Craving Color In The Garden

This has been an unusual Spring in Northern Ohio.  One week it's mild, the next it's below normal temperatures.  The last 3 weekends have been horrible; rain, 30 degrees, wind. . .so frustrating, because that means no garden time. 

And, as I am craving some color right now, I thought I'd share some photos from previous years:   

Coneflowers

Coneflowers, Black Eyed Susan, Day Lilies

This is probably from July or August, when the Coneflowers and Day Lilies are blooming, which they do through mid-October.  I have tried to choose things which will guarantee maximum amount of bloom time, plus they should be good performers for this area.

Climbing Roses

New Dawn Climbing Roses 

These roses are also all-Summer bloomers for us, and they smell heavenly!  I'm fairly certain they are the New Dawn roses. 

Phlox

I may have already shared this next shot, but it's one of my favorites.  This beautiful butterfly was so intent on getting it's nectar, that it didn't fidget while I was snapping away. . . 

Swallowtail on Phlox

Snapdragons

Do you like Snapdragons?  Some people HATE them.  I happen to be one who LOVES them, and they are super performers in my garden.  In fact, this year I bought several different varieties (seeds) which are started, and by mid-May, should be ready to plant.

Tall Snapdragons

Can't remember the name of the blue flowers. . .anyone know?  I'm pretty sure they're an annual.  Blue is one of my favorite colors to accent other flowers with.  Most of the patio pots I use are either terra cotta, or various shades of blue.

Trumpet Vine Flowers

There is a trumpet vine climbing on our back deck, which we planted about 10 years ago.  Our property line is quite close to the end of our neighbor's at that point.  They also have some trumpet vines near the edge of their pool, and last year, I took these shots (at different times) of the blossoms floating on the edge. . .

Just a little taste of what the Summer will bring.  I have to admit that I am also looking forward to photographing more this year, too.  

And finally:

While composing this post, I was listening to a performance of Puccini's "Tosca" on Sirius XM's Opera channel, with Luciano Pavarotti in the one of the leading roles.  I doubt we'll have another voice like his in our lifetimes.  Do you agree?

Thank you for your visit today.  Thank you to all of my followers, too!  I am at 19. . .maybe I'll have 20 followers soon?  

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Have a wonderful day!

Cynthia

Rock and Roll Class of 2016 and 2015

rockhall.com
I was here for this one in 2015

The above image is from 2015 when Ringo Starr was (finally!) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an individual artist.  

Now, what do the following have in common?

Chicago

Deep Purple

Steve Miller

NWA

Cheap Trick

Bert Berns

This Friday, April 8th, 2016, they will all be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The ceremony will take place in Brooklyn, NY

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cleveland, on the shore of Lake Erie, not very far from where we work.   

Image from Rockhall.com

It has been their plan to have Cleveland host the ceremony every 3 years, the last time was in 2015, so that means 2018 before we have it here again.

If you have ever been there, you already know what an interesting, and interactive place it is.  One can see the history of how this music genre took root from the early days of Blues, Jazz, Country. . .and how even the Brits were influenced by American music. 


What makes the ceremonies so entertaining is the fact that those being inducted are given all the time in the world to have their say when giving their acceptance speeches. . .and in my opinion, that is a GREAT thing!  Even if it's 20 minutes (or more), it is a chance to hear, from their own mouths, what and/or who is most important to them; those who've guided, supported, loved, promoted and mentored them to greatness.  Oh, and there's the music.

Youtube Video of Joan Jett and Dave Grohl performing "Cherry Bomb" 2015

2015 Memories

These next few shots were taken with my phone at 2015's ceremony.  Thank goodness for the giant screens, as the stage was not very close.  The floor seating was reserved for the artists and their guests, and big $$$ donors, so we were in the balcony:

Beck performing a song by Lou Reed

Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers

And finally, the last inductee, Ringo Starr with his good friend, Paul McCartney:

Sir Paul speaking about his friend, Ringo

It was 5 hours before they got to that part!  Very exhausting, but oh, so worth it.  Go back to the first image in my post.  Performing along with Paul and Ringo is Billy Joe Armstrong (of Green Day), Joe Walsh (The Eagles/The James Gang), Keb Mo, and other inductees/presenters from that evening.

Paul, Ringo & Joe Walsh image from rockhall.com

Tributes

Part of the ceremony involves giving tribute to those who have passed during the previous year.  I am sure many hearts will be heavy to recount that we lost David Bowie, Sir George Martin, Glenn Frye (The Eagles), Chris Squire (Yes), Scott Weiland. . .

Deep Purple

Each year has some "drama" associated with it as well.  This year, all bets are on whether Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple will be there.  Lots of finger pointing as to who is making that decision (Blackmore or the other band mates).  What is known, though, is that he will not be performing.  A crime indeed, as HE is the one who wrote the iconic riff that everyone knows from the opening of "Smoke On The Water".

Deep Purple Image from metalinsider.net

I'd love to know if anyone reading this has ever been to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.  What were your impressions?  If you'd like to know more, please check out their website!

Thanks for your visit today, and don't forget to Rock On!

Cynthia