Mysterious Flower in Ireland

While in Ireland last summer, we went through the formal gardens of a castle by a lake. The gardens were behind the castle and quite a hike uphill from the land. The flowers were beautiful! I took a lot of photographs, some of flowers I couldn't identify, including this mysterious one. This is probably because Ireland is farther north than Mississippi and has a much cooler climate; therefore, flowers that grow beautifully there can't tolerate the heat of the South. I found out that this is the flower bud just before it opens into a beautiful ball of tiny star-shaped flowers.

This photograph was taken on a cloudy day (as most of our days in Ireland were), so the photograph is mostly in cool colors except for the purple flowers in the background. Some of the buds seemed to glow with a blue iridescence. Not knowing the name of the flower, I couldn't easily search for it, so I joined an online botanical group, posted the photo and asked for help. Within one day someone had identified it as Globe Thistle. They don't grow in the Gulf Coast region, but so remember seeing one in Michigan a few years ago, although it was much larger. I wish I could grow them here.

Because I like the flower, I have designed a note card using this image and will place it in the shops where my art work is sold.

Featured Artist at Foley Performing Arts Gallery

This Press Release says it all:

Local Photographer Exhibits in Foley Arts Center

Biloxi – Biloxi photographer Linda Saxon Nix is the featured artist in the Middle Gallery at the Foley Performing Arts Center in Foley, AL. Nix, a member of the Art center since 2006, is showing nine of her favorite images and a number of matted pieces. All of the works may be purchased. The exhibit will hang through April, at which time selected pieces will be moved across the street to be displayed in the Colonial Bank. Foley Art Center is located at 119 West Lauren Avenue (Highway 98), with viewing hours from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Friday and 10:00 AM 2:00 PM on Saturdays.

The Foley Arts Center is a very nice art gallery, and is really one of those "little well-kept secrets" because most people head for the outlet mall in Foley. They miss the best part of Foley when they bypass the lovely little town. Foley is one of my favorite places because of all of the civic landscaping that is done there. No matter what time of year, you can count on beautiful beds of flowers in bloom year-round.

My husband and I have been members for the past three years. I display my photography and Vern his pottery. They asked me to be featured in the Middle Gallery for the first time, and I was pleased to mount an exhibit. The grand hotel that has always housed the gallery is being sold, and the gallery will soon move across the street.