I first visited Swan Island Dahlia Farm in Canby, Oregon, in 2014 while attending a photography workshop conducted by award-winning photographer, Denise Ippolito. Denise's flower photography has inspired me for many years. Pair that with a place where numerous varieties of beautiful dahlias grow in seemingly endless rows as far as the eye can see, and you have for me, heaven on earth.

The memory of this place inspired me so that I told myself while hopelessly ill with a chronic disease that I would one day return. In September 2019, I did just that. I was healthy and strong enough to make the trip to Portland on my own to attend the same workshop. Here is a slideshow of some of my best shots from the 2014 and 2019 workshops with Ananda's song "Whisper."

My hope is you experience the joy and wonder of this delightful place where the dahlias grow.