Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 24 September 2023

Sunday Selections #647


 
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. Last week I said I was going to take you to our festival of Spring, Floriade, this week.  I lied.  Instead we are going to Tulip Top Gardens, which is not far from my city and another festival of Spring.

Unlike Floriade there is an entry charge. Despite that it is a great deal less commercial.  It is in a hidden valley, minutes from the freeway between my city and Sydney and a lifetime away.

One family manages it, and the planting each year is done by hand by a couple in their seventies. Which awes and amazes me.

Settle back for a myriad of photos. It was a froth of blossoms, an explosion of colour, and there was classic music, frog songs and the hum of bees. There are plenty of antique pink blooms to meet Charlotte(MotherOwl's) monthly colour challenge too.


































It was truly beautiful and I am glad I went, but I am still seriously stuffed after the walking (and I didn't get to the lookout this year).  We hope to get to Floriade this coming week. And will enjoy that too.

And I hope your week is blooming lovely.

 

106 comments:

  1. Merece la pena pagar la entrada, con tal de ver tantas preciosidades.
    Un abrazo

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    1. VENTANA DE FOTO: We agree. We don't begrudge the entrance fee at all.

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  2. Beautiful. I can’t imagine two people doing all that planting! It looked like gorgeous weather for your excursion too. I’m so glad you managed to tackle the adventure.
    Huge hugs to you, for bringing this bounty back to share with the rest of us.
    River Fairchild

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    1. River Fairchild: We were lucky with the weather. On the day we first planned on going it was incredibly windy. On other days it was toooo hot for my wimpy self. The day we were there was beautiful. As were the blooms. Awe, wonder and delight.

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  3. Wow, EC, what an extraordinary expanse of beauty, glory and colour. I can't even imagine how two people manage it, an enormous task of love and then sharing it with others.
    So glad you enjoyed the time there and shared it with us.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: It is an incredible extravaganza isn't it? Given how tired I got simply walking around I cannot imagine how two people did the work to create the glory. And am so very grateful that they did.

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  4. Such incredible gorgeousness! As I look at pumpkins and mums, I am heartened to see pink tulips galore in your part of our beautiful planet. Thank you, dear friend.

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    1. DJan: Isn't it amazing. I am so very happy to share the beauty and the joy.

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  5. The round rainbow of colors is really pretty. Worth paying for!

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Definitely worth paying for. As well as the hum of the bees there was a murmur of content and wonder from the human visitors.

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  6. A froth of blossoms, an explosion of colour, indeed. Thank you, Sue.

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    1. Sean Jeating: It is an annual treat and has never disappointed us.

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  7. Dear EC
    Wow! That looks stunning - amazing colours and beautiful spring blooms. Thank you for sharing your visit and bringing some flower-filled delight to us!
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: Isn't it a joy? I am sure you would have loved it as much as we did in the flesh.

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  8. Once again, grateful grovelling from the tropics! It's posts like this that give me a visual shot in the arm. And that Forsythia -ahhh!

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    1. dinahmow: They are planting more forsythia avenues too. In the years to come they will be glorious. More glorious.

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  9. This is a much-needed dose of beauty in my life, my dear friend. THANK YOU. I hope you drank deeply of it and I'm so glad you have a photo record to return to again and again.

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    1. jenny_o: Isn't it amazing. You will be totally surprised (not) to learn that I took hundreds of photos. And am so grateful that we went. Hugs to you sister across the seas and I am so glad to have given you a beauty fix.

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  10. Fantastic spring bloom! The tulips just look so gorgeous!

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    1. roentare: Isn't it amazing? I love the underplanting of annuals too. So much.

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  11. It's hard to imagine that one couple in their 70s planted all those tulips. I was really in awe. I wonder how many more years they will be able to do this on their own before they either hire help or retire. This is one HUGE undertaking and cannot be easy, since it's not like they can plant these beds a few at a time over several months. The colors are so well done, too.

    So glad you took all those photos and shared a few of them with us. This was a beautiful post and apparently a wonderful outing for you, dear.

    Good grief. Another "Failed to Publish."

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    1. Bleubeard and Elizabeth: Another failed to publish? Big sigh. And thank you for persevering. It is incredibly beautiful and I am blown away at the effort involved. And yes, it was a wonderful outing.

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  12. Beautiful! I spotted a first bloom of our beautiful Jacarandas this morning as I drove back home from the supermarket. I've been eagerly awaiting for the start of the too brief Jacaranda season.

    I hope the week ahead is a good one for you, EC. Take care...and please Batty and Odie some cuddles from me. :)

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    1. Lee: Jacarandas are incredibly beautiful. Revel in their brief season in the sun. Thank you. And Batty and Odie thank you too.

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  13. The gardens seem to look better and better each year. Thanks for another garden wander. It's good to see some temporary seating around.

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    1. Andrew: There is lots of temporary seating - and we saw more than one person simply lying on the grass soaking up the sun. I have never been to this event without being blown away.

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  14. What a stunning collection of beautiful flowers!! I couldn't possibly choose a special one - they're ALL special. Your photos are lovely, EC - thank you for sharing them with us.
    I hope you are recovering from all the walking :)

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    1. Alexia: Isn't it amazing? I love it all, but have a weakness for the forsythia avenues - and notice they are planting more. It will take me a while to recover - which shames me. I cannot imagine the effort involved in laying out and planting those beds.

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  15. All those beautiful colors, and everything planned so perfectly. I marvel at two people being able to do it all.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie Junebug: I marvel at it too. And am so very grateful.

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  16. Sadly our blooms are on the decline. This visit was a treat for sure, EC. Such attention to detail too with those beds!

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    1. Marie Smith: It is an annual treat for us. And a BIG one. I am glad that you enjoyed the colour.

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  17. I always love your photos from Tulip Tops. I hope to get there sometime! It seems like an early visit this year or is it just that time flies?

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    1. kylie: I hope you can visit some year. It is early this year. Some of the tulips are yet to come out, but others are done. We got a warning that it was early and headed off in its first week of opening. And are so glad we did.

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  18. An explosion of delight from your computer to mine. And everyone else's. What are those gorgeous flowers in the mixed colour bed, picture 12? African Violets? And the pink tulips certainly fit Charlotte's antique pink I think. The gorgeous glow of the forsythia rows reminds me of the one single bush we had when living in Puckapunyal the year my youngest was born.

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    1. River: That was a bed of mixed polyanthus. Gorgeous weren't they? I really love the forsythia avenue and look forward to seeing the new ones thicken and grow.

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  19. Well, well, well, just how magic is the garden - they the couple have done a wonderful job and it looks magic EC. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful place/garden.

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    1. Margaret D: It was/is magic isn't it? I am so glad that we discovered it all those years ago.

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  20. I am at a loss for words--- what a fabulous display of Spring beauty! Thanks for sharing it.

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    1. Bill: isn't it a delight? Fabulous is an understatement.

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  21. Hi EC - truly amazing - it must be so delightful walking around; what a dedicated couple - they do themselves more than justice - looks gorgeous. So pleased you were able to go - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: I am thrilled that we went, and glad we went so early in the season too. They are indeed a hard-working and dedicated couple.

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  22. Absolutely beautiful. We had better all ask that couple in their seventies what they eat and stock the pantry accordingly! What a job they have done.

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    1. David M. Gascoigne: Indeed we should. And applaud their work. Loudly. Enthusiastically.

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  23. One couple! In their seventies! That is seriously inspiring

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  24. Looking at so many colours first thing in the morning is quite relaxing. Thank you, EC!!

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    1. Caterina: I found all those colours invigorating - and was and am very glad we went.

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  25. The colors are so beautiful. Hard to believe that this elderly couple could do such a magnificent job, a truly amazing feat. I just love it. Thanks for the beauty.

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    1. gigi-hawaii: The colours are incredible aren't they? Their underplantings often echo and highlight the focal point of each bed too. I love this place and am seriously awed at their work.

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  26. Replies
    1. Charlotte (MotherOwl): At its best. Thank you for persevering and finally landing a comment.

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  27. Really beautiful photos as always. They make me miss the visits my son and I used to take to the botanic gardens. I'm going to try and talk him into doing a monthly visit. I need something to get me out of my usual routine, which can become depressing even though I'm doing something I want to do. Won't bother you with that too much as you listen to enough unhappy people in your volunteer work.
    I did a straightforward Haiku for summer turning into fall this week. No clever double meanings here, it really is about the clover going dormant.
    https://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2023/09/sleeping-clover.html

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    1. Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost: Thank you. I hope you and your son can get to the Botanic Gardens. I always find our seriously calming. I will head over and read your haiku soon.

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  28. Wow, what a beautiful spot! Thank you for the lovely photos. I checked out their website, but they didn't say how large the property is - do you know? I salivated over the menus, too - did you eat there during your visit?

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    1. Diane Henders: The gardens they cultivate and open to the public are around 4 hectares. We passed on the food and simply consumed the beauty. Calorie free beauty.

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  29. WOW, WOW, WOW,
    I so enjoyed your beautiful photographs from Tulip Top Gardens. Well done to the elderly couple and all who help, a lovely place.

    Hope the week ahead is a good one for you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. It really is delightful and most of it is a family enterprise. We have another spring excursion planned for this week (and a few appointments). I hope the former makes up for the latter and that you and Eddie enjoy your week.

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  30. That is such a pretty place. I love all the flower pictures, it's just so bright and cheery.

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    1. Mary Kirkland: I don't think I have ever (in all the years we have been going) heard anyone who wasn't seriously impressed with the gardens. And yes, it is VERY bright and cheerful.

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  31. Oh my! Your photos have brightened my day. What a grandiose job this couple are doing. Such beautiful displays of blooms and not a weed in sight. They must spend every day grooming and caring for their gardens. How can they keep the destructive birds out of their gardens?

    Thank you for sharing this beauty from the other side of the world.
    Stay well. Hugs.
    Julia

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    1. Julia: You are right, not a weed in sight. Which puts me and my much smaller garden to shame. Rather a lot of it. I am glad to applaud their work, and love that people all round the world get to enjoy it with me.

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  32. Wow and wow again, over and over. Thank you.

    My selections are over here.

    By the way, I've been having tons of trouble commenting on blogger, and Charlotte left a message that she's had trouble, too. I thought it was just my aging equipment...

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    1. messymimi: I have viewed and thoroughly enjoyed your selections. Thank you for continuing to try and comment. I think it is a blogger glitch rather than a equiptment failure and it often infuriates me.

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  33. I can't imagine keeping that place up. Every area looks like perfection. Practise? I wonder if its a lot of stress, like at the dinner table, on whose area isn't up to par. It's beautiful that's for sure.

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    1. Strayer: I don't know about stress but it would certainly be a LOT of work. And time sensitive too. You are right about the beauty too.

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  34. Great photos as usual. I should probably resurrect my photo blog and take part in this. I have a good collection of photos to use.

    :o)

    Cheers

    PM

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    1. Plastic Mancunian: I would love you to join us. Please.

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  35. Oh what a treat for the eyes.. that is such a wonderful thing the couple does.. thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.

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    1. Hena Tayeb: While they charge an entry fee, given the cost of bulbs I cannot see how they make a profit, and am so grateful for the mountains of work they put in to bring us this extravaganza.

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  36. An absolutely lovely colorful blooming spring. Enjoy. I hope you are having a good start to the new week,

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  37. I am so glad you shared these. Absolutely gorgeous and your photos are great!

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. It is indeed a gorgeous sight, and I am so glad we discovered it.

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  38. So many beauties surround you, and reside within.
    Tulips always make me smile. Thanks for including them.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: You would have been grinning from ear to ear. There were hundreds and hundreds of tulips.

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  39. OMGad. I can't keep up with my little corner of the world. How do 2 seniors take care of a utopia?
    Hugs, S. sandracox.blogspot.com

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    1. Sandra Cox: I hear you. Their work awes and shames me - in equal measures.

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    2. Right there with ya. I love the way they've tiered many of their flowers. Hope you and Batty are perking along.
      Hugs, S. sandracox.blogspot.com

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    3. Sandra Cox: Their vision is phenomenal isn't it? As is the execution.

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  40. Oh golly, those spring colours are spectacular.How wonderful that this is all taken care of by some seniors.... but I'm sure there are some younger arms helping then from time to time. I wonder if my cousin who lives in Mawson has ever been? I'll have to ask her, we Zoom every 2 weeks.

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    1. Shammickite: I hope your cousin has seen this spectacular display. Our spring is early this year so if she hasn't been yet, recommend that she heads out quickly.

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  41. wow spectacular flowers.. if only my husband didn't get really bad hayfever or we would come down for Floriade.

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    1. Anna: Canberra is a hayfever capital and I suspect your husband would be truly miserable here at the moment.

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  42. Whoever coined the phrase "a riot of color" must have visited Tulip Top Gardens! Wow!

    What a way to usher in Spring. It's hard to believe this is mainly the work of a couple of folks my age. I'm tired just thinking of that.

    Gini and I hope your day is as beautiful as the flowers you have shown us.

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    1. Wally Jones: Definitely a riot or an explosion of colour. And yes, I am awed at their work. I hope that you and Gini are having a wonderful day reveling in nature. And feel sure you are.

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  43. Ahhhhhh...I love these snaps. A 'froth' of blooms, indeed! I wish I could smell the air in those photos. :)

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    1. Bea: I wish you could too. It smells as good as it looks.

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  44. Aren't those primroses grand? Hugs, S. sandracox.blogspot.com

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    1. Sandra Cox: They are. It made me think I should plant more next year - a small river of them.

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  45. EC, This was the most beautiful photo essay and it made me long for spring which is a long way off where I live. Thank you for bringing us all this loveliness.

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    1. Anonymous: Spring is a glorious time of year, and Tulip Top Gardens showcase it really, really well don't they? I hope that you can enjoy your cooler seasons.

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  46. Our yard in Ukraine is full of tulips of all varieties of colour in the spring. Tanya orders every new one that comes along.

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    1. The Blog Fodder: They are hard to resist aren't they? We refer to garden catalogues as garden porn - and succumb.

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  47. A froth of blossoms and flowers indeed, Sue! Tulip Top Gardens is wonderful. Thank you for sharing its beauty!

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    1. Fundy Blue: Isn't it amazing?: We have had some very hot (and windy) days since we went and I suspect it is past its best - though still lovely.

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