Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 3 October 2021

Sunday Selections #553


 


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.
 
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
 
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.  
 

I usually run with a theme.  We are still in lockdown.  A little while ago I showed you images from the wattle tree in our garden.  Its blooms are now finished.  However on a rare outing last week (to buy birdseed) I noticed that a different variety of wattle was lining the highway near home.  So I headed with my camera during a break in the rain last week.  I stayed (mostly) dry and had a lovely walk, starting our street, walking to the highway and then looping back to our street again..

As I so often say - come walk with me.  My usual obsessions are of course on display. 


I really like this yellow succulent and will ask the owners (at a more reasonable hour) if I can have a cutting.

 



This was the only wattle blooming on my side of the highway.
When we are not locked down this is quite a busy stretch of highway.
I said it had been raining.  There were lots of quite big (and deep) puddles about.

 



 


Even in the suburbs there is lots of green space.  Which I love.



I smiled at the rugged up dog and owner.
















We are home again now.  This is the first of our bottle brushes in bloom.  In another week or so the bush will be ablaze.  And then I have a white one to look forward to.

 


Most of our red tulips are just about finished.  They are being replaced by yellow ones.  Most of the yellow daffodils and jonquils are finished.  They are being replaced by white ones - some of which were flattened by the rain.  So I had to bring them inside.  Goodness how I suffer.  I have lilac about to come out, waterfalls of banskia roses in bud, bluebells, iris, calla lilies and more tulips emerging.  This is being a bountiful spring.


I hope your week is packed with colour and joy.

 

127 comments:

  1. Back at home, what a dream, filled up with nature, I love all them EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: Thank you. I am so grateful for the beauty of the suburb in which I live.

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  2. Wet, but beautiful. I love wattle, and those bottle brushes ;)

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    1. Charlotte (MotherOwl): Wet but beautiful sums it up nicely. The other human resident of the home thought I was mad. Jazz knew I was.

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  3. Beautiful springtime pictures, EC! Wattle was a new plant for me. I don't recall hearing about it before. I love your puddle reflections. There is beauty everywhere, if you have eyes to see it. Have a happy and safe week.

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    1. Fundy Blue: Wattle is my country's floral emblem and even has a day of its own. I really like it though it can cause hayfever. There is indeed beauty everywhere and this beauty addict is endlessly grateful.

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  4. Beautiful... and peaceful. I quite enjoy our walkabouts together! I hope the rain doesn't spoil Jazz's day too much or make him grouchy. Have a great week and try to stay out of the mud. ;)

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    1. River Fairchild: Jazz took the rain as a personal affront. Of course. It is not actually raining this morning (though there is plenty of mud about). I may go and play in the garden.

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  5. Thanks for a fine walk; I did not even get wet.

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    1. Sean Jeating: I didn't get very wet. Damp yes. And enjoyed my walk anyway.

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  6. I assume that's our house with the forsythia in front. I have one in back and am trying to get seven more started in front. The one in back has been there since we moved in 45 years ago. They are impossible to hurt. I trim the heck out of that thing every year and it just keeps growing.

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    1. Mike: We have a forsythia out the back too, but ours just hangs in. Which makes me sad.

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  7. I wish you a joyful and colorful week too. We're not in lockdown here, but I think we are being too careless with that... of course my opinion is not the popular one.

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    1. mail4rosey: Thank you. There are very mixed feelings about lockdown here too. Both my partner and I fall into the vulnerable people category. I am happy with being in lockdown despite the inconveniences. I worry for lots of other people though.

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  8. I so enjoy our walks together. You are just my sort!

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  9. The temps have risen here over the past few days...winter has packed up its bags and rugs and headed to the northern hemisphere, unfortunately.

    We have a very heavy storm early Friday evening, with hail...no damage, thankfully.

    Have a good week, EC...take care. Cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: Our temperatures are all over the place. It is definitely getting warmer though and I dread summer.
      I hope you and your furry overlords have a wonderful week.

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  10. Fantastic to see these gorgeous blooms, and to see it all greening up with the abundant rain. Thank you for sharing all these great pictures with me, I am grateful.

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    1. DJan: The rain has DEFINITELY made a difference. Years ago a woman on a bus told me that 'you can keep things alive by watering them, but they need rain to grow'. She has a point.

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  11. Your trees and flowers will be grateful for the rain, I'm sure. It was good to go on your walk with you - thanks for the glimpses of the area. The wattles on the other side of the road look fairly small - are they new plantings? Wattles grow huge here, in the gorge between our town and the next - huge patches of yellow are out among our natives (and the fiendish pines!).
    Your daffodils are delightful - so fresh and pretty.
    Have a pleasant week, and enjoy your gardening.

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    1. Alexia: The wattles are reasonably small. I don't think they were planted as such. Dreadful drought wiped out some old ones and I believe these are their offspring shooting.

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  12. Looks like a lot of rain.
    You must live in the Eastern side of Australia. I heard the Western side was borders closed but inside wide open. What a contrast.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I am on the Eastern side of Australia. Different rules apply in all of the States and Territories and they are subject to rapid change. I don't think Western Australia will open us to the rest of Oz or the world any time soon.

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  13. I think they are iris in the first photo. It is so rare to see white iris here. I want a spade and dig channels to drain paths. That's a nice looking garden with the metal bird. I think all daffodil type flowers have finished here now.

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    1. Andrew: They are white iris, and I cannot remember seeing them in any other garden. Part of the issue with the puddles is that the paths have sunk, and that the ground is water logged. A drainage ditch wouldn't be a quick solution.

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  14. I enjoyed the walk around your neighbourhood and got my fix of beautiful colors even though it was a bit wet. Thank you again for sharing part of your world.

    I spied three birds on this walk. A handsome metal one in the garden and two birds in in picture 15 and 16 but they are the same birds in both pictures.

    Have a great week and I hope the sun shine brightly this week for you. We've been having lots of rain too but the sun is supposed to be out most of the week.

    Hugs,
    Julia

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    1. Julia: The 'live' birds were a pair of sulphur crested vandals and a galah. Birds which also grace our yard. It has been wet, but I much prefer wet weather to drought. Just as well, I believe we are expecting more this week.

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  15. My favorites, the white flags in the first frame.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I like them too. They make me smile each time I go past. There is very little else in that garden - and it doesn't matter.

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  16. I walked with you and enjoyed myself immensely.
    : )

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  17. hola hijo de Elefante!!!que entrada mas encantadora!!!
    nos has llevado de paseo por esos hermosos lugares, las calles bajo la lluvia y todo el esplendor de esos jardines , hasta llegar a tu propio jardin que cada dia está mas hermoso!!
    Aqui no tenemos tulipanes en mi zona y son tan hermosos!! Y amé las suculentas!!! Bello muy bello!!
    Para ti los mismos deseos de una semana de alegria y felicidad !!! Besosssss

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    1. eli mendez: Thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed walking with me. I do love looking at other people's gardens and sometimes get inspiration from them. Have a marvellous week.

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  18. So much wattle! and what tree is that in picture 19? I love the puddle reflections too. That yellow succulent is very pretty, if you were to accidentally nudge off a leaf, it would grow. It looks to be a ground covering plant so you will need space or a wide pot.

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    1. River: I don't know that that tree is - but loved it. I know that the yellow succulent would grow from a leaf, but I would feel better about it if I asked. My mother was a perennial filcher of cuttings (she carried secateurs in her handbag) and it always made me feel guilty.

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  19. Bellas fotografías, lindas flores. Te mando un beso

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  20. It feels always so fresh and beautiful after the rains, especially a big one. But, sadly like you say the flowers take a beating from the huge water drops. The wattle and banksia make such a difference in colours. An interesting walk with you to see how suburbs in other countries look like. I see one main difference - your houses are NOT surrounded by fences and gates. How welcoming! Over here, we are all fenced in against intruders!

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    1. kestrel: I adore the scent of rain washed air. And the gardens visibly thrive. My city discourages fences and gates and very, very few houses have them. Which I like. The wattle and the bottlebrush do have very different colours, but both are beautiful. I have seen a red wattle on display but have not (yet) weakened and bought one.

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  21. Thanks you for letting us all tag along on your walk I did so enjoy it, seeing the neighbourhood and all the colourful flowers and trees. I do love your Red Bottlebrush tree and hope you photograph the white one when it bursts forth as I have never seen one (in new life, only on paper). Hope you have a great week ahead and lockdown ends soon for you. Stay safe.

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    1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure: I will (of course) take more photographs of the red bottlebrush and of the white one when it finally blooms. Our lockdown is scheduled to finish (sort of) in the middle of this month, but case numbers have been rising over the last few days and I wonder.

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  22. Lovely selection of flowers and scenery. Always love wattle and we have a fair stretch of it on the side of one of the highways/road and of course you can't pull over and take photos of it...oh dear.

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    1. Margaret D: I fail (dismally) to take decent photographs from a moving car. I was very glad that I could walk to see the wattle against this road. On a sunny day it is spectacular and even on a grey morning it filled me with joy.

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  23. You take me through spring with your beautiful pictures while here we entered fall with rain and wind ! I hate fall!

    !


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    1. Gattina: I like Autumn (and rain) but am glad to distract you from yours.

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  24. Hi EC - gorgeous plants on show ... no wonder you thought a walk and drive through the neighbourhood would be good for us both - I always love Spring flowers and seeing the swathes of colour. Interesting to see some new ones - Banksia roses totally bemused me in South Africa - then I came home to find my aunt and uncle had planted one at their house here - which I then loved to see in our early summer. I know some friends who've been sent tulips to plant in memory of a mutual friend ...

    We are in Autumn here - with a vengeance in the last few days ... I'm off out of Eastbourne today to my brother's ... so will see some 'new' areas i.e. been keeping very local. The rain is so necessary here in the SE, but I can 'smell' your rained on earth from here ... it looks wet - which must be a huge blessing ... enjoy Spring while it's with you - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: I hope your time with your brother is wonderful.
      Our banskia roses are just starting to come out - without doubt there will be photos. Judging by the proliferation of buds there will be a spectacular display. I like the idea of plantings to commemorate people. A lot. Though I have no idea what I would like planted to remember me. A tree I think.

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  25. You live in a really nice neighborhood. Love the bottle brush and the tulips.

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    1. Bill: I like our neighbourhood too. It is (mostly) quiet and when the weather cooperates green.

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  26. I am in love with those irises. You have a really great neighborhood and a lovely place to walk. Some of that landscaping is unbelievable. Talk about curb appeal!

    I had never heard of wattle before, but now at least I know what it is and what it looks like. I got to see bottle brush bushes in California (USA), but it gets too cold where I live for them to grow. I've only seen red ones and didn't realize they came in other colors.

    Thanks for taking me with you on this very wet walk in your neighborhood. You got a LOT of rain and your photos are great proof of that. As always, your photos are fabulous.

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    1. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: Thank you. Ours is not a posh or upmarket neighbourhood but it suits me. And I do like to wander around in it.

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  27. Dear EC
    Colour and joy indeed. I am glad to hear you have had some rain - we have too. It is just so needed by all the plants. Somew wonderful Spring delights to enjoy on your walk. thank you for sharing it.
    Have a lovely week.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: We so rarely get enough rain here. The garden and I have been loving it - and more is expected later this week.
      I hope your autumn is treating you kindly and putting on a marvellous arboreal display.

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  28. Gracias por compartir tan lindo paseo.
    Por lo que cuentas estás un poco agobiada con tantas plantas por cuidar, pero tómalo con calma, y ya verás como pronto estás disfrutando con creces, de la belleza de tu jardín en Primavera. La Naturaleza siempre es muy agradecida, y si la cuidamos como tu lo haces, nos regala más de lo que nosotros le ofrecemos.
    Muy bonita la serie de fotografías que hoy nos ofreces.
    Que disfrutes de un feliz y placentero domingo.

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    1. Manuel: Thank you. Our garden is indeed too much for me to care for properly, but I keep trying - and the rewards are generous. Have a wonderful week.

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  29. When I see all this beauty, Sue, and the lack of traffic on the highway I ask myself whether lockdown is such a bad thing after all?

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    1. David M. Gascoigne: Lockdown certainly isn't all bad in my eyes. Which makes me feel guilty because I know that others are finding it difficult financially and emotionally.

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  30. How wonderful to “walk” with you and see the beauty you share. Where I live now beauty is all green, which is lovely, but how nice it would be to have some flowers blooming.
    Have a colorful and happy week.

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    1. Myrna R: We are so often hot and dry that being surrounded by greenery is a taste of heaven for me. I do love the vibrant colours of spring though. It is not seven o'clock here and I have already been wandering through the garden with my camera.

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  31. Your wanderings have taken you once again along paths of great beauty (and considerable puddles too!).

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    1. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands": Thank you. Some of the puddles were truly impressive - and difficult to negotiate.

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  32. Such a lovely walk. I would see very little variety in flowers and shrubs in my neighborhood. The Bottle Brush plant is unique. I’ll have to see if I can find one here. Take care and be safe my friend. Have a great week.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Bottlebrush are natives here - and over the next few weeks will blaze in many a garden. I hope you can find one. Stay safe, stay happy - and keep reading.

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  33. Thank you for the walk through your neighbourhood and what a lovely one it is! I love all the spring flowers in this, our fall, a reminder of what is to come, for me. And that sweet arrangement at the end. Perfect.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: It is my pleasure to share my walk. The other household resident was asleep when I left - but did enjoy seeing the photos when I returned. Not enough to repeat the walk though.
      I hope your autumn is bright and beautiful.

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  34. What a beautiful spring walk! I really love all the flowers, and I can see why you suffer so... ;))

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  35. Buona serata e felice inizio settimana.

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  36. I loved going for a walk with you and seeing so much of what you saw. Its so pretty. So many flowers and green bushes and tree's to see.

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    1. Mary Kirkland: I am glad that you enjoyed walking with me.

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  37. How Coda would love a walk where you live, and so would i.

    My selections are over here.

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    1. messymimi: Coda would have plenty of new friends to greet along the way - as you would have.
      I thoroughly enjoyed your selections.

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  38. Everything looks so lovely and green after the rain! And the flowers are so beautiful! I like the wattle and it's nice you could bring some daffodils inside to enjoy too!

    Hope you have had a lovely weekend :)

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Mica: We are very rarely quite so green here - I am loving it. Our weekend was damp but good. I hope yours was great.

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  39. I enjoyed the walk with you EC. Such a lovely neighbourhood and spring is making me envious!

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    1. Marie Smith: I loved walking/travelling with you this morning. So many beautiful sights that I long to see.

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  40. So much greenery and colourful blooms so early in your season! Do you have to wear rubber boots to get through those puddles? I love the reflections you caught in a couple of photos. Like others have said, you live in a beautiful neighbourhood. I hope you get a chance to talk to the owner of the succulent and have a gardener's chat.

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    1. jenny_o: Rubber boots would have been a decided advantage. I had very wet feet by the time I got home. I hope to talk to that gardener too. Soon.

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  41. Your photos are a little different th is week, focussed mostly on green space rather than your more usual close ups.
    You manage to capture more beauty in a week than I do most years!

    Have a good week :)

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    1. kylie: I am a beauty addict. I look for it - and I find it.
      Your comment had me thinking. You are right, I do mostly post close up images. A broader picture seemed more appropriate this week (though I did include some close ups as well).

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  42. Very creative post so full of wonders love this one this week. xxx

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  43. You always bring color and joy into my life. Thanks so much!

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    1. gigi-hawaii: What a lovely thing to say. Thank you.

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  44. I always love your sharing of your majestic world.

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    1. Granny Annie: My small corner of the world has lots of beauty - and I am very happy to share.

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  45. Very large puddle! Did you go through it, or find a way around? You'd need long boots to not get wet there. You sure seem to have a lot of lovely green spaces near you.

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    1. Strayer: No boots. I found a way round, and I got wet. Which was fine. I much prefer rain to the alternative. We do have lots of green space. Half a kilometre away from some of these shots there is a nature part - which I must visit (and photograph) some time.

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  46. Replies
    1. Hena Tayeb: Thank you. Spring is a very colourful time of year here.

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  47. I know Melbourne is still locked down - are you too? Hopefully lockdowns are behind us up north!

    :o)

    Cheers

    PM

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    1. Plastic Mancunian: We are still locked down too. Hopefully only for a couple more weeks.

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  48. Spring flowers on your side of the world, autumn leaves on mine. So much beauty in our world. thanks for sharing!

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    1. Jemi Fraser: Spring and autumn are probably my favourite seasons. I am so grateful to be able to experience them both at once through the internet.

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  49. Loved the photo with the puddles on the ground and the reflection of the trees.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: Thank you. I was taken with the reflections myself.

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  50. Irises are one of my favorite flowers. Your vase of daffies is beautiful. Can't wait to see the lilacs.
    Loved the dog and flamingo:)
    Take special care.

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    1. Sandra Cox: I have LOTS of favourite flowers. The lilacs are inching closer and closer to bloom. You take care too please.

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  51. Your bottlebrush are starting to bloom at the same time as mine but your wattles are a few weeks behind. That has me a bit puzzled. Lilacs remind me of my childhood, I loved them then and have hardly seen any since. Good luck with the succulent!

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    1. Kim: Some of our wattles bloomed weeks ago. This I believe is a different variety. Lilacs are yet another 'old fashioned' plant. I am happy to include them in the garden.

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  52. Jealous. We're in autumn here now and there are only asters and mums for the most part. Leaves are turning and the temperature is dropping, enough to need sweaters and coats. Love all your pics of spring and blooms.

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    1. mshatch: I am a big fan of autumn too. I do love the autumnal colours and it is always a welcome relief after our summer swelter.

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  53. What an amazing nature! Here nature turned to fall colors. There are so colorful and cute. Flowers photos you shared are beautiful. Happy October.

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    1. bread&salt: Much as I enjoy autumn for the moment I am revelling in Spring. I hope you are enjoying autumn.

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  54. Amazing puddle reflections, loved them EC! The flowers are lovely as usual. Thank you. Hope your week is going well.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Thank you. I liked the puddles too - but felt no temptation to jump in them as I would have in years gone by.

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  55. I love to see your part of the world. Great photos!

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  56. Love seeing your early spring flowers :)

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  57. Here I am sitting enjoying a cup of tea, while also enjoying a walk :)

    Really enjoyed seeing your photographs, lovely Spring flowers.
    I also liked your puddle photographs, thought the reflections were lovely in them.

    It does seem strange to see everywhere so empty, I hope your lockdown may be eased soon. Stay safe.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. We are told that our lockdown will get lighter and looser from the middle of this month. Our numbers are still increasing though, so I am not holding my breath.

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  58. Wow, still in lockdown. Are people complying? We've had some disturbing acts of violence here with people squabbling over mask-wearing, and we're not even locked down. I hope people are more reasonable Down Under.

    I love your beautiful spring blooms! Our gardens are fading toward autumn here, but the roses and asters and snapdragons are still putting on a last-minute show. :-)

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    1. Diane Henders: Still in lockdown. There have been some major protests in other states but so far we see to be complying pretty well.
      Spring and Autumn are my favourite times of year so I would love to see some photos of your gardens last minute show.

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    2. Hmmm, it might be time to post some photos on my blog. If I can dodge the raindrops long enough... :-)

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    3. Diane Henders: I hope you will.

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  59. We've had a lot of rain in the last few days, making up for several weeks without. Love watching the clouds, always greens things up. Even in fall. Hard to believe lockdowns are still happening, if only folks would get the shot!!!

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    1. Yolanda Renee: We have had a wet spring. A welcome wet spring. My country was slow to get sufficient quantities of the vaccine. Slowly and steadily more of us ARE being vaccinated.

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  60. My goodness, I hate that you guys are still in lockdown, but as always, I love peeking into your lovely and colorful world via your pics. Be well and sending lots of hugs, RO

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    1. RO: Thank you. Our lockdown might end on Friday of next week. Then again it might not. Even if it does restrictions will remain. Just the same there is still beauty to be found. Have a safe and wonderful week.

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  61. Loved walking with you! Great photos!!! Thanks EC!!! Stay safe! Big Hugs!

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    1. Magic Love Crow: Thank you. I am safe, and hope you are too.

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