulip Tree graced the tables. This is birch bark covering a clear glass vase and filled with not only blooming flowers but also rosemary and I think mint.

So cool!

The lush, green ceremony site. The couple was married by the Rev. Becca Stevens.

The bridal party, well part of the bridal party, on the side of the really old cabin. I say part of as Sid had his brothers and father stand with him but actually had 16 groomsmen sort of like honorary groomsmen.

The reception was in the riding arena. The ceiling and walls are draped with burlap to make the space more intimate.

From inside the barn looking out to the cocktail area.

Lola and Sid walking into their cocktail reception in front of the barn. Guests were greeted with bluegrass music. The flag that graces the barn was flown by Sid's brother, Greer during Operation Iraqi Freedom on Sid's birthday, December 5th of 2006. The flag had not flown until this day, May 15th, 2010 and will be retired and displayed in a case in Sid and Lola's home.

First dance.

The paper lanterns over the dance floor.

The cake by Lealand Riggan. Deep purple climatus, purple spanish lavendar, grape colored lilac, hyacinth, peonies and roses rested on the tables among candlelight on the tables.

Lola and Sid just after the ceremony.

The beauty of the Tennessee county landscape, all natural, beautiful horse farm and the sight of an upcoming special event!   Pray that Mother Nature brings us sunshine and clear or at least party cloudy skies. 

driveway to the barn

field of yellow wildflowers

sight were a new chapter begins

a lake and tall pines dot the landscape

wide open Tennessee spaces

horse stall

sweet, beautiful yellow wildflowers

up in the barn

one of the barn dogs, Katie

sweet Rue

Because this was the first day that the horses were allowed out of the stalls after the flood, they were going to town in the fields.

View of the barn from the party site.

the horseshoe collection

My favorite flower is the peony.  Beautiful billowy petals in beautiful shades of white and pink with a heavenly smell!  I await their arrival every year.  Have a happy day all you moms out there!

In front of my soon to be home, backlit by the afternoon sun.

Love, love, love this!!

While I was out driving today through some areas where flood waters had devastated homes I noticed a few things (other than the piles of belongings)  the bushes and trees were brown on the bottom half from all the muddy waters and lack of oxygen and there were no blooming flowers.   Here is my first installment of Optimistic (thank you Mayor Karl Dean for saying this is the new word for Nashville): the Iris.  Tennessee’s state flower.  These are from my Betsy and David’s yard and while I am not a huge fan of the iris I just love the color of these.  I love the contrast of purple and gold and that the beautiful afternoon light.  

gold, purple, pale bluish green and light, light purple

softness of the iris petal, kindness and support

strength

in the light of what was, new growth and beauty emerge making it better than it was

Last Friday I joined a few people at Beaman Park in Nashville for a wildflower walk with Deb Beazley from the Warner Park Nature Center.   The most important lesson?  No matter how much you think you are at seeing things, there is always so much more!!   Most of the blooms we saw were really tiny!   Someone on the hike identified Ginseng and Wild Ginger.   Did you know that there is a Wild Geranium and Dwarf Iris?   Sunshine and raindrops abound and little creatures crawling, flying and blending in with nature.

Bedstraw...named this as it was used dried to stuff mattresses in the olden days.

Ferns abound on the trail to Henry Creek.

Millipede

Shooting Star

Oak Seedling and Fiddleheads

Antennaria aka Pussytoes

Water Snake

Not sure who this guy is but I love the way the light falls through him.

Blueberry Bush

Wild Hydrangea

Snails in Henry Creek

Wild Yam Leaf

Wild Dwarf Iris

Wild Geranium

Fire Pink, named not for the color, but after pinking as in pinking shears.

Zebra Swallowtail