Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Monday, May 25, 2009

Through The Garden Gate~Sunrise

We don't have dramatic sunrises like Joy has over her garden! 
(please click any photo to enlarge)

Once the trees leaf out
we have a gentle reveal of light  




That peaks through the tree tops

illuminating as it rises


Patches of flowers are highlighted 


and backlit
Details disappear and colors seem softer
while shapes are revealed

Others remain shadowed


As the sun rises above the canopy of hardwoods

patches of sunlight move around in a dance.
 Everything in the garden starts to wake up~~
Mischief begins!
(Do you see our 'friend')


I am so glad you stopped by today to see a Clay and Limestone sunrise;-) One thing for sure~~shooting in these low light levels does not make for sharp photos!  I hope your weekend was filled with laughter, love and gardening.  To see more Through The Garden Gate posts, visit Cindy at My Corner of Katy.  Gail

51 comments:

  1. Beautiful sunrise, revealing light. Mine is similar because of the trees.~~Dee

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  2. Hi Gail, I have deciduous trees on the east and south sides of my house (the park) so sunrise is the same for me. Sunset is more glorious. I love that insect lamp thingie. What is it exactly? Did you or I Don't Garden make it? I like it! Also, I love the upside down squirrel!

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  3. Your garden is gorgeous in any light. Not many people I know have spectacular sunrises and sunsets seen from their gardens. I think this is why I always appreciate the gorgeous ones I do get to see. I hope you are having a marvelous Memorial Day too.

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  4. Dee,

    Those trees! My fantasy/dream house has a wonderful view of the sunrise and sunset! Sunrises are wonderful...but, I can't wait to see you and all the other flingers!

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  5. Hi Gail, as you have seen for yourself, we are all about the sunrise here. The light picking and choosing where to spotlight in your garden is simply glorious. You have shown us that glory in a way that makes it seem like we are right there on the patio, now go away squirrel!
    Frances

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  6. Lovely photos, Gail. I actually prefer these kinds of sunrises, with the rays peaking between the trees. These days the sun comes up too early for me to get good morning photos:)
    The weekend here has certainly been filled with lots of gardening, and I hope to get in a little more if the rain holds off. I'm on a self-imposed deadline to get as much done before Thursday as possible!

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  7. Monica...We found the garden light at a gallery in town. The artist said it was a dragonfly but it's more fire-dragonfly. I'll show you an evening shot of it turned on. gail

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  8. Frances, You do have dramatic sunrises, too! This is just a peak of sunlight coming through the trees and teasing us! You'll get to see this on Thursday...unless this rain stays with us all week! The squirrels have been horrid this spring! gail

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  9. Rose, I like them, too...there is such a slow reveal and the flowers to get spotlighted. I hope you get to see it sometime! We used to have more dramatic sunrises! But the trees have grown to shade the garden more each year....thank goodness PPPP will grow in some shade! I am so excited to see you! gail

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  10. Lisa, Thank you for asking...it has been a full weekend. Birthday parties for fiends and a big party last night that found everyone in our friend's kitchen since it was thundering and pouring rain outside.
    I hope you have had a good weekend, too. gail

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  11. I like the imagery of the sunlight dancing around the garden. This morning we have no sunrise, it's raining! And that's a good thing.

    Carol, May Dreams Gardens

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  12. Looks like the sunrises we see here, except it's pine trees so we don't have to wait for a canopy to fill in. I never actually see the sun until later in the day. It sure produces enough light to wake us up though!

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  13. Carol, We have rain, too! It's the first day that pools open in the south...there has to be rain! It does dance around...gail

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  14. Rascally squirrel! You are so right about lighting in photography. It is amazing how different a landscape can look at various times of day. Love your sunrise photos through the canopy of trees.

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  15. Cinj, So different with pine trees! We have a sunny garden all winter which is perfect to get the ephemerals and phlox blooming. How is your garden growing? gail

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  16. Hi Janet...Lighting is very fascinating to me! When the sun is overhead it looks like a vastly different place...The squirrels have been so bad this spring.
    Yesterday there were about six of them , two chipmunks and assorted birds all trying to get their turn at the feeders!

    Gail

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  17. Sunrise is a beautiful time of day. Lovely pictures Gail. I assume all of the Penstemon is Penstemon X? It's gorgeous!

    Yes, I saw the bushy-tailed 'friend'. lol Why *are* they so smart and mischeivous?

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  18. A lovely sunrise in your garden and strolling around indeed. Hope your day is great too.

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  19. I love when the sunlight comes through the trees that way(-: It is so calming and peaceful. And yes, I see your little garden helper(-: I am sure he is busy planting seeds for you allllll over your garden(-: Last year I thought I would be nice and give the squirrels peanuts. Well they buried them allllllll over the yard. I still find them!!! LOL I guess that wasn't a good idea so now I just give them sunflower seeds!!!!(-: If they plant them and they grow then thats great!!!

    CiNdEeS' GaRdEn

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  20. The low light is gorgeous Gail. I rarely ever see a sunrise. I'm a night owl ~ ask me about sunsets and moonbeams. ;-) Our Memorial Day holiday has been damp and cool, how about yours??

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  21. Sweetbay, Yes it's all Penstemon X! It seeds nicely and is perfect for that wilderness....it's becoming shadier back there and will be tough to get the sunnier perennials that I hoped for growing. So spreading phlox and penstemon really help. gail

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  22. kathleen, You would love the moon-rising through those trees! Have you planted night blooming and fragrant flowers so you can enjoy them when you are moon-bathing? It's a rainy and humid day. gail

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  23. Cindee, That is too funny...These guys are past being cute they have gotten pretty destructive...not sure where their energy is coming from! One of them actually pounds on the door when the feeders are empty! gail

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  24. Tina, Hey there! What are you up to on this gray, rainy and humid holiday? gail

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  25. Happy Memorial Day, Gail, hope you had a nice holiday weekend. I love the morning light pictures. The patches of sunlight are so pretty. Why is it that sun beams seem so much more prevalent in the early morning? Everything looks gorgeous, including the new lawn!

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  26. Oh, I forgot, is that an orange dahlia?! I've been looking a lot a lot on the Old House Gardens website, they has the most gorgeous orange dahlia named after from Belgium orange liquor. Hard to resit all the temptation!

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  27. Lovely pictures. I can't remember the last time I saw a sunrise - not being a morning person:-)
    The squirrel is caught out in the act - must have been a little slow that morning!

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  28. Gorgeous photos. And yes I see your mischief maker! I would really like to get better at those types of photos since I have a similar situation in my backyard. But I relish how restful everything looks before the bright sun does its thing.

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  29. What a wonderful post! I loved it, and clicked on the last photo to see the mischief maker.

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  30. Lyzjo, It is an orange dahlia and it jumped in my cart at the grocery store. I love that you can buy the best perennials at Krogers! gail

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  31. I love morning in the garden. Mine is much the same as yours. I sometimes think of all my fellow gardeners having a cup of coffee and perusing the garden simultaneously. Gardeners at one with nature!
    Donna

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  32. Gail - one of these days someone is going to video me flying around like a gnat - dashing from one patch of sunlight to the next halfway across the yard. I'm always certain I'm about 30 seconds too late for that perfect shot. As tricky as they make it, I wouldn't trade my trees for anything tho!

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  33. I bet your garden is a cool place to be on a hot day with all that nice shade from your hardwoods! Beautiful photos, hope the squirrel didn't get into too much mischief today. ;)

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  34. Racquel, it would be except the spring rains have brought giant mosquitoes...I can't believe how big they are! The squirrels are very horrid most days, but surprisingly cooperative today! Gail

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  35. Barbara, I would love to see you flying about the garden! You would be like the sweet hummers that showed up on the Penstemon! gail

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  36. If my other answer appears--just ignore it.

    I love the soft glow of your gardens. I have a squirrel too--or many of them--and it is getting expensive. There are so many cause the nuts are in surplus too. Now if they would just eat them!

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  37. It's so different for me to see a shady garden for a change. We are almost all full sun here, because it's a newer home with little tree coverage. I have a bit of shade in front on the north side of my house, but it's never enough to fully enjoy shade gardening.

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  38. Love your 'friend' hanging upside down. They are acrobats aren't they? Your garden looks so lovely bathed in the morning light.

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  39. I like your little dragonfly, too! The rascal can just stay at your house... I've been contending with enough of those little fellows myself! ;-) Hope the rest of your day was as beautiful as it began!!

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  40. Great looking sunrise Gail. I have a more subtle sunrise than a sunset. No trees or anything to block that afternoon sun. Gets really hot in the summer.

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  41. The play of morning light in your garden is just magical! I need to get up early for my next TTGG post so I can see what happens in mine. I took today's photographs at 8 am & 8 pm ... earlier would better for the morning ones, though, because the sun was already pretty bright by 8.

    Thanks for joining me ... see you in a few days!

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  42. The soft morning light...love it. Flatters everyone and everything. We used to refer to squirrels as "friends" until a pregnant one chewed her way through some wood and screen and got into our attic!

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  43. Gail girl !! That was beautiful and the wrap up of the visitor sliding ? upside down on the pole was a HOOT !
    I love your sunrise .. the soft backlighting on the plants and trees is awesome ! .. it is so wonderfully secluded in your garden I would have to do the happy dance all by myself in my night-wear ? LOL
    Truly .. it is such a peaceful beautiful garden you have .. whether it is soft sunrise or not .. simple gorgeous : )

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  44. I love the light and the crisp stillness of the mornings. So peaceful

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  45. Hi Gail, I love watching the changing light thru tall trees. It seems to highlight this spot and then that for a brief time.
    Marnie

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  46. Gail,

    What lovely light! It's just magical, isn't it?

    We had guests yesterday for the holiday, but I'm glad I caught these beautiful photos today!

    Cameron

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  47. I enlarged the photo. And THEN I saw your little sneaky friend!
    Brenda

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  48. I love your sunrise...mine is usually seen on the interstate on y way to work. I like yours better. :)

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  49. What a wonderful sunrise Gail. I love that diffused light, makes everything look magical, which is of the good.

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  50. Flowers are beautiful, but it is amazing how much more beautiful a border can look as the light gradually changes through the day. Lovely photos - it looks so peaceful there.

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  51. Wow! I would have never guessed Kroger! Great score! It's Be-u-ti-ful!

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson