Garden View – December’s Photo-Heart Connection

Tumacacori Garden Wall

Tumacacori Garden Wall © 2012 Bo Mackison

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. ~ Rumi

As I looked through the photographs I took in December in preparation for posting for the monthly photo practice, the  Photo-Heart Connection, I found a huge variety of photos. Part of the month I lived in southern Arizona and part of the month I lived in Wisconsin.

Throughout the month there were Holiday preparations and celebrations, opportunities for photos focusing on family and friends. The week before Christmas a blizzard slammed Madison, prompting a two-day snow holiday while we waited for the plows to clear a path through almost two feet of snow, and turning the city into a white wonderland. I had a lot of snow photos.

It was a telling selection when I passed by the winter scenes and gravitated to the photographs from the desert and arid regions of Arizona. I loved visiting with my family and celebrating Christmas in Wisconsin.

But I realized — I left my heart in Arizona.

 

This photo is my choice for this month’s Photo Heart Connection. I join other photographers at Kat Eye Studio and post a photo taken during the prior month that “connects with my heart” as a monthly photography practice.

I also wrote a guest blog on Kat’s site, A Year of Photo-Heart Connections, which summarizes the lessons I’ve learned while doing this photography practice.

———–

Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC.

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. What a lovely view you have from your garden, I can quite understand why you left your heart there! Such a tranquil connection!

    • Bo Mackison says

      Tranquil yes. Lots of open spaces, and the sun shines nearly every day. I’m away from cities and crowds, mountains and deserts are my neighbors. My idea of heaven.

  2. I can see why you spend your time in Arizona! With the stories of snow and cold, I can tell from your image where your heart is. There is a warmth and peace in this photo! How much of the year do you spend there? Thanks for joining in with the Photo-Heart Connection for 2013, and wrapping up the first year with your beautiful blog post. It is wonderful to have you involved!

    • Bo Mackison says

      I’m in Tucson from late fall through mid-spring. Add in a few shorter trips, about 4-5 months of the year.

      I love being a part of Photo-Heart connection. Thanks, Kat.

  3. Zounds – how can you leave the snow? It’s ski time?

    Nonetheless, that is a very peaceful photo.

  4. Love the image. It feels warm and welcoming and to me so much nicer than the cold and snow you describe. Perhaps your heart is wherever you think it is at the moment you think about it. Or perhaps it IS in this warm place. : )

    • Bo Mackison says

      It surely is a warm, welcoming place to me, one where I can practice my art, do a few shows, maybe even do some art in the schools. The sunny skies are calling to me, even as I am sug and cozy in my winter home. I do think part of my heart is in this sunny space. 🙂

  5. I can certainly see why this photo spoke to you, the warm sunshine and lovely view are enough to get my attention. The quote from Rumi is just perfect for your choice.

    • Bo Mackison says

      It sounds selfish at first, following what you love, but if I do that I am a happier, more balanced person. And it affects everything — for the better good of all.

  6. It’s easy to fall in love with the Sonoran desert, isn’t it!

  7. What beautiful clear blue sky!
    Rinda (visiting from PHC)

  8. Sunny and surreal. Lovely photo!

  9. It looks so warm and peaceful — a very inviting image! I can understand why it is your photo-heart connection.

    • Bo Mackison says

      The garden is a lovely place, I often drive the 20 miles just so I can sit in it, lean against the adobe walls, watch the fountain, gaze at the mountains. I do some of my better thinking there….

  10. Gorgeous image, I can see why this one jumped out at you. The blue sky and earthy tones are so warm and inviting.

    • Bo Mackison says

      Thanks, Becs. It calls to me even as I write this. It’s a lovely place, those old gardens in the deep Southwest.

  11. This is such a lovely, sunny and tranquil photo, it has brightened up a very dull grey day here in my part of the UK. I can see why your heart connects here. Visiting from PHC

  12. Wonderful image and view Bo !!

    • Bo Mackison says

      Thanks, Bernie. You have much snow in Indiana? Haven;t heard your weather reports, but I think you missed our big storm…

  13. This is such a lovely garden! On some of these icy, cold days, I would love to sneak over and sit in the sun!

  14. Arizona is a magical place. I love your view!

  15. Hope you find your heart again in the place you live now, but the warmth in your photo you should miss I can imagine that.

  16. Oh gosh, Bo. I can see why you picked this one. It’s pure magic. 🙂

Leave a Reply to Deborah Cancel reply

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.