patterns in green

‘Patterns of Grass’ Another mandala inspired by a plant (not grass) in Rob Proctor’s garden-from the tour on August 25th.

Salsify

Have always loved the big seed heads of salsify, like a big dandelion to pick and blow them away. They are about 3 inches in diameter and are a natural circle themselves.  But with the kaleidoscope program I can make them even more round, this one has a star inside another star! 

Agave

The geometric feel of this tile and the way the light highlighted the tips of the agave make for an interesting pattern.  It reminds me of the visual optic games that have you star at the dot in the middle while strange things will happen at the periphery of your vision.  To my knowledge nothing will happen with the above picture, but it feels like something might.

water droplets

4th of July came and went without fireworks in a lot of places in Colorado because of the high fire danger.  Fortunately we now have had rain for several days in a row!  3 cheers!! It is amazing how things can green up with a little rain. This is the original picture the last mandala was made from.  It is a firework explosion in a seed head, lined with water droplets.

cool colors

The pastel colors of this mandala appealed to me, maybe because they are cool colors and it has been so hot, so far this summer! A fuzzy seed head was what originally drew me to take the picture, you can see bits of it in the second circle from the middle. Have a cool, safe 4th of July!

Yucca

The purple/red color of the outside of this yucca bloom struck me as beautiful.  Yucca is a desert plant - Colorado has been as dry and as hot as a desert this summer.  My heart goes out to all those threatened by the fires now burning in Colorado and elswwhere in the west.  

succulent

Every so often I use the cross form - it makes for dynamic shapes combining circle, square and cross, all very powerful ancient shapes.  Above is a succulent with the growing tips pointed outward.   I liked the subtle gray blue colors toward the edge.

succulent

This is one of the many wonderful plants on Maui,

a succulent with purple blue-green coloration. The colors may have been brighter because they were half way up the volcano and it was cooler.