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. I am still struggling and this post is more snippets from home.
Starting with things which have delighted me in the garden.
I *think* this beauty is a Tiger Moth.
Then to our night flowering cactus. I showed you the bud last week. It comes into bloom in the evening and lasts a day. It is huge (seven or eight inches across), delicately scented and beautiful. So here is the progression. Today it is looking a bit sad - but there are other buds coming on.
As you can see from the last photo in the series the spikes are particularly fierce. It also has fine hair like threads which break off and fester. Jazz bites and scratches me so often I now have Jazz antibodies and no longer get infected when he attacks. The same is not true of this cactus.
I am going to finish with an early morning skyscape which delighted me. In some of the shots those of you with good eyesight will see birds soaring overhead. They were corellas and were making quite a ruckus. A totally unmusical ruckus.
Beautiful sky!
ReplyDeleteWhenever you post photos, I examine the background for uninvited guests. I imagine there's a python in every photo of Australia. Ha ha. So far so good. You're in the clear!
Sandi: I don't think we have pythons or any other sort of snake at home. We do have spiders. There are definitely red-backed spiders in the garden - and probably in the house.
DeleteI love the first photo and the photo of the flower, they're all so beautiful.💙
ReplyDelete-Quinley
Quinley: Thank you.
DeleteI looked up corellas and found... "There are many people wanting these destructive native birds declared a pest." But it seems they are a protected species.
ReplyDeleteMike: They were here first. I think/hope that all of our native birds and animals are protected. And many of them are considered pests by farmers.
DeleteThat cactus is a beautiful beast! Glad you have these delightful sights to accompany you xx
ReplyDeleteLisa Southard: Isn't it? The cactus is a bit ho hum for most of the year (in a vicious way) but those blooms are lovely.
DeleteI'm sorry you're still struggling - hoping for better days for you soon.
ReplyDeleteThat cactus is spectacular, but those spikes - yikes! I'm always shocked at how sharp and painful cactus spikes are. Until I looked it up a while ago, I didn't realize that they're actually covered with microscopic barbs that cut like teeny knife blades. They penetrate skin much more easily than regular thorns, and then the nasty little barbs break off and stay in the skin when you pull away. No wonder it hurts so much and gets infected so easily!
Diane Henders: In addition to the microscopic barbs this particular cactus also has fine hairs. Spikey hairs that snag unwary passersby.
DeleteOuch!
DeleteDiane Henders: Definitely ouch. For some time.
DeleteWhat is Jazz's problem? I'm concerned. I've gotten used to your beautiful photos and your wonderful companionship. Back off jazz!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Jazz likes to get my attention in pointed ways. He is often purring as he does so, though I bleed just the same.
DeleteI love the Tiger Moth, pretty. And the flower is fastastic and the clouds, beautiful EC.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Thank you. I spotted the moth during an early morning weedathon and it delighted me.
DeleteIt is always a pleasure to see those dramatic skies and the beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteBe safe.
Caterina: Thank you - you stay safe too.
DeleteThe moth is how I imagine a tiger moth would look. For one night only, the cactus flower is magnificent. The cloud formations are complex but soothing.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I looked up the moth on line and am pretty sure I have indentified it correctly. I haven't seen another than I recall. And yes on the cactus bloom and the clouds.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteFabulous photos of flora, fauna and nature. The cactus flower is beautiful.
Have a good week
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: That bloom is done and others are not ready to burst into flower, but the memories and the photos are a joy.
DeleteThat cactus flower is gorgeous, too bad it only blooms for a day. I like the information that Diane Henders shared
ReplyDeleteabout the cactus spikes. A real instrument of torture.
I always love seeing your interesting skies, birds, flowers and whatever shows up in your lens. Love the Tiger Moth.
I hope your week is starting on a sweet note.
Hugs, Julia
Julia: I am sticking even closer than usual to home at the moment, so who knows what will cross my camera's eye this week - and thank you.
DeleteMoth, cactus, skies - all spectacular and beautiful. I really love the cloud photos; they are stunning.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week, EC, weather-wise and health-wise.
Alexia: Thank you. I stood and admired those clouds for quite some time as they scudded past. We have a coolish and damp week forecast. How about you?
DeleteShowers are forecast this week, and in fact a fairly substantial one is happening now - we definitely need it!
DeleteAlexia: I am glad that you have some life giving moisture falling. We have more predicted but the weather boffins keep moving the expected day further and further away.
DeleteA flutterby! I haven't seen one like that, ever. Okay, it's a moth, but I like the word flutterby. The only moths around here are pantry moths which are slowly dying out as the males get caught in the pheromone traps so they can't breed. I see them outside too, so I don't now where they are coming from.
ReplyDeleteThe cactus flower is magnificent. I can imagine the corellas noise, probably excited at going to the feeding grounds.
River: Moffs flutter by too. Can you tell I like that word too? I am not sure what the corellas were shrieking about, but they were definitely enthusiastic about it. Even Jazz looked up.
DeleteI saw one tiny bird, so my eye appointment is not in vain. The night blooming cactus is lovely!
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: They were tiny, and I am overdue a visit to the optometrist.
DeleteYou always have such gorgeous photos! It really does my heart good to see what you're offering each week.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're still struggling. Huge hugs to you and scritches to that damn ornery cat of yours (affectionately offered, of course!)
River Fairchild: Thank you. I am glad you appreciate my hunt for things of beauty. Captain Ornery launched an attack a little while ago, but has now subsided and is purring happily. I will (tentatively) offer him your scritches.
DeleteCactus, skyscape minus moth in mind, I shall retire to my dreamscape. The peace of the night.
ReplyDeleteSean Jeating: Sleep well.
DeleteMy eyesight is not so good, i only saw the birds in one photo.
ReplyDeleteThe shots are all beautiful. That cactus does look fierce in its defense of the flower.
Forgot to add, my selections are all sky shots because that's all i had this week, and they will be over here.
Deletemessymimi: They weren't in every photo. I look forward to your selections. And yes, fierce is an excellent description of that cactus.
DeleteThat cactus flowering is gorgeous. I like the photos you got of the moths. Very nice close-ups!
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Thank you. I had to delete several blurred closeups for the moth.
DeleteI'm slow of the mark not because I slept in, but from spending all morning with my head and brain buried in sudoku and cryptic crossword puzzles...with the tennis playing in the background.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ahead, EC...take good care. Cuddles to Jazz. :)
Lee: You are not on a schedule here and are welcome whenever you stop by.
DeleteThat tiger is a beauty as is the cactus. Love that sky too. Wonderful images today, EC, as usual.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: Thank you. The tiger moth is lovely isn't it, and I welcome that cactus blooming each and every year.
DeleteI enjoyed all the photos. I especially enjoy knowing that it's summer where you are -- mid winter here in the northwest US. I was in Canberra years ago -- enjoyed my time there very much.
ReplyDeleteGalen Pearl: Welcome and thank you. I am glad that you enjoyed my city - which has a reputation of being duller than ditchwater. I am looking at snowy scenes from your side of the world with envy.
DeleteEC, thanks for another lesson on nature in Australia. Your photos are always excellent. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteGlenda Beall: Thank you for enjoying the things which delight me.
DeleteDo they flower at night, so they can break out to flower when the heat is not so fierce? Those are beautiful and dramatic skyscapes.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: The cactus may depend on moths for pollination - though I have seen them laden with bees. White flowers are often burnt by the sun here, but I really don't know why it is a night flower.
DeleteThat really was a stunning sky wasn't it?
Some of the flowers I have never seenn, very beautiful ! Your sky pictures too. It's funny that we all have the same kind of sky ! Strange that Jazz scratches you so often my Rosie does it too but mostly when I pet her under her head so I avoid this spot.
ReplyDeletehttps://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunday-selections_0166083422.html?m=1
Gattina: Jazz scratches (and bites) me to get my attention. It works. And thank you for your comment about my bloom and the sky. I loved the mountainous scenery you shared for Sunday Selections.
DeleteBeautiful images-- the flowers the sky. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteBill: Thank you. We live in a beautiful world don't we?
DeleteHi EC - aren't they stunning ... and I'd love to have a few delightful whiffs of that perfume ... but those thorns look really 'nasty' ... let alone those hair-like threads making sure we know that they don't like being touched in any way. Beautiful, but dangerous! Does the danger recede once they start dying off, and are dead?
ReplyDeleteYour Tiger Moth is extraordinary isn't it ... I'm so pleased you showed us ... while the sky is just a delight to see ... those corellas must be dangerous to be under ... probably as bad as seagulls - let alone their lack of musical ability! I owe you an email ... it's a-coming ... cheers and have a peaceful week - Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: The thorns and the hairs never go away. The cactus definitely belongs to the look but do not touch category - which means that repotting it is something to be avoided (and is overdue - again).
DeleteI don't think I have been hit with a corella bomb. Fortunate.
And don't worry about the email. In the fullness of time.
You find beauty everywhere, Sue, and share it with all of us. What could be better than that?
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: I am a beauty addict, and find LOTS of it.
DeleteThe flower cactus looks great even in that stage.
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful sky view. I've seen clouds like that and it always amazed me. I didn't notice the birds until you mentioned them.
Have a lovely day.
lissa: The cactus looks MUCH better in bloom. The birds were only tiny - but did lead to me looking up. Or at least their shrieking did - for which I am grateful.
DeleteI love that pretty flower cactus. I couldn't see the birds but the sky is sure lovely! And thanks for the tiger moth pictures. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: Even knowing they were there I had to look several time to see the birds. They were up high - but their voices spanned the distance. And thank you.
DeleteThat cactus is seriously impressing! Even more so that it seems to grow outside. My SO likes cacti as well, those tiny thors are really bad! I like that moth and your scyscapes as well. I can see the birds, so it's not only for people with superior vision.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): I am not good with indoor plants. Almost all the plants I share live outside. The cactus bites back, but is very beautiful. We have others too that are less prickly - but less spectacular too. Which might be a co-incidence.
DeleteA pesar de ese canto antimusical de las corellas, por el cielo, bien que mereció la pena ese paseo. Cuando las nubes dibujan el horizonte de esta forma, por aquí decimos que el cielo está "emborregado", como si fuese una piara de borregos.
ReplyDeletePreciosa entrada, y no hemos podido participar en el meme anterior, porque había palabras que la traducción al español la hacías, con palabras sin sentido y que no existen en nuestro diccionario.
Un saludo, y que disfrutes de un bonito día.
Manuel: Many (most) of Australia's native birds are not songsters. They are beautiful and welcome here anyway. I am sorry that the Words for Wednesday didn't translate well for you last week and hope that the coming week is better. Thank you - and have a lovely week.
DeleteYour cactus bloom looks so much like the Night blooming Cereus we have here. But no thorns on the cereus. However, it's aroma when it blooms is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteRain: Perhaps my beautiful cactus is related to your Night Blooming Cereus. It most definitely has thorns though.
DeleteYour photos of the night blooming cactus are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
The cactus flower is so pretty. I do like the pretty moth or butterfly whichever it is.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: I am pretty sure it is a moth - and I like it (and the cactus) too.
DeleteThe cactus flower is just glorious, shame about the spikes!
ReplyDeletePretty skies.
I'm sure I have said before that I love the corellas, they are the greatest of all the parrot clowns. I might love them less if they were destroying something of mine
kylie: I really like the corellas too. It is the cockatoos (mostly) that wreak havoc on our garden and I still love them. They were here long before we were, and I hope they are here long after I am gone.
DeleteAmazing sky there.
ReplyDeleteThose cacti can be brutal at times but such pretty blooms.
Lovely butterfly of which I haven't seen any in the garden these past two years.
Margaret D: Thank you. Brutal is the right word for those defences. I have been watching butterflies in the last few days, and hope to capture some of them this week (on camera).
DeleteHeipsan,
ReplyDeleteyour cactus really is amazing
and the clouds are beautiful.
Have a nice week.
orvokki: Thank you - you have a lovely week too.
DeleteI've confused myself by dancing back and forth between your posts. I'd wanted to say how much I love your hoya shot, such unbelievable looking flowers. And the skies in this post are amazing, I keep looking at those shots. I hope this week has been kinder to you EC.
ReplyDeleteKim: There are now eight or nine blooms on that hoya. The ants and I love them, and I never, ever tire of the sky. This week has been a bit patchy but cooler and less humid. Which will change by the week's end.
DeleteI was quite amazed at the moth. Here, the only moths I have seen are white and are quite small. It was nice to see there are pretty ones in other parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of the beauty of the night flowering cactus, but I would definitely be afraid of those spikes. Such a price to pay for its beauty.
Your skyscape shots are stunning. I was just mesmerized by the cloud formation, but enjoyed looking for the birds, too. I hope your week is going well. One of these days I will actually catch up visiting.
Bleubeard and Elizabeth: There are some stunningly beautiful moths about. Some of them put their better known cousins to shame. I was pleased to see this one, and even more pleased that it stayed long enough for me to photograph it.
DeleteYou have been busy, and blogger has been a pain. Anytime you visit is soon enough.
What a beautiful flower!
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: We think so too.
DeleteI love those night blooming flowers! We see them along Punahou School. So beautiful!!!
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: Aren't they lovely? Their scent is gorgeous too.
DeleteGreat cactus shots! Also the moth.I've never managed to get one stay still for me.
ReplyDeleteI was googling Tiger Moth aeroplane info and this popped up:
After dark when its visual signal is useless, the tiger moth emits ultrasonic clicks which can be picked up by insectivorous bats. These clicks warn the bats that the moth is unpleasant to eat, and also jams the bats’ sonar system.
dinahmow: How amazing that the 'defenceless' moth has such a wonderful trick up its sleeve. Or wings. And yes, finding any sort of flutterby that will stay still long enough to have its photo taken is a challenge.
DeleteOh, that butterfly! :-) Reminded me of one I saw in Yorkshire in summer 2020. I almost took a photo of it, only for it to fly away.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: They usually fly away from me too. I was lucky.
DeleteThat cactus flower does look very nice, but a shame it is so spiteful!
ReplyDeleteA big WOW for the early morning skyscape photographs, they are lovely.
Have a good week.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Protective rather than spiteful I think. It has bitten me more than once though.
DeleteI do delight in the sky (particularly in the early hours) and I think next week's Sunday Selections will be more of the same.
The flower is spectacular and at least three of the skyscapes feel as silken as rippling water, awestruck! Also happy to report that I spotted the corellas so my eyesight is better than I thought. Hope your week is going well.
ReplyDeleteNilanjana Bose: It really was an amazing few minutes with that sky wasn't it? And yes, I thought of rippling water - or shot silk too.
DeleteA most gorgeously interesting post. x
ReplyDeleteaussie aNNie: Thank you. We live in a beautiful world.
DeleteCan you imagine how lovely and warm it feels just seeing your gorgeous flowers and life so much softer and brighter compared to Minnesota. Not that from a window perspective I don't have an exciting snowy view but just step outside. The birds and bunnies in my yard are fewer but once I put out the goodies there they are in full swing! Glorious. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDelete21 Wits: In the middle of our day the birds are conspicuous by their absence (or are sheltering on the bird feeder panting). Thank you for feeding the birds and the bunnies - and enjoy your week too.
DeleteWow!That tiger moth is so lovely!! Amazing how beautiful a moth can be?? God is good! I have never seen a cactus flower - that is equally as beautiful and very cool with the spikes!! Thanks for sharing these! Have a great week!!! Annster
ReplyDeleteAnnsterw: Quite a lot of our cacti flower, but this is the most spectacular. And yes, moths are OFTEN very, very beautiful.
DeleteOh my gosh. So much beauty. I would love to see it first hand, but the pictures are almost as good. And speaking of good. How was your BDay?
ReplyDeleteBiggest hugs ever.
Sandra Cox: Thank you. I am a beauty addict and grateful that there is so much of it about. Hugs to you too. My birthday was quiet and pleasant. How about yours?
DeleteHugs.
ReplyDeleteR's Rue: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteYour cactus is gorgeous. Though I think they are beautiful I will have none here. I am seriously clumsy and it would just be an open invitation to physical wounds.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: My families name for me as a child was clumsy clot. I have not improved. That cactus is well away from the areas I usually walk - and I am still caught by it from time to time.
DeleteI have never seen a night flowering cactus and I think it looks amazing. Dangerous as well. Why is Jazz such a little stinker? The tiger moth is beautiful - and your skies? So very beautiful, as always.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best, especially for your health.
Carola Bartz: That cactus is a beauty and its perfume is as well. Jazz came to us as a rescue cat and I suspect his unpredictable nature dates from his early experiences. Despite his use of tooth and claw he is much loved.
DeleteI love the cactus photos. It's is so beautiful. Hope you are feeling better soon my friend. Have a safe and wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: It is a beauty isn't it? Very briefly each year. And thank you.
DeleteOh my goodness! I would love to come and sit in your garden and soak up the sights. So beautiful That moth is stunning and the flower- wow!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon. ~Jess
DMS ~Jess: Thank you. You would be very welcome - though you might be put to work.
DeleteWhat a striking flower on the cactus! I had a cactus similar to that and was so afraid of it I eventually got rid of it. I figured if it kept getting bigger it would be harder and harder to do anything about it. It had to be an indoor plant because of our winters. Now I wonder if it would have ever bloomed.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, as always, the beauty you uncover. I struggle to remember to look for the beauty around me; it needs to be very obvious for me to notice it. But your consistent search (and find) is something I keep aspiring to do.
Hope you have a good week, dear friend.
jenny_o: That particular cactus badly needs repotting. As do some of its off shoots. I am afraid of them and have been putting it off. Something I will have to face. Soon.
DeleteI am a beauty addict. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say I NEED it. Fortunately, even on my bad days there is a lot of it about.
Huge hugs oh sister across the seas and the skies.
Wishing you the same though you have beauty in spades between your garden and that sky.
ReplyDeletee: Thank you. I am a beauty addict and so grateful that there is so much of it about.
DeleteAs always I love your photos, Lovely butterflies and flowers and the shots of the sky are just awesome, Finally found some time midweek to do my blogging, I hope you are having a great week.
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: Thank you. Enjoy your week.
DeleteThe night flowering cactus is magnificent. Isn't nature truly wonderful but how sad that it blooms only for so short a while. We also have something like this here but not on a cactus plant. The flowers also smell glorious and the flower is white. Have not seen a Tiger moth bur heard of them so thanks for the pics. The orange blotches really stand out on its wings
ReplyDeletekestrel: Nature is indeed truly wonderful, and something which fills me with gratitude each and every day.
DeleteThem there clouds are glorious. They remind me of cloud-gazing as a child. I must do that again when it gets warm!!
ReplyDeleteGosh, that cactus sure is taking every precaution to protect its flower...stinging hair. What a gorgeous flower. We had one that bloomed at night, but not a cactus. Aaaah, the perfume...
neena maiya (guyana gyal): I hope I am never too old or jaded for cloud watching. It brings me bucket loads of joy.
DeleteThe perfume of the cactus is lovely, but I would like to get a bit closer to inhale that delicious fragrance...
Wow! Your flowering cactus is beautiful! And so are the sky shots. I love those clouds!
ReplyDeleteRain: Thank you. I loved the clouds when I saw them, and am so glad that others do too.
Delete