flowers

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ss+’Rendezvous with Spring’ composed/recorded by L Mountz, April 2024

How long I’ve waited for the first signs of Springtime,

Signs of new birth that Spring brings to earth;

The warm Spring breezes gently wafting through the trees,

And the soft, warm showers say ‘Springtime’ to me.

I’ve waited so long for the first robin of Spring;

Kildeer and hummers, and geese on the wing;

It seems long winter days have come to an end,

And warm Spring days have finally descended.

Thanks be to God for refreshing new Spring;

Thanks be to God for all that it brings;

Let us sing and rejoice; Let us lift up our voice

For Spring, for glorious Spring.

Come, let us sing, let us sing and rejoice;

Sing with great joy for the happiness it brings;

Plants and trees will be budding again;

Welcoming Spring, glorious Spring!

How long I’ve waited to see flowers emerging;

Reaching up high, reaching up to the sky;

I long to see their beauty as they’re breaking into bloom;

And to smell their sweet, sweet fragrance,

A smell we glorify.

‘Time for Lunch’ watercolor by L Mountz, 2023

I’ve waited so long for the first beautiful butterfly

Coming to drink of the nectar so sweet;

Yes, Winter days have surely come to an end,

And the warm Spring days have finally descended!

Thanks be to God for refreshing new Spring;

Thanks be to God for all that it brings;

Let us sing and rejoice; Let us lift up our voice

For Spring, for glorious Spring.

Come, let us sing and rejoice;

Sing with great joy for the happiness it brings;

Plants and trees will be budding again;

Welcoming Spring, glorious Spring!

Let us sing and rejoice; Let us lift up our voice

For Spring, for glorious Spring.

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‘A Garden Medley’, arranged and recorded by L Mountz

Did you ever take a walk right into a painting?  Each time I create a new painting, I hope that I can create a place where those who view it can enter it and ‘take a walk’. Who knows whom you might meet there as you wander through. .

Diptych right side copy

‘A Garden Diptych’  (right side)  by Lois Mountz (copyright)

 

Walk with Me

             The gardens I paint are my sanctuaries of peace;

                    Where I form each blossom, each walkway, each tree,

                         They are gardens where I  love to take friends;

                             Where  I hope you will wonder “What’s just around the bend?”  

 

                   I hope you will walk  down each pathway with me;

                             Enjoying all God’s wonders you see;

                                     I love painting flowers of yellows, of blues;

                                              Some purple, some white, of so many hues.  

       Diptych left side copy

                                        ‘A Garden Diptych’  (left panel)   by Lois Mountz  (copyright)

                         A path of stone sometimes leads to a lake,

                                     Where sailboats glide as waves break;

                                                Or it may lead to a cottage quite old;

                                                            How one yearns to enter it’s fold.  

                           As my brush brings this garden into view,

                                         I think of a garden that Jesus once knew;

                                                   He went to Gethsemane one day to pray,

                                                              The day that soldiers took him away;

                            May Jesus stay close in the gardens I grow;

                                        As my thoughts and fancies begin to flow;

                                                      May his blessings always be sown by my hand;

                                                               So those who view, with Him may stand.     

                       This painting is actually a diptych which is separated in the middle with each of the two paintings having the possibility of being hung separately. Each piece is 4′ x 5′, overall size being 4′ x 10′ – See, FineArtAmerica for information on purchasing prints or the originals.

Cottage by the Lake

Leviticus 26:12 “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

‘Rose Gardens at Fellows Riverside Gardens’ watercolor by L Mountz 11 x 14, available for purchase at Mountz Home Gallery

Tryptich Garden, in private collection – 3 panels, 3′ x 4′, (9 ft. width) Oils on stretched Canvas
‘My Garden’ watercolor, L Mountz, 14 x 20″, available for purchase

Isaiah 58:11

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

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‘Blossoms of Spring’ by L Mountz
‘House for Wrent’ Watercolor by L Mountz (14 x 20) $350

House for ‘Wrent’ Once Again

With February coming to a close, we have our birdhouse up for ‘wrent’ once again.

Spring seems to be moving right along – how long this Winter seems to have been!

But, finally, March is here with the beginning of Spring on the 21st!

I can’t believe it! I can hardly wait! If I were a balloon I would surely burst!!!!

Iris, hyacynth, and daffodils leave their leafy covers

as they peak up through the ground;

They drink up the sunshine when it breaks through the clouds,

and embrace the raindrops as they come down.

It’s so magical that they seem to know just when to emerge;

It’s as if they sleep with a little clock that tells them ‘It’s time – get up some courage’;

I’ve stayed inside through these long winter months,

enjoying my computer and watching the birds;

But now I can walk out our lane to soak up the sun;

The air feels so fresh and warm and a little breeze has begun.

‘Nesting Time’ Ink and Watercolor by L Mountz

So I get the mail and turn on my Merlin for some birds have been heard!

It’s the first robin of Spring shows up in my app first;

Then, I’m extra happy when it records my very first Kildeer!

Soon their little stone ‘nests’ will appear.

‘Butterfly Dining’ Watercolor Greeting Card by L Mountz $25

New generations of birds, bees, butterflies, and more will bring new life to my yard

As trees bring forth leaves, and blossoms burst forth in their gorgeous Spring garb!!

Then I will use my brushes and paints to record some of my feelings

For each little creature and every fragrant flower will send my emotions reeling!!

Thank you, Lord, for all the blessed renewals – renewals for earth, plants, and trees;

Most of all, Lord, thank you for the renewal of me!! For as the years roll along, renewals are a priority!!!


Oil Painting, ‘Along the Road’ by L Mountz

2 Corinthians 4:16 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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Our Trip to the Smokies 2007
‘Love Endures Forever’ by Lois Mountz and dedicated to the loving memory of Ken

What Is Love?

Ken, my husband of 54 years, gave me many cards throughout the years – for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, and especially Valentine’s day. This was the last Valentine he gave me before his passing. It has a clear covering over the front of it and beautiful poetry inside, but here I adapt it to all those who know or have known great love as we did.

Love is

Spirit-lifting

Joy-giving

Problem-solving

Heart-mending,

Soul-searching,

Laughter-sharing,

Forever-loving friend.

On our Golden Wedding Anniversary, 2007
Our 25th Anniversary 1982
Valentine flowers on this Valentine’s Day from Steve and Angie, my loving son and daughter-in-love!

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‘End of Summer’ composed and recorded by L Mountz

Last Spring, we wondered if Winter would ever end,

For endless cold and snow we couldn’t comprehend;

But, finally, many blossoms we would see

And birds returning assured us ‘It’s SPRING’ – finally!!!

‘Cardinals ‘n Dogwood’ by L Mountz

All summer long I tended my garden;

Planted, watered, trimmed, dead-headed, and loved them;

So much joy I got from my flowers,

They inspired me to paint them for hours and hours!

‘My Garden’ watercolor by L Mountz

All my family, the ‘Merlin App’ down-loaded

And birds of all kinds we had soon recorded!

Nests were built in houses, bushes and trees,

And very soon lots of fledglings were seen.

‘House for Wrent’ watercolor by L Mountz

Now the long summer days are over

And crispy autumn leaves are covering the clover,

Floating and drifting down to the ground

Silently floating without a sound!

I know the beauty of Autumn is coming soon,

But in the meantime Wintertime looms;

I know, of course, a ‘resting time’ has to be the reason

For everything in this world of ours has to have its season!

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

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‘Come to My Garden’, composed and performed by Lois Mountz

Come, come, come to my garden so beautiful;

Come to where my sweet-smelling flowers grow.

Come and let me share with you the garden I tend;

Come and see the garden I love so.

Come and sit with me on my garden swing

As the blossoms nod to the summer breeze;

Watch with me as hummingbirds and butterflies

Come and drink of the nectar so sweet.

Come see my lilies that bloom day by day;

Smell the daisies and the roses, see my chipmunks play;

Walk along my garden path and breathe of nature’s scent;

Hear the bird songs till days very end.

Soon our summer days will end, so come by very soon;

Come while blossoms show off their lovely, colorful blooms;

Very soon the tall oak trees will shed their leaves over all;

My garden will be ‘undercover’ till Spring once again comes to call.

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‘Of Beauty We See’ composed and recorded by Lois Mountz, 2021

Inspiration by a beautiful bouquet

Sent by my daughter on Mother’s Day;

When there is such beauty to see,

I turn to my brushes – for a painting it will be!

My d’arches watercolor paper is 10 x 14, and painting will be just half of it so that it can be folded in half as a greeting card. Pencil sketching is done with a med-soft pencil.

Background is begun with watercolor washes.

Lily is worked on now with Alizarin Crimson touched with a little blue.

Ultramarine Blue is used on daisies, and berries and flower bud are being painted in with yellows and green. (Cadmium Yellow toned with Ultramarine Blue)

Here the blues of the daisies have been toned down and Yellow Ochre used to ‘antique’ the edges of the painting. (For purchase information, go to ‘Watercolor Greetings’ on menu above.)


I will heal their apostasy,
I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from them.
I will be like the dew to Israel;
He will blossom like the lily,
And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.

Hosea 15:4-5

Mentioned many times in the Bible, the white lily symbolizes purity, rebirth, new beginnings and hope and is most often associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ as observed on Easter. In Pagan traditions, the Easter lily is associated with motherhood and is often gifted to mothers as a symbol of gratitude.

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‘Garden Medley ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’, ‘Lily of the Valley’, and ‘In the Garden’ arranged and recorded by Lois Mountz

A few little flowers in a water-filled vase,

Maybe roses, or pansies, or even some daisies,

Especially those picked by a little child’s hands,

Can surely make one’s day so grand!

Your day suddenly becomes so much brighter

And all your burdens seem so much lighter;

For flowers given in love can chase away blues

For with flowers someone can say ‘I – love – you’!

Painting ‘Pansies in a Vase’

One hot summer day a new ‘greeting card’ painting came into being. I really had fun starting off with some wet-on-wet painting. After drying a bit, I finished painting the pansies. This will be available on my blog of Greeting Cards available for purchase. So, here is the step-by-step to show the progress of this little painting. (7″x10″)

Design is sketched in with a soft pencil. Also, a border area is sketched in about 1/2″ from edges of the card. I will keep background colors inside this line, then use some burnt umber or yellow ochre to carefully add an antique look to it.

Here paper has been brushed with water then thin watercolor added and allowed to softly spread. Colors used here were lemon yellow and alizarin crimson washes. Pale cerulean blue was washed on later at the bottom.

More background near bottom of painting and vase have had washes of color added while still damp. Next, some of yellow-green leaves and foliage have been started to define where edges of pansies are located. Some of the lighter areas in foliage will be used later to become little blossoms within the bouquet.

Pansies have been started now with crimson and yellows and some of the leaves at top are started and will define where the pansy blossoms are.

Here the foliage has been completed as well as vase and the cloth below the vase.

“There’s Rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray,

love, remember. And there is pansies; that’s for thoughts.”

Hamlet, Act 4 Scene 5

Watercolor Greetings

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‘Fly, Hummingbird, Fly” composed and recorded by Lois Mountz

After painting many little postcard greetings for so many folks isolated by Covid19 – most with hummingbirds- I decided the first of July that it was time to do some serious painting once again. A lovely vining plant in my flower garden and visits of hummingbirds were the impetus for a new painting. The plant is climbing my arbor that my husband, Ken, made for me some years ago. I reduced the size of the arbor, using the beautiful curves of the iron work to create a background for the flowers.

It all started with a drawing on my 16″ x 20″ block of d’arches watercolor paper. Then the painting began using Winsor Newton Watercolors.

Trellis design and basic design of leaves, flowers and birds have been drawn. Painting has also been started using Winsor Newton watercolors. Paper is a fine watercolor paper which is 140# d’arches.
Here some birds and flowers have been painted, and light blue/violets background has been started while trying to retain whites of the iron work.
More leaves, some in greens and some in blue/violet as in the background above have been added at bottom of painting. Some softer vines are also added at top. Main focus of the piece will be toward bottom third. As I paint I keep in mind that I would like some birds that are not real obvious, just to give the viewer a chance to interact with the painting.
“Twelve Little Hummingbirds’ is completed, July 5, 2020

Prints of this painting available at Fine Art America -(See Menu above right)

Signing Time

Matthew 13:32 

It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”