Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 30 August 2015

Sunday Selections #239

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week?  A bit same old, same old.  I have been gardening to excess (for a change).  Himself forbade me to buy any more plants.  And when I got home from Lifeline a few weeks ago there were two large boxes at the door.  Mr Do as I Say, Not as I Do had bought fifteen roses.


So we have squeezed them in the ground, and I have been weeding.  And pruning.

One morning last week a galah coloured dawn had me outside again.




There was a heavy dew, bejewelling the grass and leaves.






Even shortly after six am, the garden was starting to glow.





As were some individual plants.






136 comments:

  1. Spring has sprung! Beautiful colors. :) I miss roses. They don't grow where I currently am. Sorry you have so much weeding to do. When you're done, would you like to come to my house and attack my weeds too? ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River Fairchild: I will never be done. The weeds are faster, stronger and more stubborn than I am. The first two things are not difficult. The third is.

      Delete
  2. I have had too many a garden with too many weeds to take care of and I know what is is like; this home we put down ground cover cloth and cut holes just big enough for the plants, of course next spring we'll have to enlarge the holes but it has cut down on the maintenance which I can barely done any longer. What is that pink leaf, flower, plant? can't quite place it.

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    Replies
    1. Linda Starr: The pink is fallen camellia petal. There are rather a lot of them on the ground. So much of our garden is bulbs that I don't think the ground cover cloth would work. While the bulbs were dormant and the holes open the weeds would invade.

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  3. This latest series of photos is a tonic. Weeds are the bane of a gardener's existence. Some flowers take forever to baby along, weeds however bounce forth with gay abandon.

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    Replies
    1. DeniseinVA: My father always said 'if it grows well it is a weed'. He had a point.

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  4. Dear EC
    Lovely spring flowers. Wow - fifteen roses (I thought I had done well this year squeezing in another seven but I see I am a mere beginner!). I hope your roses do well for you.
    Even while cursing the weeds, I have a sneaking respect for them as they are such tenacious things!
    Your garden looks beautiful.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    Replies
    1. Ellie Foster: I hope the roses do well too. They are not the ones I would have chosen, but there are some gems just the same. And a garden full of roses would delight me. Hopefully will delight me.

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  5. I had to look up galah, and it was well worth my effort. Your anemones are so beautiful! What a pleasure they are blooming somewhere, as we begin to put our gardens to bed.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: There is a partial photograph of a galah on my header. Pink and grey plumage. Always pretty. And the anemones are a joy. There are more coming out each day, including some bi-coloured stunners.

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  6. Delightful! Glad we got to see these :)

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    Replies
    1. HBF: Thank you. Believe me, you will get sick of garden photos. I post them often.

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  7. I was a bit confused, what is a galah, so I made trip around Google, it was a rose-breasted cockatoo. Though I didn't see one. All I did see, was a myriad of beautiful of the flowers, number 10 was my favourite, lovely EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: I am sorry. We get a lot of galahs visiting. As I said to Joanne, there is a bit of one in my header photo. Beautiful birds.
      And yes, I love the garden too.

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  8. Worth getting up early to see, right? The drops on the flowers are so beautiful...it sets a mood!

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    Replies
    1. Stephanie Faris: Insomnia means I am almost always up well before the dawn. Not usually dressed or outside, but definitely up.

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  9. What can I say? Your pictures are uplifting. Thanks for making the smile on my face even bigger. Our gardens are heading for the last round-up, so to speak, so it's wonderful to see a touch of springtime again.

    Happy weekend!

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    Replies
    1. Susan: Over the next few weeks there will be buckets of spring here. Two flower festivals. Which I will go to. And a kazilllion photos of same.
      Always happy to make you smile.

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  10. Gorgeous photos!!

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    1. fishducky: Thank you. It was a delightful morning.

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  11. Obviously, he doesn't really mean it...
    Amazing sunset. And really like the second dew shot.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I think he did mean it - but has no more will power than I do. And it was a dawn rather than a sunset - but amazing just the same.

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  12. Lovely! I really like that white daffodil.

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    Replies
    1. lynners: So do I. There should be a lot more of them coming out too.

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  13. It is heartwarming to see some brightness. Since Friday I've been having problems with my internet connection. It's disconnected most of the time...with only brief interludes allowing me to do anything on the net. It is driving me insane. I've had four conversations with Telstra up to this point, which alone is frustrating when it's so difficult to understand what anyone is saying!!!!!

    I'm about to hound them again...they're supposed to ring me at 11 am Monday to check the latest...and they've booked a technician to come and check the line...but he won't be here until Wednesday!!! I won't be paying the full amount of my next account...and I'll make that point obviously clear to Telstra!!

    Have a great week, EC...and cuddles to your two furry mates from me and my two furry mates. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lee: Good luck in dealing with Telstra. I have had a heap of problems with them over the years. And no longer get my internet access through them because of it. And be careful about not paying them. They are quick to call in the debt collectors.
      A much better week to you and the furry overlords.

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    2. I've never had problems dealing with Telstra...I've been with them since before the Last Supper...and I always pay my account the day I receive it...and always point that out to them when a problem arises. They've always treated me well...I just get annoyed that I have to speak with someone from outside of Australia...but that's the way it is. As I've just written on River's blog...

      .Quote - "I told Telstra this morning of my intentions of deducting an amount off my next account when this problem is finally solved to my satisfaction...whenever that will be. They appeared to be in agreement to my saying I expected a credit on my account and that they would see it is attended to on my next account when its due; and have made a notation on their ongoing file about this current problem. So, I'll just have to wait and see, I guess.

      I've had five conversations with them since Friday...and they are ringing me tomorrow at a designated time...and a technician will be here on Wednesday...the earliest one can be here. Hopefully, the problem will be solved then, once and for all. There is obviously something amiss with the phone line.

      By a test I've been conducting today from a hunch I had.- trying to pin-point the issue...I've left the phone receiver out of the cradle (off the hook) and whether it's coincidental or not...when the receiver is not hung up...I remain connected to the net. Therein somewhere lies the problem, I imagine."

      Time will tell, I guess. :)

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    3. Lee: Good luck. Our home phone is with them and we had a heap of problems with it a year or so ago. The idiot in India told me that a battery needed changing at the exchange!!!! He was, needless to say, wrong. Six days later and many calls a technician appeared. A discount was promised - and never materialised.

      Delete
  14. Is it just me or are those two trees watching the sunset holding hands?

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    Replies
    1. Can I please have some of what you're having, Cosmo? :)

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    2. J Cosmo Newbery: Those trees are inseparable. It was a dawn they were huddled together to watch - and they were still there, just as close when the sun went down.

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  15. "There was a heavy dew, bejewelling the grass and leaves."

    That sounds like a line of poetry. Just lovely. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Birdie: It was lovely. It was cold (not far off a frost) but very, very beautiful.

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  16. So beautiful! Your garden is alight with light. :-)

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    Replies
    1. DJan: It was. And the yellow cuts through early mornings, through cloud, through rain...

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  17. Absolutely beautiful. Enjoy your weekend, CJ.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thank you. The weekend is drawing to a close - but it was productive and satisfying. Tiring though.

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    2. I'm glad to hear it was productive and satisfying. I hope you can rest today...or this evening.

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    3. Sandra Cox: Thank you. A busy fortnight ahead I think. Rest will be snatched where possible.

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  18. Ah, the twin trees - I've been watching for them. Thank you! And your dewy photos are beautiful. Glorious.

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    Replies
    1. jenny_o: The twin trees stand sentinel - and I love them.

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  19. Sheer poetry EC, and loved getting a glimpse of your 'sweetheart' trees. You have so many talents, thank you for sharing them with us. =)

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    Replies
    1. Jacquelineand...: You are such a supportive soul. Thank you. I hope your migraine is gone. Completely.

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  20. Replies
    1. carolincairns: Thank you. It was a lovely morning. And not a bad day to follow.

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  21. 15 roses?? He's a cheeky one after telling you no more plants! I love that white daffodil. Mine are all green spikes so far, a bonus as I wasn't expecting any at all to come up. I've got freesias starting to bloom too.

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    Replies
    1. River: Very cheeky. My freesias are in bud (some of them) but no flowers yet. And only a couple of tritellias. No grape hyacinth either. It has been a seriously weird start to Spring - but I am thankful for everything in bloom. I hope your daffs come out soon - and aren't knicked this year.

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  22. Those daffodils warm the heart - and as we are still having frosts, I need some heartwarming. My baby eyucalyptus tree has given up the struggle - why do I insist on trying to grow things which are frost-tender???

    Enjoy your beautiful garden this week, EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexia: There are some plants I keep trying to grow too. Trying and failing. And some I have (finally) learnt not to attempt. We are also having frosts - but only baby ones. I hope your spring comes quickly now.

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  23. Spring is clearly springing in your garden.

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    Replies
    1. Andrew: Sort of. Some things are going gang-busters and others are playing hard to get. Hopefully they will get a move on soon.

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  24. How fresh I feel now!



    ( '>
    /))
    //"" SO HAPPY to BE BACK!
    ALOHA
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=
    Trip was great, but being without internet made me miss you and all my friends!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cloudia: Welcome back - and thank you for my clever bird.

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  25. As I write soft drizzle drips off the roof...the nasturtiums are happy.

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    Replies
    1. dinahmow: Soft drizzle is always lovely. As are nasturtiums. I must put some in again this year...

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  26. Spring is sprung! Your garden is gorgeous! Full of colour.

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  27. Replies
    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I do too. I watch for them.

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  28. He bought roses? Ha! I think that calls for a couple boxes of bulbs or flowers for you, delivered to your door.

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    Replies
    1. Strayer: There are some daisies coming. Soon(ish). Very special daisies.

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  29. Replies
    1. kylie: Oh my indeed. It was quite challenging finding places for them all.
      And will make pruning next year a big job. A big and bloody job.

      Delete
  30. Fabulous...You both thrive on nature, nothing wrong in that...

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    Replies
    1. e: Sometimes I would like nature to thrive a bit better without us. And I would certainly like the weeds to thrive less well. But yes, nature is a healer.

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  31. Oh I like those purple and pink ones. And lol at the boxes showing up. I think it's cute. :)

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    Replies
    1. mail4rosey: He was a 'bit' shamefaced when I challenged him. Only a bit though.

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  32. Love the purple/pink flowers. What are they? I'm going to our local botanical garden today so hopefully I may have some lovely pics to post soon...

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    Replies
    1. mshatch: They are anemonies. A bright and beautiful precursor to Spring. Have fun in the botanical gardens. Always beautiful places.

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  33. I love clouds (flowers are cool too *wink*)

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    Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: Isn't it good we don't have to decide, and can have them both?

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  34. Beautiful spring flowers! And you gave me a new word this morning....galah...is this regional?

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    Replies
    1. Bookie: Galahs are a pink and grey bird native to Australia, and common in my city.

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  35. Your garden is spectacular. You tend it with such love and I bet the plants can feel it. They are beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Myrna R.: Sometimes the garden is spectacular. And it is at its best in Spring I think - probably a reflection of the fact that I am at my best in winder.
      And the plants, much like cats, do whatever they decide. I have very little influence over their decisions or directions.

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  36. Ahhhh, the jewels on the flowers and leaves! Love!
    SPRING is LIFE!
    How are you, dearest S? xxx

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    Replies
    1. My Inner Chick: Spring is always an exciting, vibrant treat. We are doing ok. How about you?

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  37. Really love your garden. So pretty! Isn't that how it is though? Do as I say, not as I do? My Other and I do this to each other all the time.

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    Replies
    1. Madilyn Quinn: We do it too - but fifteen roses were impossible to conceal. He was sprung. Big time.

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    2. Yes, I imagine that was hard to conceal! :P

      OH! So, congrats on your WEP win! The piece really was so lovely :)

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    3. Madilyn Quinn: Thank you. I am still in shock. Totally unexpected.

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  38. I guess now you know why he forbade YOU from buying plants—he wanted to be sure he had plenty of room for his roses. Anytime you want to come to America, you can be my gardner because I love plants but not the growing of them, although I do have a half dozen shrubs, two clumps of bamboo, and five immense clumps of broad-leaved, variegated, Miscanthus sinensis.

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    Replies
    1. Snowbrush: You might be right. And we didn't have plenty of room. Enough - but only just.
      This garden is more than enough to keep me going, so I will pass on taking on yours.
      I googled Miscanthus sinensis and loved it. And now, of course, wonder how it would do here...

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  39. Oh the rascal....but my I bet they will be stunning once they flower...and your garden is so lovely with the spring blooms. Perfect spring dawn too!

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    Replies
    1. Donna@LivingFromHappiness: I hope so. Today I have put in some dwarf hollyhocks (five of them) and three African daisies. And there really isn't room.

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  40. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous gardening pics EC. Two boxes of roses, lol! Lovely to see them in full bloom!

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    Replies
    1. Denise Covey: We are gardening obsessives. Particularly, but not exclusively me. And, as I said in the comment above, I planted another eight plants today.

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  41. Nothing quite as soothing as clouds and colors.

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    Replies
    1. Jono: Nature more generally. I do love clouds and colours, but bird song does it for me too. And I would really, really like some water nearby...

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  42. I love all these. The glorious skies, the morning dew that gives a fresh vibe, the vibrant colors of the flowers. So simple yet so majestic.

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    Replies
    1. Lux G.: We are still (just) in winter so it was certainly fresh. But vibrant and beautiful.

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  43. Lovely pictures. You have a beautiful garden.

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  44. Lovely coloured sky.
    Good to see daffodils, I'm missing out on seeing them
    You are lucky to have new roses, I hope we get to see photos of the blooms when they bloom :)

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    Replies
    1. whiteangel: You are seeing wonders I will probably never see. And will see daffs next year. And yes, there will be photos of blooming roses. Probably LOTS of photos.

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  45. Your photos are beautiful. I've never thought of the dew bejeweling nature. What a pretty thought.

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    Replies
    1. T. Powell Coltrin: I was blown away by just how beautiful it looked just after dawn. There was nearly a frost, but not quite and the drews drops sparkled in the early light.

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  46. The second picture is my favorite. But it is hard to choose.
    Den and I are out of control. Every time we say we are going to stop dragging stuff in the yard, we find something else that we can't live without. Please stop us, have an intervention or something.

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    Replies
    1. Sonya Ann: We fail here too. Epic fails. Group intervention?

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  47. Love the close-up of the pink petal with dew.
    Have a sunny week, EC.

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    Replies
    1. Rawknrobyn: Early signs are that it will be sunny. For most of the week.
      I hope yours is chocolate filled.

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  48. The clouds are quite spectacular in the early hours of the morning. Its like they're waking the plants and bees up with a sprinkling of refreshing h20. You've captured the moment perfectly.

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    Replies
    1. Spacerguy: Fortunately the morning stood still for long enough for me to revel in it - and take the photos.

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  49. Love the pink clouds! All the photo's, thanks for sharing. Weeding is never done, but the smell of roses and the beautiful colors makes it all worth while!

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    Replies
    1. Yolanda Renee: I have to remind myself about the roses while I weed. And bleed. It is worth it though.

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  50. Lovely pink clouds and such a garden filled with lush beauty!

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    Replies
    1. ladyfi: It is predominantly a spring garden and is coming into its own. And I am revelling in it. Tulips next... And freesias. And tritellias. Followed by poppies and lilies...

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  51. Daffodils are my very favourite spring flowers. Unfortunately the spring is a very short season here before the hot sun shrive4ls everything up.

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    Replies
    1. Shammickite: We are in a cooler part of Oz so our spring lasts for a little while. She is always welcome too - which summer is not.

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  52. Just stopped by to say, 'Hope your day is productive and peaceful.'

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    Replies
    1. Sandra Cox: Fingers and toes crossed. Thank you - and to you.

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    2. We are heading out of town tomorrow so not as much time for productivity as I need:)
      Have a good one.

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    3. Sandra Cox: I hope you have fun. Productivity can wait.

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  53. You've captured a colour in the sky that almost defies description. As ever, your work through a lens is divine.

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    Replies
    1. Carmi Levy: As I look out this morning, the sky is a very similar shade as dawn breaks. And my camera deserves much of the credit for my shots. Most of the credit.

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  54. We always say no more flowers, then end up buying more too. Your pictures are beautiful. I like how you caught the dew on the flowers.

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    Replies
    1. Cherie Colyer: Nurseries and book shops are both areas where I have noooooo will power. And the crowded garden and house testify to that.

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  55. A garden nursery is to me what a candy store is to a child. Very hard to resist a purchase! Your photos are so beautiful - and I bet the new roses are too!

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    Replies
    1. Susan F.: I hear you on the nursery front. And when I get the garden porn delivered to my in-box I succumb. Often.

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  56. You've sure made my day. What lovely views all about.

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  57. That picture (yellow flower/dew) is wonderful and I always enjoy gardening vicariously through you and Mr. Flower-Buyer :)

    Garden well, EC. garden well :)

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    Replies
    1. Mark Koopmans: Garden obsessively is closer to the mark. And I do. We do.

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  58. Hooray for roses! I admire your green thumb. My own tiny efforts are being thwarted by wildlife.

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    Replies
    1. Riot Kitty: The cockatoos are wreaking havoc in some of our garden beds too. I hope the double daffodils they destroy give them indigestion. Bad indigestion.

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  59. Lovely sunset.
    And beautiful landscape and flowers. Is this house yours?

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    Replies
    1. orvokki: The photos are taken from our yard looking away from it. So that is a neighbours house.

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  60. Wow, that actually looked like a sunset. I love the mornings. I wish I could just be more awake for them.

    Gorgeous shots. Gorgeous flowers! Thank you for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Deb: Thank you. I think I will probably put a fire in the sky sunset up for Sunday Selections this week. Our dawns are much more subtle.

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  61. Your garden is so beautiful. And how funny that himself bought more roses after forbidding you to buy more. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lynn: He is very good at do as I say and not as I do. The roses have been squeezed into the ground, and are shooting well.

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  62. The colors in your sky at dawn are magical and your flowers are also lovely under the dew. If I could see dawn like yours and had such beautiful flowers in my yard I might get up by 6:00 am to take a look … but, as it is, I usually go to the computer after my husband goes to bed at 10, then read in bed from midnight to about 2 am, so I rarely see any dawn! But I like to see the reflects of the moon in my room…

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    1. Vagabonde: I suffer from insomnia. There is no virtue to my early rising - though I do appreciate the early morning magic.
      The moon reflected in your window must be a treat. Mystical and magical.

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    2. “I suffer from insomnia.”

      Loren Eiseley, the writer I quoted in my next to last post, was a severe insomniac, so much so that he nodded-off throughout the day. I wasn’t an insomniac until I started being in pain, and now my sleep patterns are so messed up that I couldn’t sleep without pills. My main pill for sleep is Ambien, which, along with Neurontin, takes the edge off the pain just enough for me to rest, at least when the pains not too bad. I take 10mgs at bedtime and another five halfway through the night. I don’t like doing this, but when it’s either take a pill or stay away, I don’t see that I have a good choice. I mention it in case it might be useful to you. The good thing about Ambien is that it doesn’t stop working after a week or two.

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    3. Snowbrush: It is now not long after 4 am, and I have given up and got up for the day. Not only are our general practioners reluctant to prescribe things for pain, that reluctance extends to medication to promote sleep. I have only once succeeded in getting any doctor to prescribe for it, and he refused to issue a repeat script.

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