Digital Photography

Afterlife

If there’s one thing that’s nicer than a hydrangea then it is a dead hydrangea! There aren’t many (any?) things that look better in their afterlife… I don’t think.

hydrangea 1 - a bit dead

hydrangea 2 - a bit deader

hydrangea 3 - one a bit dead the other very dead

hydrangea 4 - blue and a bit dead

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10 Comments

  • Reply
    Iris
    19 February 2012 at 22:16

    February 19 has always been a special day for me. I don’t know why or how, but historically, there’s always an unplanned, unexpected surprise that pops up on this day.

    Three years ago, my sweetie sent me an email greeting me “Happy 219”. This was no ordinary greeting because he was the ONLY person in the world who has ever “commemorated” this special day with me.

    He is gone now – he died of a sudden heart attack a few days after my happiest 219. I had his email open all morning, commemorating HIM/US/February 19, when your blog entry appeared in my reader, entitled…Afterlife. And though you didn’t mean to, thank you for delivering this year’s unplanned and unexpected surprise.

    • Reply
      Angie
      20 February 2012 at 09:59

      Oh, that’s such a moving story Iris, thank you so much for sharing something so personal – it’s reminded me how powerful and healing the right words and/or pictures can be.
      Right up until I was about to publish this post it was called ‘I used to be blue’ but I at the very last second I was inspired to change it to ‘Afterlife’. I’m pleased I did. I’ll always think of your story when I see faded hydrangeas now *big-hug* xx

  • Reply
    Alex
    19 February 2012 at 23:50

    Fab images! But Madonna would disagree: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-45U8RYhOH0

    HAHA! :)

    • Reply
      Angie
      20 February 2012 at 09:59

      Oh, Madonna! I will gladly take all your unwanted hydrangeas from you, just send them my way!

  • Reply
    Cass
    20 February 2012 at 08:43

    I always thought dying tulips were beautiful, with their elegantly drooping, curving stems. But you’re right, hydrangeas are gorgeous too! I’d completely forgotten about them. I mean, not about the hydrangeas, but about how pretty they are in death. We used to have bushes of them in our front garden when I was growing up and I remember (now) being fascinated by their petal skeletons, especially after a frost: a finer lace than could ever be made by man.

    • Reply
      Angie
      20 February 2012 at 10:02

      I got caught rummaging through the neighbours compost recycling bag last year as they’d trimmed their dead hydrangea bush and it was full of those beautiful, skeletal flower heads. They moved out shortly after – I’m not sure if the two incidents are connected.

  • Reply
    Colin
    20 February 2012 at 09:29

    Really beautiful photographs!

    • Reply
      Angie
      20 February 2012 at 10:03

      Thanks, Colin – the flowers did most of the work though 😀

  • Reply
    Roxanne
    22 February 2012 at 04:56

    Yes, I’d take Madonna’s hydrangeas any day. I love hydrangeas.

    • Reply
      Angie
      22 February 2012 at 10:30

      I want first dibs!

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