May Flower Challenge

I've been participating in Lori Moon's blog challenge for May which is all about flowers.  Mind you, I haven't posted everyday, but I'm doing it when I can, and I love stopping by to see some of the other participants' posts and what they are sharing in terms of flowers each day.  If you have a chance, stop by and check out their blogs, especially if you could use some uplifting flowers.  You can find all the other participants at the end of Lori's blogpost.

Today I'd like to share a picture of my May ATC (artist trading card) swap that I've been a part of since last fall.  A group of us that met through an online art business course have kept in touch and now create little cards every month based on a theme that we swap with each other.  May's theme was flowers of course!  Here are my cards which I have already sent to the hostess.  In return I will get three cards back from three different friends.  This is something we all look forward to getting in our mailboxes.  In July I will be the hostess and my theme is "sweet summertime."  

Thanks for stopping by to visit today!

First Greenhouse Visit of the year - Mother's Day

What's Mother's Day without flowers, right?  Well, my hubby and daughter gave me 4 bouquets of flowers so it would look like one huge vase-full.  They really started my day sweetly, with breakfast in bed, flowers, some jewelry, dark chocolate and a massage gift certificate.

Later in the day since it was so beautiful outside we took a trip to our favorite greenhouse, Eberts in Ixonia.  It. Is. Amazing.  I've never seen such lush flowers and so many of them.

They literally have over 25 greenhouses with annuals and hanging baskets so it's over-the-top beautiful.  Here are some of the flowers I photographed while we were there on Sunday.  Now it's so great to look outside my kitchen window and see our hanging baskets of petunias and the patio pots I planted after work today.  Finally color, greenery and life after a long winter!

Thanks for visiting!  Enjoy your day.  If you have a chance stop by Lori Moon to see her post for today's May Flower Challenge that she's hosting on her blog.

Friday Flowers - May Challenge

I can't believe it's the second Friday of Lori Moon's May Flower Challenge!  Time is a flyin'...  If you haven't had a chance to check out her blog for the past two weeks, you really should--she is posting some amazing flower photographs, artwork and New York architecture that has so much character.

This close-up is of a vase of white lilacs I took in my kitchen last year.  I must say lilacs are probably my all-time favorite flowers.  My husband and daughter have bought me two deep purple lilac bushes and one white for past mother's days and to me they are one of the best gifts!  These two varieties don't smell as strong as the traditional light purple, but they still have a subtle lilac scent.  They bring back memories of my youth and stealing bunches of them from my neighbor who did scold me...very embarrassing when you're a little girl!

I love this shot because you can see the sun shining through the kitchen window over the sink.  It's so odd because both these shots are the same vase of flowers, yet they look so different.  I'm a bit sad now as the lilacs are on their last blooms already here...have to wait again till next spring to enjoy them.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my flowers!  Have a great weekend.

Roses on my Table...

We're heading into the second week of Lori Moon's Flower Challenge for the month of May and today my post is all about roses.  

I've always loved this quote and agree with it:  

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck" by Emma Goldman.  Now roses aren't my favorite flower, but this quote really says what I believe about flowers in general.  Being surrounded by fresh flowers is more heavenly, in my opinion, than owning sparkly jewels.

 One picture is an acrylic, abstract painting I did of a vase of vibrant roses and the rest are all photos I've taken of roses, whether in my backyard, on vacation or strolling through a local botanical garden.  Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting today!  Stop by the other blogs participating if you have a chance for some more beautiful flower inspiration.

(All paintings and photographs © Jill Lambert of Jill's Dream Artwork unless otherwise stated.  Thank you.)

Lily of the Valley - Takes Me Back

I'm really enjoying participating in Lori Moon's May Flower Challenge because everyday I get to visit other bloggers' beautiful posts filled with flowers.  Yesterday as we picked our daughter up from a sleepover I noticed her friend had tons of lily of the valley under some pine trees.  Had to pick some of course!

I've loved these flowers ever since I was a little girl; the smell takes me back to being young and running around with the neighbor girls.  We don't really have any shady spots in our yard so I've never planted them, but I really really would love to have some in our yard instead of "stealing" them from other yards!  Isn't it odd how the scent of flowers can send you back to an earlier time?  That's what lilacs, peonies and lily of the valley do for me.  Takes make back to being young, much more carefree and pretty much clueless about what growing up would really be like once I got there.  How about you?  What flowers take you back in time? Make you just say "ahhhh"?

May Flower Challenge Friday

Today is the fourth day of the May Flower Challenge hosted by Lori Moon.  I'm really enjoying sharing some of my favorite flowers with you.  They cheer me up too in the process!  How can sharing flowers not be nothing but joyful and cheery?!
Right?!  This is why I love spring and summer so much - the vibrance and beauty they bring to our lives.

I hope you enjoy them and are able to take time to enjoy some real flowers in person today during the day.

Sunflowers!

Today I'm just going to share a few photos of our first sunflowers from last summer.  I planted them along the side of our daughter's playset.  These are for you Lori.

Have a great Thursday everyone.  Enjoy the flowers!