garden serenity

Ambling around the grounds at the Cincinnati Civic Center a couple days ago, I came across this lovely pond.  The explosion of lush greeness and blooms in this city oasis was so soul refreshing. 

LINK:
Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati

Wordless Wednesday/Wordy Wednesday--where I linked up:

 




Create With Joy (Celebrate Our Pets)

  A Southern Daydreamer (beautiful wisteria photos)  

a few more words!  note the beehive.  There are wall (or Lazarus) lizards sunning on the rock in the foreground.  These non natives were brought to Cincinnati in 1951 and released into a backyard.

photo by me © 2016  all rights reserved

solitude

  a picnic table awaits in a quiet little grove in Eden Park, Cincinnati


iPhone photo by me  ©  2011   all rights reserved

tranquility

corner of a garden in Ault Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

Wordless Wednesday/ Wordy Wednesday--where I linked up: 

  The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

  (yellow Asiatic lilies)

Create with Joy

(Magellan--the Laundry Hunter)

 

 
photos by me © 2014  all rights reserved

art on buildings

On the last Saturday in April, my son graduated from the University of Cincinnati!  After the ceremony, we wandered around an area of town known as Over the Rhine.  We saw several buildings painted with large murals on their sides.

Called Energy and Grace, this mural was a partnership between ArtWorks and the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  "To celebrate the school’s commitment to reviving this historic community, ArtWorks turned a painting by one of its professors, native Cincinnatian and internationally acclaimed abstract artist Kim Krause, into a mural."  The painting is a celebration of the energy and momentum of the rival of this area of Cincinnati.

LINKS:
Energy and Grace 
ArtWorks-- murals in the Cincinnati area

I posted this photo on my instagram site.  Are you on instagram?  Come find me HERE!  

Wordless Wednesday/ Wordy Wednesday--where I linked up: 

  The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

Create With Joy

 

photo by me © 2014  all rights reserved

Krohn Conservatory

Krohn Conservatory showcases more than 3,500 plant species from all over the world within its glass walls.  The palm, tropical, desert, bonsai, and orchid houses exhibit permanent displays of exotic plants in natural settings, complete with a 20 foot rainforest waterfall.  The floral display area changes throughout the year.  This is where the annual Butterfly Show is held.  Thousands of butterflies are released to fly freely within the Conservatory's showroom, feasting on flower nectar while countless visitors watch and interact in delight.

Here are some photos from the Conservatory and the Butterflies of Morocco Show this year...

a young girl is excited to have captured a butterfly!

 

I wish I knew what variety these butterflies are.  I've spent time searching online but have come to no conclusions.  If anyone does know, please tell me!

Desert Room blooming cactus  (Many varieties of cacti and succulents are found here.)

bonsai tree (The conservatory has a collection of trees from the conservatory itself, the Bonsai Society of Greater Cincinnati, and private individuals.)

orchids (There are approximately 75 blooming orchids at any time from the conservatory's collection of thousands of orchids encompassing 17 genera.)

Epiphytic bromeliads, orchids, and ferns grow on many of the trees.

part of the goldfish stream in the Palm Room

the waterfall

Palm Room (There are a variety of palm trees, a banana tree, rubber trees, shrubby plants and ground covers.  Just beyond this scene is a 20 foot waterfall.)

In the Tropical Room there are many varieties of ferns, cycads, bromeliads, and begonias.  There are also a cacao tree, pomegrante tree, vanilla vine, and a dwarf banana tree.

The outside areas are filled with trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Last week I showed you a photo of a butterfly attached to a girl's nose HERE.  next week, more butterflies and another "nose photo!"

LINKS:
Krohn Conservatory 
my blog posts:
a butterfly lands on her nose --1st photo
a young boy holds a butterfly --3rd photo
orchids 
hands   --the 1st photo is one of my favorites

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "K." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 



 
photos by me © 2011 and 2013   all rights reserved
(Only the cactus photo is from 2010.  The rest were taken this year.)

July

a few random photos from my life this July...

A butterfly landed on her nose!  a visit to Krohn Conservatory for the butterfly exhibit:  lots of butterflies, lots of people, lots of fun!

Raindrops dot a spider's web and sparkle like jewels in the sun.

My husband and I visited friends and family in Indianapolis in early July.  We took our bikes and rode along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, "a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects neighborhoods, Cultural Districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system."  Heading home eastward bound, the sunset behind us was glorious!

Purple People Bridge  Formerly a railroad bridge, the Purple People Bridge is now a pedestrian walkway connecting Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky.  My husband and I took a stroll along the Cincinnati Riverfront after watching the Reds win a game against the Mariners.

Oliver is sooo tired after playing with puff balls.  (Next project:  recovering the seats of my kitchen chairs.  Sometime in the past--and I'm NOT saying how long ago!--I had the chairs striped and then I refinished them.)

I dyed lots of new scrunchies (Some are still available in my etsy shop), chamois, and custom orders. 

friends meeting for lunch!  I've taken lots of flora and fauna photos.  It's so fun to wander around my yard, camera in hand.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is "J." Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun! 



photos by me © 2013   all rights reserved

Mushroom House

The creation of Cincinnati architect, Terry Brown, the Mushroom House is a fantastical structure constructed with materials used in inordinate ways--wood, colored glass, shell,

ceramics and metals.   His aim, giving homage to the organic style of Frank Lloyd Wright and to Gustav Stickley, was to create irregular shapes that mimic those found in nature.

Beginning life as a bungalow in an upscale area of Cincinnati, this house, his own residence and studio, was built gradually between 1992 and 2006.

Terry Brown holds bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture.  In 1983, he began teaching at the University of Cincinnati, and then later taught at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio.  After a Fulbright Fellowship at the Vienna Academy of Fine Art, in Austria, Brown began to develop his own unique style of architecture.  Brown's work is featured in many venues and  publications throughout the world.

LINKS:
more photos of mushroom house HERE.
LINKS about Terry Brown, architect:  HERE and HERE
LINKS to other wild houses:
Mummy Diaries strange houses 
Mummy Diaries thinnest house in Britain
World's Wildest Houses  This link will take you to house #13 (Mushroom House), but click back and forward in the photos to see more houses. 

This is a fun weekly meme, under the direction of Jenny Matlock.  This week, our letter is "M."  Seriously now, come and join HERE.  This is a great way to exercise your creative muscles AND you will be amazed at all the bloggy goodness to be found! 
photos © by me 2010  all rights reserved

a favorite market: Friday Fence Post

Pipkin's Market

Here is a small fenced-in area next to the right side of the building.  A few herbs and flowers grow here.  In season, lovely pots as well as garden ornaments are for sale in this space.

Pipkins began in the 1980s as a small roadside stand, selling in-season vegetables and fruits in the Summer.  Eventually, the stand was enclosed in a building, and the business began to operate year 'round.  All produce is hand picked, fresh, and delicious.  Most produce comes from local growers within a 100 mile radius.  The market also sells local specialty items such as breads, salsas, and gelato.  And, oh, the most wonderful apple cider!

Later, a garden area was added.  (It is located on the property across the parking lot from the building.)  Such a    wonderful variety of plants--annuals and perennials--one can find! 

LINKS:

Pipkin's Market website (only of interest to locals)

Ani is hosting Fence Post Friday on her blog Coffee Pot People.

Read all about it and link up HERE.

Come join in the fun!

photos by me © 2010

Northside Mother's Day Randomness (part one)

a family excursion to Northside, Cincinnati, involves a lunch at Melt, and photographic wanderings and musings...

Nestled between I 74 and I 75, practically surrounded by several parks, north and slightly west of downtown Cincinnati,  Northside calls itself an "urban village."

A "real" population began to develop in the 1820s with the development of the Miami-Erie Canal and the CH&D Railroad.  This area, originally named Cumminsville, became  known as a place Cincinnatians could visit to get away from the city.  









After WWII, industry exploded, and the highway system became well developed.  People no longer had to live near their work.  Thus began the exodus to more rural areas, and Cumminsville declined.

spires  

Northside (name changed a few decades ago) has experienced a renaissance in recent years.  The community strives to be a hip, holistic, diverse, and sustainable environment, providing a variety of cultural, work, and educational opportunities.

courtyard outside Melt

Independently owned restaurants abound. 

inside chairs at Take the Cake

LINKS:

Northside official website

Melt restaurant

Take the Cake restaurant 

photos by me © 2010