Brenda Landrum

July has been hot here in Colorado which means gardening goes into survival mode for the plants and for me. Through the heat I still try to pay attention to moments of inspiration and remind myself it’s ok to stop and take a few photos. 

While in Nebraska to be with family for the 4th of July, I made sure to stroll through my mom’s garden. I love to walk her garden on the farm to see what is growing and thriving in that moment. Her garden is wild and free and I love it. The sweet-peas were vining all over the trellis and filling the air with their fragrance. I love photographing their delicate little blooms. I was especially drawn to different textures as I walked around. The hydrangeas all tucked in the shade of the lilac bush along with the spikes of the iris leaves. Sedum blooms taking in the hot sun but keeping the tiny ladybug fed. There is so much beauty and so much life to discover.

My favorite capture from my garden walk is the poppy bud. It’s like someone crumpled up crepe paper in a vibrant pink and tucked it inside of a little green cocoon on a stem bending however it needs to reach for the sky. They sway in the breeze from side to side and make you feel happy to see them.

I also got to photograph a new store this month that I have been doing some graphics and website work for since the beginning of the year. They had their grand opening and I was able to take a quick road trip with my camera and capture just how beautiful it is. I don’t do this type of work often but it is something that I truly enjoy when I do. I love experiencing someone’s dream and vision and how many creative hands work together to make something beautiful.

I’ll end with a few photos of my garden taken this week. I haven’t been photographing my garden like I would like to due to it being so hot and having to focus on personal matters that can leave me a little drained and uninspired. I needed a mental break a couple days ago so I picked up my camera and went out to the garden. Letting the beauty around me inspire creativity and focusing on it through the viewfinder seemed to slow everything down. My breathing, my mind, and my body all benefited. This small act brought clarity to an overwhelmed mind. 

Photography, painting, molding, baking, gardening, crafting … and so many others are important to have in our lives. They can provide a way to shut off the bombarding of our attention. Free up a cluttered mind and unlock bound hands to devises.

I appreciate you taking the time to read!

B.