2.14.2007

A Garden of Friends

Shades of Orange
February 2007

No doubt you can see why I took these images. It was a cold London afternoon and on our way to the museum we saw these being sold by a street vendor. Beautiful! I love flowers...all kinds, all colors. The vibrant hues definitely caught my eye and made me take a closer look through my lens.

I couldn't have planned this post more perfectly for Valentine's because I wanted to write about friendship. I have a friend in the States whose favorite flowers are Gerber Daisies. As a matter of fact, I can't see them without thinking of her. After seeing these yesterday, I reminisced. Remembering times where my stomach hurt from laughing so hard together and other times that were incredibly painful because of complete vunerablity and fear. I was hoping she was doing well. These are the times that make up friendships.

One of the hardest things about being so far from home has been maintaining my sweet friendships that I feel so blessed to have been given. They bring me so much joy even from an ocean away. It is tough we aren't involved in the day to day praises and struggles that friends share. There are times where I feel completely disconnected from them. But I am there just the same in my heart for each of them and I hope they know.

Happy Valentine's Day to my cherished friends...you are treasured and missed. I love you dearly.

Shades of Pink

*** When you get a chance please visit some of the sites that I have put up on the sidebar to the right. These are the blogs I visit daily. Most of them are photography sites but a few just make me smile and uplift me...ENJOY them and please tell them that I sent you! Bloggers like comments! :)

32 comments:

Corey Bienert said...

these are beautiful.

excellent pictures anna!

Kaycee said...

I just love you floral photos, Anna! I will visit your blog again!

Anonymous said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you too Anna! Missing you...

Tim

talj said...

the Gerberas are just beautiful, such vibrant colours!!

Happy Valentines Day to you and yours (((HUGS))) :o)

bluemountainmama said...

wow,wow,wow! those photos definately brightened MY day! and i share your sentiments about friendships...we don't live across the ocean from ours, but we did move recently and I feel that loss, too.

Anna said...

bluemountainmama...

My heart goes out to anyone who is away from friends and family no matter what the distance.

Anonymous said...

Your post today was just what I needed. You have given me some inspiration.

I hope the friendships you are creating in the blogosphere are helping you fill some of the void that occurs with distance from loved ones.

Alice said...

Anna, If I could fill my house with flowers they would be gerber daisies! These are so vibrant and beautiful...makes me want Spring to get here even sooner now! When you get home I'm going to give you a huge basket of "Gerbers", filled with love, Mom

photowannabe said...

Beautiful flowers and a wonderful tribute to friendship. Your friends are fortunate to have someone like you in their lives, even if you are far away.

John Roberts said...

Very nice close-ups, and the brilliant colors are a welcome sight in the middle of winter. Thanks for sharing this.

Elaine said...

Beautiful flowers. I love the bright colors, especially now in the grayness of winter.

awareness said...

those are stunning anna! I love taking photos of flowers too...though haven't yet with my new digital. My office walls are covered with pics I have taken in the past from my garden and my neighbours around me.

At this time of year, I often take a little side trip to our local greenhouse for an hour of flower warmth.........hmmmm......maybe this weekend I should head over there with me camera..... :)

Happy Valentines Day......I know how it feels to be away from friends and family. None of my family live nearby......and though I have lived here for several years now and have made good friends, I still pine for my old dear friends who live too far away to be in touch as much as I'd like.

Just Me said...

what brilliant fantastic colors! Its spring at the end of the tunnel!

Michelle said...

The photos are fantastic! And I just have to tell ya, you have me sniffing as you reminisce and miss your friends. God has blessed me with some wonderful family and friends too, what a blessing!

Mike A. said...

Those are absolutely brilliant... or vibrant... brilliantly vibrant! SweeeeT!

Mike

BTW: Thanks for the link!

Michael K. Althouse said...

That last comment was me... I forgat that I was signed in under my Gmail account!

Mike

Rebecca said...

So, I tried to comment earlier but it froze on me or something funny... :)

I LOVE gerber daisies. Beautiful shots.

I'm so glad you're getting your mags! I was going to send some to you if you weren't :) And I would LOVE it if you could hook me up with a hair cut...pathetically enough, that's one thing that I've been "stressing" about for the last couple of years....how am I going to afford a decent hair cut in London?!?! :) The Lord always provides...hahaha! :)

Love!

Jill said...

Stunning!

kenju said...

Anna, thanks for putting me in the blogroll! I am honored. I al also sure that your friends back in the states are missing you as much as you miss them.

Valentine's Day in the flower shop nearly did me in, but I will recover quickly, as usual. Love your gerbera photos.

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Very nice recent posts.

srp said...

The Gerber daisies show up in the garden shops around the first of May. They are so bright and vibrant, you can't help but feel warm.

I have to say that your picture of the gate with the sunshine and faint shadows is fabulous. These are the things I love about the European architecture, that attention to detail that is often missing here.

Hope your Valentine's Day was wonderful.

mi foto said...

Very nice photos of the flowers!!

Oya said...

That's a lovely post for the Valentine's :)

Ash said...

Wow - these are so beautiful!

Somer said...

i love gerber daisies too! my husband got each of our daughters a yellow one for valentines day. i'm always tempted to buy some everytime i walk buy our local flower stall.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

beautiful...

utenzi said...

The orange looks so warm--and this time of year that's quite welcome, Anna. A beautiful flower on a cold day.

Cris said...

Beautiful, beautiful flowers!!!! I love the scripture tag you added to your blog.

Mike Holley said...

Execellent images... certainly enough to brighten up this cold English weather :)

I like the bold colours and DOF.

Mike Holley said...

ooooo meant to say belated Happy Valntines Day!!

Pat said...

Ohhh, I love gerbera daisies and yours are magnificent.

Love them to bits Anna.

I sure know what it's like to be away from home as my late husband and I moved to Northern Ireland and lived there for five years and my goodness I was homesick!

My thoughts are with you.

Lori Schmidt (LoriProPhoto) said...

Wonderful vibrant photos, they have uplifted my spirits in this dreary winter period.

Great words and so true. I have moved so many times that sometimes I feel a bit like a nomad, long story but I have lost touch with somany friends and family and I am starting to feel the sadness of that.

Thanks for the bright spot in my day.

Lori