The "Gardens of Memory" series was inspired by a recent farewell visit I made to a relative in Montreal, which got me thinking about the vibrance that comes with a heightened awareness of fragility and impending loss. Each painting in the collection is a "portrait" of a flowering plant or garden in late summer, done in acrylic on a 4x4" square of Bristol paper. The concentration of rich colors into a small area creates a sense of intimacy, inviting the viewer to come closer and find beauty in little details, hidden places, and seasons which cannot last.