Charisma Amarylis

A couple weeks ago, I purchased a large Amarylis bulb at Cayuga Landscape in Ithaca, NY.  It was pricier than those at the large box stores and I wondered what the difference would be. Well, to my delight, the larger bulb was much more productive than the cheaper alternatives! Two firm spikes rose from the bulb, with 5 flowers on the first one. The second stalk is a bit behind, but I am sure it will also have several blooms. This is a spectacular flower and unique in coloration.  I took several photos in the house with limited lighting, but the results are pleasant.

Several of the images below have been altered by some of the artistic filters of Photoshop.  I find the alterations interesting and fun to do.

Hope you enjoy this winter floral display.

Cornell Flower Research Field Trip

The Ithaca Garden Club visited the Cornell Horticulture research facilities on Maple Avenue in Ithaca to learn about the flower research taking place at the site. There were both field plots as well as plastic greenhouses they called tunnels.  The structures were named that because they did not have ends on them and allowed air movement.  They protect from frost, allowing for a longer growing season.

The plants we viewed today included black berries, raspberries, tomatoes, sunflowers, cosmos, bushes of rose hips, curly willow, very bushy basel, ornamental peppers, and many others.  It was an enjoyable tour, topped with some free cut flowers for home arrangements as well as berry picking.

Chris Wien was in charge of the facility and has a web page detailing his research and some findings.  Check out http://hort.cals.cornell.edu/cals/hort/research/wienresearch.cfm.

Attached are some photos I took while we visited the facility.

Flowering Cactus in May!

This plant would be absolutely stunning at the holiday season, but blooms in April and May.  My friend from Cornell Institute for Biology Teacher Days, Rita, gave me a cutting of this plant a few years ago. Time passes and I do lose track of such events. After rooting the cutting, it was several years before a flower was produced. Well worth it, however!

Right now, there are over 20 magnificent blooms on the plant, each close to 4 inches in length.  I took these pictures with a macro lens and tripod during the afternoon light.  I think they look delicious!

Sunny morning after the rain in Ithaca

The soft sun lured me out into the garden this morning with macro lens and tripod.  I had purchased some tulip bulbs from Aalsmeer market in Amsterdam last year and was anxious to see how they bloomed. The parrot tulips are blooming later than other varieties, but are exquisite.  Here are some shots of tulips, a Rhododendron and a White Bleeding Heart.

Spring Daffodils

The daffodils, crocus, and scilla are the only flowers brave enough to bloom in this ever changing weather in Ithaca, NY.  I took some pictures of the daffodils and made one montage to celebrate the season. Hope you enjoy it.

Another cement abstraction

I made several versions of the cement sculptures before I settled on this one to submit to the State of the Art Gallery for a show in October.  I am on the Greater Ithaca Art Trail open weekends in October in Ithaca, NY and the gallery show is intended to help advertise the trail and its artists.

Would love any feedback. This one was printed on canvas, 20 x 30 inches.

Tree Peony Montage

After a lovely ride with retired teacher colleagues up Cayuga Lake for lunch, I was inspired by the beauty of the day to sit down and develop a new montage.  There will be a show during July and August at the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) gallery, with members of the Greater Ithaca Art Trail showing a sample of their work.  This is the montage I designed tonight. Would love any comments.

Corners Gallery Show-Spring Bouquet

The theme for the Corners Gallery in Ithaca this month is spring bouquets. All of the artwork on the walls reflects floral delights produced by several artists in watercolor, oil, and photography. This is one of the pieces I have at the gallery and is a montage of lotus flowers, pods, and leaves. The lotus grow in my pond and are presently very dormant.

Giclee art

Giclee is a term that refers to the use of archival ink for printing photographic art. These prints will last for a long time!

I began my retirement career in photographic art in 2006 by taking courses at a local community college. The Photoshop courses introduced me to a whole new world of manipulating digital photographs and I have enjoyed the years of experimenting ever since. My first subject was the lotus flower that grows in a pond behind my home. A few plants reproduced to what is now about 500 plants that bloom over a two month period.

I am a member of the Greater Ithaca Art Trail (http://www.arttrail.com/), with open studio events on the weekends of October 10th and 17th. I also maintain an active website at which anyone can purchase prints using Pay Pal. Please check it out. www.nancyridenourartist.com

Buddhism is the major religion in Laos, where I lived for five years in the 60's, so I have incorporated Buddha images in my artwork as shown here.