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 I am back in our garden. As an aside, I wish I could be. We have had wonderful, blessed, life-giving rain all week. The garden is drinking deep, the weeds are thriving and when the rain stops I will be outside, weeding and planting my heart out.
Our roses didn't do very well this summer - too hot and dry. Buds formed, and if they opened at all the wilted and dropped almost immediately. We have had some rain, and some cooler weather and another flush of roses. Joy and bliss. All of the roses are scented.
Click to embiggen.
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| Brindibella Pearl |
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| David Austin - William Shakespeare |
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| Double Delight (I think) |
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| Oklahoma |
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| Solara |
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| Peace |
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| Woburn Abbey |
And, still in the garden, something entirely different. One day this week the lovely
Jahteh sent me a link to Pinterest, and a Japanese Umbrella Mushroom - because it was so fragile and so beautiful. It was still dark when I read her email, but a few hours later when I went out to get the papers I found something which, if it is not a Japanese Umbrella Mushroom, is certainly a close cousin. Serendipity at its best. I have never seen them before, and it lasted for less than a day.
That's one funky looking mushroom.
ReplyDeleteHope the rain continues to help the second round of roses. You've been really hot for summer, and we have been really cold.
And I hope the next retro year I post has happy memories for you. I'm starting to feel bad I chose all the crappy years...
Alex J. Cavanaugh: An amazing mushroom isn't it? And don't feel bad about your retro years. I have survived them - which makes them (and me) winners.
DeleteAs usual, I'm going for the gold (rose!). That solara is lovely. The mushroom is so interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe are in day four of rain; I would be happy to share more with you.
Thanks for the pictures!
Joanne Noragon: Solara is stunning isn't it? It makes me smile each time I see it.
DeleteThat mushroom is absolutely stunning - even more so since it is so fleeting. Your roses are pretty gorgeous too, in spite of the weather. Our snow is finally starting to melt here - your garden makes me excited for our gardening season.
ReplyDeleteCathy Oliffe-Webster: Isn't it amazing. I was thrilled to see it. And the roses are looking better than they have all year. Briefly.
DeleteAnother serendipitous moment from a long way away - I noticed a small colony of these fragile little mushrooms on a path close to my home yesterday. I didn't have the camera, but must go back in the light.
ReplyDeleteRelatively Retiring: Lots of serendipity. Do you see this fragile beauties often? I will be keeping my eyes peeling looking for more.
DeleteHallo night owl! Your Will Shakespeare is very light, mine is an almost purply deep shade of red. Only Brindabella Pearl and Solara are not also in my rose garden. I am surrounded by perfumed roses and citrus trees in bloom and am drunk with their perfume.
ReplyDeleteThat little mushroom surely was a gift from heaven just for you. What a find!
Arija: Not a night owl. An early riser who is currently beating the sun up (by some hours). The first year that Will Shakespeare flowered it was a much deeper purple red. This year it is more muted. I wonder what next year will bring.
DeleteAnd yes, the mushroom was a real gift.
Lovely flowers, but I love were the Japanese Umbrella Mushroom, superb.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Isn't it a dainty charmer? Though people driving past did look a bit surprised at the woman on her knees on the lawn before seven in the morning...
DeleteHow nice your roses got a second chance and really really took advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteDelores: I was so grateful. I had thought that I needed to wait until next year...
DeleteEach of those roses are so beautiful. As I scrolled down I kept thinking one after another was my favorite. Made me wish I could be there in the garden smelling them.
ReplyDeleteJulie Flanders: I can't decide on favourites either. Which ever one my nose is buried in quite often gets the nod.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful roses!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: Less beautiful today (a tad rain damaged) but still a delight.
DeleteWeather can and does play merry hell with just about everything! My Apricot nectar is showing a worrying sign of die-back AND 2 new flower buds. I've topped-up its soil and fed it and crossed several digits...I shant speak of the grasshoppers...
ReplyDeletedinahmow: Quite a lot of my gardening is done with crossed fingers. And no, grasshoppers should NOT be spoken of.
DeleteSunday mornings wouldn't be the same without your beautiful posts, EC.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day and week ahead. :)
Lee: What a lovely thing to say - thank you. I am having a brief interlude from the garden and it is a wonderful day. A great day and week to you too.
DeleteYou have such a beautiful rose garden! The mushroom is awesome.
ReplyDeleteKaren: Wasn't the mushroom a treat?
DeleteI love stumbling on mushrooms and toadstools in little fairy rings in the yard. That is a cool looking mushroom. And your roses are lovely. We don't grow them in our garden unless they're shrub roses. Our motto is if it can't overwinter naturally, it can't be in our garden. And it gets pretty damn cold here!
ReplyDeleteKathleen Cassen Mickelson: It is summer which is the biggest killer in our garden. Heat and drought kill far too many things. Like you, I love finding mushrooms and toadstools - but have never seen this one before.
DeleteI've never seen those mushrooms before. As an umbrella, they need some design work.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: It does look a little as if the umbrella was blown inside out doesn't it?
DeleteI gave never seen anything like that mushroom before! Amazing looking!
ReplyDeleteBookie: Neither had I. As I said, serendipity at its very best.
DeleteReally beautiful Solara! And the colours in Woburn Abbey are lovely. What a delicate, fragile-looking little fungus. They are a fascinating species, I think.
ReplyDeleteHot and sunny again here - we are having a great autumn - unless you're a dairy farmer!!
Alexia: Our first day of sunshine in quite a while. So the garden is calling...
DeleteAnd I love Solara and Woburn Abbey too.
I love the look and smell of roses but they don't do well in my garden but up the road they have masses, they don't weed them much never deadhead them and they have lots of flowers but that's the way it goes.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute mushroom are you sure it's not a toadstool.
Merle........
Merlesworld: Not enough sun in your garden? Or is it too moist? There are rather a lot of things I struggle to grow as well.
DeleteThe mushroom could indeed be a toadstool. I wouldn't have eaten it anyway.
I'm so glad you got a second round with the roses, they are beautiful as ever, and that mushroom looks like a flower too, what a find! Are you sure you're name isn't Alice after all?
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: I don't want to grow - and Jazz is at least as cantankerous as the Cheshire Cat so I hope not. I really hope not.
DeleteOoh, that is a pretty schroom. If I were to vote on the color rose I like best, it would be yellow.
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush: Isn't it pretty? So fragile looking. I have a weakness for yellow roses too - but some of the rich, velvety red ones are hard to beat as well.
DeleteBeautifully done - I struggle to get good contrast between the individual petal when I try to photograph roses.
ReplyDeleteJ Cosmo Newbery: Thank you. Digital cameras are wonderful that way. Take fifteen photos, shudder, delete them and try again. And I took these early in the morning on grey days which helps with the definition.
DeleteSo many roses! They look good despite the heat! And I've never seen a mushroom like that before.
ReplyDeleteSonia Lal: Welcome. The heat has largely gone now (hooray) which is what has allowed the roses to thrive. And no, I hadn't seen that mushroom either.
DeleteLove the roses, Solara in particular, and Woburn Abbey is stunning too.
ReplyDeleteThat is the strangest looking mushroom. Sort of seems upside down.
Mimsie: Solera is special isn't it? And it smells gorgeous too.
DeleteCool looking mushroom! Also pretty roses. We don't have a lot here in our yard. Black spot can be a real hassle.
ReplyDeleteTeresa: Black spot can be an issue here too, but we had so little moisture over summer that it wasn't this year. Mind you I would rather have the rain and black spot than no rain and no black spot.
DeleteHi there, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
ReplyDeletehttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/
Chris: Welcome and thank you. I will come and visit you in a moment.
DeleteA couple of those beautiful roses are SO full - I've never seen any like them. It's so lovely you have gotten your much needed rain, and in a long, steady rainfall so it soaks in well. I hope you get a chance to get out in the garden very soon.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that wonderful about the Japanese Umbrella Mushroom? How often things pop up (literally, in your case!), right after we learn about them. Maybe we are just more in tune or receptive to their appearance. All I know is that I've had it happen again and again.
Wishing you and SP a good week.
jenny_o: The rain has been blissful. I have done a couple of hours weeding this morning, and it is just gently raining again. Which is fine by me. And if I weed every day until Christmas I might be on top of it. But I doubt it.
DeleteI too have had things leap out at me time and time again when I first become aware of them. And I love it.
A great week to you too. How are the wedding preparations going?
Come and gone (late Feb) and all went well - thank you for asking!
Deletejenny_o: I am sorry I was behind the times - but glad it went well.
DeleteThank you for these beautiful roses! And every one is scented? your garden must smell like heaven! I love the creamy and sunset coloured ones.
ReplyDeleteIf that isn't an umbrella mushroom I'll eat my hat!
I have a kitten......
River: I was so happy to see them. We had next to no roses this season and I worried that the bushes would die. And the umbrella mushroom (or its cousin) was such a treat.
DeleteI saw that you have a kitten. Happy days - and a big welcome to Angel.
Serendipity indeed EC. Those roses are gorgeous ~ I had to check where they were ~ your garden and NOT the parliamentary rose garden. Did you get all your bulbs planted?
ReplyDeleteForgot to say that I am off to see the Hairy MacLary exhibition this week.
DeleteCarol in Cairns: Cue hysterical laughter at the bulbs. It has rained almost every day since they arrived. Except, of course, for the day where I had an appointment in town. Today we had a few dry days and I have weeded myself into the ground. The skinny one has planted another fifty lilies, and five fox gloves. Only 1900 more to go. Or so.
DeleteHairy MacLary? Jealous thoughts. Post about it please.
Beautiful, beautiful roses! Your garden has a wonderful autumn flush there, EC.
ReplyDeleteI particularly like yellow roses.
If you don't already have these (and have room for a few more), I can highly recommend two David Austins.
Golden Celebration - a floriferous, scented, generous large bush, and Graham Thomas - a 'small' climber that (to me) have a scent not unlike custard powder. Delicious.
I too had DA William Shakespeare, and loved the deep crimson/wine colour and the delightful "old rose" scent.
I noticed a few of your rose leaves have had visits from the little leaf cutter bee. I adore these little guys, and never minded them making perfect circular cuts in my rose leaves. Especially as they would use the leaf pieces to weave tiny cradles for their eggs.
Aww, rockabye bay-bee :)
Always happy to see your garden pics.
And that sweet little mushroom was serendipitous indeed :)
Vicki: You are putting temptation in my way. We had a Graham Thomas, which turned up its toes. I think I will wait until I have finished putting in the bulbs before I look to anything else. But do love the David Austen roses.
DeleteThere is plenty in the garden for all sorts of bug and beasties to feed on - which is fine. Preferably not me though.
the umbrella mushroom is amazing; I can almost smell those roses
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: They smell delightful. And, when I bring them inside, perfume the house.
DeleteI can never get enough of your flower pictures. They are absolutely stunning! :-) Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: Thank you. I never tire of the garden. And take rather a lot of photos in it.
DeleteGasp. Such utter beauty.
ReplyDeleteIt must be amazing to be out amongst them when the wind is blowing their scent all around you.
Thanks for sharing.
Raquel Somatra: The colours and the scent make my heart sing.
DeleteI love roses so much. Thank you for sharing these beauties!
ReplyDeleteLynn: My pleasure.
Deletealways I love your roses
ReplyDeleteand this little oriental umbrella is stunning....a
sweet work of art!
I'm never not amazed:)
thanks for sharing the bright goodness you see,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson: I also spend a lot of my life amazed - which is fine. Which is better than fine.
DeleteWhat a magical Japanese Umbrella Mushroom!
ReplyDeleteYour roses are stunning, S.
Is your summer almost done?
We just started spring.
XXXXXX
My Inner Chick: Summer is (finally) pretty much a thing of the past. And I love Autumn. Enjoy your Spring. Hugs.
DeleteAre you sure that is a mushroom EC? It's so delicate. I get all kinds growing in my yard. I look them up to see if they are edible varieties. Many people here in Oregon pick mushrooms, for their own use, in the wild, or to sell, although to sell or even pick more than so many, you must have a license. There are many poisonous varieties that look very much the same as the edibles. Chantrelles are the ones people seek after. They are easily found in Oregon. I am not very brave when it comes to eating wild mushrooms.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: No, I am not sure. A funghi is as far as I am going to commit myself. I love its beauty - and wouldn't eat it. We used to pick mushrooms when I was growing up - but stayed with the common varieties. And people die here most years from some careless choices.
DeleteWow that mushroom is amazing, I've never seen anything like that before. I don't like mushrooms to eat but they are incredible to look at.
ReplyDeleteNice photos this week!
LL Cool Joe: Thank you. I do eat mushrooms - but wouldn't even consider this one. But it was magical to see.
DeleteLovely flowers. My favorite is Peace, because the flower matches the name so nicely.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday and new week, EC.
xoRobyn
Rawknrobyn: The story behind the development of Peace is amazing too (For Love of a Rose by Antonia Ridge). The first rose to be patented, and a labour of love.
DeleteIt is Monday morning here, and the new week is looming. Have a great Sunday and week yourself.
Awww what a most fragrant post!! Glad the wonderful rains have brought on a flush of these gorgeous roses!! They're beautiful and each of them are stunning! Awww but I do have a soft spot for fungi!! And that umbrella mushroom is melting my heart! How perfect and how delicate! Wonderful!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Old Kitty: Welcome and thank you. I have a weakness for most growing things - but the delicacy of that funghi blew me away.
DeleteI love the Solara! and the mushroom! Beautiful as always!
ReplyDeleteLetting the Words Escape: I love them both too. Nice to see you. Has life settled down a bit for you? I hope so.
DeleteSerendipity honors your heart and courage!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= <3
Cloudia: Serendipity is indifferent to me I think - but I welcome her whenever she visits.
DeleteThose are so beautiful! You memorized all of those kinds of roses? I am impressed.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: They have their tags on them to remind me. Though I do remember them, because I love them and ogle them.
DeleteFascinating! Such a delicate little mushroom and your roses are gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: It is an incredible little mushroom isn't it?
DeleteEvery time I see such lovely roses I think of my husband opening his suitcase on his first visit and taking out a damp paper bag. Inside the sack was a lovely bouquet of a variety of roses from his daughter's California rose bushes. They were gorgeous even though they had been packed in the suitcase and they lasted for days in my home. I still have the dried petals in a special box.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: What a gorgeous memory. I would have kept those petals too. And wish I had saved them from the valentines day the smaller portion bought me home a large bunch of roses. He had ridden his motor bike that day, and they were stuffed down his shirt for protection. The roses were fine - but there were rather a lot of blood stains on his shirt.
DeleteThat IS a charming little mushroom! I'll pay closer attention to mine now.
ReplyDeleteMs. CrankyPants: It is isn't it? And I have been looking every day since - not a sign of it. Others, but not that one.
DeleteTruly lovely flowers!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: And they are still looking good. Last flush - but a delight.
DeleteThe Peace rose was mother's second favorite rose -- the first was the Cordus Perfecta (I think that may not be the right way to spell it!) Lovely pictures as always.
ReplyDeleteRoland D. Yeomans: Google directed me to the Kordes Perfecta - which I didn't know and is a stunner. Thank you.
Deletethe Oklahoma rose is so distinctive. Did you say that the Japanese umbrella mushroom whether or not it is poisonous?
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: My favourite rose shifts with the wind - but Oklahoma is very beautiful. Always. I don't know whether the Japanese umbrella mushroom is poisonous or not - but wouldn't risk it. At all.
DeleteScrolling, scrolling...I know better than to wait until Tuesday to visit. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your roses...and they smell too? It's so hard to find roses that haven't had the scent hybid-stomped out of them.
That's a mushroom? It looks like a delicate flower!
River Fairchild: I refuse to buy roses without scent. Artificial imitations of the breed. And yes, that it a very delicate and very pretty mushroom.
DeleteA posy of them would make a wonderful photo.
That Umbrella Mushroom is really unique. Never seen anything like that before, not even pictures.
ReplyDeleteHaddock: Until I was sent a photo of it neither had I. Such a delicate thing.
DeleteOh, you still have roses! How gorgeous they are, especially the Woburn Abbey (I can't go past flowers in those colours). I can't grow roses as our garden is really far too shaded, but I enjoy wandering around and enjoying other people's blooms.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous mushroom. It looks so delicate and fine. I've seen something similar out in the woods, called "veckad bläcksvamp" (literally folded black fungi) and they do indeed look like those pretty Asian oil-paper umbrellas. You can't pick them as they disintegrate as you touch them. Like another commentator, when I',m out foraging I head straight for the highly prized Chanterelle and Funnel Chanterelle. And sometimes the beautiful, tasty Porcino. There are a lot of fabulously coloured funghi here, but I stay with the three that I know are edible :-)
Maire: Not only do we still have roses, they are better than they have been all year. They won't last long, but are a treat while they do. Woburn Abbey is gorgeous isn't it? It is a very long time since I have been mushrooming. And, I don't think we get Chanterelles.
DeleteHi human, Sue,
ReplyDeleteThank goodness! A human not doing that ridiculous alphabet challenge! Phew and arf!
You certainly rose to the occasion with this one, my dear human friend. I love roses, my humans love roses. Although we do try to avoid the stems in a lot of cases. Bit of a prickly subject.
Those mushrooms are amazing to look at.
Pawsitive wishes,
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :)
klahanie: Dear Penny, I am far too lazy to do the alphabet challenge. And the thought of reading the zillion blogs each day makes my head hurt.
DeleteDear EC, is the Japanese mushroom a real mushroom or is it a flower???? Whichever . . . it is quite enthralling. Your rose photos are lovely. I like best the simple wild rose that is single petaled. It's simplicity appeals to me. I hope all is well. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee: The Japanese Umbrella mushroom is certainly a funghi - but as delicate and beautiful as many flowers.
DeleteI am glad to see you back in the blogosphere and hope that you are triumphing over health issues.
Breath taking images - beautiful. So nice to follow and connect with an a to z challenger, and I look forward to more posts. http://aimingforapublishingdeal.blogspot.co.uk/
ReplyDeleteComley Charlotte: Welcome and thank you. I am not however an A to Z challenger - far too lazy.
DeleteWhat beautiful images. I love them!
ReplyDeleteRomance Book Haven: Thank you - we love our roses. And the rest of the jungle too.
DeleteWhat a strange... mushroom, if that's what it is. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteIsabelle: Isn't it delicate? And, I think, delightful.
DeleteI love the roses, especially the first yellow one.
ReplyDeletePractical Parsimony: We love them too - and I am so very pleased that the weather has cooled down enough for them to burst into flower.
DeleteYour roses are lovely! I just bought a David Austen rose - Heritage - since I love English roses so much. It will have to live in a big big pot.
ReplyDeleteThe mushroom looks interesting - I've never seen one like that, and my garden soil currently produces all kind of mushrooms.
Carola Bartz: David Austen roses are lovely - but usually fairly spikey. I hope to see photos of yours in the fullness of time.
DeleteI had never seen this mushroom either. And despite ongoing rain and drizzle I haven't seen it (or its relatives) since that day.
I looked at your post with all the roses – what a great selection they have in this garden! I think that when visiting such a garden time seems to stand still – the beauty of the roses takes all other concerns away. I had a rose garden once – 150 rose bushes, but trees grew and I took a full time job and now they are gone but we have a public garden close by with a wonderful rose garden.
ReplyDeleteI just read on another blog that Australia is going to get another cyclone, Cyclone Ita – (her daughter lives near the area where it will hit) – but I think you are a long way from there?
Vagabonde: 150 rose bushes would be an incredible treat for the senses. Complete bliss.
DeleteFar North Queensland is indeed on cyclone alert. I hope the damage is minimal. It is a long way from me. Here, we have rain. Rather a lot of very welcome (to me) rain.
Despite a not so great season for roses, yours appear amazing. Great photos. Love that mushroom. I've never seen that. Untethered Realms
ReplyDeleteM Pax: Now, as the season winds down they are doing well - which is lovely. I was worried that the vicious summer had killed them off (like rather a lot of other things in the garden). Except the weeds of course.
DeleteIsn't the mushroom amazing?
Wow, that umbrella mushroom is funky looking! Almost like animal tissue posing as a flower.
ReplyDeleteJphn Wiswell: It does doesn't it? I hadn't looked at it like that - thanks for a new perspective.
DeleteWhat an extraordinary mushroom ... and it lasted for less than a day. Shame.
ReplyDeleteWendy: And how lucky that serendipity allowed me to see it in the first place.
DeleteThat's just how that works too, when you're introduced to something new, you happen upon it just then in real life. The Japanese mushroom is pretty amazing looking. We used to have a big cactus outside of our home in Florida that had flowers that bloomed only at night. If you went out in the wee hours of the morning you could sometimes still catch sight of them, and they were gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAll of the roses are pretty. So much so that I cannot even pick a favorite.
mail4rosey: It is weird the way it works isn't it? Come across something for the first time ever, and then trip over it every time you turn around for the next week.
DeleteI can never pick a favourite either. And we once had a night flowering cactus - which I loved. It was scented too.
Pretty colors of the roses!!
ReplyDeleteMastHoliday: Thank you.
DeleteLovely flowers. I envy people with green thumbs, I have no patience for gardening.
ReplyDeleteRachna Chhabria: Welcome and thank you. I wish that my thumbs were always green - but they most definitely are not.
DeleteHi EC. Beautiful flower shots and that mushroom is great, never saw one like that before.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: Thank you - and I had never seen that mushroom either. I will watch for it now though.
DeletePretty! I just planted sunflowers, all different kinds. Can't wait to see their smiley faces http://untetheredrealms.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteGwen Gardener: A field of sunflowers (or a garden) is something to see isn't it?
Delete