Day 9 of 30

This morning I received an email from an old friend, who has been following some of my paintings on Facebook. She tells me that she's signed up for my blog, which is great news to me. But better still, she included some photos from her garden as potential subject matter.

When I last saw Susan (we used to work together, about 7 or 8 years ago), she was an avid rose gardener, and I'm thrilled to think that she may share some of those magnificent beauties with me. Today she sent this lovely yellow butterfly magnolia.

It's such a treat when friends share the things that they love with us, and even more so when it's fodder for painting. By painting a flower, you really get to know it- the next time you see one it seems much more familiar; after all, you've spent so much time studying all the nuances and intimate details. 

It was so generous of Susan to send this along, I just love it. But I have a confession to make... I'm even more excited about another species from her garden. Susan has KOI. Many, many koi... and my brushes are ready.

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