Seeing Trees - book trailer on YouTube

Seeing Trees:  Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees
Publisher:  Timber Press

• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 244 pp.
• Book dimensions: 8½ x 10 in. (255 x 215 mm.)
• Images: 175 color photos
• ISBN-10: 1604692197
• ISBN-13: 9781604692198

Order yours now here.

Review to come soon.

New Book, "Seeing Trees", Giveaway Link

Seeing Trees:  Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees

We see trees everywhere. We enjoy their shade, their form, their foliage and, sometimes, their flowers.  But have you ever taken a few moments to really "see" the tree - to inspect the bark and the nuances that set it apart from other species, smelled the almost invisible flowers of a Russian Olive, or investigated the whorls and layers of a pinecone?  

A new book, Seeing Trees by Nancy Ross Hugo and Robert Llewellyn, profiles the very intricacies of a tree with stunning photography teaching us an entirely new perspective.  

The contest

Timber Press is giving away:

• A signed, 16"×20" print of a Robert Llewellyn photograph from Seeing Trees, custom matted and framed (see image below)
• A signed copy of Seeing Trees

All you need to enter the contest is an email address. The contest ends September 9!  Giveaway link for Seeing Trees: http://www.timberpress.com/seeingtrees?s=seeing&a=3.

Watch for my review of Seeing Trees coming soon here at The Gardening Life.

*October 10/11 - Note, due to unforseeable delays in shipping, I have just received a copy of Seeing Trees.  Watch for the review here soon.

Review: Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory by Sara Chapman (Seattle)

There are few places left in the United States that have the privilege of having a Victorian Glass Conservatory within their city and Seattle Washington is one of those lucky cities.  Seattle is a beautiful termperate city on the west coast of Washington USA and its gardens lure many tourists every year.  The Volunteer Park Conservatory is considered "Seattle's Hidden Gem." Since 1912, The Volunteer Park Conservatory has been open to visitors.  The author and photographer, Sara Chapman, visited the conservatory every month to catch the progression and changes within, then expertly compiled those photos in this spectacular glossy new book, Flowers of Volunteer Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month.  Below is a sample of what you will find therein:

Sara Chapman's photography is superb, the lighting is spot on and the colours genuine.  Each detail and nuance is expertly captured and showcased in this book.

Featured in November is the Crimson Tide Chrysanthemum.  The colour combination and texture of this flower is stunning.

Above is a sampling of orchids blooming during March in the conservatory and below is some lush greenery featuring hostas, helleborus and variegated sempervirens.  Whatever the month, your tour will take you for a luscious visit.  

Sara painstakingly put several hours into compiling an incredibly detailed index.  Below is a sample of one of the index pages.  Preceding which, is a floor plan drawing of the conservatory and Keys to Plant Identification which may be utilized to identify the specimens featured in Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month by Month.  It may also be used to quiz your knowledge of the species accented throughout.

Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory: Blooming Month By Month is an impressive and beautiful keepsake that should grace your coffee table.  It is available in hard cover or paperback.  Currently available to US residents by placing your order at www.lovethatimage.com.  Sara assures me that she is working on facilitating shipping to Canada and as soon as it is available I will pass it on.

*note:  all photography and pages used within this review were provided by the author, Sara Chapman, and used expressly with her permission.

Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory:  
Blooming Month By Month
Author and Photographer:  Sara L. Chapman
Publisher:  Book Publishers Network
Copyright:  2011
Pages:  144 full-color pages
9" x 6" quality binding
Paperback ISBN 978-1-935359-80-7
Hard Cover ISBN 978-1-935359-81-4

Available at www.lovethatimage.com

"A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Friends of the Conservatory.  Visit www.VolunteerParkConservatory.org."

See Sara's site at www.lovethatimage.com for a free download 7 Secrets to Better Flower Photos.

Watery Reflections, Shadows and a Bear!!!

These photos were taken near Fort McMurray August 24, 2011.  I love these softly muted reflections of the clouds in the water below.  The last two photos were taken from a safe distance as this black bear investigated the garbage dumpsters near a local hotel/motel in Fort McMurray.

Contributing to:

Sky Watch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Shadow Shot Sunday
Watery Wednesday

Skywatch Friday at Willoughby Ridge

The beginning of July marked a huge occasion for Scouts across Alberta and a portion of British Columbia.  A huge jamboree of sorts was held over a period of a week wherein over 2000 young men (ages 12-18) and many leaders gathered at Camp Impeeza, north of Westcastle (popular skiing destination).  Here they hiked, biked, repelled and numerous other activities, too many to mention, to earn badges and get in touch with nature.  

These photos were taken at the top of Willoughby Ridge which is north of the ski area.  What a magnificent location for such an event.  My husband was one of the leaders involved and he is the photographer of these two shots.  Not bad for an I-phone!

Sky Watch Friday is a weekly meme hosted at Skywatch Friday featuring skies from all over this beautiful planet.  Click on the link to see more.

Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory by Sara Chapman

I just received this week this gorgeous book, Flowers of Volunteer Park Conservatory, by Sara Chapman and I will be reviewing it right here on this blog!!!!  You have to see this!  Glossy colour photos on each page capture the spectacular beauty of the historic Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle Washington which is only one of a few Victorian glass conservatories that remain in the USA.  

You don't want to miss this review coming soon!!

Lac La Biche in Northern Alberta

This sunset shot was taken by my husband at Lac La Biche in northern Alberta.  If you recall, last week's Watery Wednesday photo was of the same location but looking directly at the sun as it set over the lake.  The reflection was exquisite!

Join others as they explore Watery Wednesday in their part of the world.

Bigger Than Golf Balls - Hail Storm Near Cold Lake Alberta

Last Sunday, which would have been August 14,  I am told a nasty hail storm went through the Cold Lake area.  The hail stones were huge, larger than golf balls.  One of my husband's customers collected a few and froze them so he could show everyone.  He said they melted a bit before he got to them so they were actually larger than this as they came down.

An interesting cross-section of one of the hail stones.  Look at the rings.  I wonder just how windy it was up there in the clouds before they actually got so heavy that gravity played a role on their release.

I'd hate to have been outside during that storm!  There was no mention of significant damage.  Can  you imagine?

Sky Watch Friday Near Innisfail

My husband took these photos this week near the town of Innisfail Alberta.

I am joining the Sky Watch Team for Sky Watch Friday.

Aphids Everywhere!!!!

This has been a wonderful growing season.....for aphids!!!  I generally expect a battle with the Summer Wine Ninebark, sometimes the roses, and occasionally on the Mock Orange.  This year, though, I have seen blue/green ones on the tomato plants, black aphids on the ninebark and mock orange, green on the rose bush (only a few) and several in my hair or on my clothes when I come in from working in the garden.  What to do?  

Summer Wine Ninebark late spring before I washed off the black aphids you see clustered here on the new growth.

A sharp blast from the hose is what I most often do for control.  Spraying every square inch and centimetre of the plant, I wash those nasty little suckers off where they can become bait for other predatorial bugs.  I also encourage (carry) the lady bugs to the affected regions.  You can buy them at a few of the local garden centres, just in case you don't have enough in your garden.

If your petunias are suffering from a recent infestation now, though, the best advice is to pull them out and discard the plants.  Replace them with annual mums or something else that will continue blooming while the evenings lose their warmth and the daylight hours begin to dwindle.  Days here have been a bit cooler so it is the perfect time to add some mums for a splash of colour now.

For more information on aphid control, see this article written by Rob Sproule of Salisbury Greenhouse:

http://www.industrymailout.com/Industry/Home/5553/23982/images/SPN%20Aphids%20101.pdf?utm_source=mailoutinteractive&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Aphids+101+

Enjoy those sun shiny days while you can.  I hear whispers of an early autumn.  Are you turning a deaf ear or a blind eye?  I am.......