Sepia Scenes: Sweet Shrub Bush

(The Original)

This is a pod from my Sweet Shrub Bush. This shrub is native to the Appalachian stream banks of the Smokies. Thomas Jefferson recorded planting Sweet Shrub at Monticello on March 7, 1778. He gave them as gifts to fellow gardeners and included them in a box of American plants shipped to Madame de Tessé in Paris. Sweet Shrubs have deep maroon flowers with sweet fragrance similar to strawberries in late spring and glossy, aromatic, leathery, dark-green foliage. Flowers are quite fragrant. At the moment this bush is sticks and pods.

The day I took the photo it was overcast and pouring down snow. The little streaks you see in the photo are snowflakes whirling by.

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Watery Wednesday: Frozen

Since my world has been a frozen one for a few days I thought I would share a couple of macros I took yesterday. The first one is a sweet shrub branch encapsulated in ice. I hope if you have a minute you'll enlarge this one and look at the lower right corner of the focused section. I had downloaded the photos and zoomed in to take a look at the different patterns of the ice. I was surprised to see a little blue angel behind the ice. Don't worry if in your imagination you don't see her. That just means she was only meant for me.

This little ice sculpture takes on different appearances depending on how you look at it. When I first downloaded it I thought it looked like the end of an upholstery hammer. A couple of glances later I decided it looked like a bird walking up the stem with a seal following behind. It was a cold day yesterday and I was bored. What can I say!

For some outstanding Watery Wednesday shots please click here.

O is for Oh, What Lovely Blooms!

Crimson Azalea
Magnolia Blossom

Sweet Shrub

Japanese Sakura Cherry

Lilac Tree Blossom

Dogwood Blossom

These blooms are a virtual bouquet for you my dear readers who visit me and make me smile each and every day!!!!

(I hope you will be able to enlarge these for best viewing)

To see more Alphabet Photo Challenge participants please visit Quilly at Pacific Paradise.