I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.

The Rose has become my favorite flower over the years. Most varieties are fragrant, their colors are varied, and their delicate petals are edible and particularly tasty in garden salads and teas. The Lokelani (Hawaiian: Rose) is the island flower of Maui.

This summer, I've been painting along the delightful Jersey Shore on the East Coast, at California's Monterey Bay beaches, and inland in the South Bay Area.

I joined plein air groups in California. In San Jose, I painted with other artists in the San José Municipal Rose Garden on a sunny Saturday morning. The vibrant yellow roses smelled especially sweet and warm. I set up my easel at the end of a flower bed and painted this view. The couple strolling in the distance lend a romantic focal point for my painting.