Floriade

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Blossoms and Birds

Break open a cherry tree and there are no flowers, but the spring breeze brings forth myriad blossoms.  ~Ikkyu Sojun

There are a number of things we are truly enjoying in our new, albeit temporary, home.

We enjoy a visit from a pair of Crimson Rosellas every afternoon.

They are enjoying foraging in the apricot tree blossoming in our back yard at the moment.

I was fortunate to be able to capture them this afternoon, 

so engrossed were they in the myriad blossoms.

They leave a carpet of blossoms under the tree, 

aided by the sulphur crested cockatoos, magpies and other friendly birds.

These delicate blossoms are full of romance.

The little dancing ladies here remind me of the dancers of a mystical Swan Lake, 

tiptoeing delicately upon a lake of snow and ice.

Then they are transformed into a most beautiful ballerina dressed delicately in a beautiful pink bodice with billowing white skirt, layering upon tassels of gold and silver.

The Apricot Blossom - 

the current delight of my heart

and joy of my days.

Sounds like my precious little girls really.

 ;)

For Eleanor Violet

Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us, and here we are to comfort you. ~Edward Payson Rod

On the day we expected my new niece to be born a couple of seemingly insignificant things happened.

Until I knew the name of my precious new niece I did not make any connection with the fact that:

~ for the first time I noticed this lone violet blooming out my new back door, in a wintry dirt patch surrounded by mysterious bulb shoots, waiting to welcome Spring.

~ for the first time my little Eee picked me a bunch of the violet shade of pansies and violas blooming in our front yard.

They must have been for you,

our precious, dear, Eleanor Violet.

Happy Birthday Eleanor Violet

26 July 2011

With love,

All of us

xoxoxoxoxo

Blossom Beauty on the First Day of Winter

Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius. ~Pietro Aretino

On our first day of winter, with the sun hiding behind the clouds and the temperature becoming much cooler, these blossoms just outside my living room door remind me how lucky we are to have winters with blossoms.

I hope these begonias remain throughout the season as we look forward to the new life of Spring. New life will be coming in more ways than one for me this Spring :).

A little more Autumn Botanic Beauty

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

It is always the smallest things in life which make my heart flutter and renew and restore my soul. Outings with my family to the great outdoors are one of those things which really make me smile and remind me that life is grand.

We visited Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens in the Adelaide Hills for a second time this Autumn so we could share with our Generous Gentleman some of the majestic beauty of this serene, yet surprisingly busy place. Many others joined us in wandering the park's paths simply taking in the beautiful scenery and enjoying the outdoors with family members before the weather changes and we find ourselves staying indoors more often, letting the wind and rain and colder days pass by.

Lacy Babushka-Style Scarf

I love sewing and have plenty of material witnesses. ~Author Unknown

Some pretty lace here...

pretty fabric in the shape of a triangle...

and a cute curly haired wearer.

This is a little something I whipped up this morning with, and for, little Eee. We actually made a pair of them. Over the weekend I sewed a little summer sundress for Ess and this scarf matches it perfectly. I hope she'll model it for me this afternoon as she has declared she will be putting her new dress on straight after school.

My weekend was unplanned, spontaneous and very enjoyable. At 9am on Saturday, my Generous Gentleman said, "let's go down to The Blueberry Patch and to Goolwa for lunch". So we did. On Sunday I woke with the intention of relaxing. I started flicking through a recent book purchase and thinking 'I could make that with this fabric' and 'this would look lovely in this'.

Soon thereafter I was looking through the stash of fabric my Dad brought with him from home - some beautiful fabrics from which I made my own clothing in my late teens and early twenties. Now it is delightful to use for my children. The result of that is lots of cut fabric and ideas in my head about what next to make for my girls to wear as they grow and seasons change. It is still warm so the sundress was first to reach completion but I am dying to finish some sweet little woollen hats using the 'White Melton Hat' pattern and a few of my own ideas of course. Can anyone fill me in a little more on what melton cloth is?

Finally, enjoy this little piece of beauty. Such a pretty pink lillium. Not what I expected to find at The Blueberry Patch, yet under the shade of their beautiful green willows, on a lawn of green, we sat to enjoy our blueberry ice creams and the sweet little garden.

In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head. ~Emma Racine deFleur

A gift from my husband, which a few days ago, looked thus.

Are now an absolute delight to behold.

A sure sign of Spring.

While I would love to be telling you that these divine tulips were picked from my garden, alas, it is not so. They were obtained from the central markets last week. A gift! My husband knew what I needed. They have continued to delight my heart, day after day as the blossoms appeared in all their glory.

There are some blossoms however, delighting us in our own garden.

An elegant white freesia.

A delicate soft pansy.

Many, many, too many, oxalis blossoms. Beautiful, bright yellow flowers which are a common weed we call soursob.

Enjoy Spring!

Shell Treasures

Bashams Beach offered us many delights as we watched whales frolicking out to sea.

Glimpses of light just above the horizon as a misty cloudy sky turned to dusk.

Stray pieces of driftwood now resting calmly on the sand.

Beckoning rocks inlaid with shiny silver puddles of water, reflecting light, containing creatures to be discovered.

And shells...oh the shells...

Myriads of sea shells lying around the water's edge. Little Eee and I immediately sat down to explore such beauty, while Ess and Dad climbed rocks and found sea stars in rock pools. We sorted, sifted, shared with each in amazement, pocketing some to bring home for our collection.

The colours and patterns are so vivid, so striking. Each shell resembling its mate yet each one's pattern being unique, its own fingerprint.

These ones we dubbed toffee apple shells. Can you see the green hue on the parts of shell where the vivid red has worn away?

I can tell you these little shells have been sorted and rearranged by little fingers (and big ones as well) over and over.

Such simple discoveries serving to delight and nourish our soul and bring fond memories of wonderful times shared.

Twinkles after Fog

Faith is like radar that sees through the fog.  ~ Corrie Ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord

Each morning this week has greeted us with its foggy misty skies.  It also just happened to be the week I promised Ess that she could ride her bike to school.  Usually she walks by my side as I stroll little Eee - I have no desire to push both a bicycle and a stroller home.  "But I can leave my bike at school", Ess pleaded.  "Yes you can darling.  However that means that you will have to ride it up the big hill on the way home.  I won't be able to help push you,"  I replied.

So she practiced when Pa was here to help push her.  She did very well so now she rides alone - for the most part.  She has enjoyed making the discovery that the easiest, most fun part of the ride on the way to school becomes the most difficult, challenging part of the journey on the way home.  I am proud to say she has met the challenge and faced it head on.  Not without remembering the story of my childhood The Little Engine That Could and uttering that famous refrain "I think I can! I think I can!"

Most days this week the fog has turned to delightful rain by the time it is time for me to return home.  With a smile on my face and raincoats adorned I head home, often greeted by friends offering me a lift.  I decline.  It is my choice to walk, to risk the weather.  I love being out in the weather and experiencing all it has to offer. It connects me with my day and what is going on around me.  It heightens my senses and renews my energy and vigour.

Today however the sun peaked through the clouds, the skies cleared allowing us to view the delightful dance of the dewy raindrops on bare twigs, gumnuts and daffodils.

We are certain that once the fairies have had a sweet drink from their gumnut cups...

they have sought refuge from the rain inside each dewdrop...

waiting for more sunshine and preparing to dance again.

My favourite tree on our journey, a silver birch I believe, lit up this morning with delicate fairy lights, dewdrops disguised, as the dancing fairies made their way to morning tea.

(look closely and click on the pics to enlarge them to see the drops and the reason I need a new camera :) )

Now, just for the record, July 2009 has been the wettest month in Adelaide in four years.  I celebrate.  I have enjoyed the rain, the sunshine has been appreciated all the more for it and I love rainy days!  We have had over 100mm...not bad!

Thankyou all for your kind birthday wishes for my day.  It was most enjoyable...fog and all.

Stories of the Native Blossoms

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.  ~Basho

I'm not sure what these are.  Please fill me in if you know.

Each morning as we walk, the little blossoms lift their heads from amongst the leafy green leaves and branches, turning towards us, calling us.  They beckon us to come closer.  To look within, behind, around about.

We see their intricate makeup, their tiny stamens, their delicate, unique petals, their exquisite colours.

An amazingly enormous Eucalypt/Gum blossom.  I know you can't tell scale. One day I'll show you the accompanying gum nuts - huge!

These are new to me.  Let me know the variety if you know...please.

We see the fairies as they wake from their night's rest, quickly darting away, out of sight...but we catch a glimpse...if sometimes only of the fairy dust left behind in their wake.

Native Correa

Some may look and yet fail to see, to really know, appreciate and explore all that is there to behold.

Some may not see at all...lacking time...lacking interest...failing to realise the beauty and the power of the small things.  Those things the children want to linger over, yet we rush them on...eager to at least commence the next task.

Native Correa

I have been given the gift of time (by my husband who is our breadwinner).  Yet sometimes the tasks are many and I fail to allow the message behind the blossoms to penetrate.  I am thankful that on most occasions when my daughters want to linger, I am able.  I am thankful that I can make the decision to linger, to capture, to remember, to share with my daughters the beauty of nature, to teach them about the Creator.  I am certain they are taking it in. Do you remember back in February when my dear Ess was lamenting the fact it was not yet Winter in order to be able to see the "Christmas Bells" as we fondly call them?  Here they are!  She sees them everyday now.  She picks them, inspects them, counts them, shares them with her friends.

Correa 'Dusky Bells'

I am certain God created blossoms to nourish the soul.

Tend your spirit, linger longer and allow yourself to be nourished.

If you would like some beautifully evocative Australian music to listen to as you linger (including my own voice), then pop on over to my brother to hear Kondalilla.  It is an absolute treat!  My favourite.