Tuesday, September 3, 2013

PATINA... becoming more beautiful with age



The hydrangeas in my garden are in the fall of their lives... literally! They have lost their fresh bloom. 

I think my hydrangeas are even more lovely this time of year than in the height of summer.

They have a rich patina... and have become even more beautiful with age...








They are more mature now... not the moppy-headed attention grabbers of their youth. That time has passed.

Their intense color softened with age.
They are more subtle... more delicate... but not more fragile.


Beautifully stained by time... they are resplendent! 










I wonder if these exquisite hydrangeas wish for younger times...  if they worry about aging? Do they know they are far more interesting and fascinating than when they were in their summertime days of youth?


The passing of time and the experiences of sun and rain and wind and pruning and some perfect days have made their mark on them.

The hydrangeas have stood through the good and bad of the season! And it shows... they wear it so well!











Exquisitely complex in the fall of their lives... the produce colors that are only earned through longevity.









I too am in the fall of my life... "just stepping out of summer and into early fall", I like to say!

These beautiful hydrangeas that wrap themselves around my house could teach me a lot... a whole lot!


They have become more beautiful as the season moves into fall...

That's what I would like to do too! I would like to wear my age well ...








Beauty, great or small, is in the eyes of the beholder. Unfortunately, many "beholders" are quite blind and have a very narrow definition of beauty.

They miss the beauty of the patina of age!

I don't think hydrangeas are worried by popular opinion...









They just keep showing off their God given fall beauty... and they thrive... wearing the patina of age gloriously!



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43 comments:

  1. KarenaSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    Dear Yvonne I love this feature on Patina! It is beautiful to use the late summer blooms as a comparison to our lives and aging

    I too want to age gracefully and keep my patina shining now that I am over 60!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Feature: Entrepreneur Sigal Sasson

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  2. miss flibbertigibbetSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:15 AM

    Very well said Yvonne! I am definitely in the "patina" phase and work hard at not calling myself "rusty" ! LOL I like calling myself a woman of "patina" instead. In this world, with it's focus on youth, beauty, and body.....the knowledge that God loves me JUST for me....with all my imperfections....is priceless!!

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  3. The enchanted homeSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:25 AM

    Love your take on patina Yvonne, and you are so right....age equals a beautiful patina for natures gifts and ourselves:)

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  4. Jacqueline @ HOMESeptember 3, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Oh Yvonne,
    What a beautiful take on out BIO subject of 'Patina ' ..... your photographs are beautiful and I agree with you totally. I think that hydrangeas look their best at this time of year. As I have said in my post, I am achieving more and more patina as the days roll on !!!! XXXX

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  5. Sam Hoffer / My Carolina KitchenSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    What a great way to look at it Yvonne. I agree, hydrangeas do age beautifully with grace.
    Sam

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  6. JenSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    I love the way you looked at the subject of patina. I do like hydrangeas later in bloom and I think you have perfectly described why. It's something I have definitely not considered. Love your photos... as always so beautiful.
    Have a wonderful day.

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  7. Mona ThompsonSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:50 AM

    Some of the prettiest "patina" ever...I do adore hydrangeas! Have a great day. Mona

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:10 AM

    I love hydrangeas and just dried mine for the first time this year. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.

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  9. UnknownSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:18 AM

    Now I know why I love hydrangeas so much...beautiful post!
    Have a great week.

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  10. Andrea at Opulent CottageSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:21 AM

    So wonderfully said! Beautiful photos, too :)

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  11. ℳartina @ Northern NestingSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:28 AM

    Yvonne your hydrangeas are beautiful...love the pretty colors! I just cut a few stems from one of my bushes to dry so I can add them to a ginger jar in my living room.

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  12. OliveSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    You are a soft spoken poet.

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  13. Doreen@foxdenrdSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:43 AM

    I love the metaphor you used in this post Yvonne. There must be something in the air, because my latest post was 'metaphorically speaking' also about gardens.

    Having met you, I can personally attest to the fact you have a lovely patina. In fact, you put the flowers to shame.

    Have a fabulous week!

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  14. DuchessSeptember 3, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    Absolutely beautiful!!!
    Came to my in-box at just the right moment. Thank you Yvonne.
    Susan

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2013 at 11:05 AM

    How wonderfully written, I am going to look at my hydrangeas in a different way from now on. In fact it is so beautiful here in southwest Missouri here today, I'm going out now to look at them.

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  16. ❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁September 3, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    What a lovely comparison and thoughts on growing "old" gracefully. (my dad always said we are not getting older but rather we are maturing...I love that). I turned 60 this year and I have to admit that it has produced probably the most unsettling (for lack of a better word) thoughts in knowing that I am in the Fall season of my life now. But your perspective on it now makes me smile and realize that I am developing a lovely patina and I shall wear it proudly. Thank you. I needed this.

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  17. Moni - Zuhaus at HomeSeptember 3, 2013 at 12:50 PM

    I love the beautiful images and your thoughts on growing older. The patina is gorgeous!

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  18. JP September 3, 2013 at 12:58 PM

    :( stopped by to enter the giveaway and the link is not working for me....oh, well looking at your photos always makes me happy anyway!

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  19. VikkiSeptember 3, 2013 at 1:12 PM

    Beautiful pictures of beautiful flowers Yvonne! Hydrangeas are by far my favorite and I love them especially this time of year when they seem to change daily. Vikki in VA

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  20. Kim @ Savvy Southern StyleSeptember 3, 2013 at 1:28 PM

    Beautiful images and beautifully written. Congrats on being among this group of talented folks.

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  21. SplenderosaSeptember 3, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    There is only one person who could write this beautiful & insightful post, and that is you, the one-and-only Yvonne Pratt! I absolutely love your take on the subject, as I love hydrangea almost more than any other flower. And, from now on I will think of myself as a strong & beautiful hydrangea in the fall. Thank you so much for joining us today, Yvonne. As you know, you are very very important to me and to "By Invitation Only." There is NO ONE on Earth like you.

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  22. Simply Suzannes at HomeSeptember 3, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home

    Your photos and narrative are beautiful.
    My garden hydrangeas are a muted pale green and lavender now.
    I plant white flowers on my garden floor this time of year, which makes the pale hydrangeas pop.
    Thanks so much for sharing,
    Suzanne

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  23. DebbiedoosSeptember 3, 2013 at 2:04 PM

    Beautiful Yvonne, and such wise words of wisdom indeed!

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  24. Shirley@Housepitality DesignsSeptember 3, 2013 at 2:41 PM

    Can you see me?...can you hear me?...it's me clapping...a standing ovation....so eloquently said...I love the analogy of stepping from Summer to Fall...Fall, one of my very favorite times of the year...and I actually love the hydrangeas at this stage of their bloom...I believe their beauty is the best, when they age so gracefully. Bravo Yvonne!

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  25. Jane@Cottage at the CrossroadsSeptember 3, 2013 at 3:12 PM

    Yvonne, I love your post about patina! I have never really thought to apply the word to humans. A few years ago, I taught Latin to elementary students. The Latin word "patina" means plate as in a dinner plate which was usually fashioned from metal. Later when these metal plates became oxidized, the term came to mean the change in color when that happens. Since you love plates, I thought you'd find that interesting!

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  26. Michele M./ Finch RestSeptember 3, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    I have never looked at "patina" as in my aging self - I like that very much.

    Well done, well written.

    As always, it is a pleasure to come here, Yvonne.

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  27. DawnSeptember 3, 2013 at 6:05 PM

    How beautiful your flowers are. I agree with age they are getting better.

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  28. SarahSeptember 3, 2013 at 7:21 PM

    Yvonne, I agree, hydrangeas age beautifully. I have some that I dried almost 9 years ago. They still look pretty, but I think it's time to replace them. '-)

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  29. Glamour DropsSeptember 3, 2013 at 7:24 PM

    Love it, love it, love it! The hydrangeas speak! Such a fabulous interpretation of patina...a very delightful post...not to mention how beautiful the lovely fading flowers are...such beauty in the fading fall.

    Cheerio from Australia, Virginia

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  30. Botanic BleuSeptember 3, 2013 at 8:01 PM

    Patina, what a rich word in itself. Such an appropriate post for this time of year... Thanks for reminding us of the beauty of patina.

    Judith

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  31. Leslie HarrisSeptember 3, 2013 at 8:56 PM

    I love how you applied the word 'patina' to our selves and our own beauty. Yes, I absolutely agree with you a well worn patina looks beautiful on objects but it's even more meaningful when applied to our selves. What a wonderful post Yvonne.

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  32. MarianneSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:02 PM

    Beautiful photos, Yvonne. Unfortunately, I'm just getting older with age!

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  33. BarbaraSeptember 3, 2013 at 9:06 PM

    What a beautiful gift God has given you...the gift of writing! This post meant so much to me.

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  34. Pam - @diy Design FanaticSeptember 3, 2013 at 11:13 PM

    Wonderfully insightful and so eloquently written Yvonne. Thank you for sharing this with us, especially those of us with patina.

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  35. UnknownSeptember 3, 2013 at 11:55 PM

    Yvonne: I love my Hydrangeas. My PeeGee is the only one that has lasted forever in my yard and even stands up to my dog digging down into the roots to bury his bones there multiple times per year. I'm about to cut mine and will be making up some sort of arrangement with it. Thanks for posting about it.
    Michelle / newengland-style.com

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  36. marleneSeptember 4, 2013 at 1:16 AM

    You have expressed patina beautifully!

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  37. LaPouyetteSeptember 4, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    How wonderful, Yvonne, using the Hydrangeas for our theme Patina. So original and quite unique! They really show best a kind of aging, aging and fading with the "time".....Every year again and always so pleasing!
    Well done, love it!
    Warmest greetings from the Périgord, karin

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  38. FayeSeptember 4, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    So beautifully said. Just lovely.

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  39. AnonymousSeptember 4, 2013 at 9:16 AM

    Beautiful post, sentiments and photos! I agree, things do get better with age!

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  40. Miss KittySeptember 4, 2013 at 8:32 PM

    Oh, Yvonne, you ARE beautiful! Really, one of the best highlights of Haven for me was getting to meet you and even go to some seminars with you. You are so gracious and kind.

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  41. Ann from On Sutton PlaceSeptember 4, 2013 at 9:15 PM

    What a lovely post...and your photos are stunning. I share your sentiments completely!

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  42. PatSeptember 5, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    Yvonne,
    Exquisitely written, dear friend!!!
    We should all strive to "wear" our patina, gracefully!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  43. Pinky at Designs by PinkySeptember 7, 2013 at 10:07 PM

    Thisis too funny....I posted about my hydrangeas too:):) Great minds.....:):)

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