Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 18 August 2013

Sunday Selections #133

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.

Like River, I generally run with a theme.   And, for something completely different I am in the garden (jungle) again.  Each and every time I turn around more things burst into bloom.  Which is bliss.

A pushy (and demanding friend) has complained that she never sees enough 'long shots' of the garden, and that I focus too much on individual blooms.  Whose blog is it sunshine?  That said, I will include at least a couple of wider angled photos to keep her happy.  As always click to embiggen.



Over the next few weeks this garden will change from largely white to yellow as different daffodils come out.  With a lot of freesias too.  And grape hyacinths.  Then the irises will bloom then rather a lot of liliums.





A Japanese Iris, given to me by a neighbour.



Anemones.  There are ranunculas here too, but they are not blooming yet.  A vandal bird (not certain which one) has been having a fine time beheading the flowers just before they bloom.  Hiss and spit.



Towards the back of this photo is a cat.  Who loves our garden - much to the displeasure of Jazz n Jewel.



Hyacinths.  I particularly like the deep purple ones - though they all smell delightful.


This hyacinth is lurking (with violets and daffodils) in a narrow bed under the clothes line.  There are some magenta ones which are nearly out too.

89 comments:

  1. That cat has good taste.

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  2. Just beautiful!! ( you seem to be an early riser too) I love Spring and hope - as building my garden finally gets underway - that the results are as good. (I like the shot of what looks like a rubbish skip across the road).

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    1. Christine: Yes, I am an early riser, though at the moment there is not a lot of sleep to be had. The skip is an electrical junction box - and I know what I would rather look at...

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  3. Your Japanese Iris (photo) is now my favourite flower!

    Jazz & Jewel also make me smile.

    I'm very glad we've met and become pals:)


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    ><}}(°>

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    1. Cloudia: The Japanese Iris is only a small flower - but it glows. And I too am very glad we found each other.

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  4. It's good to know that springtime is coming in your part of the world, as our summer winds down. I saw that cat, and I understand the territoriality of cats. I think I have some of that, too. :-)

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    1. DJan: There are a number of cats who visit the garden - it is full of nooks and crannies for them. That one in particular has Jazz n Jewel swearing and flinging themselves at the windows. And yes, I share some of their territoriality too.

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  5. We have your beautiful spring gardens and our fall gardens here at home. Gardens all year round!

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Isn't it wonderful? And isn't it nice to admire a garden which has taken no work (from us).

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  6. I would trade places with you in a minute to see all of my spring blooms again. Your gardens are beautiful and you have a whole season of blooming to look forward to while I face the beautiful falling of leaves that forces me out with my rake and mower ... what a mess :( I hope you are facing a spring in your life as well. I think of you and the SP often and have fingers crossed that he is progressing positively and that you both will be able to enjoy the new season together. I have some of those Japanese Iris ... they are beautiful, but don't stay around very long. They have come back every year though and that is a good thing. Wishing you well EC ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea: Thank you. The garden is a haven of beauty and peace. And work. And, sadly, the smaller portion is NOT progressing in a positive direction so I need the garden, the birds, the cats to remain sane(ish).

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  7. Walking through your garden would be a heavenly treat!
    I remember your post on your garden order--multitudes of bulbs. Seems like they are showing off today!!

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    1. Susan Kane: Thank you so much. This is just the start of the bulb extravaganza. There is more (quite a lot more) to bloom than is out yet. Greed rewarded.

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  8. Giggling here and grateful I am not the pushy and demanding one ( I'm not, am I, lol?) but really am so glad you came back to the garden this week again! Hugs and many positive thoughts for you both.

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    1. Gillie: The pushy person is a very dear friend. We have known each other for well over thirty years now. You say you are glad that I am back in the garden - you may be sorry you said that. Over the next few months I will be back again and again. And again.

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  9. I always enjoy the sunshine and colour you bring to my Sundays, EC. I look forward to my Sundays just for that; but I was disappointed when I checked your blog at 6 am this morning only to discover I'd beaten you out of bed! ;)

    But here you are...so my disappointment was very short-lived!

    Best thoughts and wishes to you and the Smaller Portion...keep taking good care.

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    1. Lee: Sorry about that. We had (another) very bad night and while I was up early I wasn't functioning. I am very glad to hear that I brighten your Sundays.

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  10. How is the iris taking to the local flora? Looks happy to meet you.

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    1. John Wiswell: It seems to be happy - with all the other immigrants. This is decidedly a multi-cultural garden.

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  11. I love the pictures of your garden. Any bit of color brightens my day! Thank you for sharing it with me. I really like the big yellow flower at the top!

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    1. Betty: Thank you. I am glad you liked my out of focus, but very cheery yellow daffodil.

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  12. I dislike most birds, so I'm not surprised one of them made off with your bloom-to-be.

    Gorgeous! You are quite a gardner.

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  13. Replies
    1. Riot Kitty: How nice that someone else hits publish and then sees an error. And I am sorry that I must often torment you with pictures of birds, birds and more birds.

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  14. So lovely to see the long shots of your garden, EC.
    I love a rambling garden with many a floriferous surprise to discover, and yours looks perfect for that.

    I've been wandering the mountain, snapping pics of early spring flowers ready for a future post.

    I must say, I'm envious of the sunshine your garden gets. We are completely surrounded by massively tall eucalypt trees with less than an hour of winter sun which skirts the tops of the trees, and lands in an inaccessible tiered part of our small back area - with no room for a washing line.
    This is very frustrating for the gardener in me as it seriously limits the plants I can grow.
    There's that dream of a large bed of lavender in a sunny spot by the washing line. Sigh.
    Oh well, we're only here for a couple more years.

    Your bulb selection is lovely. The hyacinths particularly so.
    Looking forward to more pics as spring progresses :)

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    1. Vicki: It is a cottage jungle, and there is nothing formal about it. I squeeze plants in where-ever I think they will grow.
      Some of the garden gets lots of sun, but there are parts which are shaded by various trees and shrubs. A challenge. And we have three very big eucalypts. Lots of people removed them after our bush fires - but I love them.
      I am looking forward to seeing your post about the mountain flowers. Very much.

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  15. OK you've don it now EC!! Next year, if we are still living here, I will be (or asking MOH to do it for me) planting bulbs. We have shady areas where I think they would be quite happy.
    Those photos of yours are fabulous as is your beautiful garden. I glory in just seeing all that beauty.
    Is that a black cat lurking in the background or is it the shadows making it look black.
    I wonder if crows or similar would decapitate the flowers. I'd be so cross. Perhaps a scarecrow is needed?
    Sorry to see that the SP had another bad night. You will be so glad when he sees his doctor again. Pity you can't call one to the house but they don't make house calls these days do they?
    Another wonderful set of Sunday Selections.

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    1. Mimsie: Check with a nursery. Many of the spring bulbs like some cold weather. And most of them like sunshine. And I am sorry to have made work for you and/or MOH, but pleased to have given inspiration.

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  16. I definitely missed the boat for planting this year, but I have my list of bulbs to buy for next year, just need to wait for them to appear in nurseries. I've decided against daffodils, the ones around here nearly did my head in with the cloying scents. It's nice to see an occasional wider shot of your garden. I love the deep purple hyacinths, I'm going to look for some next year and intersperse them with pinks and whites.

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    1. River: Daffodils are often unscented and shouldn't cause a problem. Hyacinths and jonquils can be tricky. And yes, I too love the deep purple hyacinths.

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  17. I wouldn't have seen Jazz in that photo if you didn't point her out. What a heavenly home she has :)

    Your neighbour is lovely to give you that perfect, perfect flower - you must have a great relationship with your neighbour. LOVE the yellow.

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    1. wordsfallfrommyeyes: That is an interloper cat - much to the displeasure of Jazz n Jewel. Another cat in their garden!!! The neighbour who gave me the Iris died last year. And I remember him very fondly. He used to hold morning tea parties when my crab apple bloomed so that he and his visitors could enjoy it. A lovely tribute.

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  18. I love that path through your garden, which is truly lovely! Purple flowers are my favorite, I think.

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    1. Lynn: I can never decide which flower, or colour, is my favourite.

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  19. Your garden is beautiful. And I love close-up shots of flowers and leaves. I hate it that my phone camera won't get them sharp enough!

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    1. Jackie K: Welcome. Thank you. I loved your blossoms - which are a few weeks away here.

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  20. Lovely series of photos, you've got a great looking garden.

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    1. DeniiseinVA: Thank you. Some great looking weeds are emerging too.

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  21. I love seeing Spring again
    ....reminds me of change,
    the changes that will surely come
    and they're good...that a change is
    gonna do me good:)
    thanks for sharing the beauty,
    Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: I love your reminder that change is a good thing. I too often forget. And thank you.

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  22. Oh, my god, you have daffodils. They're my favorite flower, but they appear too seldom and disappear too fast. I'm coming to Australia. Flying out this very day. See you tomorrow. Plan on me being there for three months.

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    1. Snowbrush: We will have daffodils for weeks. Lots and lots of different daffodils. And if you, and All Consuming arrive we will have a party...

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  23. We're heading into autumn and I see spring flowers here - yes, I know you are "on the other side". I can only say I love this, how the world comes together on this platform. Are you sure it's a bird who beheads your anemones? In my garden it's always either a deer or a raccoon. Now I don't know whether you have these animals in your garden...

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    1. Carola Bartz: I do love that I can switch between seasons and beauty with a click of the mouse. And no deer or raccoons here. I suspect the cockatoos, which I have seen uprooting my tulips, are the culprits.

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  24. She was entirely right, it's a pleasure to see a little more of your world encapsulated within your talented lens. If Snow is coming to yours put the kettle on, get out the bong and I'll bring the Jack Daniels and wine. *packs her case.

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    1. All Consuming: I will tell the pushy tart that she was right. Sigh. And I am smiling very very broadly at the prospect of having you and Snow visiting.

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  25. What a delightful sight. A sea of colour!

    Oh, and I quite like the long shots :)

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    1. Wendy: Thank you. For the next couple of months it is only going to get bigger and brighter and more scented. And I have taken the fondness for long shots on board, apologised to my pushy friend and will include more of them.

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  26. You garden is spectacular! Lots of work but what a beautiful payoff.

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    1. Birdie: And it will keep paying out. For quite a while. Bliss.

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  27. Whoops! My comment flew away! Anyway, I was commenting on your beautiful spring garden and inquiring about those anemones...are they really really blue? I love blue flowers!

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    1. Debora: They are really that colour. Beautiful isn't it?

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  28. You have so many bulbs and they all flower mine rot away or just disappear somewhere, I think I have to many trees and they don't get enough sun or something, yours are all very pretty.
    Merle.............................
    .

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    1. Merlesworld: Shade doesn't help, and you are also probably a little too warm for a good spring bulb display. And damp. Canberra's chilly weather does have some advantages. Though you can grow things I can only dream of. Like frangipani.

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  29. The wise angle view is nice. To see so many blooms together is uplifting.

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  30. Amazing photos!!! An inspiration!! And I love spring.... here is it hot and muggy, with threats of (unusual) thunderstorms... dry lightning, fire danger. drat! thank you for sharing!!!

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    1. Nicky HW: We had some snow on the hills this morning, but it is bright, sunny and spring is on its way.

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  31. So is that spring arriving???

    We've got a week of 90 degrees predicted. Oddly, temps in the 40s are less than two months away...

    Pearl

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    1. Pearl: It is indeed. She is early too. Which is fine so long as summer doesn't push in early as well. A week in the 90s sounds like hell to me.

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  32. Gidday!

    About time you added some long shots! Looking good. Blooming marvellous photos as per usual.

    We assume that Pearl, another one of my adoring human fans, means in Fahrenheit!

    Pawsitive wishes and spring thoughts, your way,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)

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    1. klahanie: Penny, I hope that Pearl means in Fahrenheit. And of course she adores you, who doesn't?
      It is obvious that long shots and as Anil P so beautifully said wise shots are required. I am suitably chastised and will do better. I hope Gary is OK while you are talking with your fan club...

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  33. Wonderful shots - you have literally a sea of flowers!

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  34. Am I the only one that prefers close-ups? Actually, I'll take anything. My few flower seeds I planted this year have completely bombed! So I'm especially happy to see your beautiful gardens.

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    1. jenny_o: It is nice to hear that someone else prefers close-ups. Thank you. There will be many, many more photos of the gardens.

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  35. Wonderful place, beautiful flowers:) Greetings

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    1. ZielonaMila: Thank you - and greetings to you too.

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  36. My grandmother would have loved so many flowers. Me too.

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    1. Al Diaz: They are one of the things which brightens my world. I hope you are feeling better.

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  37. I love seeing your flowers close up....they are so pretty!!! I enjoy the beauty

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: Thank you. Another vote for close ups...

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  38. Your garden must smell incredible. The hyacinths and freesia, especially. If I were a cat (a cool one, of course) I'd want to hang out in your garden, too.

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    1. Susan: Just at the moment it does smell wonderful. I breathe deep when I go outside, and bring things inside to perfume the air.

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  39. I laughed at the sneaky intruder cat. Cats don't like other cats popping in to admire their gardens, do they? Why can't they all just play together nicely eh? (and why can't we?)

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    1. Andrew Maclaren-Scott: You are right. It would be very nice indeed if playing nicely was the norm. For us and the felines.

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  40. Hi EC, all your hard work in planting so many flower bulbs payed off with a beautiful display of spring flowers for you and your lucky neighbors too.

    Thanks for sharing the beauty- be well n be happy:)

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    1. Pam:): Thank you. It is getting bigger and brighter and better every day...

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  41. Your garden pictures looking beautiful with the sweet flowers!
    such a nice post,Indeed.

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  42. EC, I love your garden images, seeing the flowers in bloom and while looking at the Hyacinth images their sweet aroma is refreshed in my memory. I do miss having a garden of my own to putter around in but I can virtually putter around in yours here.

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    1. Mia McPherson: Thank you - and you are always welcome to putter around here...

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  43. That Japanese iris is absolutely breath taking. You are a wonderful, gifted gardener (and photographer)! The flowers are so vibrant and gorgeous.

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    1. Raquel Somatra: Thank you. An enthusiastic amateur gardener and photographer.

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  44. Thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous garden with us, dear friend. <3

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    1. El Farris: Thank you. Much, much more garden to come.

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  45. You mentioned on one of my blogs that I should join in with Sunday Selections, well I'd never heard of it, but I might just do that, it looks like a fun idea. Thanks.

    Love your photos. You have a beautiful garden.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: Thank you - and I look forward to seeing your Sunday Selections post.

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