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 taking you to Tulip Top Gardens. These stunning gardens are open at the same time as Floriade and win my vote each and every year.
I was blown away this year to learn that ALL of the gardening on this ten hectare site is done by three people, two of whom are in their seventies.
Less talk, more garden. MUCH more garden.
I think their underplanting is superb.
I loved the rogue red tulip in this bed.
Think perfumed air, classic music playing from the trees, blossoming trees, frogs calling from the creek, free tea and coffee and happy smiling faces.
And I DID make it to the top of the look out again. Each year I wonder whether I can, and so far I have triumphed.
There are (of course) many more photos. Which will have to wait for another time.
In other news, a new medical malady (torn vitreous gel in my right eye) and a (welcome) impending guest are slowing me down. From next Wednesday I will almost certainly be neglecting blogs for a week or so. Words for Wednesday and next week's Sunday Selections have been scheduled. Have fun, and I will catch up when I can.
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 taking you to Tulip Top Gardens. These stunning gardens are open at the same time as Floriade and win my vote each and every year.
I was blown away this year to learn that ALL of the gardening on this ten hectare site is done by three people, two of whom are in their seventies.
Less talk, more garden. MUCH more garden.
I think their underplanting is superb.
I loved the rogue red tulip in this bed.
Think perfumed air, classic music playing from the trees, blossoming trees, frogs calling from the creek, free tea and coffee and happy smiling faces.
And I DID make it to the top of the look out again. Each year I wonder whether I can, and so far I have triumphed.
There are (of course) many more photos. Which will have to wait for another time.
In other news, a new medical malady (torn vitreous gel in my right eye) and a (welcome) impending guest are slowing me down. From next Wednesday I will almost certainly be neglecting blogs for a week or so. Words for Wednesday and next week's Sunday Selections have been scheduled. Have fun, and I will catch up when I can.
Keep going to that lookout as long as you can.
ReplyDeleteSuch an explosion of colors. I actually like the yellow and pink trees best.
Alex J. Cavanaugh: I hope to be going to the lookout for years to come. It really is an explosion of colours, and I can never decide what my favourite is.
DeleteI hope your eye heals well and quickly. Thank you for all the lovely flowering plant and flower photos. xx
ReplyDeleteBea: The optometrist tells me it could be six months or more before the flashing lights in my peripheral vision disappear. I hope she is wrong. And am glad you enjoyed Tulip Top Gardens.
DeleteWonderful scenes of the garden, so beautiful. The white of trees are superb.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: The owners have planted more than a thousand trees and many of them blossom. It is indeed superb.
DeleteI hope your eye heals soon. Those flowers are so pretty. Some of them I've never seen before.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: Every where we looked there was more eye candy - and more smiling faces.
DeleteOh Child, I hope you can still read. Can't do without that. It is so beautiful there. Spring is my favorite season. See you soon, I hope. As for now, I can reply and comment as anonymous. Donna @ Gather.
ReplyDeleteDonna: I am glad you have found a way to comment and respond again. I do like Spring too, but this garden shows it off at its best.
DeleteI cannot tell you what a feast for the eyes your beautiful garden pictures are for me. And thank those three amazing people for their incredible work! Oh, and boo to the eye business. Hope it heals up quickly. Please take it easy while your visitor(s) are there. You don't need to comment on my blogs for me to feel your presence. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Those gardens are a feast for all the senses. It looks and smells incredible. I love the music wafting from the trees, and the frog song. And those blossoms felt like silk under my fingers.
DeleteThat is an astounding place.
ReplyDeleteHope you heal up quickly and have great fun with your guest.
messymimi: Thank you. The gardens are just off the highway - and an incredible haven.
DeleteSo much has been done, perennials and flowering trees and all, but what a lot of grounds to keep tidy and pop in a few annuals. Say a few dozen peck baskets. It's all wonderful.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your guests and heal your knee.
Joanne Noragon: It is a huge area, and I couldn't begin to stay on top of it. It is my eye, rather than my knee, but thank you.
DeleteLove the flowers.
ReplyDeleteHoping you heal quickly.
Jamie Ghione: I love them too - and thank you.
DeleteTulip tops is glorious again!
ReplyDeleteI hope the eye is not too bothersome and I know you will enjoy your guest.
Hugs to you
kylie: Isn't it? And despite the entry fee it is considerably less commercial than Floriade. The flashes in my peripheral vision are discomforting - but worse things happen at sea. Thank you. Hugs received and reciprocated.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear you are experiencing a problem with your eye, EC. I hope it clears up soon. It must be extremely annoying for you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI was half-expecting to see some photos of the sea of poppies in memory of our World War 1 heroes.
Your set of photos of the "real thing" is wonderful.
Again, take good care...I hope everything clears up quickly...have a good week, as best you can...and cuddles to Jazz. :)
Lee: I hope the optometrist is wrong. She tells me six months or more and hasn't ruled out my retina detaching. Fingers crossed.
DeleteAnd no, I haven't been to see the sea of poppies. Yet.
What a treat! Especially for someone who grew up with (and still misses!) similar gardens and now lives with palms and tropical orchids.
ReplyDeleteHorses for courses...
dinahmow: I suffer from garden envy. World-wide garden envy. I love the things I can grow here, and lust after rather a lot more. Including tropical orchids.
DeleteIt is so nice to see Spring when everything here is going away for the winter. It gives me a glimmer of hope that in 7 or 8 short months it will be nice here again!
ReplyDeleteJono: When our summer bites I will look at your winter photos with longing. It is lovely to see you back in the blogosphere.
DeleteYay you for conquering the lookout! I especially love the photos with the water as part of it. So serene.
ReplyDeleteHope your eye mends soon. Many hugs.
River Fairchild: I really didn't think I would conquer the lookout this year. But I did. My father often told me I was more stubborn than stains. He may have had a point. Hugs to you too.
DeleteTwo of the workers over 70! I hope there is some succession planning, as to lose something as beautiful this garden would be a tragedy. My favourite photos are of the pond with the small waterfall. You also took some good closeups. Good luck with your damaged eye. They are such precious things.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: The third worker is their son, so I am hoping it will continue. Eyes are indeed precious things. This has been a scary week.
DeleteWhat wonderful pictures of this enchanting place! I love that the rogue red tulip was allowed to stay. The delicate blossoms are superb, and like you, I admire the underplanting enormously. I think I have commented before that the yellow forsythia reminds me of my birthplace, Christchurch - it's too warm here for it to grow and flower successfully.
ReplyDeleteI hope your eye gets better quickly, EC; I had the same thing happen about 15 months ago, in my left eye. It's no fun, and I found it quite frightening, as I knew that flashes in the vision can be a sign of a detached retina. All the very best.
Alexia: I love their forsythia avenue. And the underplanting - and indeed the whole garden. Fingers crossed on the eye front. The optometrist hasn't ruled out my retina detaching yet - further visits in the coming weeks. And yes, the flashes are discomforting aren't they?
DeleteTo analyze the charms of flowers is like dissecting music; it is one of those things which is far better to enjoy than to attempt fully to understand.
ReplyDeleteVest: I make no attempt to understand either - and enjoy flowers more than music.
DeleteEnjoy your guest!
ReplyDeleteSo much colours in the tulips. Just beautiful.
CountryMum: And by now the crab-apple will be out, and probably most of the tulips. It really is spectacular.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos--THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: It is an absolutely gorgeous place.
DeleteOf all the beautiful colours there, the pale pink frothy trees have caught my eye this time around. They are simply stunning!
ReplyDeleteWelcome company is so much better than the other kind :)
Take care of those eyes.
jenny_o: I am hoping (fervently) that the retina doesn't detach. And already tired of Christmas lights in my peripheral vision.
DeleteAren't the trees at Tulip Top a joy?
3 people look after those gardens?? Amazing. Lovely photos. I hope your eye heals quickly and it's not too serious.
ReplyDeleteLL Cool Joe: Not only do three people look after them, they plant the bulbs by hand. I struggle with a MUCH smaller garden.
DeleteLovely garden shots! I hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeleteBill: I have been lucky. So far my retina remains attached. Thank you.
DeleteIt's just as impressive as I was expecting, LOVE Tulip Top. I really like the pink and white blossoms in photos 9 and 10, they look like cherry blossoms. And photo 15! I've never seen branches so completely covered in blossoms before.
ReplyDeleteWith your eye, my carpal tunnel and back spasm, it seems Andrew may have to carry the ball for a while.
I'm glad you were able to make it to the lookout again.
River: It is truly spectacular and I have only ever met one person who didn't love it. And I have serious doubts about her taste. I was very sorry to hear that you had added back spasms to your woes, and hope you get some relief. Quickly.
DeleteSuch beauty! I especially love the cherry blossoms. With the classical music and spring blossom fragrances, a feast for all the senses. Wishing your eye problem does not progress.
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: It really is a feast for the senses. Fingers crossed on the eye front.
DeleteGorgeous, Thank you. Very Sorry about your eye. I hope it heals well and quickly. Hugs always.
ReplyDeletee: Thank you. Hugs gratefully received and reciprocated.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful gardens, obviously much loved and cared for. Thank you for sharing this burst of Spring colour.
I hope your eye improves rapidly.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: The sheer work in keeping these extensive gardens so well blows me away. And makes my hips and back ache. Thank you.
DeleteA piece of heaven. That second photo is gorgeous, EC.
ReplyDeleteI hope there is a fix for your eye! Take care.
Marie Smith: A generous slice of heaven. The fix for my eye is time. Which I have.
DeleteSo lovely to see all those spring blossoms, while here in my corner of Canada, we are awaiting the arrival of autumn colours in the trees. I really like the tulips with the raggedy edges. And those double daisies!!! I loved those as a child, and I haven't seen them for such a long time. The three people who look after this garden deserve gold medals! Have fun with your guest, and I hope your eye will be back to normal very soon.
ReplyDeleteShammickite: This is such a triumphant celebration of spring. I am a fan of the ragged-edge tulips too, and sad that we don't seem to have any at home this year. Yet.
DeleteTalk about an explosion of color. That first blossom at the top is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteR
Rick Watson: Thank you. I think the whole garden is exquisite.
DeleteWith the cold winds blowing in Oklahoma USA and the leaves falling from the trees, your photos are a delight.
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I am glad. And hope the weather treats you kindly.
DeleteCan't decide on a favorite! :) Love the cherry blossoms and the rogue tulip. Glad you can make it up the hill; hope you can for years to come!
ReplyDeleteMarty K
Marty K: The rogue tulip tickled my fancy. And I do hope I can continue to do that walk. I will certainly try.
DeleteWishing you well and lots of fun with your coming guest. May you always be able to make it to the top. The photos are amazing, such beautiful flowers. I'm in awe of the three who take care of the area.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: I am in awe of their work too. And so very grateful.
DeleteWhoa! Those visions are gorgeous. You capture the dynamism of the different colors so well. There's nothing like this anywhere near where I live. Thanks for showing me MUCH MORE garden.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wiswell: We first discovered these gardens over a decade ago - and go back every year.
DeleteThis is certainly the place I would go to when I want peace and calm. Just looking at your pictures makes me drool. I try to imagine how only three people can do all this beauty, with two of them being in their seventies. I sometimes struggle with my garden which is tiny compared to this.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the time with your guest, and I hope that eye will improve.
Carola Bartz: Their efforts put mine to shame. And give me hope too that I will be able to continue (in my own less spectacular fashion).
DeleteWhat an explosion of colour! :-) Loved this post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: I am glad you enjoyed it with me.fgdvc
DeleteFantásticas estas fotografias das belas flores.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e bom Domingo.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
Francisco Manuel Carrjola Oliveira: Thank you so much. I hope your Sunday (and the week to come) are wonderful.
DeleteSuch a wonderful visit you've given us today! Sorry to hear about your eye. Will be sending healing prayers <3 Enjoy your week and get back to us when you can, Honey <3
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Thank you.
Deletea stunning display
ReplyDeletegz: Welcome and thank you. It is an annual treat for us and has never been less than spectacular.
DeleteBeyond gorgeous! With no color left around here, those flowers sure made me smile.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I am glad. At the moment we are surrounded by colour. Welcome respite. As the sweaty season looms it will go golden then brown.
DeleteSTUNNING photos, what a glorious garden!
ReplyDeletehope your eye heals quickly!!!
Marfi-topia: Thank you - on both counts.
DeleteLovely. Lovely. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your eye!
Sandra Cox: I do love these gardens. So much. And the eye could have been a heap worse - but thank you.
DeleteI adore the pink flowers so soothing to my soul. I wish you well.
ReplyDeleteTruedessa: The whole garden is heart balm for me. Each and every time I visit, or review my many photos of it.
DeleteStunning photos!
ReplyDeleteNasreen: Thank you. It is a stunning place.
DeleteStunning flowers, and the sense of tranquillity is beyond words.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your eye. Torn vitreous gel sounds painful - wish you well soon.
Nilanjana Bose: It is an incredibly tranquil place - even filled with visitors.
DeleteThere is no pain from my eye. It is disconcerting, and I will be glad when the flashing lights disappear, but no pain.
So pretty
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: I would go further and say it is beautiful.
DeleteKudos for making it to the top EC. I'm absolutely shocked that all this beautiful work is done by just 3 people, and that two are in their 70's! There's no way I could get all that done, and I commend them. Such a lovely, lovely work! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteRO: My own garden is much smaller and I cannot stay in top of it. I am awed and impressed. And a tad shamed.
DeleteThat is a gorgeous garden and I can only imagine all the hours of hard work it took to get it looking so beautiful. Wonderful to see in your photos. I do hope this eye condition improves quickly. I have never heard of it before. Enjoy your company and have a great week.
ReplyDeleteDenise inVA: Hours and hours and hours of work. Backbreaking work. Thank you.
DeleteI wish those three folks would come and take care of my garden:) I'm sure they'd have it whipped into shape in no time:)
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: I am pretty certain I wouldn't recognise my garden if they came through.
DeleteAh, spring! Your photos are so perfect, the tulips incredible.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kane: It really is a wonderful place.
DeleteThat is a garden that is serious about being a garden. I wonder if that red tulip was planted on purpose or a beautiful mistake?
ReplyDeleteBirdie: I have no idea how the rogue tulip found its way into that bed, but loved that they left it.
DeleteDear EC, I so hope the torn vitreous gel in your right eye will heal quickly and cause you no problems with vision. This getting older does seem to imply the letting go of one thing after another that we've taken for granted most of our adult lives. Please take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteAnd the fact that 3 people tend those gardens, two of whom are over 70, astounds me. Truly! Peace.
Dee: That garden astounds me every year. To learn that it is the work of so few people (and two of them not spring chickens) blows me away.
DeleteI hope my eye heals completely. The optometrist is talking about a six month turn around. Fingers crossed.
Dear EC, I so hope that the six-month turn around proves true. I hope that you will not become impatient with that time line. Please remember that after the six months there will be many more months and years to use your "refurbished" and "renewed" eye! Peace.
DeleteDear EC ... I do hope the eye heals; I know I get floaters, and have had flashes ... fortunately they stopped - did end up at the hospital briefly. So look after yourself ... we'd rather have you here in a few weeks, back healthy and 'rarin' to go! But do what the medics suggest ... or what Mrs Common Sense says - she raises her pretty little face occasionally!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos ... the cherry blossoms in particular - amazing colours and beautiful pictures ... stunning. No wonder you love visiting ... equally wonderful to know only three gardeners maintain the site. Fantastic work they do ... cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: I have had floaters for a while. The flashes are new. And disconcerting. Disorientating too. I am glad yours stopped.
DeleteAren't those gardens special? I am so grateful we found them. I have spread the love to other people too.
Lovely flowers. I really admire the talented gardeners. Hope you get better soon. There is always something for us to worry about!
ReplyDeleteWe will be waiting.
: )
Caterina: I am in awe of these gardeners, both their vision and their hard work. Thank you.
DeleteOh my goodness your pictures of the garden are gorgeous. I am going to make it my mission to start taking and sharing photos of the not so cool places we get to go around here, but not until after the wedding!
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: The wedding is going to consume all your time and energy for a while. I AM looking forward to seeing photos of your area though. I suspect some of the things you dismiss I would love to see.
Delete3 people and 2 are in their 70's??? WOW!! Amazing! Truly beautiful! Breath taking! Thank you for these great photos EC! Good for you, making it to the top look out again!!! EC, I am so sorry about the medical issues going on! Please take care of yourself!! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteMagic Love Crow: I think it is amazing too. And humbling. I am younger than they are (a bit) and cannot imagine attempting a fraction of the work they do.
DeleteHuge thanks - and hugs.
First off - hope that your eye gets sorted out and you can enjoy time with your guest!
ReplyDeleteAnd wow - to all your flower shots. Must be heavenly!
Lady Fi: Thank you - on all counts. Wow is something we say a lot as we wander round Tulip Top Gardens.
DeleteI hope your eye heals quickly! And amazing that all that planting is done by so few.
ReplyDeleteLynn: Thank you. I would love to have some of their energy (and design skill).
DeleteWW 3 gardeners to do all that It is magnificent Sue. Glad you made up to the top again tis year but sorry to hear about your eye. I hope that improves quickly.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Adamson: It is indeed magnificent. And thank you.
DeleteI really hope your eye is better soon. I do so feel for you. Am sending a healing hug!:)
ReplyDeleteJust three gardeners...to produce such beauty...WOW!! I am in total awe...:))
Thank you so much for sharing these stunning photos. They are truly stunning!!
Big Hugs!!
Ygraine: Healing hugs are lovely. I too am in awe at these gardener's vision, energy and drive.
DeleteLovely pictures, every last one of them!
ReplyDeleteI know about vitreous gel in the right eye, as mine receives an injection every four weeks from Dr. Stoltz for treatment of macular degeneration (wet variety). My other eye has macular degeneration (dry variety) so doesn't need an injection. Such fun it is not.
rhymeswithplague: I am not generally needle phobic (just as well since I have to give myself an injection every second day) but a needle in the eye is a very different question. Eeeeuw. I hope it helps. Wet macular degeneration is nasty. And very far from fun itself.
Deletewhite, red, yellow...so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing
Tanza Erlambang- Every Day Issues: Thank you.
DeleteTolle Bilder von den Tulpen und den anderen Blüten.
ReplyDeleteNoke: Thank you. It is a beautiful place.
DeleteI love pansy's so that is my favorite. But what a beautiful garden and to be maintained by only three people, that's incredible. They must be good at it, master gardeners. I hope your eye gets better and I would be nervous if a guest was coming here. I never have them, so that would be very awkward and stressful to think about.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: The eye is still causing difficulties. We very rarely have guests too, but this visit was fine.
DeleteOh how I wish we were entering the spring season! Not that I don't enjoy fall, it's the brrr cold and white stuff. Your flowers are amazing, what a lovely place to stroll about and snap photos and people watch!
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: I often envy you your cooler/cold months. Which shows my ignorance.
DeleteHow very lovely and the flowers are most colorful.
ReplyDeleteRasma Raisters: Aren't they beautiful?
DeleteThe pink and yellow blossoms look like they're exploding into spring. Such beautiful colours to enjoy tonight, thank you. And I wish you absolutely wonderful times with your guest over the next few weeks
ReplyDeleteKim: Thank you.
DeleteBeautiful! The cherry blossom reminds me of home as I grew up on a street lined with cherry blossom trees, really pretty photos Sue, nicely done X
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: Cherry blossom was a rarity when I was growing up. Plum blossom on the other hand... And they are both lovely.
Deleteas always your garden and flower photos are stunning. we are entering our winter months where we will be surrounded by white and very little color. your photos always bring me cheer. keeping your eye in my thoughts. stay well
ReplyDeleteCindi Summerlin: Thank you. There is a LOT of colour here at the moment (including the colourful flashes in my eye). This too will pass.
DeleteSuch beauty in your neck of the woods! In their 70s, wow....vitreous gel hopefully clears itself up?? 🙏 I have that some
ReplyDeleteKim@stuffcould: Isn't it amazing that three gardeners can (and do) create that beauty. All their planting is done by hand too. They must have backs of iron.
DeleteThe eye thing will clear itself apparently. Slowly.
Breathtaking, spectacular and inspiring. Just so beautiful. Can't imagine how amazing it looks in real like- your pictures make me want to go there now. I can't believe there are only 3 gardeners. That is crazy! They are talented and obviously hard working!
ReplyDelete~Jess
DMS ~Jess: Incredibly talented and equally hardworking. For which I am grateful.
DeleteAbsolutely fabulous photographs, thank you so much for sharing them here.
ReplyDeleteSorry to read about your eye, hope it improves quickly.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you.
Delete