Textures and overlay are by French Kiss.
This has been a somewhat enforced recuperation period while I’ve been down with the flu.
I’m not terribly fond of the word recuperation but it has some lovely synonyms — recovery, betterment, regeneration, rejuvenation, renewal, healing and resurgence. After you’ve been unable to function for a few days, when you start to get better, it really does feel like you’re coming back to life.
And what better way to spend a bit of time while still under the weather than paying tribute to one of nature’s beauties — the orchid. They’re all around me here in Florida. A few days ago in a better state of health I captured this one hanging from a tree outside.
And in keeping with my 2013 theme of “discovery,” here’s a few things I just learned about orchids.
- Orchids plants are the largest family of the plant kingdom with over 25,000 naturally occurring species in the world, as well as all the specially developed hybrids!
- Orchid flowers can grow to be as small as a head of a pin (Platystele sp. Central America) or greater at 10 feet (Grammatophyllum sp., New Guinea).
- Vanilla — my favorite flavour — comes from the vanilla orchid.
Hope you enjoy.
Sherrygaley.com 
I really appreciate your kind thought and all the others I’ve been receiving. I’m grateful that I’m on the mend and that I’ve had a computer and camera to play with while I was mending!
Laurie, you’re so sweet! I’m not sure about being an artist (!) but playing with beautiful images does wonders for the soul.
Mary Lou, thanks for your great suggestion. I think that would be a great read down here. Must go and pick it up. Good to hear from you!
Gabriele, thank you too for your good wishes. They are all like a healing balm…
Thanks Julie! It is a great and healthy diversion…
I really hope you’re near the end or through it now, Viv! Sending healing thoughts your way! Take care — you’ll be back to creating soon!
Thanks, Sarah. So true. And if it hadn’t been for my word discover I would never have learned that vanilla comes from orchids!
Thanks, Indigo. Yup, I’ll be back out there in full force soon. A few days feels like a few weeks when you’re sick. Just love what you’ve been doing with 3D. I can’t even imagine how all that works!
Many thanks!
You definitely have the touch for orchids, Mum, and the patience. Glad you have such beautiful flowers around you!
They do lifte the spirits, don’t they? Thanks for your comment.
Thanks so much, Laurie. I think I’m feeling somewhat normal today. You stay well!
Thanks, Barb. It kept my mind off my throbbing head!
Well not only do you recover better than any one I know…your still an artist when you are sick! Unbelievable…good for you.
Hi Sherry,
So sorry to hear that you had the flu but I am glad to hear that you are recovering. Falling ill is just no fun at all!
I love your use of texture on the beautiful orchid. Thanks for the insightful points about orchids.. i love vanilla too and was surprised to hear that it originates from an orchid!
Happy weekend!
Hi Sherry — I admire how you can find discovery and beauty in the midst of the flu! If you haven’t yet read it, the book “The Orchid Thief” is a marvellous read on orchid addiction…
May you recover smoothly in the Florida sun! Hugs — Mary Lou
My wishes added to your recovery soon. Thank-you for the lovely orchid picture.
I hope you are feeling 100% very soon! In the mean time keep creating this beauty!!
Beautiful… I hope you are recovering I am still in the throes of it…..
I hope you are feeling better soon. Forced recovery time is always a way to enjoy some computer time. Lovely orchid and I love how you incorporated your discovery word into it.
You’ll soon be out and about photographing the orchids again. This one is beautiful and has inspired a lovely post (I didn’t know that about vanilla). Look after yourself, Sherry.
Lovely! Take care.. (:
Glad to hear you are improving and speaking of orchids, I love them too. The one you girls gave me last year for my birthday is blooming now, a deep mauve, it is called phalaenopsis.
The other creamy one is also blooming too and I have had it for almost five years so guess I have
learned how to care for them. Cheers me up in the middle of our Canadian winters. Joyce
Beautiful flowers/orchids in the middle of winter – thank you.
Gorgeous image! And glad to hear you’re on the mend.
You sure are productive when you are sick. Love the orchid and the way you processed.