Not too far from my home, there's a solitary sunflower which remains standing, head bowed to the winter. This image was taken about one week ago. I hope you enjoy the images and quotes.
“The gaudy leonine sunflower
Hangs black and barren on its stalk,
And down the windy garden walk
The dead leaves scatter,- hour by hour”
~ Oscar Wilde
“The sunflower is a favorite emblem of constancy” Thomas Bulfinch
“Every friend is to the other a sun, and a sunflower also.
He attracts and follows."
~ Jean Paul Richter
He attracts and follows."
~ Jean Paul Richter
"Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun's revolving splendour."
~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun's revolving splendour."
~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller
It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller
"Space for the sunflower, bright with yellow glow,
To court the sky." - Caroline Gilman
57 comments:
I like the silhouette. Amazing it's still there.
A sunflower standing in the cold... alone. Cue Jann Arden song.
how interesting this perspective is.. from life to lifeless from color to colorless from fresh to dry. I can see and feel the cold right here.
Naqvee
A beautiful array of photos!! Such texture and hue! And the poems...wonderful!! Time, weathering .... creating an artful moment.
Thank you
Hugs
SueAnn
Marvellous shots!
Even in it's final stage,this sunflower shows beauty. I admire your creative photography.
just lovely...so full of texture...ever which way you look at it...very nice hilary
You see things in ways i never could, and show them to me. Thanks.
I feel sorry for that poor sunflower. It looks like a fish out of water.
you can capture the soul and beauty of anything!
I love that about you
even in death the sunflower is beautiful - lovely homage to departed glory
Beautiful, just beautiful. I love the different moods of each picture. I look, I study, I learn. Thank you! :-)
beautiful curves and textures. :)
amazingly lovely ..it kept its head under some clearly rough times
In its last stage, yet so beautiful!
They're all fabulous, but my favorite is the silhouette. Negative space.
Mary Anne in Kentucky
This is the winter.
This reminds me of a sunflower in a little village I pass every day on my way to work. There is a solitary sunflower standing by the road and I watched it turn into these images in the fall. There is beauty in flowers, no mater what stages they are in.;) Makes me feel a bit better, as I fall soon into those late stages of a flowers life.;)
Hope you are having a great weekend and as always, what a stunning photography...
xoxo
Sunflowers turn to face the sun, but this poor little sunflower will never turn to face the sunshine again.... however, spring is on the way (eventually we hope!) and look at all those seeds.... promise of life to be awakened by the warmth of the sun melting the snow..... oh, wow, I'm getting quite poetic here!
Stunning! I don't think any of the quotes could capture what you captured in the photos!
You have very magically created a wonderful montage of the death of a sunflower. Stunning photography. I am waiting for you to publish these...other than in blogger.
I love sunflowers! You've taken their beauty to a whole new level Hilary. What a talented woman you are. always a pleasure to stop by.
Hugs, G
Love those... artful!
Gorgeous, Hilary. The silhouette is breathtaking. Thank you.
Very evocative imagery. You capture the mood extremely well.
great pictures, we been finally getting some winter weather...it surely has been strange lately
Excellent! Beautiful collection of a sunflower bowing it's head to winter.
Quite a transition. Nothing last forever.
So much yet to give even though its growth is over. I love the seed pod and the silhouette.
love that last silhouette. a wonderful visual denouement.
So creative you are. The quotes are wonderful. So glad I read them today. :)
I have sunflowers in my yard that are in the same state. Only in my yard the backdrop would be white. Nicely done with the use of low light.
It looks picked clean..totally done...but yet it keeps hanging on. A good lesson when we want to give up and throw in the towel..to keep hanging in there! Love the last shot...amazing.
Beautiful shots, great details.
Incredible shots.
I could not see the front so well. Perhaps there are seeds left for winter feeding of your winged neighbours and friends.
Lovely images. The silhouette is my favorite. I love sunflowers. They're just really cool and bees love them, too.
beginning middle & end.
you always produce a classic whole.
aren't we lucky!
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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wonderful shots. Thanks!
There is real artistry in these shots. Such a beautifully original way of seeing.
It looks sad but the birds would love it!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
I like your macro views of life.
Exquisitely done!
Thank you all for such kind comments. I've not spent too much time on the computer (being away from my own for the past few days) so it's always lovely when I read your sweet remarks. I'll pick up my blogging pace again in the next few days.
A brilliant sunflower, lovely plant ad beautiful photos.
beautiful pictures! i just bought some sunflowers to put out for our little birds. we also put out our christmas tree (laying on its side) next to the food source where the birds use it as a condominium. thanks, johnnny
Blessings to you today, Hilary ♥
You are simply amazing, Hilary!
Beautiful shots! Love how it's hanging on. And I love the Helen Keller quote.
You even make death look good. Damn.
It's magic...you bring dead things to life. Great pics.
Most people wouldn't spend their time photographing flowers way past their prime.
You Hilary, are not most people.
You have captured gorgeous textures and rich colors.
I so enjoy visiting your blog.
your photos are really, really gorgeous!
i know i could count on you to give me my daily dose of inspiration.
thank you!
xo
Enjoyed this post. Very nice.
And if I come in at #54, well, that will be the same as the year of my birth!!
Take care.
Still showing off its beauty! Great photos Hilary.
Absolutely love the first one. The motion, the curves, the color. Very nice!
Foto-Poesie vom allerfeinsten...
Liebe Grüsse aus der Schweiz
Hans-Peter
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