Lava Treasures

 

Lava Treasures

Who knew that lava rock could produce such interesting landscapes?  Take a look at these from Craters of the Moon National Monument…

Gnarled Tree

This tree was found in Devil’s Garden in Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.  Although there is greenery in the background, everything is growing on lava rocks.  It’s interesting to see how much life there is among the rocks.

Living is not Enough

There are some beautiful flowers growing among the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.  And, from my perspective, they are quite inspiring.

Inside Tree

I think of lava as being fiery hot, like the lava in Hawaii.  But, the lava at Craters of the Moon National Monument, has long cooled into lava rocks.  So, the only lava red hot color I saw while wandering in Devil’s Garden, were the lines of orange red found inside a dead tree.

Perseverance

This image is demonstrating that the most fragile of flowers are very tough creatures, able to find life giving nourishment from beneath the lava rocks at Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Looking Up the Lava Field

It’s not often that one can find a lovely landscape in the midst of the lava fields of Craters of the Moon National Monument.  But here’s proof that it does happen.  Textured, craggy rocks, fragile looking flowers and mountains in the background.  Somehow, they combine into a peaceful landscape.

Enjoy!

Note:  These images are available in a variety of formats and finishes from my online gallery at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

                                    

Country Samplings

As Jeff and I drove around the Eagle Nest area, we traveled down a dirt road that had several picnic or campground sites available for the taking.  At a couple of these, I was lucky enough to see these wonderful blooms.

Eye Level

Yes, I really had to get down to eye level with a sunflower – and it was well worth it!  The day was perfect – no wind so I could really capture the sunflower’s simple beauty up close!  It reminds me of laying in grassy meadows when I was a kid.

Shoreline Blooms

Along a small creek, I happen to notice these blooms. They are so small, they would be easy to miss.  I’m glad I was moving slow enough to notice them.  I really like the small tree branch behind it.  The rustic feeling of that contrasts nicely with the delicacy of the bloom.

Enjoy!

Artful Blooms in Wellington

There were some beautiful blooms all along the city of Wellington, altho most were found in the Botanic Gardens.  It was spring there, and provided a lovely counterbalance to the autumn we were experiencing at home.  Take a look ~

This lovely bloom was found in Old St. Paul’s Church, in Wellington, New Zealand.  The lighting was naturally dramatic, coming in thru a window next to the flower.  It truly accented the beauty of this bloom.

Poppies were blooming in force and served as the perfect subject matter for this digital watercolor sketch.  You can almost feel the breeze that they were swaying in.

I’m glad I noticed the layers of petals that this rose had.  I felt that I needed to capture it from the side, showing off all the layers of its being. Having it be a digital watercolor sketch softened the look a bit.

The name of this waterlily is St. Louis Gold, and it certainly is standing tall in the pond at the Botanic Gardens.  The subtle shading of it adds to its delicate beauty.

The dramatic coloring of this Black Prince Waterlily really highlights it.  It makes a quiet, yet bold statement in the pond.  Nothing else there could quite match these striking colors.

Enjoy!

Flowers of Acadia National Park

There is an area in Acadia National Park, along the Park Loop Road, called Sieur de Monts Spring.  This area is a lush little oasis, full of a sampling of the types of flowers and plants you can see throughout the Park.  Here are some of the loveliest examples (in my humble opinion!)

I’m not certain what these flowers are – they must be in the daisy family – but I loved the look of these soft delicate blooms against the rough bark of the tree they were growing under.  It was a lovely contrast found in Nature. 

Delicate Blooms against Tree

This is another flower that is just so beautiful in its gentle delicate way.  It just sort of sprung up out of green to highlight my walk down this garden path.

Blue Iris

These blooms were new to me!  They are called pitcher flowers, and their bloom actually faces down toward the ground.  I love the dusty red color of the petals.  I think they get their name from their leaves, found at the base of the plant (unseen in this image).  The leaves curve into what look like little pitchers that hold water that the flower needs to bloom.

Pitcher Flowers

Enjoy!

Watercolor Sketches from Acadia National Park

There are many beautiful sights to see in Acadia National Park.  I decided to take a few of the images I took and convert them to watercolor pencil sketches.  Please, take a look….

Happiness

How can you look at these tiny daisy-like blooms and not want to smile.  They look so happy and cheerful.  They were nestled in the green grass and other foliage growing at the Sieur de Monts Spring area in Acadia National Park.  There is a garden there that contains all the flowers and other plants that grow in Acadia, as a sort of sampler of what can be seen.

Pitcher Flower Bloom

The bloom of this flower is generally hidden, as it faces downward toward the ground. This bloom was coaxed into a face-up position for a moment to allow me to capture its beauty.

Egg Rock Lighthouse

There are several lighthouses off the shores of Acadia National Park, and Mt. Desert Island, the island where the main potion of Acadia is located.  This lighthouse can be found just off the shore and in Frenchman Bay on Egg Rock Island – hence, the name.  The island got its name from a time when early coastal settlers used to gather seabird eggs on the island.  That practice stopped due to a couple of the bird species nearly going extinct, due to that practice.  The island is so small, the actual light house beacon was built on top of the keeper’s house to conserve space!

Along the Shore at Otter Cliffs

The waves can crash against the rocks at Otter Cliffs and create what I’m sure must be a dramatic scene.  However, on the day I was there, the seas were relatively calm.  They still created an intimate landscape portrait of the shoreline that I captured in this peaceful sketch.

Enjoy!

Note:  All of these images can be found in a variety of sizes and finishes (including tote bags!) on my site at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Ocotillo Bloom

My husband, Jeff, my most excellent photographer’s assistant, held the bloom of an ocotillo cactus in a better photographic angle to allow me to capture this image.  There was ever so slight of a breeze, which cause the bloom to sort of blur.  I decided to go with what Nature had given me, and transform this photo image into a watercolor abstract of the bloom.  The colors speak of springtime and the joy of nature coming to life again after the winter cold.  Of course, winter cold is a relative term in southern Arizona!

Octillo Bloom

Note: This image is available in a variety of sizes and finishes on my web site – http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg.

Foto Art Friday – June 9, 2017

Just Living…

This piece was inspired by a recent visit to a National Monument in New Mexico, called Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks.  As we walked the trails there, I came across this manzanita shrub bloom.  I believe the quote that I found mirrors what I often share with people – live your life to the fullest.  Don’t “just live” – seek to live your life to the fullest – seek beauty, experience all that you can and make yourself open and free to new things.

Just Living

Enjoy!

This piece is available in a variety of formats on www.fineartamerica.com/prifiles/nadine-berg.

Springtime Garden and View

Only a week after we had a fairly large snowstorm, spring was alive and well!  I wandered around the front and back of our home, and got some lovely springtime views!

Front Yard Iris

During the snow storm, I was concerned that the irises that were beginning to bloom would be killed by the cold, snow and ice.  Needless to say, my fears were unfounded – the iris is lovely!

Mexican Primrose

I didn’t plant these little treasures, but I do enjoy these “party crashers” when they appear each spring! 

Yucca Bloom

A banana yucca is our state flower here in New Mexico.  Every spring, these interesting blooms “pop” up from the middle of the yucca plant.  Altho they look a bit different from typical blooms, when looked at them closely, they are quite pretty in a sort of "old fashioned” way.

Front Yard in Spring

I just love the look of our front yard when things start to bloom.  I noticed this spring that purple seems to be the color of the season.  It looks so restful – don’t you just want to grab a book and take a few moments in the chair under the tree? I converted this to a painting effect, just because this garden seems like a dream, and a painting seems to be somewhat dreamy!

Spring in the Mountains

A week ago, I couldn’t see the mountains for the snow, but now, the mountains are in full view, with what looks like a spring storm hovering overhead.  At least the snow last week added enough water to the ground so everything is nice and green!

Spring Storm

Looking to the north, you can see that there is rain happening somewhere!  I love the definition and texture that you can see in the clouds, with a bit of rain dripping from the clouds.  I’m a fan of that look, too!

Enjoy!

Raindrops on Roses

One fall, my husband and I visited Napa.  When I shot this image, it was a rainy fall day and the raindrops were everywhere, including on the roses!  I love the overall feeling of peace that this piece has, and the quiet stillness that allows the raindrops to perch rather than run off, makes me inadvertently hold my breath.  I hope you, too, can enjoy the tranquility.

Raindrops on Roses

Enjoy!

This piece is available online at Fine Art America in a variety of formats – www.fineartamerica.com/profiles/nadine-berg

Beauty in Nature

Being in wine country in the fall seemed to provide not only the colors one would expect in the fall, but also some bright colors that I would typically expect during the summer.  All of them really showed off Nature’s palette and versatility….

Autumn in Full Glory

Of course – the brilliant colors one would expect in October!  I truly love the way yellow, orange and red blend in the leaves of this tree.  And, in what I find is often the case, I needed to look up to see the beauty just above eye level!

Raindrops

We were in Napa/Sonoma at what was a rainy time for them.  So, just a few steps from the fall brilliance, I felt like I was seeing the result of spring rains.  The colors of these leaves and the rain drops on the petals of the flower reminded me of the old saying about April showers and May flowers!

Interesting Autumn Colors

Let’s shift gears again, but in a much unexpected way – to autumn colors that included purple!  Yes, it’s true!  I can’t recall seeing any purple before in the fall, so I will count this as a first, and a true treat from Nature.  I do love the softness of all the colors – and this time with nary a water drop to be seen.

Autumn Leaf in Sunshine

This would be a somewhat typical expectation of autumn in wine country.  A leaf on the vine in mid-color change, with the warmish autumn sun shining thru it to also reflect a bit of the shadow of the vine.

Raindrops 2

But, I’ll leave you with this taste of false spring.  Roses are very plentiful in wine country, and this one seems to be getting ready to drop on a green rosebush leaf just below it.  I always love when I can capture raindrops on flowers or leaves – the real thing and not something that has just been sprayed or sprinkled on!  I tip my hat to the versatility of Nature.

Enjoy!