Do you do this? You’re out for a walk, lost in your head and thinking about everything else besides what is right in front of you? And then something catches your attention and suddenly you’re right there, in the moment, noticing what all along has been right in front of you.

That happened to me the other day. I was out on one of my walks, same streets, same houses, yards, plants, trees, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a crocosmia snapped me back to the present.

It was so bright. Crazy bright. An insane neon orange/red bright. It was a snap out of it, pay attention and notice me bright.

I took a picture.

After that, I was paying attention. To all the colors around me. There were so many super bright flowers. I’d been walking right by them, they had been right there in my field of vision, but I hadn’t really ‘seen’ them.

Like these little lovelies.

It was an overcast day, that might have helped to pump up the colors.

This pink. Some of the couture designers have been using this pink color in their latest collections. Here it is. Right in someone’s front yard.

Rich, deep, saturated, use whichever adjective you prefer to describe these colors.

How about neon or fluorescent? Super bright. Shield your eyes bright.

Yellow! Not a pale, subtle, quiet yellow. This is the real deal yellow.

Something I didn’t notice until I looked closely at this photo. Can you see it? An ant on one of the petals. Just like a northern European renaissance still life painting, with an insect or two sitting on or next to the flowers and fruit.

Happy Summer to you! Wishing you a bright and colorful summer.