1084 Misty Morning

 

The days are getting shorter and the rooftop garden is struggling to stay alive and productive.  Soon there will be a lot of hard work to break it down, and at least one elevated bed will need taking apart before winter.  The cooler nights and fading plant life are a strong indicators that you-know-what is coming and I for one hate to see summer ending.  

I got an early start on my painting today.  It was grey and misty outside and I was struck by how vibrant the geraniums are on our patio.  Have you noticed that Nature's color palette in general is more brilliant in the fall?  

Day 21 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1084-misty-morning/930813

1083 Simply Pink

 Apparently, pink flowers have many meanings--and all of them warm fuzzies.  Affection, love, romance, passion, sentiment, gentleness, happiness, grace, innocence.  I have come to love the color pink and all its variations, but particularly magenta.

Day 20 of the Strada Easel September 2021 challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1083-simply-pink/930538

1082 Safflower in an Olive Oil Tin

 This painting should really be called Sunday Morning Obsessing.  I've photographed, changed, photographed, changed umpteen times.

Day 19 of the Strada Easel September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1082-safflower-in-an-olive-oil-tin/930080

1081 Hidden Agenda

 I have had it with these Gerber daisies.  

Day 18 of Strada Easel September 2021 30 -day challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1081-hidden-agenda/929894 

1079 Dancing Dahlias

 I have a few dahlias growing on the roof, and the bees LOVE them, in fact to the point where I have to be strategic in my attempt to cut them. They are very territorial.

Day 16 of the Strada Easel 30-day September challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1079-dancing-dahlias/929146

1077 Growth Spurt

 This year we modified our front patio gardens and we wanted to start out with plantings that were easy to find and reasonably priced.  We decided on Impatiens, and chose magenta/orange mix for 2 beds and 2 beds of white.  When I planted them, they looked so wimpy in the beds, but look at them now!!!  It's a little overbearing but I'm simply amazed at how happy they are!!  I've never seen impatiens this tall!!

Day 14 of the Strada Easel September challenge.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1077-growth-spurt/928470

1075 In love With Zinnias

 While all the vegetable plants on the roof are withering, the zinnias are brilliant and plentiful.  The pink ones are called Carmine and they are exquisite.  Zinnias love the conditions on the roof and it's really fun to wander among them and their guests, the bees, butterflies, and other polinators.

Strada Easel Challenge, Day 12 #stradaeasel

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1075-in-love-with-zinnias/927912

1073 Hello Dahling

 

I planted dahlias from seed this year, and although they are lovely, they are not as beautiful or as intricate as those planted from tubers.  Maybe I'll try that next year.

Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge Day 10

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1073-hello-dahling/927269

1072 Beauty and a Beast

 A few years ago, I had the good fortune to observe a family of Great Horned Owls nest in our neighborhood.  It was an amazing experience.  Not only are they stealth, they are fierce.  The owlets were so adorable, and watching them fledge was amazing.  We were fortunate to have this same experience the following year.

The little vase was made by Renee Schwaller of Off the Wheel Pottery.  I couldn't resist the little owl, and the other side has a picture of a little perched bird.  I love the contrast of the elegant geranium and the whimsical image of the bird and hope you do too.

Day 8 of the Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1072-beauty-and-a-beast/926992

1071 Little Gem

 I'm going to apologize in advance of writing this post because I'm sure you are sick of hearing about my sunflowers, so I'm sorry if this bores you.  The parent plant of this sunflower is now 80 inches tall growing from an elevated bed that is 30 inches off the ground (roof) so it's pretty imposing and pretty impressive to me. This little sunflower managed to grow in the "elbow" of two larger flowers, and it is only 3 inches in diameter.  

Day 8 of the Strada Easel September 30-day Challenge  #stradaeasel

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1071-little-gem/926682

1070 For the Birds

 

The sunflowers on my roof are winding down, petals falling with any little breeze or motion.  I hate to see them go.  The birds have been pecking away at the seeds, so I suppose I will leave the mammoth stalks in the ground of the elevated containers for them to enjoy the seeds.  I love this little polka dotted box because it reminds me of my very first friend and neighbor in Milwaukee.  We used to pass it back and forth with little gifts for birthdays, etc.  It "appeared" at our back doors, always bringing joy to the recipient.  I miss her.

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/1070-for-the-birds/926368