Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 3 April 2016

Sunday Selections #270

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 the garden.  The poor neglected garden which I cannot (yet) get back into to do the work it needs.  The hip issue I complained about last week has been diagnosed as bursitis.  It is still very, very painful and limiting.  Sigh.


So we will look at the begonias (and a few other plants) on the veranda and deck and treat the rest of the garden with ignore. 

The hoya is in flower again.  


  
Lots of beautiful begonias.










This last plant's common name is the Goldfish Plant.  I think it is well named, and the common name is much easier to remember than Nematanthus glabra.



It says it needs a warm, frost free location - but it lies.  The plants have thrived on our back deck for many years now.
 

132 comments:

  1. OOOOOO. M. G.
    Is it Sunday there already!?
    Loooooooooove your blooms, darling.
    It snowed today in Minnesota!! YUCKKKKKKK. xxxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: It is definitely Sunday, early, but Sunday just the same. Snow? Jealous thoughts. Hugs.

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  2. My sympathies EC for your bursitis .. I had to google it and I can imagine the pain/discomfort/frustration you are feeling. I hope the garden in all its bloom will be a pleasant diversion for you (don't look at the weeds). Good news, the cooler weather is on its way.

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    1. carol: I am itching to get into the garden. There is quite a lot of mulch sitting in the driveway which I had partially moved. Sigh. Himself will spread mulch, but won't weed. And I want the beds weeded first. Yay for cooler weather. We are getting some. At last. More please. I want to try and freeze bubbles again.

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  3. love all your flowers; I was thinking the goldfish plant was like one I had before but now I remember it was called the lipstick plant. Ha. Happy Sunday to you.

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    1. Linda Starr: I had a lipstick plant too. I wonder what happened to it?

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  4. Hope you feel as good as your flowers look!

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  5. They DO look like goldfish! I love your pretty flowers and I always love to hear from you from the future. Still Saturday here. :-)

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    1. DJan: If you listen to my partner it isn't Sunday yet here either. He is still asleep and likely to be so for some hours. He is wrong though.

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  6. Great pictures thank you for sharing

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    1. Martin Kloess: The time will come when you are sick of photos from my garden.

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  7. I so enjoy seeing all the different flowers that you have over there. Goldfish flower. Who'd a thunk it?

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    1. Dawn@Lighten Up!: Those responsible for the common names of flowers (unlike the common names of birds) sometimes get it very right.

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  8. We have a hoya in the front foyer. When it blooms, it drips very sweet sap, and we have two lane traffic of tiny ants, in along the wall, up the plant to collect sap, down and in the other lane to exit the building. This has been going on for years!

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Our hoya (and its ants) live outside. I really don't want any more wildlife inside.

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  9. Really sorry about your hip.
    Nice selection of flowers. A lot more than we have here.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: It is the tail end of the season. For the next few months blooming flowers will be in short supply. Luckily I am equally fond of foliage.

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  10. I do really enjoy seeing the flowers from your garden. Hope you and your hip and feeling much better soon.

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    1. CountryMum: Thank you. The hip has a way to go, but is less vicious than it was.

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  11. I had a hoya love the feel of the velvet flowers.The goldfish plant thats a newie never seen that one before.
    Merle.............

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    1. Merlesworld: As I said, we have had it for years. I assume it isn't fashionable at the moment. And I understand (and subscribe to) fashion in the garden even less than I do in clothing.

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    2. Fashion in the garden? Now that you mention it, yes, I've noticed that some plants and flowers are all the rage. Phooo. I don't do trends in the garden, I might with clothes, now and then, but only for fun.

      In the garden, all plants are fun.

      So it's called hoya! When we were children, we called it the icing-flower.

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    3. neena maiya (guyana gyal): Sadly yes. Plants move in and out of fashion. Which can mean that some of my favourites are hard to find.

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  12. A lovely bunch of the flowers, love 'em so much.

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  13. I've never seen Nematanthus in plant shops up here.(I had one in Brisbane) Maybe I need to go to a "proper"
    shop, not the Big Box Stores! Or maybe beg a cutting from a green-fingered friend?
    The orange begonia against the purple leaf is a magic combo!but I'm sure you know that.

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    1. dinahmow: Begonia foliage is often stunning - and yes, I do love that combination. I will take a cutting and post it early next week. And hope the postage system is both quick and kind.

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  14. Beautiful! If this is what your garden looks like untended it must be magnificent in perfection!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: The garden never is perfect. And, at the end of summer is decidedly scruffy. I will (possibly) post some whole of garden shots next week.

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  15. I really like hoyas. You have clearly done something right with your begonias. I haven't seen the Goldfish Plant before.

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    1. Andrew: I really like hoyas too. We picked this one up very cheaply at a market because the owner was tired of waiting for it to flower. Her loss our gain.
      And yes, the begonias are happy on the front veranda. All of them.

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  16. These flowers are absolutely beautiful! More than that no one can rival your photos. So vivid. Praying your bursitis can be helped soon.

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    1. T Powell Coltrin: You are a shameless flatterer. Thank you. The bursitis needs time and patience. Too much of both.

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  17. Had forgotten how exquisite begonias are. the hoya flowers--how big are they? Do they go into "hibernation" mode? Direct sun?

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    1. Susan Kane: When I first discovered tuberous begonias I was almost instantly hooked. The hoya's individual flowers are tiny but the clump is a couple of inches (and sometimes more) across. Over winter they don't bloom, and ours get indirect light towards the back of the veranda. It is usually (but not always) safe from frost there too.

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    2. Susan; clumps can get up to three inches across, but usually a bit smaller. They love to climb, but also love to be potbound. So if you want one along a fence, plant it in a pot close to the fence, make sure it has something to cling and climb and just leave it. I've seen them in full sun.

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  18. Beautiful! I've never grown begonias. One of these years....They are just so pretty. The Goldfish looks like its shaped a bit like a Bleeding Heart.

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    1. Sandra Cox: We have lot and lots of begonias. I love the foliage, and the blooms are a bonus.

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    2. Indeed. They are so shiny and the colors are so sharp.

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  19. Gorgeous flowers! Sweet hoyas are a favourite.
    I have always been entranced by the Goldfish Plant - they really do resemble tiny fish, so cute.

    I'm very sorry to read of your bursitis.
    Sending you an email...
    xx

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    1. Vicki: The Goldfish plant is a charmer isn't it? Thank you for your email. Hopefully the magnesium rub will help with some MS symptoms too.

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  20. Your begonia photos made me fall in love. I wonder if they would grow where I live.

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    1. mshatch: Probably worth an enquiry at the local nursery. They are lovely plants. And rewarding.

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  21. I wish I could hire your green thumb - or develop one of my own! The begonias are really lovely.

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    1. Alexia: My green thumb is selective. There are a few plants I no longer attempt to grow because I kill them. When it isn't green my thumb is black. Sigh.

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  22. Brightness to match a beautiful Sunday here. The sky is clear and blue.

    I hope your week ahead is a wonderful one, EC...cuddles to Jewel and Jazz...and miaows to them from Remy and Shama. :)

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    1. Lee: No blue sky here. It is grey. Which, with no rain attached I resent. I hope you and the furry overlords enjoy your week.
      The two J's have retired back to bed. They have had a hard morning.

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  23. Inflammation of the Bursa, oh dear - hope you soon get relief.
    Love your begonias, they are so special those ones.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: Me too. It isn't a lot of fun. The begonias make me smile though. Always.

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  24. I have never in my life seen a goldfish plant. I love it! Is it a vine? A climber? shrub? Bush? i need to go to google....
    LOVE the white begonia, and the others too especially that last one.I'm jealous of your hoya. Mine had five sets of buds about two weeks from opening and someone pinched them :( So I moved the whole plant to the front porch where I can see it. Probably the same someone who took my green aeonium; chose the biggest plant and snapped it in half taking four flower heads, leaving me only two flower heads. Now I go out every single day and check everything.

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    1. River: A small plant which lives in hanging pots on our deck. Not sure how big it would/could get in the ground, but the frost issues would probably kill it here.
      We had plant thieves for a time. They would remove daffodil and tulip flowers, and obviously did so by yanking. Sometimes the bulb would be just left lying. Hiss and spit. At your thieves too.

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  25. The goldfish plant does look like a little fish. Well named.

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  26. Love your green fingers, such glorious blooms! My garden and dams are bone dry. Nothing left to water with except sink and brief shower water . . . 21st year of a 'green drought, a sprinkle of rain now and then to germinate grass but not enough to wet deeper rooted plants. River red gums are even dieting, there is no ground water for them to access anymore. We have done without mains water for 45 years, now somehow, it would be nice to be able to water my garden with a reliable water supply. Good for you having so much beauty to share.

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    1. Arija: I am so sorry. We are dry here too, but do have town water. Watering of the garden is limited though.

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  27. Hi EC - your flowers are just lovely ... and having a deck .. appeals. Bursitis is very painful I gather ... I thought I had that in my heel .. but no, an equally hurtful pain of plantar fasciitis is what I've got. Exercise and patience is a virtue ... I gather ..

    Take care and enjoy your Autumn turning .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Bursitis is very painful. And limiting. Sigh. I hope your plantar fasciitis is improving. Rapidly.

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  28. This is a lovely selection of beautiful flowers. So nice to see what grows in your part of the world.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. Shortly there will be very little in flower. Lots of foliage though.

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  29. I'm imagining myself plopping down in the middle of your garden for a good look around... more than that, I'm imagining being close enough to lend you a helping hand. And giving you a hug.

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    1. The Cranky: Megathanks. We could prop each other up as we tottered around...

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  30. I love the format for your blog: photos by the dozens of beautiful things. And your skill with the camera. So glad I "found" you.

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    1. Patricia A. Laster: Interesting. I am a beauty addict but words are one of my first loves. You are right though, it is a photo heavy blog.

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  31. Replies
    1. Lisa: Parts of it. There are rather a lot of less attractive areas too.

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  32. Delightful. We were at the botanical gardens yesterday but not nearly as many blooms haha Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed perusing your pictures!

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    1. HBF: How I love botanical gardens. I have never met one I didn't. Blooming or not.

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  33. I'm so sorry to hear about you being in pain. I hope you're feeling a bit more limber soon so that you can indulge in your obsession. At least you have a beautiful collection of flowers to admire while you're impatiently waiting. :)

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    1. River Fairchild: It is not helped by knowing that I probably contributed to the pain by doing more than I should/can. And impatiently waiting is right. Colour me peeved.

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  34. Hope you had a great weekend. Yes...I know...you want more of Mar.

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: I do want more Mar. But can wait. For a bit.

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  35. A bevy of beautiful begonias--& comments!!

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    1. fishducky: Aren't they? I am so lucky in my visitors.

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  36. Feel better my gimpy friend.
    Your garden is fabulous.

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    1. Sonya Ann: Still gimpy - and crabby with it.

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  37. Such lovely pictures! May your week be as gorgeous as the photos you share:-)

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    1. diedre Knight: What a lovely thing to say. Thank you - and a gorgeous week to you too.

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  38. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous part of the world.

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    1. Birdie: Next week I am thinking of showing some photos of the less gorgeous parts of the garden...
      I hope you are doing better.

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  39. I have to ignore most of my yard too! I sure hope your hip will feel better soon....like the beauty you focused on

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: I have to ignore parts of the house too. Denial. Not just a river in Egypt.

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  40. Beautiful and restorative pictures. And kind of hunger-inducing ... I still think the hoya flowers look like they are made of fondant icing.

    Love the goldfish plant! The blossoms on all the others are stunning, but that one has cuteness on its side :)

    Take care of yourself. A little rest might be in order.

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    1. jenny_o: That particular hoya's flowers DO look as if they belong on a cake. The rest has been forced upon me. And I don't do 'forced' well.

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  41. The Hoya is so neat and looks plastic. My only Sunday pictures would be of me mowing with the tractor. Not a pretty sight :-(

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    1. Granny Annie: Tractor mowing? I would like to see that. Really I would. I am impressed.

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  42. So very gorgeous!

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  43. As always, I love the photos. I could almost smell those flowers.
    Hope you get better soon.

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    1. Myrna R.: Thank you. I am moving a little more easily today - and itching to play in the garden again. Not yet though.

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  44. So sorry about your bursitis, EC. I had it last year - I do hope yours goes soon. Isn't the Hoya a delight? I've got mine growing up trees, just a little way, but they look lovely with their glossy leaves. I don't have any tuberous begonias, just the very common kind. Nowhere near as pretty as in your photos. Stay well, EC, and that goes for the SP as well.

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    1. Carol: Bursitis isn't fun is it? And it is perfect weather to be in the garden too. Our hoya is potted. I would love to grow them up trees though.

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  45. Your garden is still blooming for you, and doesn't know it's neglected, seems like. So sorry to hear about your bursitis - icing on the cake, huh?

    Gorgeous blooms!

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    1. Lynn: The pots on the verandas are doing better than the garden proper - which I hope will forgive my neglect.

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  46. I love your garden photos, E.C. They make me want to get outside and play in the dirt.

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    1. Mason Canyon: I am itching to grub in the garden again. Soon. I hope.

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  47. I forgot to save the tubers for my tuberous begonias. I have very little shade but they did well tucked around my small pond. I always loved the name "hoya carnosa' I had one when I had a house that was mainly glass, very impractical to heat but good for house plants. All the house plants I have now will go outside when ever it gets warm. Hope you were given relief for the bursitis.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Fortunately the hoya and the begonias are happy outside. I am not good with houseplants. The bursitis is still winning. The victory isn't as clear cut as it was though.

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  48. So sorry to hear about your hip. Bursitis is painful. Take it easy! Loved seeing your pictures. I am a big fan of begonias and have a couple of them too. You have beautiful flowers! :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: It is painful, but will pass. We have a LOT of begonias. The blooms are lovely, but the foliage is very special too. So many colours, shapes, textures...

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  49. Good Monday. Ouch on the bursitis! Hope you find something that helps.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Happy Tuesday - and thank you.

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    2. Hope today, you are feeling much better.
      I have some in my hands and it's not painful,and it sounds like yours is, but I sure drop a lot of stuff.

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    3. Sandra Cox: Very painful. I drop things too, but have to find another excuse.

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  50. What a wonderful way to wake up each morning. Such lovely greetings each day! Hubby surprised me with a bouquet this morning. My birthday, plus breakfast! I'm a lucky gal!
    Happy April 4th!

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    1. Yolanda Renee: A very happy birthday to you. And more to come.

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  51. I'm so sorry about your bursitis. Hope it is soon better! The last plant really is well named. When it is in full bloom, I bet it looks just like a school of goldfish swimming through some sea plants!

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    1. Susan F.: The goldfish do look to be swimming in water weeds. Which I love.

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  52. Beautiful blooms, love the hoya! Rest is the best treatment for bursitis, so make sure you get lots.

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    1. Karen: I am resting. Enforced rest, but rest it is. Interestingly if asked I would have said I am lazy. I am so frustrated not being able to do things that I may have to reconsider. A bit.

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  53. Live is like a flower, so easy to sead, sow and popagate, all one needs is the perfect flower.

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    1. Spacerguy: Or to be prepared to settle for less than perfection.

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  54. You've got some pretty pictures for sure. I'm sorry to hear about your hip and hoping that's better soon!

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    1. mail4rosey: I get a lot of comfort (and frustration) in the garden. And lots of beauty too.

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  55. Nature creates beautiful outlines of flower petals.

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    1. Sorry, didn't mean to end that there. Take care of yourself. Soothing, healing thoughts, always.

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    2. Rawknrobyn: Nature is a superb artist isn't she? And thanks for the healing thoughts.

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  56. I put in an hour in my garden yesterday and apologized to all the plants for the neglect. April's the month with everything needs attention and here I am at a computer! What is wrong with me? Your pictures are beautiful.

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    1. cleemckenzie: I worked out some time ago that if I worked in the garden every day until Christmas I 'might' be on top of it. Which was never going to be a happening thing.

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  57. Those begonias are absolutely lovely.

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    1. Robert Bennett: I got very lucky. Begonias are very happy on our front veranda.

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  58. The goldfish plant is very unusual - I think I've never seen it. Quite lovely, and I sure like the color. Your begonias are simply stunning!

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    1. Carola Bartz: Thank you. I smile at them often. And often.

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  59. The flower pictures are lovely; thank you for sharing them! I'm sorry to read of the bursitis diagnosis. May you be able to combat the pain with much success!

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    1. Bea: Thank you. Pain is still winning, but the vote is much less clear than it was. Which is a winner.

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  60. What beautiful flowers! I am trying to plant veggies here, and having a terrible time of it. I have such bad luck with them anyways, I do not know why I even bother. Sorry about the bursitis...I have it's evil cousin arthritis in both of my knees.

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  61. I just started my begonias indoors hoping they will get a head start before I plant them out in late May.

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    1. Donna@LivingFromHappiness: I hope they do well. They are splashes of joy when they bloom, and elegant all year round.

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  62. Oh my gosh, they are so prettttty.

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    1. The Happy Whisk: I am pleased to see them each and every year.

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