Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 17 November 2013

Sunday Selections #146

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, just for a change, I am reverting to garden delights - things which are delighting me in the garden, and a wonderful bouquet I was given as part of an award.  With luck, I will be able to give you something different next week.

As always, click to embiggen.




I fell in love with this Hippeastrum when I saw it in a garden pornography catalogue - and while it didn't bloom last year it has more than made up for it.


The first of our Christmas or Orchid Cacti to flower this year.





And the flowers from my bouquet.  Aren't they gorgeous?

106 comments:

  1. Flowers can never disappoint EC. Love the Geraldton Wax in your bouquet. Umm ~ are you going to blog about the award you received?? Gardening Pornography :)

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    1. Carol in Cairns: Flowers never disappoint me. The award (which I have described as a slow learners award) was for fifteen years on the phones at Lifeline. Essentially a longevity award. A nice gesture, but not necessary.

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    2. EC ~ Congratulations and thank you! Longevity ~ don't devalue your dedication ~ what you and your fellow volunteers do is one of the most valuable services anyone can offer in our communities. That is awesome !

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  2. Beautiful! I love them all. The first ones are just too pretty! I love the garden pornography discription of the catalogs! The last flower is so different! I love the mix of colors in it. Yes! What was the award for? I am thinking that it is for something to do with plants?

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    1. Teresa: Garden catalogues are the pornography to which I succumb, year after year. And the award relates to my voluntary work on a telephone crisis line. No gardening attached.

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  3. Hi EC. Lovely colours in all the flowers. What ever the Award I am sure you deserved it. have a great weekend.

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  4. Hee, hee .. garden porn! I had to laugh as I'm now a convert and I pour over those catalogues obsessively. I especially loved the Hippeastrum - I'm just about to attempt to get mine to flower in time for Christmas. Last year I had great luck with them, so I hope for a repeat performance. Is that some kind of banksia in the last photo? I really miss those kind of flowers.

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    1. Marie: And, like all pornography (or so I am told) it is addictive. Good luck with your Christmas hippeastrum. And yes, I think that is a banksia - but am woefully ignorant about our natives.

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    2. Not a banksia, but a pincushion hakea, I'm almost sure.

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    3. River: No, not a pincusion hakea I don't think. When I googled it, the image was quite different. There are a lot of banksia sub species, and it does look like them - but I would be happy to learn differently.

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    4. I wasn't thinking of the "usual" banksias, that look like giant bottlebrushes, but more the one my mum called a kerosene bush (I think it's either a banksia or a dryandra nobilis). I love to see those natives again. We sometimes see those round "eucalyptus gunnii" leaves in floral arrangements and I've even seen wattle here once or twice, but nothing else from home, sadly.

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  5. Congrats on the award.

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  6. The lily is lovely. We have several Christmas cactus that now bloom whenever they feel like it. That's OK with us. The cat almost daily removes a leaf segment or two, leaves it on the floor with kitty teeth holes. No rhyme nor reason, so apparently just because he can. Two years of this and all the plants continue to thrive.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Our are outside - and it is the cockatoos that prune them. Which doesn't phase them at all. At a market today I was sorely tempted by a pink one, but managed to resist (mostly because of the price).

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  7. Oh! Beautiful indeed, EC. You don't ever have to change to something new when you've got pictures like these to share. :-)

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  8. You have hippies in amongst your garden porn? ;) Whatever they are, your pictures always make me smile.
    Now that I haven't raced to the bottom to say hello to Jazz and Jewel, I can see your other addiction on the side here. Most impressive! Have you ever read "Replay" by Ken Grimwood? It's one of those books that speaks to me, reminds me that one can't go back and fix the past.

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    1. River Fairchild: What would porn be without a display of hips? And Jazz n Jewel think it only right and proper that you ignore my reading list and visit them. They would rather I did too. Much rather. And no, I haven't come across Replay - but have just won a $25 Amazon voucher, so....

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  9. Oh wow, those are gorgeous!!! Such a lovely variety!

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    1. DeniseinVA: Garden produce ALWAYS makes me smile.

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  10. Beautiful flowers I really like you lilly unusual colour.
    Merle.................

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    1. Merlesworld: I couldn't resist it - and am very happy I didn't. And there are a couple more blooms yet to come.

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  11. Congrats, and thanks for a peek at the beauty in your part of the world.

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    1. Lisa (aka Mollie's mom): You are more than welcome.

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  12. So lovely - that Hippeastrum is a beauty! I have just been down to my garden centre and spent WAY TOO MUCH on all sorts of things. Last weekend I went on a Garden Tour with a friend and have so many ideas running around in my head... Now for an afternoon of planting :)

    And congratulations on your service to Lifeline, EC. People like you are much needed and appreciate.

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    1. Alexia: Gardens gobble money, and time and energy - but it is so worth it. Or I think so.

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  13. A beautiful Sunday array once again. That's an interesting Hippeastrum. I have the red and cream ones growing here. I love them. My agapanthus are flowering now, too.

    Have a good Sunday...and a wonderful coming week, EC. :)

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    1. Lee: You are way ahead of us - our agapanthus aren't even in bud. I am at the moment lusting after a pink agapanthus. And will almost certainly weaken.
      A wonderful Sunday and week to you too.

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    2. Adelaide agapanthus are in bud now, yours should start within a couple of weeks.

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    3. River: I hope so. Agapanthus often don't flower here until Christmas though.

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  14. Pulled myself away from the novel project for a quick visit. So glad I did. Wasn't familiar with hippeastrum, but thought it was some kind of amaryllis so I looked it up. Yep! But I've never seen such a lovely variety...
    it just looks so vintage! I want one. Must have one. Will get one! Before Christmas! Hubby and I were just discussing Christmas cactus. I always buy one around this time. Last years one is showing no inclination to bloom as yet...maybe I'll set in by the window. Thanks for giving me a much needed break from writing!

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    1. Debora: Isn't it beautiful. I fell in lust with it as soon as I saw it in the catalogue. And I love the Christmas Cactus. We have them in hanging pots (and a few others too) on both the front and back veranda.
      Good luck with your writing...

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  15. OMG! That top bloom is porn pure and I love it!!!!
    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^=

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    1. Cloudia: Isn't it? Completely irresistable - by me anyway.

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  16. Now THAT is a bouquet! Fifteen years is a good long time to be volunteering with one group, EC. Congratulations and well done.

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    1. jenny_o: It is a wonderful bouquet - and I was really touched by the gesture. And feel a little guilty because I get a great deal more from my volunteering (with both Lifeline and the MS society) than I give.

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  17. I love the orange and red pincushions, I want them in my garden. But first I need to get rid of about 50 prickly lomandras.
    15 years is a great effort! Well done.

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    1. River: I hope you can get rid of the lomandras. Vicious things.

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  18. Those are spectacular. We don't have flowers like that here!

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    1. Riot Kitty: You almost certainly get wonderful ones we don't though...

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  19. I love hippeastrums and that one is a beautiful colour as is the orchid cactus flower.
    I love your bouquet but you didn't tell us what all the different flowers are. I recognise the Geraldton wax of course but not sure about the others.
    Congratulations on your award of which you are so deserving. I wonder if there is anything of that kind over here in the West. Trouble is anywhere I go these days I have to have Phil take me which is a nuisance for him. Perhaps I'll just stick to my crocheting rugs for Vinnys.

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    1. Mimsie: Thank you. I am ignorant about the bouquet too. I was hoping that the people here would be able to tell me. I may have to settle and google later.

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  20. Yes they are beautiful ...I like seeing your garden

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could: Thank you. I do feel guilty for inflicting my obsessions on people.

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  21. A delicious delight for me eyes.

    I have Amaryllis in my garden which blooms on a whim whenever the garden spirit whispers.. flower please :)

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    1. Pam:): I have a few plants like that too. In their own time..., which makes it wonderful when they do decide the time is right.

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  22. Replies
    1. Linda Starr: I don't think they are proteas - but love them too.

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  23. "garden pornography" - that's your blog isn't it? Hahahaha. Sumptuous flowers and well deserved for your wonderful work. I'm so pleased you were awarded them!! x

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    1. All Consuming: Not just garden pornography. I hope. There are birds and books and opinions too - other types of porn.

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    2. Corrected, and correct, MUCH more than any description which could have the word 'just' in it for sure. *smiles.

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  24. Congratulations on the award, and yes, you DO deserve it. Not nearly enough volunteers are willing and/or able to stick with a job like yours for the long haul. You DO make a difference, and I'm glad the folks you work with expressed their appreciation. Yeah, I know you don't do what you do as a means of getting a pat on the back, but that doesn't mean it doesn't feel reeeeally good to get one every now and then.

    Lovely pictures. If that's an amaryllis in the first couple shots, it sure is pretty. (Matter of fact, it it ISN'T an amaryllis, it's STILL pretty.) I've never seen one that color before.

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    1. Susan: It was a really lovely gesture - and came with a certificate and a badge. I appreciate it, but still feel undeserving.
      I hadn't seen those colours before either - and loved them.

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  25. Hi Sue,

    Your award, notably bestowed to you for your tireless dedication on the phones at Lifeline. You will have impacted many a life in a way that shows how much you care.

    And we get awarded with the visual of your beautiful flowers. Flowers from the bouquet, wonderful. Thank you, dear friend.

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Hi Gary, thank you so much. I hope I have made a difference. I try.
      And glad that you like my flowers (home grown and otherwise.)

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  26. Wow, the hippeastrum's colors pop so brightly they bleed out of the photo! No wonder you fell for it.

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  27. Those green and red lilies are amazing.

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    1. J Cosmo Newbery: Aren't they? They looked amazing in the catalogue - and lived up to their promise.

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  28. Stunning flowers....so unique and beautiful!
    (like you:))
    Much joy to you this November,
    Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: And joy to you - all year, every year.

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  29. Nice. The flowers are so colorful and cheerful.

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    1. Lady Lilith BloodCrave: And extra colour is always welcome - in my world and in my life.

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  30. I never tire of seeing your garden blooms! That Hippeastrum is absolutely fabulous!

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  31. Garden pornography - love that thought. :)

    They're all gorgeous!

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    1. Lynn: Garden pornography is a fairly accurate description of the way I react to the catalogues that far too many companies send me. And himself.

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  32. Just stopping by again to thank you for making a comment on my war horse statue. I agree totally.

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  33. Stunning visions of "LIFE!"
    Xxx KISS for you, my dear S.

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  34. I know we each have our burdens to bear, even when surrounded by beauty. But your luscious and "foreign" flowers look SO enjoyable.

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  35. Yes - those flowers are totally gorgeous!

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  36. My flowers compared to your beautiful flowers would be weeds with the dubious privilege of being called flowers. however, regardless of status they are given excellent care and love.

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    1. Vest: I have, and cherish, some 'weeds' too. And there are patches of my garden I don't show.

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  37. I love you comments and I love your blog. Finally I have added you to my sidebar so I will not miss any of your posts but it is not as if you need any more followers. Actually I do not follow blogs or ask people to follow me. It is good to feel a part of your fine group finally.

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    1. Grannie Annie: Welcome. What a lovely thing to say. I am so grateful for the wonderful people I have found in the blogosphere.

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  38. Great varieties of the flowers and looking beautiful!

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  39. It's only in recent years I've begun to appreciate the beauty of flowers. I used to find them depressing. But I'm glad to say that's changing now. :)

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    1. LL Cool Joe: Depressing? Cut flowers or all of them? I acquired the gardening obsession relatively late in life, but once it took hold it took over.

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  40. I believe Heaven will be like your garden. Such beauty.

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    1. Susan Kane: Cicero said words to the effect that if you have a garden and a library you have everything you need. I would add cats and birds, and probably wine and chocolate - but it would be a good starting point.

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  41. Another great set of pictures - have you ever thought about putting together a book from your extensive collection of photos?

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    1. Mark Koopmans: Thank you. I am decidedly an amateur, so my photos will stay on my PC and my blog.

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  42. Your kaleidoscope of blooms always delight EC.
    That Hippeastrum is gorgeous - worth the wait for sure :)

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    1. Vicki: Thank you. Are you getting any rest yet?

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    2. Not much. I'm feeling very weary, and sway with tiredness on occasion - no, I'm not drunk, haha!

      I'm indulging myself and hopping on and off the computer, in between glaze drying, as I'm having blog withdrawal.
      Not sure when I'll get another chance in the next few days, so I've nominated today :)

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    3. Vicki: Not good. I hope your time in the blogosphere gives you at least a little break...

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  43. Yes, they are gorgeous. I think you're like Peggy in that your primary interest is in flowers, whereas mine is in foliage (not that I mean to disparage the beauty of flowers in any way). I am also a great fan of indoor plants (I bought a second peperomia yesterday), and if you have many of those, I would love to see pictures.

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    1. Snowbrush: Flowers might have the edge in my affections but only slightly. I am endlessly fascinated by the different shapes, textures, colours of foliage. The begonia flowers for example are pretty - and the leaves are stunning.
      Our climate is much milder than yours so I tend to leave plants outside.

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    2. Do you have fatsia japonica shrubs? I planted one last year, and we've had some weather well below freezing already this year that leaves the large-leaved shrubs looking like hell every morning, but then they revive every afternoon. I've never see anything like it.

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    3. Snowbrush: Thank you so much. I didn't know fatsia japonica and googled it. Lo and behold a plant on our front veranda now has a name!!! Our winters are not particularly cold (by global standards) so I haven't seen it look like hell in the morning. It is hardy, I love the leaf shape, the white flowers and the black fruit.

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    4. "a plant on our front veranda now has a name!!!"

      Now, you'll think of me sometimes when you see it. A lot of the outdoor plants here have japonica as a species name because the climate in Japan is similar enough to the one here in Oregon that a lot of their plants do well here. Maybe the reverse is also true, but I wouldn't know. Maybe you also have Euonymous japonica, and it sure would be fun for me if you didn't know what it was either. The one I have is a variegated variety.

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    5. Snowbrush: I need you to wander through our garden it is clear. We do have Euonymous Japonica - which we have always just called golden variegated. I already think of you when I come across things you might like/be amused by, and now I will think of you for other reasons as well.

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