"Midwest Blooming..."

There is something to be said about

experiencing

the change of seasons in the Midwest...

especially

when coming from a hot, dry,

summer-browned desert.

The vegetation we saw in Illinois these past weeks

was so dense and lush and vibrant

it actually hurt my eyes!

(Go figure...I think I must be color deprived!)

The corn...which traditionally they say is to be

"knee high by the 4th of July"...

rose in thick, proud, untassled rows

and

stood shoulder to head high

turning

gravel country roads into canyons rimmed

with nature's emerald bounty.

Actually, the fields

were so incredibly deep, deep green

my brother-in-law claimed they were almost blue!!!

No kidding...!

Wildflowers were blooming almost everywhere

they could take root.

Queen Anne's Lace held royal court

over clusters of sky blue chickory and thistles....

painting weedy roadside ditches

in colorful soft washes of floral beauty.

Mmmm...really nice.

Soooo...

inspired by all this bountiful blossoming

I have started

a series of summery floral heart ATCs.

My first one here is

inspired by the sturdy and joyful coneflower.

I post it today

in celebration of two birthdays

in my family...

my brother Mark in Illinois...

and my sister Susan here in Arizona...

both were born this very day

exactly

two years apart!

(They still claim to this day that they are twins.)

HAPPIEST of BIRTHDAYS

TO YOU BOTH!!!

May your day bloom with love and joy

and your hearts be

filled with sweet and special

memories.

♥