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. I am back in the garden this week - taking photographs of weeds. I love their ephemeral beauty, and remember blowing 'dandelion clocks' as a child.
As always, the weeds will embiggen if clicked upon...
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. I am back in the garden this week - taking photographs of weeds. I love their ephemeral beauty, and remember blowing 'dandelion clocks' as a child.
As always, the weeds will embiggen if clicked upon...
Dandelions already? Spring just ain't fair.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: Spring has come in fast and hard. Which is worrying me a little about the summer ahead...
DeleteYou are such a companionable friend. I love our visits :-)
ReplyDeleteAloha
Cloudia: Thank you. I do too.
DeleteOh I love dandelions! I have a huge crop in my yard ;)
ReplyDeleteNice shots!
Karen: At the moment we have more of other things blooming - more traditional beauty.
DeleteI miss my dandelions! Mind you, I poked the camera into a patch of oxalys before I removed (most of )it.
ReplyDeletedinahmow: Can you ever remove all the oxalys? Or the dandelions for that matter...
DeleteIs that a universal thing to do with a dandelion? I loved blowing away the dandelion seeds when I was little. Nowadays I try to catch all of them in my hand before digging out the mama plant, so they don't cause another fifty plants per head!
ReplyDeletejenny_o: I think blowing the dandelion clocks is something done where-ever they grow. And, like you, I loved it as a child and now try and contain the seeds. Try and fail...
DeleteI saw something on a pinterest post once that showed a dandelion on fire and it flamed all sorts of beautiful colors not just the orange and yellow of most flames. I have wondered if it was true, but have not yet had the chance to test it in the dark. Perhaps I will this fall or spring.
ReplyDeleteLetting the Words Escape: It never would have occurred to me to set them alight. I will be interested to hear your findings.
DeleteOh EC, I too am a lover of many weeds ... I don't call them weeds anymore, they are my volunteers :) Fields of Dandelions are breath taking, as are many other weeds (one of my favorites is Goldenrod). When I walk through the state park the prairie areas are full of "wild flowers" and it is beautiful. I am really not a lover of manicured lawns and kept flower beds ... I would much prefer letting things be the way nature meant for them to be ... but, as life would have it, the neigbors would never tolerate that ... sigh! So, in short ... love your beautiful dandelion seed heads ... and especially the one where the winds have blown the seeds to new beginnings :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Andrea: My father told me that a weed is a plant which is growing where you would rather it didn't. Which makes a lot of sense to me. And most of the time I am happy just to see things growing.
DeleteLove the pictures..just not the idea of all those seeds creating new plants in the lawn.
ReplyDeleteDelores: I did pick the seed heads when I had finished taking photos. Too late though, as many of the seeds had already flown...
Deleteyes Delores, that was going to be my comment. The flowers and seedballs are gorgeous but I always pick them off the lawns to limit the spread of flatweed spoiling the grass.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of person would even think of setting fire to a dandelion seed head though? (see comment above re image on PinInterest). funny world. X X
Ann ODyne: As I responded - it would never have occurred to me either. Just the same, I am now a bit curious.
DeleteWith a camera as sensitive as the one you used...did you try to catch the seeds as they blew off? More! Said I, while clapping my hands.
ReplyDeletelotta joy: I don't think I would have succeeded. The problem not being with the camera (which is a wonderful point and shoot) but with the operator.
DeleteTick tock. I'm reminded of the one in resin you spoke of. Another type of time measurer for the clockwork jewel, so I like them. Nicely photographed as ever. *smiles
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: And yes, I did come inside and marvel at my dandelion clock in resin again. I still think it is incredible.
DeleteThe only weed worth tolerating
ReplyDeleteAdam: Rather a lot of weeds are beautiful. Inconvenient, but beautiful.
DeleteYou make dandelions become fairies, so wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: Thank you - I am glad I captured it for you.
DeleteThere are a few around my way too, spring has certainly happened quickly this year, what's summer going to be like, I'm a bit worried.
ReplyDeleteMerle..................
Merlesworld: I am getting worried about summer myself. A very mild winter, and now and early and warm spring. I do hope we are not in for a scorcher.
DeleteI love dandelions. I got really annoyed as a kid the first time someone told me they were weeds!
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: They were wrong. Possibly regarded as right by lots of people, but wrong just the same.
DeleteGosh, I can't remember the last time I blew on a dandelion... I shall have to introduce my three boys to its wonders :)
ReplyDeleteMark Koopmans: It is your duty as a father to introduce your boys to the magic of dandelion clocks. Soon.
DeleteSo cool. I like that you recognize beauty, even in weeds.
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: There is beauty everywhere, if only I open my eyes.
DeleteLOVE the dandelions! I tried to take photos of some last week, but every time I clicked the shutter button they swayed in a non existent breeze, so all photos were blurry.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I deleted rather a lot of blurry photos myself.
DeleteOne of my favorite stories is about a mother and her young daughter looking at their yard overgrown with dandelions. The exasperated mother said, "Oh, no! Look at all those weeds!" Her delighted little girl said, "Look at all those wishes!"
ReplyDeleteIt's all a matter of perspective.
Susan: I love it - perspective is all.
DeleteOh, so pretty! I love those delicate things, until the wind takes the seeds away and makes those awful leftover sticks coming out of the ground. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: If I was more on top of my garden, the wind wouldn't get the chance to spread the seeds from Christmas to breakfast. I am not, and they are everywhere...
DeleteHI EC To me these 'weeds' look like brilliant white stars on a ball and when catapulted into space, then look like flying comets. Great shots
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: I am glad that you too can see their beauty.
Deleteooooh, make a wish and blowwwww
ReplyDeleteVicki: And you could make rather a lot of wishes in our back yard at the moment.
DeleteI sit here unconsciously wanting to purse my lips; to blow on those photos and cast the soft down to the winds.
ReplyDeleteI actually found myself starting to do so!!
Lee: What a wonderful compliment to pay my dandelion clock photos. Thank you.
DeleteI hope you made a wish!
ReplyDeleteI did, Cosmo...but I ain't tellin' you! ;)
DeleteLike Lee, I immediately wanted to blow! I love them and so do my grand kids. My lawn is such a wild area that I can't complain about the dandelions. I seem to specialise in weeds. Thank you for lovely photos, EC.
ReplyDeleteCarol: I too have weeds. Lots of weeds. No bindi eyes anymore though...
DeleteI am not sure our dandelions over here in the west have 'clocks' such as those but the flatweed does. We have a few dandelions in our verge so will have to check them out to see the difference, if any. Your photos are delightful.
ReplyDeleteI do indeed remember blowing the seeds as a child and delighting in the way they 'took off' with the breeze.
I have just found oxalis in the back garden and onion weed has got into our front lawn. Our lawn man uses a mower and/or a whipper snipper and I wonder if he brought the onion weed as we never had so much previously. Both are almost impossible to get rid of.
Mimsie: I think what you call flat weed I call dandelions. Oxalis and onion weed? Urk. You are right, they are very, very hard to get rid of.
DeleteBeautiful shots, as usual. I love dandelions and the yellow daisies that pop up all over our front yard at this time of year. And I still like to blow the dandelion clocks!
ReplyDeleteJackie K: How nice to hear that there are plenty of people whose inner child is still alive and well.
Deletebeautiful clicks!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myunfinishedlife.com
My Unfinished Life: Welcome - and thank you.
DeleteLove your clicks. And I love dandelion clocks, too. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: Memories for many of us it seems...
DeleteGidday Sue,
ReplyDeleteYou sure do bring back some memories and those days I would take a dandelion and blow those spores all over the place. Your photos are dandy and I'm not lion.
A peaceful, positive week ahead to you, my friend.
Gary and Penny :)
klahanie: I am so glad that Penny is up to visiting with you - and hope she is much, much better.
DeleteI am, as always, in awe at your punning skills.
Looking at these made me feel the littlest bit like sneezing. Can I be allergic to photos of flowers, too?
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: If my photos did make your nose itch that is an incredible tribute to the photo. Thank you.
DeleteYou've photographed my life. :) I feel like the dandelion right now - scattering in the wind, ready to land somewhere else and take root. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: I am very, very pleased to hear it - and firmly believe that you are as indestructible as a dandelion. Fragile yes, but so very, very tenacious...
DeleteI love dandelions at this stage. You have shown their beauty :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. Lots of blurred photos were sacrificed in the making of this post.
DeleteI missed this yesterday - we were inundated with visitors. What a fabulous idea, EC! They are so delicate and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlexia: Thank you - I hope you had a wonderful day with your visitors.
DeleteOh I really like the second photo. The dandelion is so full and lacy and still manages to absorb the sun. I remember blowing dandelions and making wishes. We also made leis of clover flowers and daisies. I haven't done any of that in a few years.
ReplyDeleteQuick, blow on that last dandelion--there's still a wish there...
Sia McKye Over Coffee
~Sia McKye~: Welcome, and thank you. There are still plenty of wishes in the garden. And more growing each day.
DeleteMy neighbor sure hates dandelions. But no matter how much she sprays, they survive! I made dandelion wine once from the old man's dandelion crop. It turned out very well. I still love blowing those spores for the wind to carry off (and maybe into the dandelion haters yard).
ReplyDeleteStrayer: I have never tried dandelion wine. What did it taste like? And the spores WILL land in the dandelion haters yard. Lots of them.
DeleteLovely photos. It's always such fun to show children how to blow on a dandelion and make it scatter.
ReplyDeleteLynn: One of the classic childhood memories isn't it?
DeleteI love that story that Susan told. Just last week, I heard a saying about this "weed" ---- "Some people see a weed, while others see a wish." I've always loved these "wishes" because when I grew up, we would blow them hoping for the best. So it's a positive thing when I see them. Thanks for sharing this. :)
ReplyDeleteDeb: And hopefully many more positive things will float back into your life...
DeleteI just love when those little cat like petals float thru the air! xxx Love to you, sweet S.
ReplyDeleteMy Inner Chick: They are beautiful things aren't they? And love back at you...
DeleteOh, these are just gorgeous. I've never been able to get a good photo of them before. You are quite skilled :)
ReplyDeleteRaquel Somatra: Thank you. I took many, many photos before I was happy. Stubborn - and lucky.
DeleteThis is a great idea EC. I recently came across some old photos I have never posted and they made me smile. Have a great day :)
ReplyDeleteCarol in Cairns: It was Kim's idea to begin with, and now River continues it. And it is a most excellent idea. Perhaps you could join us?
DeleteAlways great post, EC! I glad that you got beautiful photos and share with us..and EC, I just found a glorious place which is very interested and famous for their history and culture. I hope that you will know about it through my new post..
ReplyDeletehttp://travelagent-india.blogspot.in/2013/09/mesmerize-in-beauty-of-great-rann-of-kutch.html
yous welcome..
Ercotravels: Thank you. I will come and visit you shortly.
DeleteAhh... leave it to you to make even a dandelion look beautiful! (And these are beautiful photos!)
ReplyDeleteThe distinction between what is a weed and what is a desired plant is something that has interested me for a long time. For instance, among our "nuisance weeds" here are ferns... which are also sold as desired plants at the nursery. When I lived in Los Angeles, I bought the very same kinds of ferns to have as houseplants that I am here constantly tearing out of my plant pots, both outside and inside the house.
Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): Thank you. I struggled mightily before I finally succeeding in getting photos of the dandelion clock which pleased me.
DeleteAnd my father told me that a weed was a plant growing somewhere where you didn't want it - which makes sense. And explains the shifting categorisation quite well.
Your post has made me a bit nostalgic....fall has already arrived in my part of the world...soon we'll say goodbye to all the green...
ReplyDeleteunikorna: We will have green for a little while yet - but long before summer is over it will have been burnt off to leave first golden and then bare hills.
DeleteDear EC, I so enjoyed your photographs of dandelions. And they brought back to me the memory of waiting for the yellow flowers to blossom into rounded white globes that I would, as a child, carefully pick and then use as a princess's wand.
ReplyDeleteI'd gently tap a tree and turn it into a carriage. Sometimes the gentle tap brought with it the release of all the white seeds of the dandelion. Then I'd need to pluck another and so I'd go around the yard, changing one thing into another through my magic wands.
It seems to me that as I've aged I've lost so much of that sense of wonder that is part of being a child. So these photographs make me just a little sad. And yet, I could, next spring, go out into my dandelion-rugged front yard and harvest many magic wands. Ah! Now there's a thought. Peace.
Dee: What a lovely image I have of you, trotting around the yard, working magic. And I can't see any reason to stop. So next spring, go out and start again...
DeleteJust lovely!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: Thank you.
DeletePoor, misunderstood dandelions. They get such a bad rap. A neighbor (probably seeing the vast quantity in my yard) told me they used to be considered "real" flowers, not weeds. Sometime in Olde England, but I'll get the period wrong if I try to remember when it was she said. Apparently, some clever businessman developed a product that would kill dandelions, so he rebranded as undesireable weeds. This story may have been totally made up, and there's also a near-100% chance I've messed up the details in retelling it, but it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteMs. CrankyPants: I am quite certain that their bad rap is relatively recent. I know they were used (and probably still are) in salads and people like Strayer (see comment above) made wine from them. And no, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a pesticide company which decided they were a weed.
Delete