Dahlia Love - May Flower Challenge

I absolutely love dahlias but have never had much luck in them lasting in my pots.  This year we're trying AGAIN to have them around because my husband loves them too.  I wonder if they've gotten too much water in the past, still going to try no matter what.  I figure I better share them now while they still look amazing.

Here are a few shots I took with my i-phone and instagram this weekend because they are still alive and well (we've only had them planted for about a week)!

I hope you enjoy these flowers - to me they are perfect.  Honestly I look at them and can't imagine a more perfect flower.  If you have a chance stop by and visit Lori Moon who is hosting this May Flower blog challenge.  Enjoy your week and take time to notice the flowers around you!  It really makes a difference.

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!

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.

May Flower Challenge with Lori Moon

One of my creative friends Lori Moon, whom I met through an online course, is starting a beautiful flower challenge on her blog for the month of May.  The minute I heard this I knew I was in--I love flowers!  I love to paint them, photograph them and of course smell them, grow them and be surrounded by them.  May is one of my favorite months in the year.  I got married in May and the flowering crab apple trees were in full bloom on that day which made it even more memorable.

I'm going to start by sharing two of my favorite flower photographs that I've taken and still can't believe they are actual photos that were not touched up even one bit with any photo editing software.

This beautiful pink tulip was taken of one flower out of a bouquet I bought for myself when I was home sick from work for a few months.  Again, it turned out amazingly just with my zoom on my Nikon Minolta and no editing.

This is a flower from my climbing rose that I believe is called Polka.  It's not only soft and pretty but it smells amazing too - almost like exotic, perfume-y tea is how I often describe it to others.

I hope you enjoyed the flowers I shared today.  Please stop over and visit some of the other challenge participants if you can.  Their flowers, whether photos, paintings or drawings are sure to brighten your day.  Thanks for visiting!