Flaming Bells

A single, brilliant, flame tree stopped us in our tracks this week. Brisbane does colour well, don't you think?

"When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here...

...Christmas time is near." This song is from Christmas in the Scrub (an Australian Christmas tape that was on high rotation through-out my childhood). The Jacarandas seem early to flower this year which I've heard may be because of an especially warm spring. I know lots of people associate these beauties with exams and assignments but for me they bring the excited anticipation that Christmas is around the corner. Although we're not there for at least another month, purple (or blue) is the liturgical colour of Advent, so I think they are indeed a fitting reminder to begin to prepare our hearts for the gift of Christmas. (Although not native, they've been well assimilated here in Brisbane and they sure do look beautiful all across our city. These are just a few I have come across).

Jacarandas in Art

 

I am particularly fond of Jan Jorgensens work (above 4 paintings). She makes me want to paint more. She captures the hills, light and greenery of Brisbane so truthfully that when I see her work I always feel so proud to call this beautiful city home. I love the purple bursts hidden among the roof tops.

Fancy Footwork, Paddington by Jan Jorgensen
Heart of Rosalie by Jan Jorgensen
New Day November, Paddington by Jan Jorgensen

Kennigo Cat, Spring Hill by Jan Jorgensen

A classic and perennial favourite to visit at the Queensland Art Gallery;
Under the Jacaranda by R. Godfrey Rivers, Brisbane, 1903.

And I am new to this artists work, but I love it;
The Jacaranda Tree by Tania Heben (North Queensland)

The last of fall

It feels like summer was late arriving in Vancouver, but hung on tightly in September  with a last glorious burst at the end there. Then fall happened all of a sudden. On the 17th of November we had the first snow (snow on the mountains doesn't quite count). At my school it snowed at home time. What a thrill! A lovely thin white dusting of snow. It looked like they had received some new electronics in heaven and the polystyrene packaging was being (carelessly, though undeniably beautifully) thrown down to Earth in the frenzied excitement of the angels. I need to add this type of snow to my other technical drawings. (A few days later we had even more snow - this time it was shaved ice style.) Perhaps there will be a thesis in this work one day... Anyhow, to keep the colour lasting a little longer, here is some more of this magnificent time they call fall (it's always been autumn to me) as we welcome in Winter and the Advent season.










This last image is the view out our kitchen window. A few windy days was the only difference between the first and last picture. One upside to the bare branches is a better view of the city and mountains.

Georgia St colours