Life is filled with contrast and conflicting thoughts and here are some words spoken by Jesus:
‘ You have heard it said that you should love your neighbour and hate your enemy but I am telling you love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those who use you spitefully and persecute you.’
Why?
‘ That you may be the children of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun rise for the evil and the good and sends rain for the just and the unjust.’
Matthew 5:43-45
The whole of chapters 5,6,7 involve Jesus talking to us. An interesting read.
We have appreciated some special places this summer. Here are a few scenes from Germany, where we spent most of our time travelling, then Holland and three weeks in Ireland.
There was so much but these are my ‘wow ‘ moments with why.
The colour scheme for planting in this area was blue, purple, pink and then look at these…
red, white, purple, pink with a little blue and here is a view of the mass of them …
Why? I had never seen so many wild flowers growing so close together in such numbers and all in bloom.
Then in Holland we had just missed all the daffodils and tulips but here is a famous artist’s bloom and an amazing lay out of the formal gardens of Het Loo.
Why? Only the Dutch could paint vases of abundant tulips amongst other flowers. Then look at this for a formal layout so carefully trimmed.
Het Loo defies being totally photographed even from the roof top of the splendid house.
Ireland then had much but here is a natural self seed planting up the walls of a folly with a changing sky above. Such a treat. I stood for a while enjoying the changing light on the plants and the change in the clouds.
Our first garden in Ireland was St John’s town where it had gardens adapted to a drier climate. This part of Ireland was still hot when we visited. There is a fine lay out and choice of plants not against the walls as in a walled garden but in the centre. The plants are growing close together with sturdy leaves and still in bloom in spite of the heat.
Further north in the country the grass and plants were lush and green. Here is a vegetable garden. Sweet peas still blooming well. No water restrictions here.
Then one photograph from back home in England, Wisley.
I liked this scene from Wisely rockery garden and the wild flowers from Germany so much that I spent time with them and here is my attempt.
I wanted to paint with greens mixed from yellow and black, brown and yellow, blue and yellow. I mostly used shades made from black and yellow. The sky is blue and white but mostly it is a ‘green’ painting. ( as is the painter, too). I loved every minute of time spent looking at the plants.
Then a quicker pastel ‘painting’ of all those wild flowers.
Summer 2026 has given some beautiful scenes in our beautiful world.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂