Teardrops On The Water Lily ...

“I must have flowers, always, & always.”

   ~ Claude Monet

    ~ 1840 ~ 1926

 ~ One of the most famous Western painters of all time, founder of Impressionist painting, creator of the iconic Water Lilies series & a symbol of French painting

Rain droplets on a water lily are all that remains of a summer shower that briefly eclipsed the sun on a beautiful early August afternoon at Johnson’s Pond & Wildlife Park, Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania.

Water lilies, plants in the genus Nymphaea, are aquatic blooms that grow in ponds and water gardens and are abundant on Johnson’s Pond.

  

This wildlife park provides an environment for bird watching, nature study and trails.

 

Daisies After A Spring Rain ...

“Where innocent bright-eyed daisies are,

With blades of grass between,

Each daisy stands up like a star

Out of a sky of green.”

      ~ Christina Rossetti

        ~ 1830-1894                               

Raindrops linger on daisies, so beautiful and innocent, sweet and simple and the star of the show, on a late spring afternoon in early June when the sun has broken through after a rainfall at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Tears On The Dogwood ...

Legend Of The Dogwood Tree

At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus’ cross.

To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said, “Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross – two long and two short petals.

“In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember.”

Raindrops cascade like teardrops on blossoms of a beautiful pink dogwood tree on a May evening in Allentown, Pennsylvania.