Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 21 October 2018

Sunday Selections #402

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 continuing my celebration of spring.  This post is in our garden.  The sulphur-crested vandals have mostly stopped their depreciations and I have unwrapped the worst hit piece of garden.  The pump-action water pistol remains loaded and ready though.































 I know I am being a bit self-indulgent.  The daffodils and jonquils are largely finished but I am revelling in the garden as other things bloom.  In other news my eye is much the same but the retina remains attached, which is a huge plus.  Thank you for your well wishes.

We had a lovely time with our house-guest (a blogger I had not previously met in the flesh).  Even the Jazz man warmed to her before she left.  There are many photos from her stay too, which I will post later.

132 comments:

  1. Now you just wash out your mouth with soap! Sulphur-crested vandals indeed! I am sure you meant to say gorgeous Sulphur-crested Cockatoos whom you welcome to your garden where they may play, cavort and dine to their heart's content.

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    1. David Gascoigne: They ARE gorgeous. And they are also noisy, incontinent vandals. Who are welcome here - except when they are digging up my bulbs, taking one bite and moving on. I think I would resent the depreciations less if they actually ate the bulbs.

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  2. So much colour! Of course my favourite is the cat photobomb. ❤️

    Glad your eye is better.

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    1. Birdie: Jazz is pleased to be your favourite. He views the garden as a mere backdrop to display his beauty.
      The eye isn't better - but isn't worse which is a win.

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  3. oh my word you have so many beautiful flowers, glad your eye is better, and we're expecting a frost day tomorrow morning.

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    1. Linda Starr: We may get frosts in the coming weeks too, but summer is approaching. Fast.

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  4. Gorgeous photos! I see Jazz even consented to pose for you. :)
    Glad to hear your visit went well and at least your eye is stable. Hugs to you.

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    1. River Fairchild: Jazz was very generous wasn't he? And hooray for a stable eye. Hugs received and reciprocated.

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  5. Those big pink flower are so pretty. I have always loved pink and purple flowers.

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  6. I absolutely love the flowers in these photos.

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    1. Jamie Ghione: Thank you. The garden is a haven of peace for me - as well as the scene of rather a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

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  7. Your garden looks delightful. Here's to your eye healing well. x

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    1. Bea: It is closer to a jungle than a garden, but that is the way I/we like it. Fingers and toes crossed for my eye.

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  8. I hope your eye recovers, it must be a little scary. The flowers all look so beautiful. I especially like the pale yellow ones.

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    1. LL Cool Joe: It is certainly disconcerting to see flashing lights in my peripheral vision. I am grateful that it is no worse, but do hope it heals. Thank you.

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  9. A stunning display of flowers and I am sorry to learn you have had eye problems. Wishing you 100 percent good health in every way.

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  10. Ah...just gorgeous! Lucky you! Spring glory!

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    1. Marie Smith: Spring is such a vibrant and exciting time isn't it?

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  11. Absolutely GORGEOUS (especially the purple & yellow irises)!!

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    1. fishducky: There are more iris coming out each day. I have a big weakness for a deep burgundy bearded iris. I hope the cockatoos left me some.

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  12. Hi EC - oh gorgeous Spring flowers ... too lovely. Good to read the eye is in situ - that's the main thing ... but glad the eye hasn't got worse. Take care ... and great Jazz enjoyed your visitor ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Jazz freaked out at the visitor for the first couple of days but warmed to her. He presented his belly for a rub the day she left.

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  13. Spring in all her glory is at your house. I wish you the best about your eye.

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    1. Ann Bennett: Spring is a treat isn't she? And thank you.

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  14. I love your garden, full of flowers. Good luck with eye EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: The garden is indeed full of flowers. And weeds. Rather a lot of both.

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    2. Bob Bushell: They can be. And ours are certainly healthy.

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  15. Your garden is beautiful, EC...stunning. And I'm glad to see that the head gardener is in accord!

    A family of hares was scampering around outside from my cabin this morning. The grass is growing rapidly since the wonderful rain we've been having so the hares are feasting well.

    Have a wonderful week....cuddles to Jazz. He's doing a great job! :)

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    1. Lee: Thank you. Jazz would agree with you that he is doing a great job - of course. I hope you and your furry friends enjoy your week.

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  16. I feast my eyes on your beautiful springtime, as we are in the midst of enjoying the cool temperatures and brilliant foliage. But we've got winter ahead, and you have summer. I hope it's a decent not too hot one for you. I LOVE your pictures. And the beautiful black Jazz as well. Your eye not getting any worse is a good sign, I hope. :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you. I was blown away by your autumn foliage when I visited your blog this morning. I am so grateful for the blogosphere and the ability to enjoy two seasons simultaneously. Definitely a good sign on the eye front

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  17. Dear EC
    Beautiful Spring Flowers (and beautiful Jazz, of course). I have just planted some daffodils for next year and have the tulips waiting to go in. Your tulips are looking lovely.
    I hope your eye continues healing - take care of yourself.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: I do love planning the spring display and look forward to seeing yours in the fullness of time.

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  18. Beautiful blooms and a cute cat! Fun stuff.

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    1. Bill: Thank you. Two of my obsessions on display. Two of my many obsessions.

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  19. You have a beautiful garden, there's almost no need to go to floriade!
    I look forward to hearing about your house guest, blogger meets are always fascinating 😊

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    1. kylie: While I was weeding yesterday a resident from the street stopped to thank me for providing a 'local floriade'. Which was a lovely thing to do.
      I have met a few bloggers now, and they have been really positive experiences.

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  20. Trust me, i would revel in such beauty, also. Praying your eye fully heals.

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    1. messymimi: Spring is a (BIG) reward for the blood, sweat and tears which I put into the garden. I am indeed revelling.
      And my eye will be fine in the fullness of time. Thank you.

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  21. What a wonderful display - you lift my spirits with your photos, EC, and those of all of your blogging friends, I am sure.

    You will find that your eye does take a while to heal; mine did. But it will get better.

    I hope you have a lovely week, and enjoy your gorgeous garden!

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    1. Alexia: I am glad to hear it. I do worry that I bore people with my frequent returns to my obsessions. And nice to hear that the eye will heal.

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  22. What gorgeousness! I agree with kylie and your neighbour about your garden being like Floriade - that was what crossed my mind when I had scrolled partway through. I'm glad the wire screening helped to save some of your plants.

    Love the Jazz picture, glad you had a good time with your blogger pal, and I hope your eye continues to be stable for a long, long time.

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    1. jenny_o: Thank you. As I said to my neighbour I don't think the floriade gardeners would be flattered with the comparison, but I was. The neighbour in question does daily walks and tells me that she loves getting to our garden because she never knows what will be in flower. Which was a truly lovely thing to say.
      And huge thanks for all your positivity.

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  23. I think your garden encompasses every color, and my favorite is the orange one. Its petals look like tissue paper - so fragile and translucent. (<-I'm hoping I used that word correctly.)
    Also, how fun to have had a blog guest.
    Be well, EC.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: I love the poppies too. That was the first one to bloom and now there is a battalion of them dancing in the breeze. And yes, you did use translucent as I would (which doesn't guarantee its correctness).
      Hugs.

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  24. Lovely to see Jazz enjoying the garden. I love all your tulips, but what are the pink ruffley flowers just below your starflowers? Your starflowers are much more prolific than mine this year. And what are the white flowers in picture 17? They remind me of honeysuckle, but I can see they are something different.

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    1. River: The pink ruffley flowers are blossom from our ornamental cherry tree. My starflowers have had years to thicken up, and would have been thicker yet if the cockatoos hadn't pulled too many up and bitten the bulb in half. The white bush is a May bush (also known as a Spiraea). We have one in the front yard and one in the back.

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  25. My gardener's eye scanned familiar blooms and look! Mr Jazz seems to be doing likewise!
    i have been pottering and hope tomorrow, to plant some cuttings from my friend's garden. A salvia I do not yet have. Fingers X'd on that. Some salvias are not tropically happy. I may have to send one south...

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    1. dinahmow: Salvias are beautiful plants. And there are so many. Good luck. I hope it does enjoy the tropics. That particular segment of the garden often interests the Jazz man.

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  26. Oh, it's spring somewhere, and a gorgeous one too. How nice to have a reminder among all the falling leaves.

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    1. Olga Godim: I am a big fan of spring, but also adore the aboreal fireworks of autumn, and the elegance of naked tree limbs.

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  27. You have a wonderful spring garden with lots of gorgeous flowers and colour. I am laughing at your 'vandles' although no laughing matter when they take a bite out of your bulbs! I am just about to plant more Tulips myself soon if the summer flowers would stop blooming. I cannot bear to dip up annua that still want to bloom and give me pleasure. Glad you retina is staying attached. Have a great week ahead

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    1. Margaret Adamson: The vandals took a bite out of rather a lot of bulbs, tulips, daffodils, tritellia, jonquils and more. They also beheaded other flowers. I got very skilled at gunning them down with the water pistol. Like you, I am reluctant to dig up flowers while they are still in bloom.

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  28. You have a wonderful spring garden!
    We had snow today, and more is expected tomorrow...

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    1. Carolyn McBride: Much snow? We are moving rapidly into the sweaty season, which I would happily swap for snow.

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  29. So jealous of all the flowers. This week we had the big killing frost. Most of my pretty blooms gone in one fell swoop. I do have mums left and the leaves are turning. I am glad your retina is holding out.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land Of Cancer: I am glad that you have some mums left to brighten your day.

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  30. Beautiful flowers and wishing you continued improvement in your health.

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  31. Spring has definitely well and truly sprung in your garden! So nice to see the colourful flowers when everything in my little garden is having to be cleaned away ready for the winter snows. Today is the day I clean up the half-dead plants, ready for the Yard waste collection truck on Tuesday.

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    1. Shammickite: Spring has been going gang-busters here for the last week or so. I hope she settles in for a good long stay and keeps her big sister summer at bay. That clearing up of the garden is a huge job. Take care.

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    2. Guess what, I didn't clean up the garden at all today, I put it off until tomorrow. I played with my twin grandies and then watched them play ice hockey.... much more fun than digging outside in the cold!!!! Although it's darn cold in the ice arena anyway.

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    3. Shammickite: Playing with your grandies sounds like MUCH more fun.

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  32. That is daring of you, to have a stranger come visit. I don't know if I'd be so brave. I'm kind of a hermitess in many ways. I love your flowers. Maybe because I love color so much.

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    1. Strayer: I too am a hermit. As is my partner. And Jazz. I had been corresponding with this blogger for years (through the blogosphere, email and the post). I felt I knew her and was right.
      And I am also a lover of colour. Lots of colour.

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    2. Still I think its daring. I am actually very shy, so I don't know if I could do it. I think its inspiring that you did. And happy it turned out so well.

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    3. Strayer: I am shy too. And an introvert. As is my partner. I am glad we put on our big people panties though.

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  33. Look at those beautiful spring flowers and the sweet boy enjoying them:) I've planted tulips but I'm leery of daffodils, since Monster Kitty helps dig the bulbs back up I'm afraid he might want to sample.
    So glad to hear your eye is maintaining and that you enjoyed a blog visitor.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: I suspect tulip bulbs are also poisonous to cats. Not to cockatoos though. Jewel was particularly good at digging up bulbs after I had planted them but she was after the fertiliser. Crack cocaine for cats.

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  34. AWWWWWWWWWW, the tulips bring me joy &
    so does the black panther, Jazz! xxxx

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  35. I am of course envious of your lovely flowers. Especially as our days here in Maine are getting cooler and cooler and I am really not looking forward to it all. What is that lovely orange flower, 4th from the bottom? The blossoms look paper thin, so delicate. Some sort of poppy perhaps?

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    1. mshatch: You are right. It is a poppy. There are lots of them in flower at the moment, with more to come. I hope the doubles open shortly too.

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  36. It's a cold and gray day here, EC, so thank you for giving me a splash of color. I particularly appreciated having some bright purple in my morning.

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    1. John Wiswell: I am always happy to share colour. Lots of colour.

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  37. My oh my …
    Your photographs are so full of colour, such lovely blooms.
    I kept scrolling up and down to go back and enjoy them.

    I am pleased to read that your retina remains attached, which is a huge plus … and very positive.

    Wishing you a good week ahead

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member~Jan: Thank you. I hope yours and Eddie's week is lovely too.

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  38. Schöne Farben und tolle Blüten Frühling ist eine schöne Zeit.

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    1. Noke: Thank you. Spring is indeed a lovely time of year.

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  39. Isn't it so cool to meet other bloggers face to face? I'm ready to grab my sleeping bag and glam tent to head to your beautiful garden! Hugs...RO

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    1. RO: Even my severely introverted self thinks it is cool to meet other bloggers. A blogger convention would be too much for me, but one on one meetings have been wonderful. And if ever you are over here you will be expected.

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  40. Good to know your retina is still attached. Thanks for the lovely stroll through your blooms. Do any of them smell? Hugs.

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    1. e: Lots of the garden is scented. Over the coming weeks the roses and the lilies will perfume the air. At the moment the lilac, some of the last of the jonquils and a few other things do.

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  41. So glad your eye, your guest and your garden are in happy situations and/ or remembrance. Jazz is a handsome fellow. Thanks for sharing the beauty around you.

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    1. Patricia Laster: Thank you. Jazz knows he is handsome, but appreciates being told.

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  42. You have an amazing garden EC! WOW!! Truly breath taking! You always make me laugh, when you talk about your water pistol! LOL! That is so cool, you got the meet another blogger!!! So happy to know your retina is still attached! Please take care of you!!! Big Hugs!
    (By the way, our postal service is starting a rotating strike on monday. They say it will just slow things down and that nothing should be affected! I don't trust them! LOL! I didn't know you were sending me something? I will let you know, when it comes!) Give your fur baby a hug from me!

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    1. Magic Love Crow: Sadly I think the cockatoos laugh when they see the water pistol too. It does move them, but not for long.
      I hope that the Floriade fridge magnet does reach you. Fingers crossed.

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  43. Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: Too much colour is barely enough.

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  44. Such beauty to behold while all we are seeing here are falling leaves.

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    1. Grannie Annie: Thank you - though I like falling leaves too. And the elegant tracery of bare branches against the sky after they have fallen.

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  45. Everything is growing beautifully in your garden. Don't you wish that it always was spring.

    I am glad you had a good time with your blogger friend. I look forward to seeing the pictures.

    Take care of yourself, Sue

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Spring is departing at a speed of knots. We are rapidly moving into summer (which I dread). I would happily keep the other seasons and give that one a miss.
      And thank you.

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  46. I'm not going to lie. I am jealous of your spring flowers. Here the frost has been whittling away at our summer flowers and the mums. Winter is a coming.

    Lovely photos!!

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    1. T. Powell Coltrin: All too soon I will be jealous of your frosts and snow.

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  47. Your garden is a spring delight. I planted yellow and red tulip bulbs, but Monster Kitty dug some up, peed on others so it will be interesting to see if any of them survived come spring. Sigh.

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    1. Sandra Cox: I hope they do survive. The ones the cockatoos took a bite out of didn't. And cat piddle is a powerful force.

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    2. Ha. Powerful indeed. Unfortunately, not in a good way:(
      Darn, gorgeous, cockatoos.

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    3. Sandra Cox: And male cat piddle is even more powerful. The cockatoos are (mostly) behaving at the moment. It is days since I have gunned them down..

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  48. It is spring, beautiful spring! Your photos are beautiful, as always.
    Yesterday summer finally left and I had to wear real shoes outside. Good bye flip flops, hello socks!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Socks? Wash your mouth out. I try and wear them as rarely as possible. They suffocate my feet. I hope your winter is gentle.

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  49. You have an absolutely magnificent garden! and I am glad to hear the eye condition is under control. Heartfelt wishes for quick healing.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Thank you - on both counts. The garden is out of control, but what else is new.

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  50. So much colour! So beautiful! I love spring.
    I am glad to know you are feeling better. There is always something to worry about...

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    1. Caterina: Thank you. I love spring too. And you are sadly right about things to worry about.

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  51. You are surrounded by so much color and beauty. How wonderful!

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    1. Susan Kane: We are, no thanks to the feathered beauties who also surround us.

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  52. It's delightful to see all those lovely and colorful flowers.

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  53. What a delight to see such a lovely abundance of flowers!

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    1. Lady Fi: Blood sweat and tears go into the garden which I forget by the time things bloom.

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  54. Did I see orchids in the one photo?

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    1. Sandra Cox: You did. I am very proud of that orchid which has eight or nine flower spikes.

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  55. Beautiful flowers! Lovely! Have a great week!

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  56. I would love to sit in your garden for just 5 minutes. I'm sure it would be wonderful.
    Sorry to hear you've been having eye problems but glad you seem to be getting better.

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    1. Myrna R.: Sitting in the garden is something I need to do more of, and would love to share it with more bloggers.

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  57. Gorgeous photos. I'll join in next week :)

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    1. KB: Welcome and thank you. I really look forward to someone else joining the fun.

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  58. Love the photos, such a variety of color and light. Looking forward to seeing the photos you will share of the visit with your blogging friend.

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    1. Denise inVA: In my usual restrained fashion there are many, many photos. Several posts worth. Watch this space.

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  59. You have a beautiful garden! All the bulbs that you put in the ground in the fall have turned out wonderfully. Looking at your pictures I try to imagine the scents while walking there - it must be heavenly like.

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    1. Carola Bartz: Spring is an exciting time isn't it? Each time I wander through the garden there is something new up or in bloom. And yes, it does smell good.

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  60. So many gorgeous blooms. Love that the flowers bring a spectrum of colors to your yard- and the textures and styles are lovely too. What a beautiful splash of color to make your days sunny. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: Thank you. Our garden is at its best in Spring.

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  61. A spectacular time of the year. Jazz makes me smile.

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    1. Lynn: It is a spectacular time of year. Too short, but lovely. Jazz is beside me as I type so I will tell him that he makes you smile.

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