flower therapy

Outside the window of where I do most of my work there is a rose bush that I look upon everyday. Each year after prunning it slowly grows full of foliage. Green  buds begin to shoot up and slowly crack open revealing impossibly pink petals that eventually burst into amazingly robust roses.

It has become a great joy, watching that rose bush bloom every year. The morning light creeps over the wall behind the bush and delights me with the glow of the morning. And in the last light of the afternoon, sunset skies illuminate my roses with the softness that only evening light can offer.

The whole process is therapeutic for me as the roses grow and bloom, wither and eventually loose thier petals and make room for the next new blossom. I'll never tire of experiencing this complex circle of beauty, color and hope. And I will always take pleasure in capturing it all in photos.

Share today flower therapy from your world. Whether it's from a vase in your home, your yard or a nearby field, capture the wonder of one of Mother Nature's most generous gifts; the flower.

Comments

[divrchk]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/divrchk/4541635326/

[Wendi]

One of the first projects that got executed when we moved into our house was the planting of shrub roses. These lovely bushes have grown and thrived in spite of my poor gardening skills. They herald the arrival of spring with blooms in late April and continue to grace me with happy flowers until November.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmf1852/4574714838/

[JoLyn]

I love spring color--especially pink!

http://www.ayearofhappyphotos.com/2010/04/47-peach-blossom-time.html

http://www.ayearofhappyphotos.com/2010/03/41-reaching-for-the-sun.html

[Angella]

I never tire of shooting flowers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourcrazylife/4589344176/

[Lu]

My bleeding hearts have bloomed again. They are so pretty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ldb/3498834010/in/set-72157617568320165/

[marina]

I love your photo, Tracey, and your post, which reminds of the beauty of the world around us.
Here is one of the first pics of roses this year, I am looking forward to capturing more of these beauties in the next weeks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4592952796/in/set-72157624039259742/

[damiec]

I had to buy flowers in the darker months of winter, just to keep me going on my 365. Right now with everything blooming, I (and my camera) don't know where to look first!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4585867594/

[melissa]

My mother's day flowers are making me smile right now!

[Tracy]

I'm loving all of the delicate wildflowers I come across on my hikes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31417716@N00/4595095791/

[Elizabeth]

The Last Holdout
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethmeier/4044155638/

[shirley]

Oh, I think I take too many pictures of flowers!
A recent mosaic of lots of pink flowers:
http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2010/05/mosaic-monday-pink-collection.html

[DorkyMum]

I don't take the best flower photographs - saving up for a macro lens to do the summer ones justice - but the flowers that have been bringing me the most joy recently are these ones.

Pink cherry blossoms: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4523389739/

Birthday roses(27 of them!): http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4554396461/in/set-72157623130859297/

[Natalie]

I got this in the courtyard of my downtown Chicago condo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nataliemikolajczak/4574214349/

[Sarah]

This time of year, ranunculus are my flower therapy of choice. Followed by lilacs, then peonies. Ranunculus come first though.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ranunculus&w=51674556%40N00&m=tags

[Kristin]

Tulips from my husband for my birthday... therapy.


http://focused-on-life.blogspot.com/

[Victoria]

Lilacs are starting to dwindle around here. But when they were in full bloom my daughter and I picked as many as we could and lived in the fragrance for a couple a couple of days...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6riddles/4540335463/

[lifeineden]

I am in a whole new town, new neighborhood, new house, newer camera -- and I'm discovering new blossoms every walk I take. Loving it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/4594946091/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/4592858699

[georgia]

such a sweet photo of a beautiful flower, tracey.

i've been taking so many flower and blossom pictures this spring, i decided to create a "flora" button {or gallery} for them on my blog.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/search/label/flora

yes, indeed... they are so therapeutic, both to photograph and to look at... in person or in a photo. i'm not really a flower kind of person, especially when it comes to photography, but this year, i just can't get enough of them!

[Stephanie]

"therapy" is such a good name for this! shooting flowers is so peaceful. I have too many shots to choose just one.

here's the most recent: http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/04/carnations.html

and here's my favorite: http://bigmariolife.blogspot.com/2010/03/backyard.html

[Aia]

a pink beauty! i captured some tulips the other day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aclamp/4593873415/

[Laura]

I LOVED the flowers at the wedding I attended this weekend... they were so springy and happy!

http://www.dashily.com/home/?p=893

[sperlygirl]

blooms in tuscany - i love the possibility the hold
http://www.sperlygirl.com/sperlygirl/2010/03/listening.html

[Heather]

Flowers are my go to shot for pure photographic therapy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/4585170943/in/set-72157623724183574/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/htekmo/4542316806/in/set-72157623724183574/

[Grace]

Every August a few families go up to the UP (Michigan) for a week to a resort on the Cisco chain of lakes. There are always some gorgeous water lilies there and I love to take pictures of them...here is one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12589879@N08/4389114394/

I love how beautiful they are!

[Window On The Prairie]

Love flowers. My husband and I discovered a field of Scarlet Indian Paintbrush over the weekend. Come check out my post: http://windowontheprairie.com/2010/05/10/scarlet-indian-paintbrush/

[Malin]

These are tulips I (ok, we, our family) got from a friend when he visited us a month ago.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34701818@N08/4503689462/

[Marcie]

Both of these blossom and grow right outside my office window.
I love spring!!!
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1158
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1156

[jakki]

I know people tend to hate seeing these in their yards but the first time I see them...they make me so freakishly happy...it just means spring is here and summer is sooooooooo on the way....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4504300660_a36e9a42f7_o.jpg

[Misty]

My husband curses them, but any spring bloom is welcome to me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dontforgetthehorse/4554656842/

I see other commenters have the same idea. :)

[Jen at Cabin Fever]

Here is my latest flower:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cWGLtcljvQc/S-Qh4zv8XOI/AAAAAAAAAs8/Ygxumwswric/s1600/SMALLpeony.jpg

It is from my photo blog that I update all the time. http://www.nekphotography.blogspot.com
I hope you visit there and even check out my photo contest "Life in Contrast" on my other blog. Anyone can enter! And please check out week 1 selections and vote for your favorite.
http://www.cabinfeververmont.com

[Kathleen]

The bleeding hearts are out...I cannot get enough of them. How they grow in a straight line (must be the teacher in me), their graceful shape, their happy spring color...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/4582937780/

[Michel]

Oh beautiful light in wonderful backyards, that is exactly what I was thinking on my blog today too.

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/

and here,
http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/5/8/apple-blossoms.html

[Trude]

I feel the same way! My dad is genius at roses, there's tons all around the house. He cut a bunch for Mother's Day and we made them into a nice arrangement: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trudem/4593916167/

[Gail]

...I never get tired of appreciating photos of flowers or of taking photos of them...natures wonders...This photo was taken on Mothers Day...Lady Slippers wild in the woods...http://www.flickr.com/photos/22733432@N08/4599005993/

[golightly]

Whereas some never tire of shooting flowers, I'm not a flower shooter to begin with, so it's always worth a try, especially in a rose garden.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16869615@N03/4585545185/

[Becky Sue]

I burned the dinner last night in order to get this shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4599480888/

More chive shots can be found in my photostream including this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4598862219/in/set-72157607073097747/

[kim klassen]

i've been waiting for the spring blossoms, for what feels like forever. so happy to have found some this weekend.

http://www.2blessedbeyondbelief.com/2010/05/mouse-over-to-see-before-image-happiest.html

http://kimklassen.blogspot.com/2010/05/happiest-mothers-day.html

i can't wait for the rest of spring and summer to bloom... sooo lovely...

and a lovely postint and image today...
as always...xxo, kim

[cigi]

The weather is heating up here in the desert and many of our spring flowers are already gone. Here are a couple of shots of some of our hardier blooms:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/126365/
http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/124365/

[Deirdre]

little, under-appreciated flowers, like wild strawberry blossoms, make me happy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/4583476558/

[wendy jane]

Flowers are one of this worlds coolest gifts. I love them!

http://awebert.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/day-64-bleeding-heart/

[BlessedMess]

I've been wanting to go out and take a picture of my so, so pretty tulips that I put in the ground last fall. What a treat when they popped up this Spring. Thanks! Taken this morning...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12418609@N00/4599323853/

[lucy]

everyone's photos are so fantastic!

i got a little obsessed with this tree and the light:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucyloomis/4525350423/

[Kate.S @ Little House]

These are such amazing pictures - so happy making :)

This one from today... http://www.flickr.com/photos/30297021@N02/4600108684/

and the rest..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30297021@N02/sets/72157624043341694/

[Jade Sheldon]

I'm actually doing a write up about flowers as we speak!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4548131547/

[Denise]

First real camera = First time shooting flowers.

I have a lot to learn, but I really enjoy this lilac I shot the other day. I might just be getting the hang of this. =]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/4580131488/

I loved seeing everyone's flower photos. They have taught me a lot. Thank you!

-Denise

[AnnGeeDee]

It just so happens that yesterday's picture for my 365 was a flower. How lucky! I tried the stained glass texture in Photoshop Elements and although I'm not sure how I feel about how it turned out, it's still fun to try something different. Have a look (it's more interesting if you view it larger) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/40070449@N08/4599845468/

[Andika Pratama]

Wow Beauty Flower

[Vanessa]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4601086042/

:)

[texassky]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/texassky/4593577597/

[melody]

I've certainly learned to embrace the blessings of simple everyday everything. Would love win Karen's book, or I'll just have to buy it.

http://slurpinglife.typepad.com/slurping_life/2010/05/like-a-dream-only-better.html