shades of green - olbrich

We were able to spend a little time indoors at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison this weekend. And since winter is decidedly here, the warm temperature and tropical plants were most welcome. I love the incredible patterns and details that these beauties present. 

so vibrant 

a whimsical curl

light and feathery

Me and my little fellow taking it all in

summertime shades of green

There's just something about the many shades of green that pop out in the summertime that I love.  From the lightest to the deepest green hues, there's a green for everyone to enjoy. Here are a few I'm partial to. 

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~photos by Inside the Pomegranate~

pretty in pastels

Maybe it's because springtime is here, but I've been drawn to pastels lately. These softer hues fit the season of new growth and new blooms perfectly. 

a grove with springtime blooms...lovely!

I love this dress from Anthropologie -
perfectly suited for warmer days

aren't these beautiful?

cool powder blue -
reminds me of all things Jane Austen!

delicate maidenhair fern - spring green & one of my favorites

~unless noted, photo credits unknown~

flowerful friday - phalaenopsis

Inside the Pomegranate is back after a few months off! I thought we'd kick off the start the new month with a flowerful Friday post. 

I've been growing a lovely phalaenopsis in the front window sill all winter. I love orchids for their graceful lines that are both classic and modern at the same time. This white phalaenopsis has touches of chartreuse on each bloom's back. Native to Southeast Asia, phalaenopsis orchids don't like direct sunlight or too much water, but do need a little humidity. They are a little picky, but they're worth the effort. 

Happy Friday!

morning glory - leaves and vines

Ever since I was a kid when my mom grew morning glory outside our living room window, they've always been one of my summertime favorites. I remember laying on the sofa gazing sleepily at the mass of green leaves and pale blue flowers. 

This year I started some morning glory from seed, and they are beginning to take off. Even before their flowers bloom - with the combination of their heart shaped leaves with their determined yet delicate vines - they offer so much visual interest to a garden.

color therapy: green

I love how every shade of green can be found in a garden. From deep emerald hues to chartreuse - they are all well represented, and I think they are all beautiful. Here are a couple shots from my garden and a close up of a painting. For this painting, I was very much inspired my by garden.

from my herb garden 

Bells of Ireland

close up: foliage painting

color therapy - leaf green

One color I never tire of is what I call "leaf" green. Of course leafs come in all shades of green, but the shades of green I prefer are bright and somewhat citrusy in hue.  

inspired

Various shades of green foliage seem like a good way to pay homage to the Emerald Isle.  Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone! 

a dose of greens

We're in middle of a late winter stretch where the little snow we did get is melting and the ground underneath isn't exactly a sight to relish. I thought we could all benefit from a dose of beautiful summery greens. I took this photo from a balcony in a gorgeous garden. With wisteria vines above me and green in every direction, I love the way these emerald hues seem to encompass everything in sight except for a small, narrow path below. And, the tall arborvitaes make this garden very secluded. Isn't it lovely? Who's ready for warmer weather days?   

look up

I know I get in the habit of being so busy, so focused that I sometimes am not paying attention to my surroundings. I always try to look, to observe, but let's face it, we all get bogged down in our daily routines that sometimes we just miss the beauty around us. Looking up can be especially surprising - finding details that we might otherwise miss. 

the angles of an arbor contrasted
with the softness of wisteria vines

goldfinches - perfectly camouflaged for the fall

looking up I photographed a huge leaf - look
how big it is next to my hand!

classic color combinations: pink and green

Pink and green have been one of my favorite color combinations for most of my life. I never tire of this duo, perhaps because they so happily marry often in nature, in a well-groomed flower bed, or in a stunning piece of art. I give much credit to the idea that if colors occur together in nature then they "go" together. Matching isn't necessarily my goal, but "going" is. Here are some pinks and greens that I think "go" beautifully together. 

pinks and greens galore -
gorgeousness abound!

I Photoshopped my photo into a million of dots
a la Seurat  ;-)

color therapy - green

Today's weather seems to be a combination of fall and winter. We have fall's leaves still clinging to their branches, and we have light winter-like flurries falling to the ground. I thought it would be a good day for some photos of bright and verdant greens...

a lily pad

light dancing off of sedum

fragrant mint

kale - it's what's for dinner

color therapy - green

The greens of autumn are a more mellow than the greens we see in the summertime. There's a hint of gold and a touch of brown that can be seen, and these beautiful fall greens do not disappoint. I never tire of looking at nature's multitude of green hues.

light shining through green leaves,
creating shades of green and yellow 

many shades of greens but a little
 more subdued than
what we see in summer - though the
sunlight is still spectacular!

like a flower or a starburst

classic color combinations - green and red

I think it goes without saying that green and red get typecast as Christmas colors. But there is so much green and red in nature and the combination can be stunning. Here are a few photos I've shot recently. I think they showcase this beautiful duo.  

And not one bit Christmasy!