gloriosa daisy

Although it blooms in summer, the color of this gloriosa daisy reminds me of autumn.

teddy bear

A sunflower without long petals? I think this is a teddy bear sunflower, a variety with double, deep yellow blooms. The bees seem to like it!

bright

I love the bright colors of these African daisies.

ripening

It's a good time for ripe tomatoes fresh from the field.

Celebrate the flavor of all sizes and colors, a true taste of (late) summer.

a dahlia and a bee

A dahlia, tipped toward the ground, provides a feast for a very busy bee.

mirrored

Almost calm water wears small ripples and reflections of the rocks above.

reflections in a quarry, Andres Institute of Art

early apples

I stopped at a local farm stand this afternoon to pick up some pickling cukes and tomatoes. I always look to see if anything else catches my eye (and leaves me wishing for a taste).

Today some Zestar! apples jumped out at me. The sign indicated they were local, crispy, and had a sweet-tart taste. That was enough to convince me to try them.

My verdict? I like them!

If you see this early season apple, it's worth a try.

sculpture in the woods

Yesterday it felt like a good day for a visit to Andres Institute of Art.

At Andres Institute of Art, we bring art to our community by making the experience of art an everyday relationship. Our purpose is to underline the interface of nature and culture in order to bring the visitor into a closer, and perhaps more comfortable relationship with the works of art. Both the location and the environment of Andres Institute give us the opportunity to continue to build a place in which individuals may experience art and nature in tandem. By placing sculpture within nature’s framework of trees, boulders, critters and mushrooms, viewers are free to consider the undercurrents of the inherently beautiful art form nature has to offer along with each piece of art work. The untouched quality of the Institutes’s 140 acres furthers the experience of a personal connection with nature. from the Andres Institute of Art web site

I spent a couple of hours walking, following the signs indicating "sculpture trail", hoping that eventually I would end up back in the parking lot. I'm sure I missed entire sections of the park; certainly a future visit is needed!

I saw new-to-me sculptures as well as many that I saw when I visited last year. My favorite of the day matches my favorite last year, a wonderful piece that has been in place for the last 15 years.

Enjoying the Stars by Alexander Molev, Russia (2002)

More photos from yesterday's visit are in the gallery Andres Institute of Art :: 2017.

obedient

Did you know that there is a perennial known as an obedient plant?

Its proper name is "Physostegia virginiana". According to Wikipedia it is commonly known as an obedient plant because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position.

The flowers are delicate and beautiful.

a sea of flowers

At this time of year, the cutting garden at Stevens-Coolidge Place presents itself as a sea of flowers.