Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 21 September 2014

Sunday Selections #190

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.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.   This week I am going back to Floriade not for the plants but for whimsy and fun.  And there were elements of both.

These chickens are for Linda from Practical Parsimony.  They were very happy at Floriade and were making contented chooky noises - which I loved.



Photographic fun...


I think this is a stylised tulip.  I liked it anyway.


There are snails in every garden, and Foriade was no exception.




Dinosaurs too...



 And then to some balloons hanging from trees which I thought were enchanting.  Some looked like flowers, others like jelly-fish, and yet others like celestial beings.  They were tucked down an avenue of trees a bit out of the way.  I don't know what they signified, but they made me smile anyway.









108 comments:

  1. I like the balloony things.

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  2. Bloons! They are fantastic! Now...where could I hang some bloons....

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    1. dinahmow: Bloons are always good. And I am sure you have a place (or three) where you could hang them.

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  3. I love dinahmow's word: bloons!! It is perfect. They are beautiful, and kind of remind me of the hot air balloon you've posted pictures of ... I don't recall her name but she is a mammary sort ...

    Such whimsy - thanks for sharing your photos.

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    1. jenny_o: Sky whale. Beautiful controversial creature. And I am a balloon (bloon) tragic and they always make me smile.

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    2. Yes, Sky Whale - thank you :)

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  4. Oh, how wonderful! They are all full of whimsy, no matter what they are called. I like the sporty snails, too. :-)

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  5. What a lot of fun! Love it!

    It's uplifting to see some joy when we appear to be surrounded by so much drama and sorrow. If only life could be so joyous at all times, and people felt naturally compelled to do good things; happy things, rather than hurtful and bad.

    Let's hope this coming week brings with it hope for a more peaceful world.

    Best wishes for a good week ahead for you, The Skinny One and those furry mates of yours, EC. :)





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    1. Lee: No matter how dark the world gets there is always beauty and often silliness and fun around. Which I need.
      And a good week to you and your furry tyrants too.

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  6. Just caught up with your visit to Floriade on Monday EC. I was far too busy with schoolwork to be blog hopping during the week. I like the balloon flowers in the trees.

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    1. Carol in Cairns: I hope your school work is easing off now. The balloon flowers are lovely aren't they?

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  7. Are the balloons made of nylon or rubber? Love the one with the sun shining through it.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I don't know what they are made of. There were no signs and I didn't try and touch them. Whatever they are made of it seems quite sturdy. And I would welcome them back next year as well.

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    2. They appear to be parachute silk.

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  8. I love 'em, you'd think they were alive!!!!!!!!

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  9. The balloon flowers are novel. Last year they had some sparkly things in the trees. Can't quite remember now. I think the snails are new. Last year there was a big floating duck in the lake.

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    1. Andrew: I loved the yellow duck. And have vague memories of sparkly things. Like the balloons too.

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  10. I remembered it was Sunday on Saturday! :)
    I really thought those balloons were close-ups of flowers at first. How fun, not to mention beautiful! And I want those snails in my house...just saying.

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    1. River Fairchild: It is decidedly Sunday here - but I know what you mean. I lust after the balloons, but could find a home for the snails too. And they would do less damage than the ones which here already.

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  11. I think this looks like a fun site to take kids! I too like the ballony things.

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    1. Bookie: It is fun for rather a lot of people. Which is clever.

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  12. All wonderful, and the balloons the too charming. A lovely place to wander.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: It is a lovely place to wander all year round - but particularly nice at the moment.

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  13. those balloons are fabulous! and i love the elegant whiteness ( i usually would prefer colour )

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    1. kylie: I am usually a fan of colour too - but did enjoy the whiteness. I suspect that at night they have coloured lights playing on them - but were great just as is during the day.

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  14. Aw, those are fun!!
    Thanks so much for your support of my memoir project. So appreciated! :)

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    1. PK Hrezo: I hope your memoir project is a STUNNING success.

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  15. Those balloons are nothing short of spectacular!

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    1. Wendy: Aren't they? Quirky fun. Something I can never, ever get too much of.

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  16. Oh my, I love the snails and those balloons are stunning. What a beautiful work of art, wafting softly in the trees. Wish we had something similar here. Maybe next year I will get to Floriade, it is something I have wanted to do for so long. Thanks for sharing xxx

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    1. Kakka: I hope you can. And, when you do, go to Tulip Tops too. Bliss. And contact me first - I would love to catch up with you in the flesh.

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    2. I would love to catch up if I get over there. Now if damn work didn't keep getting in the way lol.

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    3. Kakka: I wasn't ready to give up work when they threw me out - and now I wonder how I ever found time to be a wage slave. We will aim for next year...

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  17. Interesting what creative minds can find. It took me a while to see those chickens though. . .

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    1. D.G. Hudson: I was surprised to see them, and really pleased to see (and hear) how happy they were.

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  18. So good - those balloons are amazing! No dinosaurs in my garden, thanks.

    I have been marking exams all week and had missed your Floriade post - off to devour it now!

    :)

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    1. Alexia: I hope exam marking is a thing of the past. And no, I would prefer that the only dinosaur in my garden is me.

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  19. The balloon flowers are certainly something different. I like the giant snails, but I love the stylised tulip!
    I miss hearing contented chooky sounds. Where I lived before, there was a large yard down a side street with about 18 chooks, all scratching around under olive trees or in the side yard clearing up vegetable debris once the fruits had been harvested. All making those contented soft clucks and that other sound I can't describe.

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    1. River: I am sure there is a more accurate term, but contented chooky sounds was as close as I could get. And it is a lovely peaceful sound.
      I think I liked the balloons and the tulip best - but was very glad to see all of it.

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  20. Looks like a fun place.
    Merle...........

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  21. Certainly quirky but the balloons make me smile as well, especially since they were not multi-coloured. The light shining through their whiteness does make them quite etherial. So glad you went there to be entertained. You sound a lot happier than in days of yore.

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    1. Arija: Happiness is a bit of a moveable feast still - but beauty, whimsy and quirkiness all help.

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  22. Cool stuff! I love the snails.

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    1. Karen: Snails have been appearing all over the blogosphere this week - but I think these are the only green and red ones...

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  23. What a wonderful place! I love the balloons! Plus the tulip sculpture is pretty. I bet you had a great time there.

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  24. what a larger than life, fun place, I like it

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    1. Linda Starr: And in six weeks it will be returned to its own natural beauty again. And will still be lovely.

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  25. It would take a lot of salt to take those snails down. Honestly though, if I find snails in my yard I just relocate them.

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    1. ditchingthedog: Me too. I nudge them towards the neighbours yard... Or just put them in the middle of the lawn well away from the flower beds.

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  26. More great photos. I especially like the balloons.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. The balloons were an unexpected treat.

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  27. The flowers are balloons? Those are cool. And you're aren't a'kiddin' those were some snails in that garden, ha! They're huge.

    Looks like a fun visit too. :)

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    1. mail4rosey: Balloons they were. Great aren't they? And so unexpected. And those snails were bigger than a lot of the children who visited them...

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  28. Those snails are so cool! I love the colors. Great pictures!

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    1. Stephanie Faris: It seems that the snails and the balloons trump the dinosaurs...

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  29. I'm having that too...bloons! Love them, and this is all ideal balm for my red rimmed eyes, so thank you *smiles.

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    1. All Consuming: I hope your red rimmed eyes are starting to feel better. And yes to bloons. Always.

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  30. "contented chooky noises" :)
    love that:)
    and all that garden art shining in the sun.....so much love.
    thanks for hurling out all that beauty for us to see and share,
    Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: Contented chooky noises are gorgeous garden music. Every neighbourhood should have them. And beauty. And art.

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  31. The snails are fantastic - oh how I wish to see them in person! I'd also like to meet the chickens...

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    1. Carola Bartz: How nice to be reminded that lots of people enjoy fun and whimsy as much as I do.

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  32. Love the snails. Thanks for going back for the whimsical. I hope you had a good time, because this sure put a smile on my face. Thanks so much for sharing these pictures.

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    1. Myrna R.: I did have a good time. And very good time - and am glad to make others smile with me.

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  33. I'd really like a couple of those blooms in my garden. I think Di has started something there. And you've reminded me that I need to go down to visit our chooks or there will be disgruntled sounds rather than soothing chooks ones.

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    1. Carol: I think a lot of us would like some bloons in our garden. Rather a lot of bloons. And, as a keeper of chooks, what is the term for that delightful noise they make when they are enjoying themselves. Somewhere between a cluck and a warble is the best way I can describe it. And love it.

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  34. I definitely see the stylized tulip in that sculpture. What kind of seed do you think it sprouts from? Maybe if you plant an anchor?

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    1. John Wiswell: Genetics is a mystery to me. But if an anchor can sprout beauty like that - anchors away (me hearty).

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  35. Absolutely delightful! Wonderful photos --a whimsy factory!

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    1. Geo.: There should be many, many more whimsy factories. World wide.

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  36. I would have loved to visit this place and am grateful you took these photos, each one a delight. I loved those white balloons and the dinosaurs and the snails, the little chuckies, everything!

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    1. DeniseinVA: Floriade is an annual treat. We go every year and there is always something new and different to marvel at.

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  37. Oh boy, I love it all, everything, especially when I make the pics bigger. Yes, I see all sorts of things, faces in flowers and everything :-)
    As for those balloon flowers...!!!

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    1. Guyana-Gyal: I hope I am never so jaded that I can't see, and love, the magic that is about. And the balloons were certainly that.

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  38. Port and Starboard snails! Maybe those balloons glowed at night??? Great sights.

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    1. Carol Kilgore: There is a night-fest, so I suspect you are right about the balloons. And love the Port and Starboard perspective. Thank you.

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  39. So much fun! I wish we had a place like that nearby. I'd be climbing all over the snails and dinosaurs.

    Take care, EC.

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    1. Rawkynrobyn: I didn't see anyone climbing the dinosaurs - but the snails were getting a work out. Which was great to see.
      Good luck with your event planning... Great cause. Essential cause.

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  40. Those snails! Would be great to have the big green one in the front garden - they'd get the neighbours talking :)

    The rusted tulip is lovely. What a beautiful accent in a garden. I adore rusted metal garden sculptures.

    The gentle clucking of chickens is a wonderful, comforting sound. I miss my chickens. Such honest little souls.

    Stunning white balloon blossoms are enchanting indeed. With an ethereal, dreamy quality. And ephemeral - like the real blooms they represent.
    I would have loved to see them in person.

    Thank you for more delightful Floriade goodness, EC. A wonderful respite from claywork for me.

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    1. Vicki: Don't work too hard. And I am more than happy to give you a respite, and some beauty.

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  41. Such whimsy in these creations! Some people have amazing minds! Including you, of course.

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    1. Susan Kane: I am a watcher and an appreciator rather than a creator - but do appreciate whimsy anywhere I find it.

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  42. Those hanging balloons are just gorgeous! And the snails a cheery touch.

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  43. Nothing subtle about that place! Neat pics though. I want one of those snails. Maybe to leave in my boss's office to see his reaction.

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    1. Riot Kitty: There isn't a lot about spring which is subtle. And you obviously get on with your boss a LOT better than I did my last one. I would have liked to have left a giant scorpion in her office. Or perhaps a slug.

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  44. Hi EC Love the snails and the balloon are fabulous. I have now safely arrived back from 6 weeks away so have LOTS of editing to do!! Thanks for looking in on my posts while I was away and commenting. I appreciate that very much.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Lots and lots and lots of editing I suspect. It did look as if you had a wonderful trip.

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  45. Such fun! Thanks for sharing all these!

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    1. Kelly Steel: My pleasure - and I am glad you liked them.

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  46. Anything that makes us smile is a good thing. Thank you for making me smile this morning, EC!

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    1. Lynn: Smiles, love, laughter and splashes of beauty are the foundations of my world.

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  47. I love the dragons with colored wings. When I drove to Waldo Lake, on the freeway, south of Eugene, a new bridge over the Willamette. I couldn't slow, but I saw they added artwork, huge sculptures, at each end, north and south lanes and they were delightful. I love art in public places or unexpected places. Your snails attract me also. I love color.

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    1. Strayer: I have a big weakness for public art too. Even pieces I don't like. I love that it is there. And do like rather a lot of it.

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  48. I want those snails too, I'd love to customise them. I'd have to bling em' up a bit.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: You have got my mind working overtime. I love the idea of blinged up snails. And they would look good in some of your caps too...

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  49. Now, those are some escargot I would prefer not to eat! Great photos!

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    1. Susan F.: More than a mouthful there - and I suspect they would be tough.

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  50. Love those colorful snails! There are no snails in our gardens here, too dry. We do have dinosaurs, though. Mostly brontosauruses. :-)

    The balloons are great! They remind me of something from the Opening or Closing Ceremony of an Olympics! :-) I especially love the third from the bottom, with the sun shining through it!

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    1. Laloofah: Even when we were deep in drought there were snails here. In hibernation until the first rain. When they emerged. Hungry. Very, very hungry. Positively greedy even.

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