Mellow yellow May

I simply cannot resist running for my camera as luscious May parades her golden hues wherever I go. The potted lemon and the huge mulberry in my back yard are vying for my attention, each glorious in her own right. In a much loved fruit bowl, some ruby grapefruit (a gift from MaTshepo, the rain harvester who grows them organically and with only rain water as irrigation) glows against the warm wood of the table. At a recent drumming circle (our first) a fire dancer had me trying new settings with my camera, it being quite a challenge to capture the magical mood of the fiery movements.

I seem to be soaked in yellow. Happy, sunny Yellow! Which, according to my copy of The healing powers of Chromotherapy (using colours to cure diseases) by Hari Om Gupta, "represents intelligence, wisdom and loyalty. Yellow has been associated with the divine symbols of creation since time immemorial."

I'm not too sure what that implies, but it makes me feel happy and hopeful, even though I know all of this signal the end of summer. Soon the last golden leaf will drop from the mulberry and become part of the browning carpet beneath the wide boughs.

But then the bright crested barbers will come, sunning themselves on the bare branches, and the olive thrush with its orange bill. Just yesterday, I saw a female sunbird preening herself among the mulberry's autumn foliage,her chest a soft buttery yellow, blending in perfectly with the colours of her boudoir.

I think I'll knit myself something soft and warm in these shades this winter.

Matilda

~ o ~

Reading Matilda's yellow piece and looking at the beautiful photos accompanying it, I was reminded of Vincent van Gogh's absolute fascination with yellow. In his own words: "How lovely yellow is!"

Fellow artist Paul Gauguin once remarked, "Oh yes! he loved yellow, this good Vincent."

This good M of mine has an eye and is in good company.

Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh

George