Project 365 d-117

     My yard is quite large as I have mentioned many times. It is really a photographers paradise as there is always something happening around me. This time of year is no exception as the ground is exploding in new life, brilliant color, and many creep-crawly things too. Near the front of our driveway where we are in the process of putting in new landscaping. Our plan is to make maximum impact as people may drive by and consider what my property looks like before deciding to use me as a photographer. We are adding brick columns adorned with lights on top and are connected by black metal see through fence panels. Plus, we have a multitude of perennial plants going into the design as well. It is a comprehensive plan that we plan to do in a couple of stages, but today I learned that everything that it not planned is a bad thing.

     As I walked around my yard today; I noticed how many of this little purple flowers that were growing randomly in the to-be landscaped beds. Of course my camera was hanging on my shoulder, so I lay down in the soft grass and began to study them. "What an amazing little.....weed", I said. Remembering my Dandelion picture from days ago; I withdrew my stereotype and said, "What an amazing flower that I haven't any idea what it is, or how it got there". I certainly didn't plant it and there are so many of them, so it's likely that they are just wild. The longer I stared at it through my lens; I cam came to the realization that it didn't matter what it was. After all, it had stopped me in my tracks and now had my undivided attention. This had to be the photo of the day because I could feel a connection in my soul to it. It was beautiful not just due it's perfect saturated color, but because it just decided to grow where it wanted too.  A brave little soul standing erect and proud among the rocks and debris of a neglected flower bed despite all of my plans to cultivate this space.

      Upon rising from my prone position; I glanced down upon this Flower with renewed respect and admiration. It looked different viewing it from up so high after spending some time down in it's world. How many other worlds are out there everyday that we trample on in our coming and goings? What is just below our next foot-fall may be just the medicine our soul needs to be whole. I think they are messages from God. Call it natures post-it notes left by a loving Creator to see who's paying attention. I'm not sure if I am loosing my mind, or if this project is just making me super aware of my surroundings. I suspect it's the latter; and  I do like feeling the pulse of my surroundings and telling their story on the screen, and in print. Maybe we're the weeds?

Happy Shooting.