An accumulation of days

When time flies, never ends, or repeats incessantly, breath is how we accumulate our days. As I begin another trip around the sun, this is as good a time as any to take measure of those days. My habit of #seeingcolorinthegarden began on April 3, 2018. My 100-day project is now 1,273 days running (nb: as of 10/19/21). On one level, this feed is evidence of that daily practice devoted to color in the natural world—a rainbow romp through my garden. But on a much deeper human level, these days have taught me to look closely with great heart, to pay attention.

Sometimes painful, sometimes giddy—life is tedious and remarkable in equal measure. Creating color studies may not change the world, but the practice has changed me. There is forgiveness in a daily practice: There are no mistakes, only occasions to improve. And thankfully, there’s tomorrow and the day after, and the one after that.

Thank you to Mary Grace Long for capturing this photo of me in front of an installation of my color studies, an accumulation of my days.

(You’ll find all of my daily posts and garden musings here on Instagram.)

Hey look!

I am a storyteller and a pointer-out-of-details sort of gal. They say time speeds up with aging but paying attention, noticing, and recording details is a way to slow down and savor the moment.

Recently, my husband and I escaped for a few short days to a nearby island. Surrounded by mossy evergreen forests, ancient madrones, and a rocky beach cobbled with mussel shells, the old lodge at The Captain Whidbey dates to 1907. To hold onto the salty air and drizzling rain of our lazy getaway, I painted a series of color studies, a time stamp of color and place if you will. I hope to book many of these “color residencies” in the coming year as Color In and Out of the Garden makes its way out into the world. I’d love to hear your suggestions for gardens and locations to document.

Over on the website I finally posted about my favorite go-to paints, the colors I turn to again and again. And for the first time in almost forever, I’ve got new listings on my events page. The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival is BACK!

In this season of gratitude, I’m so glad you’re here,

xo
Lorene

Recent writing: Don’t Fear the Fall Cleanup GROW in The Seattle Times
“It’s time to rethink fall cleanup to build a more resilient and healthier garden environment.”

Reading: Harvesting Color, by Rebecca Burgess
I’ve got a bumper crop of pokeweed berries in the back garden just begging to live their best (color) life.

Find this book, along with a selection of my favorite authors and titles in my a handmade garden Bookshop