Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Sunday Selections #160

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 usually run with a theme.  This week?  Sort of.  There are some photos of things which against all the odds are surviving in the garden, some shots of the veranda revealing more of the begonias and a sunset.  Same old, same old.  As always, click to embiggen.



 I do love cyclamen - and I weakened and bought these at the Farmers' Markets recently.








Part of the reason I am fond of begonias is for the beauty of their leaves.  Great colours, great shapes, great markings.


A Belladonna or Naked Lady lily which miraculously appeared in the garden bed the plumbers butchered.  Last year there were over a dozen of them.  Hopefully some will come back.


Sedum - and bees.


And a hibiscus.

On Wednesday afternoon the skies opened up.  In three hours we got more than three inches of rain.  Buckets and buckets of it.  And the sunset afterward was spectacular.





112 comments:

  1. I'm pleased to hear you got rain, EC, even if all at once. I bet the plants were all perked up the next day. We had a very quick storm here on Friday night...about three rumbles of thunder and about thirty spots of rain...but a brief as it all was it did manage to bring the temperature and humidity down, thank goodness. The humidity was unbearable for a few days...I ended up just a puddle on the floor!

    Your lovely verandah area looks both cool and warm at the same time...very inviting.

    I hope you and The Small Portion are doing fine. Take good care...enjoy your Sunday. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee: Many of the plants (and me) did perk up after the rain. Your storm sounds like what I call incontinent pigeon rain - splat, splat and its gone.
      We are getting there. Still waiting (not very patiently) for a hospital date.

      Delete
  2. Spectacular sunset is the right way to describe it. Amazingly orange. Your shaded area looks very cooling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew: It was an absolutely amazing sky. After amazing rain. The veranda is cool - and helps protect the house a little too.

      Delete
  3. Same old, same old....same old gorgeousness! Is that your veranda?!! If it is then wow. It is more than awesome, sooooooooooo lush. Cor blimey guvnor, lovely stuff. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All Consuming: Yes, that is the veranda. Fortunately none of the photos show the large quantities of bird crap I need to get to. Today. Or perhaps tomorrow.

      Delete
  4. Your home looks beautiful. And isn't it glorious to see the sky all washed clean after a downpour! A sort of natural bling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dinahmow: And doesn't the air smell wonderful after rain. And I love the washed clean and fresh foliage too.

      Delete
  5. I've been drooling over the influx of spring plants at the home improvement stores and am anxious to get some things to plant at my new home, you lovely photos are really inspiring me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda Starr: I am about to dive deep into gardening porn (catalogues) myself. Probably very deep.

      Delete
  6. Wow, you have a lot of plants! You must be a plant wizard, as I would kill all of them.
    That sunset is incredible. Looks like a Creamsicle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: How I wish I was a plant wizard. There are fatalities here too. Too many of them.

      Delete
  7. I'm so glad you got rain and I love your verandah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Delores: The rain was bliss. And some things are greening up already.
      The veranda is the perfect spot for begonias. They get just the right amount and type of light. Which is why they live there. And get added to.

      Delete
  8. You most definitely have a green thumb! All your plants are so pretty. Where I live we can't have plants outside for most of the year. It is just too cold and/or too wet. For that reason, I appreciate your pictures. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Burdie: Our winters are much, much milder than yours. If we get a particularly hard frost we might lose things but they are usually safe on the veranda. Usually. There is a hoya there which is still recovering from the year before lasts frost burn.

      Delete
  9. Your pictures are pretty darn incredible. I love the veranda, too. It does look so inviting. And I also hope you and the Skinny One are doing well, or at least hanging in there. Sending you lots of love. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DJan: The veranda is like the rest of the house, cluttered. But I do love to have a bit (a lot) of greenery to welcome me (and others) as we come in.

      Delete
  10. Look at all those plants! I love cyclamen, too. Begonias not so much, in spite of the leaves. Do they live outside in your winter, too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne Noragon: Yes, they live outside all year round. The tuberous begonias disappear over winter and come into leaf again in Spring. The others are closer to the house and get a bit of protection from the frosts.

      Delete
  11. I too like cyclamen but they never live at my place, about 3 months is the longest I have been able to keep them so I no longer bring them home it is a kindness to the plant.
    Your verandah looks cool and inviting, a nice place to sit and enjoy those wonderful orange sunsets.
    Merle.........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merlesworld: It is probably too warm and too humid for them. I have a few plants (maiden hair ferns, gardenia) which I have given up buying, much as I love them.
      This sunset was so brilliant I went out and stood in the road to get the full spectacle.

      Delete
  12. How wonderful it would be to sit on your porch, watch the birds, and breath in flower scented air!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan Kane: Thank you. It is a haven. For me, for the birds and at some times of the day for cats.

      Delete
  13. I love your veranda! I would like one like that some day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Letting the Words Escape. Thank you. Like everything else it is a work in progress.

      Delete
  14. So sorry I haven't been around for a bit. I think I have a light case of blogger fatigue. Love your begonias. I used to have my sunroom full of then and my little corella would trim off what hit the ceiling.
    Wasn't the rain great?? I'm crossing my fingers for more. The weeds are already 3' high all over the place.
    How are you both going, anything scheduled yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arija: You are welcome whenever you drop by. And apologies are never necessary.
      The rain was bliss. And the weeds are going gang-busters. And, some other things are recovering too.
      No operation date yet. Sigh.

      Delete
  15. Planted my first belladonnas this year, I love them. Sedum Autumn joy always makes me happy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. librarygirl: They are a delight aren't they? But be warned they often sulk after being tranplanted and refuse to flower for a year or two. And I am with you on the Sedum Autumn joy front too.

      Delete
  16. Gorgeous cyclamens! (Plural: cyclamina?) I have a bad habit of walking around the streets at this time of year, exclaiming "Look at the naked ladies!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexis, Baron Von Harlot: How I would love to wander around with you watching people's responses.

      Delete
  17. Lovely lovely pictures. I saw my first naked lady this morning - they grow wild at the side of the roads here. I'm sad - they are harbingers of autumn :( :(

    Your begonias are beautiful, and the verandah looks to be such a nice place to sit and enjoy them. Have a great Sunday, EC!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexia: Autumn is going to be MORE than welcome here. And how I would love to see wild naked ladies. Though that sounds a bit 'wrong'.
      Have a wonderful day yourself - and I hope that blogger is letting your blog remain uncorrupted at the moment. I missed you, and was pleased when it relented and let me visit again.

      Delete
    2. Alexia: And everyone else who was affected. One that I know of is still having the problem from time to time. Sigh.

      Delete
  18. Oh, the cyclamen are my favorites!! Especially that first one - that shade of pink is just glorious!

    I love your porch, so verdant and full of life! What a tropical paradise!

    I can't believe all the rain you got - 3" in less than 3 hours, holy buckets, Batgirl! Did you have the SP out there building an ark? At least you've got the two cats ready to go. :-) And what a sky that followed that deluge! WOW!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laloofah: My favourite plant changes with the season. And sometimes just changes. I do have a very weak spot for cyclamen though. Always.
      The rain was incredible. We have been in drought for sooooo long. And believe it or not, could still do with some more. A great start though. Perhaps more gently next time. And yes, WOW was what we said when the sky blazed that night.

      Delete
  19. WOW! Golden sunset! You can't pay for that kind of light. Beautiful.

    I too love the leaves of begonias.
    Always admire your plants and garden, EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vicki: Double delight. All that life giving rain and then the sky celebrated with us.

      Delete
  20. EC ~ I saw the cyclamen in your preview and said that is a cyclamen. Is still know my flowers even if I don't garden these days. The different shades of pink in your pics today are pretty. And the sunset and rain to boot ~ what a great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol in Cairns: Some plants cement themselves into our memories don't they. Roses for one...
      Sunset and rain made for a happy day - and we were just back from an outing when the skies opened.

      Delete
  21. beautiful presentation! thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mohave rat: Thank you. I hope that you and Mrs rat are enjoying your weekend.

      Delete
  22. Beautiful photos and informative as ever; I like reading your posts and learning the names of the flowers I like!
    Inlovebthe verandah shot especially - what a beautiful oasis you have lovingly crafted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie K: My pleasure. And taking photos of the veranda made me look at it quite differently.

      Delete
  23. Always such beautiful blooms! Your veranda looks like it would be a shady haven on sunny day. I'm so glad you got rain. Thank you for your kind thoughts sent my way EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen: Thank you. I hope you are ok. Best wishes.

      Delete
  24. Oh, what a wonderful verandah you have there and so many plants. Must take you ages to do your hand watering each day.
    RAIN!!! 3 inches!!! and CLOUDS!!! PLEASE SEND SOME WEST POST HASTE. No rain here for over 3 months in our garden. It is not happy and nor are we. : (
    Please note the website I gave you for old newspapers was wrong and I've corrected. It should have been http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper I had put an s instead of an a. Sorry. Well worth trying. I sat for a couple of hours last night and found some really interesting information about Karen's dad family and had found some about my own as well.
    Just loved your Sunday Selections this week. Thanks for sharing and are those lilies the ones we call Easter lilies over here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mimsie: I am glad you liked it. I don't water the veranda every day unless the weather is vile. And you are right, it is a big job.
      The rain was more than welcome and I do hope you get some too. Perhaps not that much at once (our house leaked under the deluge).
      Easter lilies come from the lilium family and at different - but also a treat.
      And I saw that you changed the website. Thank you.

      Delete
  25. Thank you for those glorious sunsets! And your porch....I want to sit in a chair on your porch and just drink in the beauty of all those begonias. I'll settle for looking at them on my screen here. Are belladonnas the ones I know as amaryllis? There are some near me here, just coming into flower, I took a photo, but haven't posted it yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River: Wasn't that sunset incredible? And the rain before it was bliss too.
      The begonias thrive on the veranda because it gets morning sun, but the plants are in dappled light for much of the day.

      Delete
  26. I've just googled, amaryllis and belladonna are the same plant. I'd never heard them called naked ladies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River: They are called naked ladies because they flower before the leaves emerge from the ground. Just the flower stalk.

      Delete
  27. Hi EC. What. Glorious sunset skies and all your lovely Flores are a sight to behold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret Adamson: Thank you. The rain and the sunset were such a treat.

      Delete
  28. Beautiful sunsets and all flowers you have mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
  29. A good reason to weaken, if you ask me! That is an amazing sunset, especially considering you had so much rain. Like the skies parted and then came back together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Riot Kitty: I don't usually need much of a reason to weaken. Weak-willed. And I love your description of the skies parting - splitting perhaps under the weight of all that rain.

      Delete
  30. That sunset looks magnificent - almost as though there is a huge bushfire in the background. I recall that ironically in Adelaide, the very best sunsets were while there was a fire burning.

    I love that second two-toned cyclamen. I used to grow them in my bathroom along with African Violets. It was the only place they would grow and they stubbornly wilted if you moved them anywhere else. The bathroom was like a jungle :-)

    How interesting that you spoke about the beauty of the begonia's foilage. I was thinking along those same lines earlier and wondering why when we consider plants for the garden that we concentrate so much on blooms (which are only around for a comparatively short time) and yet fail to celebrate the foilage. I love both.

    Your verandah is gorgeous - so shady and restful. I can see myself there with a good book enjoying all of that beauty.

    And Sedum! I love them. They are used extensively here for "green roofs" - instead of a conventional roof, people cover their building with special mats and grow plants on it, even large commercial buildings. Sedum is one of the most popular plants and you can see some of the roof structures here. Click on the pictures to make them bigger. I'd certainly never seen anything like it before, but now I'm used to it. What a terrific idea to help the birds and insects, plus provide insulation, soak up the rain and look pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marie: Yes, bushfires do make for some spectacular skies. Sigh.
      Cyclamens do well here. Ours are outside all year and happily come back time and time again. Set and forget plants are among my favourites.
      Most, but not all, of the things on the veranda do flower - but they are there more for the beauty, the quirkiness, the textures of the foliage. Which is so much more consistent that the blooms.
      I have seen green roofs. And loved them. If ever I was to build a house I would definitely try and incorporate one.

      Delete
  31. A sunset after heavy rain is heaven. Photos of beautiful flowers is paradise. I'm levitating. :-)

    Greetings from London.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Cuban in London: How nice to think that this post lifted your feet from the ground. Thank you.

      Delete
  32. So many pretties!! I know a lovely woman who loved Hibiscus like no other, and they grew right outside of her patio door. She wore them in her hair, and she liked to dance around. We moved out of state and haven't heard from her in years, but Hibiscus always reminds me of that lady. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mail4rosey: And now I will think of her too. I hope she continues to enjoy them.

      Delete
  33. Spectacular.
    I love clicking over here for a bit of SUNSHINE))) XXxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Inner Chick: Often rather a lot of sunshine. I hope that your winter is starting to ease off a little. Hugs.

      Delete
  34. Replies
    1. Kathleen Cassen Mickelson: Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  35. Such luscious growth was a feast this morning in our waning winter days!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bookie: I am looking forward to winter here. Rather a lot. And having been loving winter scenes from your hemisphere.

      Delete
  36. Hey Sue,

    I so love staring at your flowers and your sunsets. Watch out for those buckets of rain! Were there any farmers for sale at the farmer's market? :)

    Gary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. klahanie: I don't think any of the farmers at the market were for sale or hire. Which is a bit of a shame.
      Hope your week is treating you more kindly.

      Delete
  37. Oh, please let me come stay with you each winter, please, please, please. It is SO very not nice here. Even though the crocuses and hellebore are starting to bloom and the daffodils are starting to come out of the ground, the air is still chilly, the skies are still gray, and it rains, rains, and rains some more.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Snowbrush: You would be more than welcome. Although I would be in troll mode longing for our winter. And rain. Perhaps we need to play swaps.

      Delete
  38. I've always had fantastic luck with CLEMATIS, but Joe has always had a hard time pronouncing it and would come in from the yard saying "Your clitoris is gorgeous!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lotta joy: Slips don't come much more Freudian than that. Which I suspect Joe knows...

      Delete
  39. I love the look of all those plants running down the long walkway! And the sunset - the sky looks like it's on fire! You have much more patience than I do with all those pots to water. Of course, you also have the reward of seeing their beauty, while I...don't. I'd have dead plants inside of 2 weeks. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River Fairchild: Patient? Me? Sadly no. I would rather water plants than do some other household chores. And somedays the plants get neglected too.

      Delete
  40. Your verandah looks just glorious! I'm envious of course. BTW, our Naked Ladies were very shy this year, with only perhaps 1 in 7 flowering. Sad, but perhaps they are just gathering for a feminist protest next year. That's my hope, anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol: The bed in which that one was flowering was dug up by plumbers and bulbs spread from Christmas to breakfast. I am grateful that any of the naked ladies surfaced. But I love hearing that perhaps they are out on strike and maybe, just maybe more have survived.

      Delete
  41. Both the flowers and the skies offer a delicious splash of colour. Stunning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ladyfi: And the splash of rain was very welcome too.

      Delete
  42. It's such a blessing to see your greenery this time of year on this side of the planet. :D Brings me hope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raquel Somatra: Your Spring, and our autumn will come. Soon(ish)

      Delete
  43. It's so nice to see the sedum and your bees! Hate what's happening to them, at least here in the U.S.

    I refuse to believe that's not a veranda at some fancy and charming B&B [she said, enviously].

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms. CrankyPants: Bees are in decline in some parts of Oz too. Scary. I don't react well to their stings, but was very glad to see them.
      And nothing fancy about the accommodation here. Or charming some days...

      Delete
  44. Oh joy...warm and blooming things:)
    It's a glad sight. Hope you're enjoying the beauty in your days
    and resting sweet at night:)
    -Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer Richardson: There is always beauty. For which I am grateful.

      Delete
  45. So many gorgeous photos to start my morning off. Lovely, lovely, lovely! Have a wonderful day EC :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you - and a wonderful day to you too.

      Delete
  46. What a beautiful verandah full of plants! I am really enjoying the comments, too. Between the naked ladies and the clematis and the farmer's market not selling farmers ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jenny_o: The comments are WONDERFUL aren't they? I am so grateful.

      Delete
  47. 3 inches of rain? Ha, you should come and see the rain we are having here in the UK!

    I love the sky photos they are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LL Cool Joe: I know. You have been getting our rain, and almost everyone else's too. And we are very grateful that some of it has finally reached us.
      And that sky WAS incredible.

      Delete
  48. Dear EC, how wonderful that you got rain. Both Australia and the state of California are having lengthy droughts and just the smell and sound of that rain must have had you doing a dance in the living room or on the porch!

    I, too, love cyclamens. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee: How right you are. The scent of rain is one of my all time favourites, and after so long with none it was more than welcome. And provoked a happy dance or two. Or three.

      Delete
  49. Gorgeous. Everything. I just lose myself in your pictures. Your porch is so inviting. And the sunset! Fire in the sky. Awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol Kilgore: Thank you - glad to give you somewhere to lose yourself.

      Delete
  50. cyclamen....what a beauty!! and guess what?? so are you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy Theriault: Thank you. And I agree with you about the cyclamen.

      Delete
  51. Love your flowers and golden skies!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^= <3

    ReplyDelete
  52. Already 104 comments. I definitely am late arriving but no less awed by the splendor of what you have shared.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grannie Annie: I am so very glad that you like the window into a part of my world. And I do love comments.

      Delete
  53. Wow, I want to live on that porch. And now I'm even more antsy for spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tara: Welcome and thank you. I am yearning for Autumn and, since there are signs it is on the way, Spring is probably creeping up on you.

      Delete
  54. I'm listening to the cold rain falling right now and feel warmed up just looking at your beautiful growing things and seeing that glorious sun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn: Our rain was very far from cold, but I could almost see the garden drink it up. The sunset was a bonus. A big bonus.

      Delete
  55. i love how lush, neat and enchanting your veranda look! and that sunset, magic...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pia K: Looks are deceptive. The veranda is not neat. But we like it.

      Delete