16x20 oil 
on wrap around canvas
 

The flowering of Spring branches always brings to memory walking as a child, through my Mother’s garden on Spring mornings. With bright green moss under foot, and the smell of Lily of the Valley in the air, I would climb up into branches looking for birds nests, hidden under colorful blossoms. Morning walks through my Mother’s garden was full of new life and endless possibilities.  
 

   A part of a series of that began with the faintest recollection of Sprintime, walking barefoot, on beds of moss,  in my mother's garden.  This developed into a lovely recognition of the impact this woman and time spent in her garden has had on my life.  

    Years ago, in considering doing a series inspired by her gardens, I had written this note:    
       
    “The love for beautiful things is a gift my mother gave me without knowing it. She didn’t wrap it in a bow and hand it over. She gave it subtly, unexpectedly, on her knees, bent over arching stems that held trumpeting tiger lilies. She gave it in canvas tennies, stepping on dewy grass to point out Lilly of the Valley. She gave it by songs sung and stories told in the midst of cool evening shadows and the heady fragrance of phlox.”

   This series, of Spring flowering branches and signs of new life, are a homage to my mother, and her beautiful garden.