Thanksgiving is a special holiday because it celebrates family, the abundance of the harvest, and gratitude for the gifts and blessings in our lives. Setting the table for the annual Thanksgiving feast is one of my favorite ways to make the day memorable for our family.

I’ve realized that I measure time in flowers, that each year is summarized in the form of a home grown bouquet. This season dahlias in a range of pinks and burgundy were most memorable and are still blooming beautifully now in late September.

The studio is bustling this month with the sound of holiday music playing as I paint a myriad of flowers on glass ball ornaments for gifts and for sale. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the season and make something special for friends and collectors.

I have been wanting to move toward a new color palette lately and these dramatic and earthy blooms seemed like the perfect way to experiment with heavier more opulent hues in my work.

The 26th Annual Spring Obsession Art Competition at Ironstone Vineyards is a lovely celebration of art, wine and flowers. It is an art show and sale that coincides with the annual release of the Ironstone Obsession wines and the splendor of spring which is marked with daffodils blooming throughout the property.

Cafe au lait dahlias are cultivated for their beauty and stunning colors. They are often used in wedding bouquets and are well known for their unique, frilly petals and large size.

Creating botanical paintings is a joyful and rewarding process. It celebrates the beauty of something simple and abundant in nature while capturing the essence and individuality of flowers.