Reminder: Observing Holidays

As I indicated in my first entry, an "unofficial" post, before the regular postings to this blog, that there will be no posting today, March 27th, 2010 or next week April 3rd 2010, I will return to posting on April 10th, 2010.

Springtime in the Greenhouse

On this first full day of spring, as I indicated in my previous post this morning, (I’m on a roll, two posts in one day, could this be spring fever?), my urban outdoor garden’s herbs, plants, trees and shrubs are not quite ready to "pose” as an image for a card — even though my i–CAL says it is the first day of spring. 

For now, my best choice for honoring this season is my Black and White card, Springtime in the Greenhouse, (above). It is available for purchase through my web–site .

This card is derived from a print of the same name. The actual print is celebrating spring too, because today, March 20th, 2010, it is my donation to fundraiser for The Foundation Fighting Blindness.

The First Harbinger of Spring, Chive Sprigs (Allium schoenoprasum)

Today is the first calendar day of spring. Seemingly, nothing better announces the end of winter than the sight of sprightly chives. Their bright green grass–like appearance is the very first harbinger of the long awaited season. 

Chives become the guest of honor at Rites of Spring soirées. Their finely cut leaves enhance cheese spreads being served on a Tom Cat baguette with a goblet of Pinot Gris. When swirled into a Vermont cheddar cheese omelet, they add pizzazz to a brunch — especially if there are flutes of champagne to drink with it.

Additionally, chives are often added to Vichyssoise, another soirée favorite. The thin wispy leaves of chives can be used to make a flavored ribbon when tying bunches of raw veggies such as carrots. If they are not being grown for harvesting, beautiful and long–lasting lilac–colored flowers develop at their spears! These make elegant centerpieces and when tied into a bouquet with strands of chives, they make a unique hostess gift.

They also made a great image for a greeting card that I designed, which can be seen in the image atop this entry.

FALL 2018 ADDENDUM: 

I no longer actively produce event program covers, invitations and the types of greeting cards described here or on my website but arrangements might be able to be made under certain circumstances. My focus is on the Words In Our Beak book series, pictured below...

WORDS IN OUR BEAK BOOK SERIES

...whose stories are told from the point of view of Cam, a female cardinal, whose photo is on the cover of each book. Words In Our Beak’s goal is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in my rooftop garden in NYC,  Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. The books include hundreds of images of flora and fauna, links to movies, as well as to informative narratives that have been created by the author.

Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books.

Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

SUMMER 2020 ADDENDUM: 

                             

"Never say never," the saying goes, and I suppose that applies to saying, "I no longer....," which I did in my 2018 addendum and now I'm here to announce at the advice of Chris Deatherage, my book series formatter, who is also my web-master (for patriciayoungquist.com) I now have some versions of the greeting cards that are referenced in this blog post available via FAA, please click here to view them.

Cards that are about more than communication.

Although we are in the throes of winter, I am working on my collection of invitations that preserve a moment in time, event program covers that enhance an occasion, and creating note–cards that are about more than communication. My desire to bring back the practice of sending a paper card is even stronger than it was a short time ago when my friends and I were discussing the pitfalls of sending “E–cards” about which I blogged in a previous post, and I am thinking ahead to the forthcoming seasons and images that might celebrate them.

Diamond Notch Falls

As the winter winds down, I often think about other seasons. Looking through my prints taken in summer, spring, and fall seasons, I now realize that O'Henry's reference to a single, "last leaf" which is not the only "single leaf" that has influenced me.