violets, a fairy tree, a beaver meal

[asakiyume]

I picked some violets after a run today--I saw them on a hillside, a really rich, deep purple. At home I have lots of violets too, but the purple ones are more washed out. Then there are the white ones with purple veins, and best of all, the speckled ones.

Here they all are in a little vase:



And here is a photo of one of those trees of gold that grow in fairy woods, along with trees of silver and trees of crystal. This one has been felled by a beaver. Look how beautiful its bark is.



And here is a tree that has been gnawed at three different spots. Three beavers sharing a meal? Or one beaver not satisfied with the taste and hoping it gets better if he tries a different spot?

Comments

[sovay]

violets, a fairy tree, a beaver meal

These are beautiful. Thank you. I especially like the idea of three beavers sharing a tree.

[asakiyume]

My pleasure--yes, I do to (like the idea of the beavers sharing the tree)--it's like it's simultaneously the cafeteria table and the meal.

[cgbookcat1]

Beautiful! It does raise the question of whether mallorn trees are susceptible to beavers, and elven beaver repellent.

[asakiyume]

Perhaps the elves can encourage the beavers to only gnaw on trees that the elves would like taken down--for instance, for construction purposes. (Mallorn trees must be delicious... I would want to take a nibble, myself.)

[ravens_quill]

Those violets are really wonderful. I especially like the ones with purple veins and purple speckles (like a careless, but happy, painter enthusiastic with a paintbrush).

[asakiyume]

Yes: the painter ran a finger through the bristles of their brush to make the spatter effect!

[missroserose]

Violets are another item on the long list of "bits of Americana I read about growing up but never experienced until I moved to Chicago".

Interestingly, my theme for yoga class this week was "stillness", and the quote I read before ending savasana was the D.H. Lawrence poem:

There is nothing to save, now all is lost,
but a tiny core of stillness in the heart
like the eye of a violet.

[asakiyume]

I like the idea of violet eyes!

[osprey_archer]

Those trees really are gold! Wow! It looks like it's been gilded.

[asakiyume]

Right?! I saw a tree in 2008 that blew my mind with its golden-ness. It was one of those, is this real? moments. Since then I've noticed that this species really does **shine**.

The tree

[asakiyume]

A piece of bark from that tree from 2008:

Full of awesome!

[wayfaringwordhack]

Those speckled violets are just gorgeous. You know, do you remember that awful painting I did of your bouquet that you posted a couple of years back? Now that I've learned a bit more about watercolor (just a bit, still nowhere near where I want to be with the medium), I wanted to find that post again and give it another go. I still might do that, but now I think I'll try painting *this* bouquet!

Wow, that tree bark is glorious! That one from 2008 really does make you do a double-take and ask if it is real or was someone having fun with spray paint. :P

*Tries to think of a good name for a Beaver's greasy-spoon-type-restaurant and has no luck* :P

Re: Full of awesome!

[asakiyume]

How about "The toothsome meal" for the greasy spoon?

I think I might have wondered that about spray paint when I first caught sight of the tree--it was somehow more intense even than spray paint, though: really **glowing**

I adore your paintings--you've never done anything awful as far as I'm concerned, so that description is not helping me recall the painting! But I'd love to see what you can do with your new painting chops.

[gaudior]

I really like the violets!

[asakiyume]

I'm so glad! They're a joy.