Black Eyed Susan Flowers and a Garden Fence

It is snowing outside and my focus has been on flowers! This photograph was taken on a beautiful early autumn day in Aspen, Colorado. We were walking through urban green belts that followed the Roaring Fork River and took us past back yard gardens. It was a beautiful mixture of gardens and wild mountain landscape that combined into a visual treat for this photographer. As always I love your comments. ♥

Black Eyed Susan

A beautiful bunch of black eyed susan flowers are nestled next to a rustic garden fence. 

Aspen, Colorado

black eyed susan art

As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

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October 2011 Pumpkin Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere. Leaves are starting to turn golden and orange hues, pumpkins are at the harvest market, and the last yellow flowers are bursting forth in Colorado. Fall is flashy. Flirty. Fun. Enjoy these golden days. Next comes nature's sleep. 

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for October 2011
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Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page.
Simply click on "Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

September 2011 Sunflower Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Here in the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains the evenings are turning cool and crisp. The cicadas sing at night, the hummingbirds are leaving, and the chokecherry bushes are turning a burnt orange. And also the wild sunflowers are at their peak. Nature chooses brilliant colors to decorate the mountain hillsides in yellow daisies, orange leaves, and purple sage. I believe autumn has always been my favorite season.

I hope you enjoy your new desktop wallpaper calendar for September 2011 and if you like this cheery sunflower it is also available as an 11x14 fine art photograph.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for September 2011 1024x768 1280x800 1280x1024
Easy Instructions After clicking on the size you want you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on "Download the Original size of this photo." The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

jfids7590fjg936bjp0459uu89U7NJ9747hjmdfur894hgiophPY3756J8548567UHUY6Ii8v&$$#kngi84ygfrthihg746gniorthj9rtuh

As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

An Orgy of Orchids

My dear friends, Ron and Chris, have a passion for growing beautiful orchids and other exotic plants. The more exotic and rare the better. They travel all over collecting these beauties and what started as a hobby is now a business. I had a hard time staying out of the greenhouse while visiting them in California. The scent of sweet flowers was intoxicating! I hope you enjoy a few of my favorite orchids. Let me know which one is your personal favorite.

White and Magenta Orchid

Lavender Orchids

Black Beauty Orchid

Magenta Flame Orchid

Orange Orchids

Flame Orchids

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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As always, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about editorial, photography, and anything in between in my comments here or on my Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.

April 2011 Free Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Happy Spring to the northern hemisphere! I think those of us in the States are very happy it is here. We have had a rough winter! The Rocky Mountain foothills where I live had a little snow shower yesterday but it melted and started the greening process. Soon my daffodils will be up and looking very similar to this one I shot last spring. It always amazes me how these tenacious delicate flowers push right up through the heavy spring snow undaunted and ready for a sunny day. I hope you enjoy your new April 2011 desktop wallpaper calendar and that it reminds you of sunny days to come.

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for April 2011
1024x768
1280x800
1280x1024

Easy Instructions
After clicking on the size you want
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

jfids7590fjg936bjp0459uu89U7NJ9747hjmdfur894hgiophPY3756J8548567UHUY6Ii8v&$$#kngi84ygfrthihg746gniorthj9rtuh

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Spring Tulip in Yellow

Spring has finally arrived...at least according to the calendar. There are many places where winter has not yet lost its grip and the mountains of Colorado are one such place. My tulips are not up, in fact, I can not get tulips to grow here in the rocky soil. But a beautiful bouquet of yellow spring tulips arrived in the hands of my dear husband one evening. I think that just might be better. Happy Spring!

Yellow Tulip
A close up botanical photo of a yellow tulip done in a vintage style on a textured dark sage background.
click here for an 8x10
click here for a 5x7
click here for dark matted photograph

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

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The Promise of a Summer Yet to Come

The early morning light was soft and golden. The first rays coming in the eastern windows caught a bouquet of sunflowers gracing my table with their promise of a summer yet to come. The light was irresistible. My winter bones yearned for the warmth. I had to catch this moment and hold it close. Yes, summer will come again.

Sunflower
A deep warm yellow and orange sunflower glows in the early morning light.
click here for purchase information on this flower photo

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Red Floral Verbena

I was looking through some photos that I took this past summer and this vibrant scarlet flower jumped out at me. Sometimes it is just plain hard to let go of summer's beautiful color and bounty. So to hold on just a little bit longer to the warm glow of summer past and carry it with us into the slumbering winter months I share with you my way of seeing a brilliant red verbena. Enjoy!

Red Verbena
A bright warm red verbena stands out in a summer garden in Colorado.
click here for more information on this photo

Thank you Bonnie for correctly identifying the flower as a verbena!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

September 2010 Free Wallpaper Calendar

We are on the cusp of autumn. Here in the Rocky Mountains, the kids are back in school, the aspen leaves are turning, and the blankets are going back on the bed. Fall has always been my favorite season. Maybe it is the memories of the smell of a fresh box of crayons for school that I still can not resist. Maybe it was the crunch of leaves under foot and jumping into a big irresistible pile of them. Maybe it was bundling up in a soft sweater and drinking cocoa. I think perhaps it is all of that. How about you?

download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for September 2010 here

Easy Instructions
After clicking on the above link
you will be at my Flickr page. Simply click on
"Download the Original size of this photo."
The file will then download to your desktop!

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Wild Rose

The wild rose found in Colorado's mountain woodlands has five pale pink petals. I also find it growing along the dusty road and often think of trying to transplant it to my perennial garden, where only the hardiest plants survive the cold and long winters. This delicate flower of the rose family is very tough. I have seen in growing up in the middle of the road only to be scraped off each winter by the snow plow and emerge in the spring unscathed, albeit a bit shorter. Maybe this year I'll try moving one to the good life of a watered garden and occasional weeding. Enjoy!

Wild Rose
A close up of a wild rose in petal pink with golden yellow stamens catches the light.
click here for more information on this photo

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Yellow Sweet Peas

The breeze gently stirs the fragrant wild bouquet of yellow pea creating the sound of sheets stirring in the night. I stoop to gather in the subtle perfume and feel the soft blue green leaves tickle my nose. A sudden urge envelopes me to simply lie down on the covered hillside and sink beneath the green blanket of blossoms. A lazy bee impossibly hovers nearby and adds his own splash of yellow to the melee. The moment continues and is forever part of me.

Sweet Peas
Wild yellow sweet peas, a common wildflower that grows on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, is found growing in a lush profusion of blue green leaves. This plant also goes by the names; Yellow Pea, False Lupine, and Buck Bean.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Golden Hillside

The day was cool and misty. It suited my temperament and put an extra lift in my step. The scent of pine enveloped me and stole my attention from everything else for a moment. Then, as I gazed down the hillside, a sprinkling of yellow flowers had seemingly appeared in the instant of my attention. I had to get close to the earth and take in their beauty in a gulp. The fog crept closer and the trees beyond the little mountain meadow started to disappear into the mist. I felt small sitting in the dirt with my mouse view. The world shifted and I was suddenly no one and everything all at once. Nature once again stole me away.

Spring Gold
A grassy hillside is sprinkled with late spring blooming yellow flowers and the majestic pines in the background are shrouded in a misty fog.
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Verdant Spring

It has been a long winter in the Colorado Rockies. But the earth is awakening slowly. Tiny snow drop flowers the size of a baby pea are usually the first to emerge from the blanket of pine needles. Along the dirt road I see tough little dandelions with their buttery yellow flowers. Unlike a suburban home owner I welcome the cheery little blossoms that pop up where ever a cow has munched and walked. This bright little succulent with its chartreuse colored flowers was the only bit of color along a stretch of road on a morning walk a few days ago. I do not know what it is called but the brilliant bright color stood out as a harbinger of spring in the mostly dull brown landscape. So I decided to call it "Verdant Spring". Has she finally arrived in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado?

Apparently not. I woke up this morning to almost a foot of heavy wet spring snow. The grape hyacinths of a couple days ago are totally covered. But the snow will be melted in a few days, and they will again poke up their royal blue blossoms. Cheers!

Verdant Spring
A macro photo of an early spring succulent with exotic looking yellow green flowers is one of the first plants to emerge in the northern Colorado Rockies.
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Here is a look at the entire plant. Does anyone know what this is?

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

The Sweet Butter Swirl of a Calla Lily

The light is soft but warm. The room is scented sweetly of lilies. As I watch dust motes drift lazily through the rays of light my gaze lingers on the vase of lovely delicate flowers. An unexpected gift from my beloved, they bring happiness and a smile to my face, as I remember my beau walking through the door smiling holding the beautiful bouquet, a testament of love.

Yellow Swirl
A luscious curve of butter yellow flower petal swirls into the center of the calla lily.
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Butter Curl
Gentle curls of yellow flower petal catch the morning light on this calla lily.
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Yellow Calla Lily Flower Set
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Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Small Town, USA

All across America there are thousands of small towns that look empty to our eyes. We are used to our generic "big box" stores where we can find anything our heart desires. We do not have to make several stops; to the grocery, hardware store, or clothing store. Instead we can do one stop shopping now. The "big box" stores have moved in and the result is that the small "mom and pop" businesses are out. We are losing flavor. We are losing variety. We are losing our Small Town, USA. So I found myself taking in the remnants of what was left in this particular Small Town and found so much to appreciate. Support the small businesses of your community. They are us and they are in danger of becoming extinct.

A couple of brightly colored signs advertising children's art classes and supplies pops out encouraging the arts.

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STP Wagon

A child's bright yellow antique wagon stands out in contrast to the drab surroundings along the small town sidewalk.

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Coca Cola Sign

Delicious and refreshing antique Coca Cola sign has developed a patina of age, but is still relevant in our time.

Etsy Buy Handmade JulieMagersSoulen

Friday Favorites - Butterflies

The Genesis of the Butterfly

The dawn is smiling on the dew that covers
The tearful roses; lo, the little lovers
That kiss the buds, and all the flutterings
In jasmine bloom, and privet, of white wings,
That go and come, and fly, and peep and hide,
With muffled music, murmured far and wide.
Ah, the Spring time, when we think of all the lays
That dreamy lovers send to dreamy mays,
Of the fond hearts within a billet bound,
Of all the soft silk paper that pens wound,
The messages of love that mortals write
Filled with intoxication of delight,
Written in April and before the May time
Shredded and flown, playthings for the wind's playtime,
We dream that all white butterflies above,
Who seek through clouds or waters souls to love,
And leave their lady mistress in despair,
To flit to flowers, as kinder and more fair,
Are but torn love-letters, that through the skies
Flutter, and float, and change to butterflies

Victor Hugo

ferventbutterfly

peaseblossomstudio

theeye

allieart4children

Gypsymoondesigns

Please support these wonderful artists by clicking on their name to view or purchase their work.