Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 29 April 2018

Sunday Selections #377

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 staying close to home.  A soft and gentle dawn (which changed by the minute) to start with.





 



And then a wander into the garden.  Summer is finally showing signs that she is leaving (hooray) but some plants are having a final fling (also hooray).






One day last week we had fifteen spits of rain (essentially incontinent pigeon rain - splat, splat and it was gone).  I would have liked a lot more, but it was pretty.  







I do love begonias.  Their leaves are lovely and the blooms spectacular.


This rose has the most glorious scent. 


136 comments:

  1. Your blooms are spectacular, EC. Wish we could send you some rain.

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    1. Marie Smith: I wish you could send us rain too. We have had less than a tenth of our average rainfall for several months now.

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  2. Dear EC
    What beautiful flowers - just stunning. Nature is always amazing and gives us wonders to marvel at. Delicate pastel shades in the sky too. I echo the above sentiment about wishing we could send you some rain as we are a bit fed up with it!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: Like you I do love the garden. And am grateful for nature's wonders.

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  3. The flowers and the sunrise pictures are beautiful but I have to admit the fern with the rain drops is stunning!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Thank you. I loved seeing the raindrops on the silk-tree too.

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  4. Hi EC - beautiful dawn skies ... and oh roses with perfumery scents ... so gorgeous - I can smell it here; we had summer here last week ... now it's reverted to 'English' rain - 'cept I'm in Canada!! Cheers and enjoy the week - Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: A rose without scent is a travesty as far as I am concerned. And this velvety rose just epitomises 'rose scented'.

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  5. Lovely skies, as always, and I'm so glad you got a splash or two of rain. We're back in our usual rain, but after almost a week of sunshine, it was welcome. :-)

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    1. DJan: Send some this way. We need buckets. I don't think it will be long before drought is officially declared.

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  6. Okay, I want the rose with the glorious scent! :)
    Your flowers are simply beautiful. I would love to stroll through your garden.
    Enjoy good health and your weekend.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: I need to stroll with the camera more often. When I am outside without it I tend to just see what needs to be done. And rather a lot of things need doing.

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  7. Awesome photos of the sky and flowers. We don't see that kind of sunrises here in Brooklyn.

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    1. mxtodis123: Our dawns are usually soft like this one. Sunsets are a different matter, but dawn is almost always gentle. It is breaking as I type and is even more subdued than these photos.

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  8. Beautiful skies, and the flowers, fantastic.

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  9. I like the drops on the fern.
    Your summer must hang around a long time.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Our summers do hang around, and this one for a lot longer than most. By this time we usually have frosts. Not this year.

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  10. Love the skies and the flowers.

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  11. Lovely!
    But I cannot tell,on the monitor, what the first garden pic depicts.A few months ago I might have thought Forsythia.But in May? Some shrub's autumn leaves?
    And yesterday I bought A Banksia rose!

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    1. dinahmow: A weeping mulberries autumnal colour. What colour banksia rose? We have the yellow and the white. Both of which are thriving.

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  12. I always come away from your garden posts with a sense of peace, EC, despite knowing the amount of hard work that goes into making them beautiful!

    Your skies are lovely. And I'm always happy to see the sister trees.

    I'm glad to hear your fall is descending at last, but worry about your lack of rainfall. It doesn't seem fair that weather is so unbalanced around the world. If it was spread out better, we would all be happier, I think.

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    1. jenny_o: Some world wide weather moderation would be nice. Very nice.
      Even working hard in it the garden is a source of peace for me too.

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  13. A really lovely post, EC!!

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  14. Honeybees, aunts and all. I wonder if begonias are naturally impervious to insects or if you just caught them all in insect free mode.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I hadn't thought about it, but now you have put the idea in my head I don't remember seeing insects on the begonias. I wonder why not?

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  15. Your flower photos, in particular, are stunning, EC.

    The temps have dropped considerably up here over the past few days, which is wonderful. I sure am not complaining.

    I hope your week ahead treats you kindly, EC...and perhaps brings you a few more drops of rain! Cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: Our temperatures are still all over the place. The nights are (mostly) cool now, but the days are a different matter. I have a frantically busy few weeks ahead but do hope it is kind. Jazz (who never gets ANY attention here) thanks you. Cuddles for your pair too.

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  16. Lovely dawn shots here ...
    So nice that you still have late summer blooms, the colours are good to see.
    I could almost smell the glorious scent of your last picture, what a glorious rose that looks.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: I really, really like that rose. Velvety coloured, richly scented. I hope it thrives next year too.

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  17. Along with your beautiful flowers, you have a knack for catching the elusive - a bee feeding, raindrops glistening, ... I'm always impressed by your photo skills!

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    1. River Fairchild: The little things are huge in my world. My ever-loving family said 'small things for small minds' but I stick my adult tongue out at them. And thank you.

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  18. Beautiful blooms and I like the raindrops on the leaf.

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    1. Andrew: I did too. The rain bejewelled the leaves. Briefly.

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  19. Replies
    1. Sandi: We think so. Most of the begonias are in pots on the front veranda and give us a cheery welcome.

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  20. the skies are so subtle, just gorgeous!
    have a lovely day

    xo

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    1. kylie: I thought they were lovely and headed out to do mad woman with camera dances. I hope your day is full of wonder.

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  21. Beautiful sunrise, very pretty flowers, and i love your description of the rain!

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    1. messymimi: Thank you. We really, really need real rain. Days of it.

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  22. Oh I love bleeding hearts.
    Coffee is on

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    1. peppylady (Dora): That begonia does look like bleeding hearts doesn't it? And is a charmer.

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  23. This was lovely...How are you?

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    1. e: Thank you. Struggling a bit today. How about you?

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  24. A super collection of skies and flowers, thanks EC :) Real smile bringers, all of them.

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    1. Denise inVA: I am glad. Smiles never go astray.

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  25. I love the sky pics. How do you find so many pretty flowers in the Fall? beautiful

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    1. Kim Standard: Summer has been reluctant to leave this year and flowers have been lingering. Today is a lot cooler though.

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  26. A scented rose! I love them, we have one here, also a dark red. The begonias are gorgeous, they don't seem to grow for me, but my mum had plenty, all grown from cuttings she took from my plants as they were dying. I'm glad summer is finally leaving, the cooler nights especially are better for comfortable sleeping.

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    1. River: You are so right about cooler nights. Being able to snuggle into bed again is blissful. Begonias really like our front veranda. I think the light is just right for them there and they provide a wonderful welcome home. And the birds leave them alone which is not true of rather a lot of plants.
      Isn't that deep red rose a joy? And the scent is as rich as the colour.

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  27. Those begonias are just beautiful - tuberous ones I think from memory.
    Like the drops of rain.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: They are indeed tuberous begonias. I fell in love when I found them and bought rather a lot.

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  28. Gorgeous, gorgeous flowers--thank you!!

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  29. A wonderful series to bring in the dawn and then your beautiful blooks I particularly love the Begonias Sue. Hope you are keeping well.

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    1. Margaret Adamson. I do love the begonias. And long for more rain. I am ok(ish). Thank you.

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  30. Beautiful pictures of dawn. I love the black silhouettes against the sky. Beautiful flowers, too. What a lovely garden you must have.

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    1. Elizabeth Varadan, Author: I really liked the contrast at dawn too. The garden is a work in progress. Always. With some lovely corners and some which require a lot more work.

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  31. What stunning photos! Love them!

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  32. So pretty! I know that sunset photos are so popular, but to me the dawning of a new day is just as exciting and beautiful. I love me a pretty sunrise!

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    1. We are: Clamco: Me too. I love a good skyscape at any time of the day - and dawn is a particular favourite. Ours is a little way off yet, but I am watching. And waiting.

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  33. I was going to comment that sky pictures are my favorite until I saw the ones of the flowers.
    This earth is a beautiful place.
    The incontinent pigeon rain made me snort coffee out my nose:)

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    1. Rick Watson: I hope the coffee explosion didn't damage anything. The earth is indeed a beautiful place.

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  34. Such beautiful flowers and I always love your sky photos.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. I am a beauty addict, and fortunately don't have to look hard.

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  35. we had a lot of rain, now it will be dry for a week, so many lovely flowers, do you cut any and bring them in? My perennials are just getting started and I've planted my tomatoes.

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    1. Linda Starr: I do bring some flowers in. Not the begonias though. They are at the best on the plant.

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  36. I love, love, love begonias too! Such beautiful flowers and your pictures are gorgeous. What fabulous sky photos! I can watch the sky change for hours. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: I can and do watch the sky for hours. And marvel at it. The tuberous begonias are a patch of joy I wait for every year.

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  37. Mmm, I love EC sky shots. You catch such warm times of day (or at least, warm-looking times of day).

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    1. John Wiswell: Thank you. At the moment warm looking rather than warm. We are hovering around 5C (40F) in the mornings. The temperatures climb rapidly with the sun though.

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  38. Nice photos. A talent that shines so bright.

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  39. Wow, such a floral treat. The colours are breathtaking.

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    1. David Gascoigne: They are. And brighten the greyest day.

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  40. Begonias! I have some and didn't know! Your shots keep growing better and better 🎆🌸🌼🌻🌺🌹

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    1. Cloudia: Thank you. Aren't begonias beautiful things? Their foliage AND the blooms.

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  41. Very bright and vivid colors still in your garden. And the muted green of the dripping fern, I like it.

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    1. Strayer: It is quite a bit cooler today so I suspect the garden is on its last hurrah for the season. And how I wish we had more rain.

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  42. I just went out on Friday and bought similar begonias. There are so many varieties and colors that it is difficult to only choose a few.

    It looks like you are like me and up before dawn. Aren’t we the lucky ones to get to see the first light of day.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: It is very difficult to limit our plant selection. I am not going to admit just how many spring bulbs the skinny one and I have purchased.
      I am indeed up before dawn. And love the quiet, and the first light (and songs) of the day.

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  43. I absolutely adore begonias! They grow in the shade which works well for my garden. You have lovely photos. I like the sky ones with coloured clouds.

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    1. Wendy: I am a big fan of them too. Our summers are usually long and hot and everything in the garden gets crispified. The begonias on the veranda are heart balm.

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  44. My goodness, you and Sandra Cox really know how to plant some gorgeous flowers! I'm truly in awe. These pictures could definitely be made into perfect postcards! So amazing! Hugs...RO

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    1. FO: The plants which do best for me are 'set and forget' plants. I do love splashes of colour and texture though.

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  45. I am glad your summer is waning....but I am enjoying your flowers especially those begonias. Here's hoping I warm up and dry out and you cool down and get much needed rain.

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    1. Donnna@GardensEyeView: I do hope you get your wish. For us both. It is cooler here today. But very, very dry.

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  46. Dear EC, thanks for that new term--"pigeon rain." I love it because that's what we get so often. When that happens, I normally say that we had a "sprinkle." But your term is much more description.

    And oh, I so love the apricot color of the dawn. Peace.

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    1. Dee: Dawn is one of my favourite times of day. Quiet. Gentle. Beautiful.

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  47. If you look up there's beauty. If you look down there's beauty. You must be surrounded by nothing but beauty all the time!

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    1. cleemckenzie: I am a beauty addict. And fortunately there is a lot about to feed that addiction.

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  48. I thought about you yesterday. On a walk in the park, I trekked by a beautiful yellow bellied bird. I had no camera on me but thought: "EC would've captured that one brilliantly." You always do.
    Have a lovely week, friend.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: Thank you. I am really touched to hear I am in your thoughts even away from the blogosphere. And believe me, there are some epic fails with my camera.

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  49. We've had so much rain today that the water is dripping through our ceiling. You really don't want that much!

    So you aren't a big fan of summer then? You should live in the UK, we don't really get one, and if we do it lasts a week and that's it.

    Lovely photos as usual.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: We have had through the kitchen ceiling rain in the past. And are having some expensive roof repairs over the coming weeks. We do need some rain though.
      I am not a fan of summer and yours sounds just right.

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  50. Those begonias are so gorgeous and regal.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Aren't they beautiful. The first frost will kill them off, but I am enjoying them in the interim.

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  51. The sky is beautiful. The flowers are gorgeous! So much colour.
    : )

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    1. Carerina: Colour and beauty are hand in hand for me.

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    2. EC, my friend is away for a couple of days. She texted me today saying she will be back at the end of the week and she will email me the lime mousse recipe.

      I will not forget to send it to you.

      : )

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    3. Caterina: Thank you. I look forward to it.

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  52. It is only goodness which gives us excellence like so much hope Summer gives.

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    1. Spacer Guy: I am rather fond of the other seasons too. More fond than I am of summer if the truth be told.

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  53. I can almost smell the roses from here. And that gentle dawn is exquisite!

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    1. Lady Fi: I was out in bare feet and a dressing-gown revelling in day again today.

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  54. Replies
    1. Francisco Manuel Carrojola Oliveira: Welcome and thank you.

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  55. I always love the colors in your sky and flowers ... and birds.

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    1. Cindi Summerlin: Thank you. So do we. I am partial to the wintry elegant beauty you share too.

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  56. Truly gorgeous pictures! Thank you EC!!!! I would love to explore your garden!! Hope everything is well! Sending you Big Hugs!

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    1. Magic Love Crow: Thank you so much. Our garden is always a work in progress and at the moment much of it is winding down for winter. I am hoping for a spectacular spring though. Big hugs to you too.

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  57. I smell that stunning rose in Duluth, Minnesota!! xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: That rose has been perfuming the air in the kitchen for days. Bliss.

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  58. Such lovely flowers always bring smiles.

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    1. Rasma Raisters: Rather a lot of smiles. We have had a couple of cold nights and they are fading now.

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  59. I'm glad you're finally getting a break from the high temperatures. Ours are just beginning. It's in the mid-eighties now, and I'm hopeful it lingers in that vicinity for a spell.

    Your begonias are gorgeous! And I'm doing my best to imagine the scent of that rose. :)

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    1. Susan: Even the mid eighties is hotter than my wimpy self likes. I hope you can stay cool. And keep writing.

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  60. Those photos were fabulous - each and every one of them, starting with the ones of the dawn and ending with the blossoms.

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    1. Kalpanna M: Thank you. I am a beauty addict and find it often in the sky and the garden.

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  61. Love the drops of rain on the fern. Beautiful.

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    1. Lynn: I do like to see a rain bejewelled leaf. And wish it was more common here.

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  62. Your dawn shots are beautiful and remind me of my mum and her love of coloured skies and contrails. Your garden looks stunning EC, I tried to find flowers in my garden last weekend and apart from giant banksias all I had was native rosemary

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    1. Kim: I never, ever tire of watching the sky. And was out shortly after first light again today. The garden is a work in progress. Always. And there is not a lot out at the moment here either. A frenzy of bulb planting going on though.

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  63. Dawn is such a beautiful time of the day. It's still cool and the new day has just started with all its possibilities. Your photos tell of this feeling.

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    1. Carola Bartz: It is one of my favourite times of the day. Peaceful, beautiful, hopeful...

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  64. Incontinent... pigeon rain? Say it ain't so. :)

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    1. Blue Grumpster: It is so. And our veranda shows the impact. Some real rain happened yesterday. Bliss. More required.

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  65. Roses do smell good! That last picture at fast glance, looks like it has a disgruntled goldfish behind the flower. I've been watching too many cartoons, lolol

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    1. mail4rosey: I can see that fish too - and wonder what it was.

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  66. So beautiful sky and flowers.
    Hugs

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