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 it is a return to some of my obsessions.
In the middle of the week I noticed that one of our Christmas (or orchid) cacti is confused and is either significantly ahead or behind its schedule. Given that many of our spring bulbs are shooting (in early Autumn) and that an anenome has made a pathetic attempt at flowering, I vote for early. The cactus is pretty though.
We have been promised rain. Often. The weather boffins have been lying like pigs in mud. There have been clouds though, which has made for some pretty sunsets.
And (of course) birds. The coloured birds have been largely absent, but the corellas and cockatoos have been regular nosey and noisy visitors. And are welcome.
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 it is a return to some of my obsessions.
In the middle of the week I noticed that one of our Christmas (or orchid) cacti is confused and is either significantly ahead or behind its schedule. Given that many of our spring bulbs are shooting (in early Autumn) and that an anenome has made a pathetic attempt at flowering, I vote for early. The cactus is pretty though.
We have been promised rain. Often. The weather boffins have been lying like pigs in mud. There have been clouds though, which has made for some pretty sunsets.
And (of course) birds. The coloured birds have been largely absent, but the corellas and cockatoos have been regular nosey and noisy visitors. And are welcome.
The forecasters, who are lying liars who lie a lot, should be banished to one of the lower circles of hell!
ReplyDeleteStill, the birds, blooms, and beautiful clouds do offer some compensation.
Jacquelineand...: I have never understood why they can get the temperature right (to within a degree of two) and fail so abjectly on the question of water falling (or not) from the sky.
DeleteWe have a Christmas cactus with blossoms. Ours don't live on the front porch, though. Almost every day the cat climbs to a tall cupboard to reach it, gently removes a segment or two of leaf, brings it to the floor and bats the hell out of it. The plant seems used to it; the two get along just fine.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: The plants which our cats attack don't survive. The Christmas cactus are safe from them - and fortunately the cockies leave them alone too.
DeleteI vote for early. It's beautiful, in any event. And I always enjoy seeing your (to me) exotic birds. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Very, very early. I hope that summer doesn't think it is an invitation to her.
DeleteThe cactus flower is so vibrant. Stunning. And yes, the clouds do bring lovely colour to the evening sky. Pity there wasn't rain on board. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteCountryMum: When the whole plant is covered in those blooms it is quite a display. Even one is welcome.
DeleteRain on board would be soooo very welcome. And needed.
A lovely weekend to you and yours as well.
Fabulous bird images EC! And don't we need some rain! Everything here is dying in the garden, the heat is still just so intense.
ReplyDeleteNice skies you have there EC :)
Rose ~ from Oz: We really, really need the rain. Some places have got it, but not us. Or you it seems.
DeleteI love the xmas cactus, but nothing gets away the sunsets, they are excellent.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Thank you. I do love the skies. And the birds. And the garden. As you know.
DeleteNone of my cactus have beautiful flowers like that, or if they do they bloom in AZ whilst I'm here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteI hope the birds don't poop on your head when you stand below them. :D
LL Cool Joe: So far the birds haven't got me. One of our cats, and my partner but not me. So I can chuckle at the recipients of their bounty - with my fingers crossed.
DeleteLots of our cacti flower, though most of the flowers are small. It sounds likely that you are in the wrong country at the wrong time to see them. Which isn't fair.
Perhaps the Christmas Cacti have become confused and have become Easter Cacti.
ReplyDeleteA flock of those noisy, beautiful creatures flew over here yesterday morning making sure their presence was known by all and sundry.
I hope you, The Skinny One and the two Js have a wonderful week, EC. :)
Lee: I hope not. I am confused enough without the garden adding to it.
DeleteA great week to you and your furry overlords too. And Molly.
It looks like a large and quite simple cactus flower. Quite pretty. Spring bulbs shooting? Surely these out of season events tell us something.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: It is quite a large bloom, and I like it. Some of them have white stamens and others pink ones. The global weather weirding is certainly saying things to me - and I wish it was speaking louder to our guvmint.
DeleteIt must be wonderful watching those beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I love them - but they are noisy and destructive and are not welcomed by everyone. Particularly not by farmers.
DeleteThe only time you ever see a cactus bloom here is when they are in the store. You can own one for 35 years and never see another bloom.
ReplyDeleteBirdie: These ones, and I am not certain whether it is more accurate to call it a succulent with spikes, bloom every year. Sometimes more than once. Not at this time before though...
DeleteGorgeous cactus flower. I have baby plants growing from segments I took from 4 different coloured ones which a friend has. They sulked for several months but all are now growing apace. I guess it will be a few years before they bloom.
ReplyDeleteOur drought has definitely broken! I wish I could send some rain across the Tasman to you. It's a lot cooler too - very autumnal.
Tell your wonderful birds from me that they are exceedingly handsome!
Alexia: It is, mostly, cooler here now but very, very dry. Frighteningly dry.
DeleteI do love it when plants suddenly take off, and with cuttings that pleasure is doubled.
The birds know how beautiful they are but I will tell them.
We are to freeze tonight, which will really confuse all the blooming flowers.
ReplyDeleteSunsets are beautiful.
And just amazing how many exotic birds hang around your home. Well, I guess they aren't exotic to you.
Alex J. Cavanaugh: We might get our first frost in the next few days. Which may confuse the garden even further.
DeleteThe cockatoos and corellas aren't exotic to me, but welcome. So very welcome.
My Christmas cactus died this winter. The lemon tree struggles but does have several new leaves. If only spring would burst forth and stay it could go outside. Sun but chilly air still....spring is developing here though! Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteBookie: I have lost a lot of things over summer. I am currently in clean-up mode and will see what I need to replace. I hope Spring comes (and stays) for you soon.
DeleteThe seasons do seem to be out of whack the world over. And plants are reciprocating.
ReplyDeleteBut, looking at that stunning flower! Any time is a great time to see such beauty.
The coloured parrots have been absent around here too. But, my wee red Rosella still visits and sings for me at the kitchen window. So sweet.
And, seeing as we don't get Corellas at our place, it is always a treat to see them here at your blog.
Along with your skies. Oh, your skies...
Vicki: It is odd isn't it. Usually by the solstice (a much more sensible time to celebrate the change of seasons) the weather is clearly shifting.
DeleteI love that your rosella is still visiting, and singing. They are much more musical than either the cockies or the corellas.
That's odd, I didn't know flowers could bloom half a year off-schedule. I blame global warming :)
ReplyDeleteMichael D'Agostino: You won't get any argument from me.
DeleteI am finding the same thing in our garden. I have a bottlebrush outside the kitchen window that has had lot of flowers this month and it normally blooms in November and an azalea in full bloom while the other one is dormant.
ReplyDeleteThat cactus flower is gorgeous and what a brilliant colour.
Got to love those corellas and of course the cockatoos too. We only have the corellas here in Perth but we've not seen many of late.
You speak of rain.....oh yes, it's that wet stuff that falls from the skies but in places other than Perth. Promises, promises!!! Even when that cyclone swept down the west coast a week or so back we in the western suburbs got perhaps 4mm after a promise of up to 50mm. It is sooooo dry and I doubt there will be a break in the weather until mid April, if then. From what I can tell from the weather map we send all our rainfall to Victoria and Tasmania and I believe they've even had snow. Global warming?? Who knows but there certainly are changes happening.
Your cloudy sunsets are beautiful and at least you have clouds. Blue skies are lovely but one can tire of them.
Sorry, I've rambled on a little there so forgive, please.
Mimsie: Never apologise for a long comment. Never.
DeleteRain? Some people do get it. Not here.
Interesting to learn that plants on your side of the country are also confused. I would have thought the poor things were locked in permanent summer.
Pretty indeed!
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about the weather, "lying like pigs in mud", I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOW YOU SAID THAT!!!
What you said, this has given me a great chuckle tonight, THANK YOU!!!
Lon Anderson: That was one of my father's phrases - and entirely appropriate. The rain that was promised and promised and promised simply doesn't arrive.
DeleteGlad to give you a chuckle though.
Sorry, I didn't know that phrase was from your father, but I just wanted you to know how much I love that phrase for this is my first of ever reading a phrase like that, and I felt it was very appropriate.
DeleteLon Anderson: Not a problem. Some of the things I learned from my father were not good - but there were, and are, positives I like to remember. And this phrase is now a part of me.
DeleteThat is a lovely cactus flower. Great looking at your sunsets and always a pleasure with those spectacular birds. A friend is from Australia and when she returns home each year she tells me tales about those laughing kookaburra's. Do you have them in your area ?
ReplyDeleteWhisper Mist: We hear the kookaburras reasonably often, but it is a while since I have seen one. They are not garden visitors (or not our garden), but their laugh is quintessentially Australian - and a delight. I don't mind them reducing snake numbers either.
Deletewhat is the wide crowned tree, it reminds me of oak trees in California, lovely sunsets, I do hope you get some rain, our West Coast could definitely use some too; they are in a severe drought.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: In the sunset photos? Mostly eucalypts. And the twin trees are confirs. We do have a couple of oak trees in the neighbourhood but not in these photos. More rain predicted for next week. Fingers and toes crossed. The ground is very, very dry.
DeletePretty flowers and pretty birds. :) The blooms on cacti are always so pretty!
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Cacti blooms are most definitely worth waiting for.
DeleteThose pictures are simply amazing. Shows your photography skills too. Great!
ReplyDeletedumcho wangdi: Thank you. I have a really good (but old) point and shoot camera. It is starting to show its age, and when it dies, I will replace it with a newer version of the same.
DeleteBeautiful cactus! I could watch those birds all day!
ReplyDeleteTeresa: I do spend a lot of every day watching the birds. So do the cats.
DeleteHoping for more rain here too! So dry.
ReplyDeletelibrarygirl: Some rain would be more than welcome - and will give the autumnal colours a better chance as well.
Deletelove the birds, as always, they're a delight to see. We have clouds here right now, the air is heavy with promise, but very warm, so we wait and see.
ReplyDeleteI like your cactus flower. I can't grow them, even doing everything my mum does, she had beautiful thick baskets full of blooms and I had scrawny looking stems with nary a single flower. The worst part? Hers grew from cuttings taken from mine. (*~*)
River: It is maiden hair ferns which I cannot grow. I have given up buying them in shame. I just don't have the knack.
DeleteAaarrgh! Angel has just farted right under my nose!
ReplyDeleteRiver: It is Jewel who is the household farter here. And she likes to climb into my lap to let fly. Not good.
Deleteyou really show their antics!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Cloudia: They are beautiful clowns - without clowns melancholy.
DeleteYou can't beat a white cockatoo.
ReplyDeleteMerle....................
Merlesworld: I am very fond of them, but I do like the coloured birds too. Still coming to terms with meat-eating rainbow lorikeets though.
DeleteMy Christmas cactus always blooms twice a year; once around Christmas and the other around Easter. It is always so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Ours never has been an eccleisiastical cactus before...
DeleteThe riot of colors in your photos always impresses me. Beautiful sunsets, shockingly blue sky as a backdrop for the birds, bold shades of flowers - all wonderful to gaze upon! Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteRiver Fairchild: There is a lot of colour in my world, which goes someway to alleviating the grey moods.
DeleteThe photos of the flowers are beautiful, but those of the sunsets are awesome. There's just something about sunsets and sunrises that hold me spellbound for a few minutes taking in all their beauty.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: I spend time watching the skies every day. In every mood I love them. And still, despite my years, play the children's game of making up stories to myself about the shapes in the clouds.
DeleteI've never seen a cactus flower so gorgeous. Now that's eye-candy!
ReplyDeleteThe weather plays jokes on us, haha, fooling us that it will do one thing, then when we prepare, it does another.
Guyana-Gyal: The weather men here don't have an intimate relationship with truth. And sometimes I think they are not personally accquainted with weather either...
DeleteThe Christmas Cacti we have here usually bloom at Christmas and Easter so maybe yours is right on schedule...? Regardless, it's gorgeous!
ReplyDeletemshatch: Perhaps our Christmas Cactus is learning from its relatives in your hemisphere...
DeleteThe cactus flower is gorgeous! I like to think it's neither early nor late, but is reminding us that the spirit of Christmas peace is around always.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Cassen Mickelson: I wish it was. In rather more abundance than I often see it.
Deleteahhhhhhhhh,
ReplyDeletethat orange flower! What joy.
Those white birds! Amazing.
you are like a morning prayer. xxx
My Inner Chick: I am so glad that you enjoy my obsessions. Hugs to you. Always.
DeleteI love your obsessions. I guess the flowers are developing a mind of their own and they want to thrive. I can't imagine visits from such beautiful birds. Thank you for sharing them and for your skies. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteMyrna R.: I have rather a lot of obsessions. I am so grateful to learn that other people share and enjoy them - and a great week to you and yours. Every week.
DeleteTook me a while and an enlargement to figure out the contortions of that last image. Nice birds.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Maclaren-Scott: He/she was walking down a branch and watching me. A contortionist. And yes, they are lovely birds.
DeleteLove all the photos, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNas: Thank you - I am glad you liked them.
DeleteThat's funny. It's a confusing time for all of us I suppose.
ReplyDeleteYou have the most impressive birds, and you capture them at the most impressive moments - love the one with the wings spread.
Be well, EC.
Rawkynrobyn: I cannot tell you how much time I spend every day watching the birds. Time which I don't begrudge. Despite the long list of things which I 'should' be doing instead.
DeleteOur lilacs were confused and bloomed three times, April through October. What is going on here?
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: And do we have time to fix it? I hope so, but I am not at all sure....
DeleteWow, I've never seen cockatoos in the wild like that, I've only seen them in cages. My mom would be in heaven to catch one of those pretty birds!
ReplyDeletetotallycaroline: I much, much prefer seeing birds fly free. We cage cockatoos over here as well, but fortunately there are more of them outside than in.
DeleteFlowers brighten my outlook. Here we are beginning to see daffies and tulips. I prefer red or vari-coloured tulips, but I like to see what pops up every spring. Thanks for the nature pick-me-up, EC!
ReplyDeleteD.G Hudson: I have a very big weakness for daffs and for tulips. I hope mine bloom again and will revel in photos from your hemisphere. And yes, the red tulips are my favourite, but I have some green ones I love...
DeleteFab sunsets and wishing rain is coming your way soon....
ReplyDeleteDonna@LivingFromHappiness: The weather boys are now saying possibly over Easter. Fingers and toes crossed. At night would be perfect, but rain anytime would be welcome.
DeleteI wish for cockatoos, lots of them, at my backyard feed station. Love yours!
ReplyDeleteStrayer: They are enchanting, intelligent, noisy and destructive birds. Jewel lusts after them (despite them being bigger and better armed than she is).
DeleteBeautiful sunsets! I hope the rain comes, so you get the rain you need. Your Christmas flower is gorgeous- no matter if it is early or late. :) I would love to see a cockatoo in my yard. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~ Jess: Rain predicted (again) for later this week. Just in time for easter. I love the Christmas Cactus, and am not really complaining at getting an extra flowering. I am confused, but not unhappy.
DeleteWhat a beautiful bloom on your cactus. Love all the photos. I hope you get the rain you are waiting for. The weather seems "off" in so many places, not just this year but more so this year than previously.
ReplyDeletejenny_o: I have seen the weather described as global weirding, which seems about right to me. Sadly.
DeleteI would love to hear the "noise" of your visiting birds. It looks like the are loud. Our birds are very noisy in the mornings at the moment, and I love it. It's wonderful to wake up to birds singing. A pair of scrub jays is building their nest in one of our bushes. I think it's the same pair from last year.
ReplyDeleteCarola Bartz: Both the cockatoos and the corellas are loud. And not precisely musical. In fact the cockatoos in particular shriek. Which is fine.
DeleteThe wattle birds wake me though. Well before dawn, with a peculiar cough. Lots of our birds are not 'singers' but their voices spell home.
And I would love to see and hear scrub jays.
For some reason that photo of the three birds caused me to make a loud utterance of approval.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: The birds and I are very happy to meet with your approval.
Deleteahhhh...photo #5 grabbed me. My two loves...clouds and trees
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: I have many, many photos of those trees - at all times of the day, and in all sorts of weather. They are in a neighbours home and I suspect I love them at least as much as they do.
DeleteWait...shouldn't Christmas cacti bloom in the winter?
ReplyDeleteStephanie Faris: Our Christmas is in the middle of our summer. Hot, hot, hot.
DeleteHow lovely it is to be visiting you again. Your photos are gorgeous and are real smile bringers. Thank you my friend and have a wonderful week :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Welcome back - and a wonderful, less stressful week to you and Gregg.
DeleteYour flowers and sunsets and birds are always spectacular!
ReplyDeleteOur orchid cactus (I have never heard that name before) suddenly began blooming in November after having done nothing for three years. It bloomed through all the way through Christmas and then stopped. So we thought it was a Christmas cactus. Suddenly this month it has begun to bloom again, so maybe it is an Easter cactus. I'm confused. So, apparently, is it.
rhymeswithplague: Thank you. It seems that this particular cactus has become an eccleisiastical one for several of us. And confusion is rapidly becoming (if it isn't already) my default setting.
DeleteWonderful shots of your world!
ReplyDeleteladyfi: Thank you. I am still reveling in the beauty of yours you showed in today's post.
DeleteThat cactus flower is beautiful - love the color. And the birds and sunsets - amazing.
ReplyDeleteLynn: Thank you. I am amazed on a daily basis. And hope to continue...
DeleteThe photos of the flowers are beautiful and amazing shots of the birds. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteKelly Steel: Thank you. We do love our birds - and I love my garden.
DeleteThe cactus is really pretty. The sky's majestic and those birds look royal.
ReplyDeleteLux Ganzon: The birds consider themselves royalty. And expect deference from almost all the other birds.
DeleteI love the pictures of the sky. I could stare at pictures like that all day. I have often thought about buying a digital picture frame and then loading a bunch of images like that. It would be stunning to watch. Much better than tv!
ReplyDeleteSonya Ann: Snap. I spend a lot of time watching the sky - and much prefer it to the idiot box.
DeleteMy what a pretty Christmas cactus even if it is confused! These white birds are gorgeous
ReplyDeleteKim @ Stuff could...: I have a huge weak spot for both the birds and the cactus.
DeleteOh, how lovely. Confusion can be pretty! Love the sky and clouds too. Have a wonderful week. :)
ReplyDeleteChristine Rains: Confusion is rapidly becoming my natural state - so it is encouraging to think it can be pretty. Thank you - and an excellent week to you too.
DeleteLove those sunset pics...not so keen on weather reports...think the easiest job in the entire world is a weatherman in Hawaii because it's always 85f
ReplyDeleteMark Koopmans: I wonder whether the weather boffins in Hawaii would agree with you about their sinecure of a job... I suspect not. Liar, liar pants on fire.
DeleteLove the photos. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteRaShelle Workman: Welcome - and thank you.
DeleteThe colors are so vivid in your photos. They're stunning. Untethered Realms
ReplyDeleteM Pax: Thank you. I do love a bit (a lot) of colour.
DeleteEC, my garden is bursting with bulbs popping up everywhere, a few wisteria blooms and one confused azalea looking very surprised. We are having a wet easter so the weeds are also flourishing and the whole looks very much like a jungle.
ReplyDeleteCarol: Oh the weeds. I have stinking couch grass which has invaded my bulb bed. Many bags of it have been extracted, much more to do. Nice to hear that other gardens are jungle like and confused though.
DeleteI came here on Monday to enjoy the birds pictures but I see my comment didn't post. I love all your Sunday selections here. Dragon Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteAl Diaz: How lovely to see you - and thank you for coming back. Dragon hugs are ALWAYS welcome - and I hope you are feeling much, much better.
DeleteSunday's. Ahhhh how I love Sunday. And sundae. Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteTammy Theriault: While you are participating in the A to Z insanity Sundays will be even nicer (if that is possible).
DeleteLove the flower, such a beautiful shade of red. I think "Bad Cat" is looking for that toy he lost.
ReplyDeleteJeff Chapman: Welcome. Bad Cat (aka Jazz) views me as a toy - and knows exactly where he left me. Bleeding.
DeleteI'm always so thrilled when spring flowers make a last ditch gasp at resurrection before going to sleep (or perhaps waking early). It somehow gives me hope they know the world will keep turning.
ReplyDeletebarbfroman: At the moment it feels as if the turning of the world has speeded up, and I am wondering how to stay on it... But yes, spring flowers are such hopeful things.
DeleteLove birds, especially when they are noisy visitors :-)
ReplyDeleteHaddock: I am bird obsessed, so you will get no arguments from me.
Delete