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. For the next few weeks I am going to revert to the Home and Away theme I was using this time last year.
Starting with home. And our garden this time, though there are still many, many photos from Tulip Top Gardens. It has been an unusually wet Spring and everything (including weeds) is going gang-busters.
The second is a not entirely successfully experiment. I was looking out the window just after dusk one evening and noticed that the bank of tritellias (spring star flowers) was just about glowing. There will be daylight photos of them later.
Pretty things aren't they?
This orchid has no fewer than seven flower spikes on it this year. There is another different one heavily in bud on the front veranda.
The anenomies are for Joanne Noragon, to tide her over until hers return.
Just a few more from our garden. (Well perhaps a generous few.)
And now to the away part. As I indicated in an earlier post, himself is on the road again. He is in China until early next month. So far he seems to be loving it and tells me (not surprising) that Chinese food in China bears no resemblance to Chinese food in restaurants here. He always puts on weight when he goes to India and I am wondering whether the same will be true of China.
He started in Shanghai, where this next photo comes from.
And then he moved on. To a town I had never heard of. Dali. This link will give you some information about it.
And a few photos he took on his phone.
I spoke to him a little while ago and am still laughing. It seems he is a tourist attraction in his own right. Every day two or three people apparently ask for his photo, and others take it surreptiously. He thinks it is his beard. Which his sister describes as luxuriant and I am not fond of. It is his face though.
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. For the next few weeks I am going to revert to the Home and Away theme I was using this time last year.
Starting with home. And our garden this time, though there are still many, many photos from Tulip Top Gardens. It has been an unusually wet Spring and everything (including weeds) is going gang-busters.
Pretty things aren't they?
The anenomies are for Joanne Noragon, to tide her over until hers return.
Just a few more from our garden. (Well perhaps a generous few.)
And now to the away part. As I indicated in an earlier post, himself is on the road again. He is in China until early next month. So far he seems to be loving it and tells me (not surprising) that Chinese food in China bears no resemblance to Chinese food in restaurants here. He always puts on weight when he goes to India and I am wondering whether the same will be true of China.
He started in Shanghai, where this next photo comes from.
And then he moved on. To a town I had never heard of. Dali. This link will give you some information about it.
And a few photos he took on his phone.
I spoke to him a little while ago and am still laughing. It seems he is a tourist attraction in his own right. Every day two or three people apparently ask for his photo, and others take it surreptiously. He thinks it is his beard. Which his sister describes as luxuriant and I am not fond of. It is his face though.
The flowers are wonderful! Glorious spring!
ReplyDeleteInteresting news from himself. Lol.
Marie Smith: It is indeed a glorious spring. Some years ago the hospital shaved off himself's beard. He was traumatised and said 'thats my last shave'. Sigh.
Deleteyour garden is great. Tulips are amazing what a pity I can't it see them personally. Love from Poland
ReplyDeleteGosia k: There are more tulips (and other things) coming out every day. It is a lovely time of year.
DeleteBeautiful, just beautiful!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: Thank you. Lots of work too. To be done.
DeleteI like the away photos but your garden photos are so beautiful. They make me want spring back so bad. I especially like the first two photos. The flowers do appear to be glowing.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: Having spotted the 'glowing' one night, I look for it most evenings now. I do like spring. Ten years ago I planted twenty tritellia. They have colonised well.
DeleteI do like your glowing bank!Well, all of it, really.fdcgfbx
ReplyDeleteI think is Geiger's two penn'orth.she limes flowers, you see...
dinahmow: Jewel is fond of flowers too. Chewing them.
DeleteAs you burst into bloom we are preparing for the cold white months on the other side of the globe. It's nice to know that somewhere, flowers are blooming.
ReplyDeleteonly slightly confused: When we are deep in the sweaty season, I am counting on photos of your cold white months.
DeleteYou have now the best flowers time there, and we are here in full of fall color. And we will go towards the cold season. The photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice time.
orvokki: Thank you. And a beautiful weekend to you.
DeleteThat's cool the flowers are almost glowing!
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: They do look like it don't they?
DeleteIt's fun getting to know your 'himself' and more about you in this way. Your opening shots are LIGHT & DARK personified!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Light and dark both have beauty don't they?
DeleteOh flowers! Beautiful! Ours are about done for another year. Miss them already! Himself sounds like he is having a marvelous time. Hopefully he won't come back full of himself after all the attention! LOL.
ReplyDeleteTeresa Hennes: I am pretty certain he won't come back full of himself. It won't last long if he does. He is thoroughly enjoying himself - which is lovely.
DeleteFabulous photos. And good to see there are still exotic places in the world where everything isn't homogenized.
ReplyDeleteMarty Damon: He doesn't like homogenized culture and I am pretty certain he moves on quickly when he finds it. And has visited some amazing places over the years.
DeleteGlad Himself is enjoying his beard's interest. And when will I see tulips here? Months and months into the future. In the meantime I can enjoy yours. Thank-you
ReplyDeleteSue in Itali/In the Land of Cancer: I am very glad to share the tulips.
DeleteAll the colours of the rainbow in your garden! How lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy dad has not shaved since my mom died and his bears is huge. Think Santa by this time next year. Can you hear my mom spinning in her grave?
Birdie: I hear you on the Santa comparisons. Long, and bushy. Sigh.
DeleteSome people colour co-ordinate their gardens. Not me. The garden/jungle is splashes of colour. Any colour. All colours.
Well, my husband has decided he is growing his hair long, like his hippie days I asked? Ugh. I've heard that about Chinese food in China. No chicken feet for me. I just bought a bag of bulbs today to plant for next spring. Yours are beautiful. Thought I saw a freesia in there.
ReplyDeletedonna baker: Himself said he had recognised 'most' of what he was eating. The pieces he didn't would worry me.
DeleteYou did indeed see freesias. There are more coming out still too. And an explosion of Dutch Iris, Bearded Iris and ranunculas is only days away.
purdy selection :O)
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: Thank you. I think so too. Lots of them smell nice as well.
DeleteHimself is a gad-about! My landlords' son is living and working in China. He married a Chinese lass a couple of years ago and they now have a baby boy.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful week ahead, EC...time and space is your own...except, of course, for Jewel and Jazz...cuddles to them! :)
Lee: It is going to be a challenging few weeks, but the two Js are fine. And will continue to be indulged.
DeleteI hope you and your furry overlords have a great week.
Your garden is so fabulous! Your star flowers are much more prolific than mine, I'm hoping my patch will spread itself around in a few years. I didn't know you had Sparaxis! And white tulips too!
ReplyDeleteHimself is having a wonderful time I'm guessing. I'd be worried about getting Shanghai'd if I went to Shanghai.
River: Our star flowers have been in for over ten years now. And are thoroughly aclimatised, and continuing to multiply. Yours will too. I have as much as I can squeeze into the garden. And a fondness for Sparaxis.
DeleteIt all looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe gardens are doing very well this year.
Merle..............
Merlesworld: Thank you. Rain makes for a much better show than watering doesn't it?
DeleteWhat beautiful flowers. Again your photo adventure is so well composed.
ReplyDeleteMartin Kloess: Thank you. I do love the garden. So much.
DeleteYour garden is looking so beautiful. All those colours is just delightful.
ReplyDeleteCountryMum: And thank you too. I hope you are not threatened by flood waters? I am grateful for the rain, but am well aware that it is causing significant problems for many.
DeleteAnemones! Mine have not come yet. Aren't they fabulous. And, they look the same on both sides of the equator.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: They ARE fabulous. And I think of you everytime I enjoy them.
DeleteThese photos are just amazing, EC. The colours, textures, and shapes are so varied and rich. Thank you!! And your fella's unintended popularity made me smile, and then the thought of you smiling at it made me smile again :)
ReplyDeletejenny_o: I am not a fan of beards. Never have been a fan of beards. And now, if I say anything, he will remind me that I am outvoted by the people of China. I am still smiling about it though.
DeleteLovely, lovely flowers. They must give you so much pleasure! And lucky Himself - I loved my time in Shanghai, and dream of going back to see more of that fascinating country. Our son is 6ft 4" and blond, and caused a sensation when he walked down the Bund on a visit to Shanghai - but that would have been about 12 years ago, and I think they are much more accustiomed to foreigners now, especially in that particular city.
ReplyDeleteI hope your week goes exceptionally well, and that we have the occasional rain-free day. Sigh.
Alexia: He is loving China. I suspect when he returns he will tell me that a month is not enough and that he HAS to go back.
DeleteWe have stopped being rained on here, so perhaps relief is in sight for you too.
Your red flowers with the yellow/black centers look like a painting, the colors are so vivid! Rather astounding.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go to China. I envy people who can travel alone without a second thought. I hope you're spending your time in pursuits that don't require crawling through dirt and weeds...
River Fairchild: The Sparaxis are lovely aren't they? Part of being able to travel alone without a second thought is gender related, and part down to temperament. He wins on both counts.
DeleteI am crawling through dirt and weeds (which you knew) but am also reading. And sleeping. I have just emerged from a three hour coma.
So, so pretty. I am a big fan of non structured gardens with all kinds of colors mixed together.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: I can admire a structured garden, but I cannot create one. The garden is largely (but not exclusively) my territory. If himself plants things he likes straight rows. I don't stop him, but plant things in front and between so that they become invisible lines.
DeleteYour garden, as usual, is a sheer delight and I do love the 2nd snap of the blue glow of the spring star flowers (I'd never heard of them before).
ReplyDeleteSo himself is off travelling again. His health must be much better to allow him to be off on his own like that. Great that he is enjoying himself so much and that he is considered so photogenic.
Weeds.....hate 'em and ours have been quite spectacular this year and Phil is just not up to dealing with all of them. Sigh.
Mimsie: The star flowers are lovely aren't they? His health is better. Perhaps not as good as believes but much better.
DeleteI hear you and Phil about not coping. Both the cleaning and the garden are too much for me, and I echo your sighs.
I'm not a gardener but I relate to your comments about lots of colour. I love to look at disciplined colour schemes in gardens, interiors or anywhere you might find them but asked to limit myself to a particular palette and i just cant.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is lovely and I look forward to more about the China trip
kylie: As a child my mother was a gardener, and I wondered why. It snuck up on me, though discipline and I don't have an intimate relationship.
DeleteI will share snippets from the China trip each week if I get them.
you brought the bright lovely colors of spring here .they enriched my sight with pleasure and beauty
ReplyDeletebaili: I am so glad.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletelynners: Thank you. Overgrown, but I am fond of it.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the beautiful Spring colours today. I'll be planting my tulip selection in November, but it is lovely to be reminded of the stunning Spring flowers.
Himself being a celebrity in China made me laugh!
I hope you are looking after yourself in His absence (and enjoying some time for you).
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: I am already planning what I wan't to add to the display for next year. Obsessional aren't I? And I am looking forward to your spring display.
DeleteI am still chuckling at himself's new found popularity.
Oh, can we please have more photos of the dusk-view? That was magical. Mother Nature, every day I love you more! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: Thank you so much. I think I will try again - with a tripod. And yes, Mother Nature is a gem. Sometimes dangerous, often beautiful.
DeleteHi EC - gorgeous photos ... and then the story of Himself in China - lovely for you to be able to chat to him ... and for us to see some of his travel photos ...
ReplyDeleteTake care and enjoy this Spring blooming away ... cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: It was lovely to be able to chat. His cat got in the act too, and purred up a storm.
DeleteThose flowers are beautiful, I love flowers for they remind me of the softer side in life.
ReplyDeleteLon Anderson: Thank you. I love them too.
DeleteYour flowers are amazingly beautiful and I am extremely envious of them.
ReplyDeletemshatch: Each day when I wander round there are more things coming out. A truly exciting time of year.
DeleteWhat beautiful flowers you have!!! I never heard of spring star flowers but the picture taken in the dark is just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Valentine: The spring star flowers are such a soft colour in the daylight, I was amazed at them glowing in the dusk.
DeleteI'm not a big fan of orchids but your pictures might change my mind!
ReplyDeleteBookie: Orchids are very, very varied. Some I love, some not so much.
DeleteOh your flowers are so lovely and the photos wonderful; those flowers do look like they glow in the dark, hum; how wonderful the skinny one can travel and is so photogenic, ha, reminds me of when I traveled in Mexico in the 70s and the locals wanted to take a photo of me because they'd never seen anyone with blue eyes. Ha.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: It is wonderful that his high and skinniness can travel again. Your blue eyed popularity reminded me of our trip to India. There was a young thing with us with blue eyes and blonde hair. She was just about mobbed.
DeleteI love, love, love your pictures. Thank you for sharing your world with me and thank himself too!
ReplyDeleteI love your flowers. Our flowers are dying off and I'm yanking stuff out of beds left and right. It is so depressing to me to see everything that was so beautiful-die off. It helps to see everything just starting on your side of the world.
Sonya Ann: I should be yanking rather a lot of stuff from the beds too. Tomorrow. Perhaps. I do like being able to have two springs, and two autumns. And ignore my summer looking at your winter.
DeleteThe flowers are beautiful, it is autumn here so there are not many flowers left to see, but I did find some today.
ReplyDeleteI guess Chinese food has become Americanized here too!
Truedessa: I am loving photos of your autumn. Such a vibrant, colourful time of year.
DeleteI am sad when food is blanded-out of its authenticity.
Some gorgeous images to reflect on before I head off on my long journey. Thanks, EC!
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: Long journey? Travel safely and have fun.
DeleteBeaaaaaaauuutiful flowers you have shot, and the chinese gate, priceless.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Thank you.
DeleteYour gardens are beautiful. Oh, how I wish that it always could be spring. But because it is not and winter will soon come and lay it's still blanket of white, I can only wait and dream of all the glories that next April will bring. Meanwhile, I will savor and enjoy the pictures that you show us from down under.
ReplyDeleteStarting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: I like Spring too, but don't have the energy to keep up with it. And how I would love to see a white winter. I will be ogling pictures of yours when we are deep in the sweaty season.
DeleteLove the flowers =) Great pics ;)
ReplyDeleteMarco Silva: Thank you.
DeleteThe glowing spring star flowers my very favorite.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: I watch for that glow each evening - and enjoy them in the day as well.
DeleteGorgeous, gorgeous spring flowers. And here we are at the other end of the year with the leaves on the trees turning red and gold. I loved the idea of the Chinese wanting to take his picture..... sort of like coming across an unusual creature that they haven't met up with before!
ReplyDeleteIs that orchid in a pot or growing in the garden soil?
Shammickite: I like the displays from your side of the world too. A lot.
DeleteHimself is definitely an unusual creature. I may tell him about this comment.
The orchid is in a large pot, which lives permanently on our back deck.
these are some amazing pics!
ReplyDeleteSlimExpectations: Welcome and thank you.
DeleteThat's a hoot about himself being the tourist attraction:)
ReplyDeleteThe glowing blue flowers....awesome.
Your garden is beautiful. Next thing we know you'll be opening it up to the public.
Because people will be knocking on your door to see it:)
DeleteSandra Cox: There are no fences so the public can see it whenever they want. And I was given a HUGE compliment when a woman further up the street told me she had asked her landscaping company to design a garden like mine.
Delete'tritellias'- very pretty and glow in the dark too, blimey, we must get some! The whole lot look beautiful, such colours. I'm glad your other half is having a good time, and this -" It is his face though. " - Hahahahaha. I guess it is. x
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: I expect the tritellias would do well in your neck of the woods.
DeleteI had never seen his face naked before the hospital shaved him, and suspect I will never see it again if he has anything to say about it.
All of the flowers are lovely, but the glowing spring star flowers were absolutely stunning. I loved that image.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in China a few years ago, I was surprised at how interested the people were in taking my picture. They also wanted to try out their English. It's a beautiful country with so much history. Of course, the pollution in Bejing was horrid. I'm looking forward to more pictures from China.
cleemckenzie: He is loving China and will only spend a day or so in Beijing. More photos will follow, as he sends them. I am guessing it was not your beard which made people want your photo. Perhaps he is wrong. He will be disappointed if he is.
DeleteLove the beautiful pictures of flowers. I love, love, love the tritellias photos. How cool that the glow at night!
ReplyDeleteSounds like he is having a good time in China. So interesting to see the photos he is sharing with you and how fascinating that he is asked to be in so many photos. Now I am curious about his beard! :)
~Jess
DMS ~ Jess: He is having a wonderful time. His beard is bushy and long. Untamed Santa?
DeleteI adore those glowing starflowers! I'll bet that is so beautiful in person. And love your garden path - lined with flowers. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteIs his beard long then? So glad he is sending pics - thanks for sharing!
Lynn: The garden path is overgrown (like much of the garden) but I can't bear to cut the plants back while they are in flower. His beard is long. As long (and as bushy) as he can grow it.
Delete102 comments. How DO you do it???? I honestly saw flowers glowing in the dark! WOW! And they are called tritellias. I'm going to google them right now and see what their needs are, and if I can get them in Florida. *drooling*
ReplyDeletelotta joy: Lucky? I have some very generous blog friends. As you do. I hope you can get tritellia in Florida. They are a spring bulb and come back year after year here.
DeleteI've stood right in the place where he took that first picture! I loved Shanghai but have never heard of Dali. I love your pretty flower pictures. Since I am late, having just returned from my five-day trip, I see that you might never get down to my comment, there are so many! :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: It is a very small world. How lovely to know that one of my friends beat him to that lovely spot. And of course I got to your comment. I value everyone who comment here.
Deletehow fun for him to be traveling again. I like to travel but we've put it on hold for a bit. I miss it. :) The flower pictures are pretty!
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Travel is his passion. It is wonderful that he is able to do it again. For several years it didn't look possible.
DeleteWOW, those flowers do look like they are glowing!! You didnt photoshop that pic at all?! - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
ReplyDeleteGingi Freeman: No photoshop. It is beyond my skills. For a little while at dusk they do glow. And it is a joy.
DeleteThat is amazing, I want glowing plants!! Its like where my in laws live, the green moss on the trees in Washington State really do look luminescent at dusk and dawn too!
DeleteGingi Freeman: It doesn't last long, but it is truly beautiful when it does.
DeleteI'm with you on the beard thing, EC, but you're right, it is his face... Your garden looks gorgeous and those two photos of the tritellias are marvellous. Such a magical glow! I have some but I can see I need more. More of everything, really. I can't grow tulips so I love seeing yours. (Oh goodness, I have Parliament on. What a rabble! How embarrassing!) Give me gardeners any day.
ReplyDeleteCarol: Parliament on? Shudder. Definitely gardens are better. Too warm for you to grow tulips? You can undoubtedly only grow things I lust after.
DeleteGorgeous shots of the flowers! I lived in China for three years in the late 1980s and was a tourist attraction every day! Dali is a lovely place to visit.
ReplyDeleteLady Fi: Thank you. Interesting that you too were a tourist attraction. It seems from the comments here to be not uncommon. He really enjoyed Dali.
DeleteOh my! I have a visit to China on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing this post!
ReplyDeleteNas: He is loving China, and there will be more photos next Sunday.
DeleteThe first picture is gorgeous. I love green flowers.
ReplyDeleteHave a good one, EC.
Sandra Cox: I love that tulip too. And some time soon will post a photo of 'Green Goddess' Arum lily.
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I really appreciate seeing so much springtime colour. I can relate to the surreptitious photographs story but didn't realise why it was happening until one lovely Asian tourist pointed towards her head and squiggled her hand around to indicate she'd been photographing my curly hair
ReplyDeleteKim: As well as long, and bushy, his beard is curly.
DeleteHooray for spring's colour palette. So generous, so vibrant.
Wonderful photos of the flowers and those taken in China look very exotic. My sister-in-law visited several cities in China two years ago, and it was always the same. She is fair skinned, a very pretty lady and has long blond hair. People wanted her to pose with them and also, like himself, people would take a photo on the fly. Enjoyed your post as always EC. Always look forward to more.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. I haven't observed any surreptious photo taking of tourists here. I wonder whether we do it, and will have to keep my eyes open.
DeleteYou do have a lot of amazing blogging buddies!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of all the flowers and the ones from China. I'm glad he's having such a wonderful trip and that his beard is making him into a star! I wonder why, as beards are very trendy and popular now but not that unusual surely? Maybe he looks like someone famous?
LL Cool Joe: How did I miss this comment? He looks like an aging hippy. No-one famous. It is great that he is enjoying himself though.
DeleteA wet spring can be balm to a garden - yours looks lovely! Such an abundance of beautiful flowers. I can see the glow of the spring star flowers - how stunning!
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh out loud when I read that your husband is such an attraction in China. It reminded me of when I was living in Taiwan back in 1983. Everybody wanted to take a photo with me, touch my curly hair... It was hilarious, but also quite annoying oftentimes.
Carola Bartz: We very, very rarely have as much rain as we have had recently. The garden has been loving it (weeds and all). And yes, I can see how the photo thing could be simultaneously funny and irritating.
DeletePretty flowers, especially the orchid- that's just gorgeous! I'm glad your husband is having a great time. Hope all is well with you, too.
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: We love that orchid too. I am having a bit of a hate at the birds who neatly snipped the flower spike off one on the front veranda. He is still having a wonderful time. I am ok. Thank you.
DeleteGreat photos and cool beans on the real food. So much better that way!
ReplyDeleteThe Happy Whisk: No argument. Real food tastes better, is better for you and is often cheaper.
DeleteOh wow. Gorgeous flowers!
ReplyDeleteAnd those star flowers at night, I stopped right there for a while.
Haha, yes, it's the beard.
neena maiya (guyana gyal): Perhaps he says it is the beard to try and make me like it? Doomed to failure.
DeleteLove those star flowers. At any time of the day.