Pink and White Azalea Photos

Happy May, dear friends! I enjoyed the National Arboretum's azalea collection this weekend and hope you'll enjoy my white and pink azalea photos.

Some plants have more than one color bloom and I thought the hot pink in the middle of the variegated white and pink blooms was striking.

 These white azaleas had a neat green center spots.

 Bicolor azaleas in white and pink.

Bicolor azeleas in white and reddish pink.  If you enjoyed these flower photos please come back soon for some overview and landscape photos from my azalea walk (with more colors featured).

May the God of all creation bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Amazing azaleas: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/04/amazing-azaleas-wooded-walk-photos.html
Mixed color azalea close up photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/04/beautiful-azalea-close-up-photos.html
Azaleas of old Japan (bonsai): http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/06/azaleas-of-old-japan-satsuki-bonsai.html
Azalea walk photos 2012: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/azalea-walk-photos.html

Cherry Blossom Pom Pom Flower Photos & Haiku Poem

The Kanzan cherry trees are in full bloom here in Maryland. I love their pom pom like flowers and late bloom time, which extends the joy of cherry blossom season.

These lovely flowering cherry trees inspired me to write this haiku poem:

Kanzan Cherry Blossoms Haiku

Fat cherry blossoms

fill the sky with loveliness.

Pink double bloomers.

 I cropped out some houses but you can still see how lovely the trees are lined up along the street.

I'm not sure what kind of cherry tree is pictured above but I loved the flowers. They are large and pink like the Kanzan cherry trees but flatter (more like a single bloom than a double bloom).

I hope you enjoyed viewing my Kanzan cherry blossom photos. Happiest spring wishes to you, dear friends! May God bless you and keep you!

Happy Easter & Resurrection Chapel Photos

Happy Easter, dear friends! May the joy of Jesus' resurrection fill your heart on this holy day and always! Today's photos are from the Washington National Cathedral's Resurrection Chapel, one of my favorite spots in the National Cathedral (along with the Holy Spirit Chapel and all of the amazing stained glass windows). I pray that they will bless you.

The Resurrection Chapel's mosaics are more impressive in person but you can get a general feel for them here. The one above and two below depict Jesus in Biblical scenes after rising from the dead.

You should be able to click on any photo to make it larger.

 In person, the resurrection mosaics seem to shimmer with golden flecks.

The plaque in the photo above includes this Easter themed Bible verse: 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Colossians 3:1 (NIV)

May God bless you and yours this Easter and always!

Related posts:
Spring tulips at National Cathedral: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/spring-tulips-at-national-cathedral.html
Easter Good News: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-good-news-how-to-become-born.html
National Cathedral photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/national-cathedral-photos-and-good.html

Source: biblegateway.com

Spring Tulips at the National Cathedral

I love the National Cathedral's Bishop garden. While it's most impressive in the summer (there's an amazing rose garden and a great variety of other flowers), I was thrilled by the abundant tulip blooms. The garden was much less crowded on this visit than any of my previous summer visits.

As you can see from the artwork embedded in the stone wall, the National Cathedral's gardens have delights for the eyes all year.

Although I live not too far north of Washington DC, I'm in a completely different planting zone and our tulips have just barely started to bloom.

Going south to see favorite flowers before they bloom in my area helps extend the season (as does going north after they finish in my area).

I hope you enjoyed this mini tour of the National Cathedral's Bishop garden's tulip beds. May God bless the National Cathedral's staff and may He bless you too!

Related posts:
National Cathedral photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/national-cathedral-photos-and-good.html
My red and white parrot tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/tulips-fire-poker-lilies-japanese-maple.html
My orange Angelique tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/tulips-daisies-and-more-flower-photos.html
My pink and white Angelique tulips: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/azaleas-lilacs-ghost-ferns-tulips-and.html
Tulips, daffodils and spring blooms: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-spring-floral-photos-this-week-in.html

National Cathedral Photos and Good Friday Haiku

National Cathedral Exterior

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 NIV

A blessed Good Friday to all those observing this holy day! Praise God for He is holy and yet so filled with love that He sent His Son to die in our place so we might live forever with Him!

I thought this would be an appropriate day to share my National Cathedral photos and I hope they bless you. If you're planning a visit, entrance to the National Cathedral is still currently free on Sundays but there is now an admissions charge for other days. You can also join their traditional worship services.

Good Friday Haiku

Jesus gave his life;

endured unspeakable pain

for your sins and mine

National Cathedral Interior Arches and Stained Glass

Even with the protective black netting the National Cathedral's stained glass window art is breathtakingly beautiful.

National Cathedral Good Friday Artistic Panels

 Today commemorates the day Jesus Christ was brutally beaten, mocked, and hung on a cross.

National Cathedral's Resurrected Christ Fresco

Praise God the story doesn't end there! Three days later, when we celebrate Easter, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death and sin and making salvation a sure hope for those who trust in Him.

Prayer Engraved in National Cathedral Wall

The National Cathedral has many artistic and holy wonders to enjoy and this is just a taste of them. May God bless you and keep you, during this holy week and always!

Related posts:
Easter Good News & How to Become a Born Again Christian: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-good-news-how-to-become-born.html
Funny Easter Moose the Cat Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/funny-easter-cat-photos-happy-easter.html
Funny Easter Snickers the Cat Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/04/funny-easter-cat-photos-featuring.html
My Hope America/The Cross Review: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/my-hope-america-with-billy-graham-cross.html

Source: www.biblegateway.com

Funny Easter Cat Photos Featuring Snickers the Cat

Happy Easter from my friend Pam, her cat, Snickers, and me! Snickers loves to eat so we bribed her with treats to get these funny and cute Easter cat photos for you. We hope you get a laugh and a smile out of them!

Snickers didn't mind the bunny ears around her neck but she didn't like them on top of her head.

She was fine with the Easter eggs when they were stationary but if they moved, so did she. I love how she's sticking her little cat tongue out in this photo.

She seemed to enjoy the outside session more than the inside (perhaps the lack of rolling Easter eggs?).

But what I think she liked most were the treats Pam fed her. Hearty thanks to Pam and Snickers for opening their home and hearts to me and my camera!

Happy Easter, dear friends! May the God of all love, peace and power, bless Pam, her kitties, and you too!

Related posts:
Moose the Cat Funny Easter photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/funny-easter-cat-photos-happy-easter.html
Easter cat photo fun: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-cat-photo-fun.html
The Good News of Easter: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-good-news-how-to-become-born.html
Pam's Cat Castle: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/pams-super-clean-cat-castle-house.html
Pam's Korean Cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/pams-korean-cat-photos.html

Cherry Blossoms, Washington DC Monuments and a Haiku Poem

Cherry blossom season is my favorite time of the year here in the Washington DC - Baltimore area and my favorite place to view the cherry blossoms is by the Tidal Basin. I took these photos this weekend and hope you enjoy the beauty of these fleeting flowers.

 The Washington Monument with cherry trees blooming near the forefront.

The Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms.

 A different view of the Washington Monument (from the other side of the Tidal Basin).

I love seeing the cherry blossom petals float in the breeze and that's what all those spots are in front of the Jefferson Memorial in this photo. People standing with me on the bridge exclaimed in joy and appreciation as the petals streamed by.

Cherry Blossom Haiku 2014

Beautiful petals,

like clouds of pink joy floating

in a light spring breeze.

 

Praise God for the beauty of His creation, which includes my beloved cherry blossoms! May He bless you and keep you, dear friends!

Related posts:

2013 Cherry Blossom Monument photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/04/cherry-blossoms-and-national-monuments.html

2012 Cherry Blossom photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/washington-dc-cherry-blossoms-and.html

Cherry blossom joy haiku poem: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/05/challenge-write-every-day-in-may-cherry.html

Cherry blossom dog: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/cherry-blossom-dog.html