Tag Archives: Flowers

nature, Photography

December 12’s Friday Fleurday

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I didn’t think I would find any more flowers from this year to post for Friday Flowerday but then I spotted some lovely pot marigolds in the kitchen garden next to one of our favourite restaurants. They are edible and were clearly still being used by the chef as I found where some had been cut with shears.

They were such a bright and cheery little group to see at this time of year with their sunny faces.

With all the overcast from the constant rain we’re almost totally dark by 4:00 pm, so these pretty flowers were a delightful and unexpected sight indeed.

Happy Friday.

Photoblog, Photography

December 5’s Friday Fleurday

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Although our outdoor flower season is essentially over – I have seen a few outliers but they will eventually disappear, too – I found this lovely collection of poinsettias in a greenhouse.

I don’t typically like poinsettias all that much, but this multitude looked particularly attractive.

Along with holly, they are certainly one of December’s signature flowers/plants and give the season a lot of flair.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

November 28’s Friday Fleurday

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Last Friday Fleurday I posted flower pictures from March, April and May; today I’m posting pictures from June, July and August. And I’m really happy about that, because right now we have cloud down to the valley floor and a lot of rain! In the mountains it came down as snow, so if you’re planning a ski trip, I know where there’s plenty of the fresh stuff! But on to more colourful things …

… like a lovely June iris …

… a very fresh daisy …

… and some lovely variegated hydrangeas.

July brought pond lilies …

… impatiens …

… many more hydrangeas …

… and lots of pond lilies, too.

While in August we had anemones …

… sunflowers …

… black-eyed susans …

… penny macs …

… and last but not least, tea roses.

I really enjoyed my little trip through the summer archive! After going for a very soggy and grey ramble today, it was lovely knowing that all these lovelies will be back.

Happy Friday, happy weekend.

nature, Photography

November 21’s Friday Fleurday

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Well, it’s that time of year when outdoor flowers have become very hard to find. So as a seasonal goodbye, I’m going to do a couple of retrospective posts showcasing some of my favourites from this year’s bloomers.

First up is March, April and May. These are wonderful months for many reasons but not least of which is that the blooms are everywhere and quickly bring us out of our winter blahs.

Lovely March daffodils, always a classic …

… were closely followed by another classic, April tulips, and so many, many other beautiful bloomers.

Cherry blossoms …

… plums …

… and apples … with us and then gone again so quickly.

Magnolias thriving in the April sun …

… a flower feast.

And then there was the heady scent of the lilacs, an old-fashioned flower that’s never really gone out of style.

Early May brought the rhododendrons …

… and dogwoods, British Columbia’s provincial flower.

Irises …

… and peonies …

… and hydrangeas completed a smorgasbord of gorgeous sights and scents.

And, no snow here, just lots of petals!

Although the southern hemisphere is heading into spring right now, for us northerners, I think that a little glimpse of what will be arriving again in March is a good thing.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

November 14’s Friday Fleurday

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So, the flower pickings have dwindled a lot, but I did find some for today’s post.

The always-lovely chrysanthemums are starting to fade now, but they have been very cheery through the wind and rain that we’ve often experienced this autumn.

I also found some asters in a protected spot; they’re looking quite perky considering that it’s almost mid-November!

A few pretty dianthus are still blooming among the falling leaves, too.

And lastly, a couple of anemones provided a sweet memory of summer.

Happy Friday; I hope your weekend blooms beautifully. 🌼

nature, Photography

November 7’s Friday Fleurday

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It’s the first fleurday of November but I’ve luckily found some bloomers that seem to have not noticed that we’re edging toward winter!

These fairy roses are still very pretty in pink …

… while these tiny beach sunflowers are retaining their bright, happy faces.

Here’s a last look at these wonderful hydrangeas, who after providing us with beautiful colour variations since June are now deservedly fading into their winter rest.

And finally, a matador rose. They usually last well into December, providing pops of welcome colour on grey, rainy days.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

October 31’s Friday Fleurday, Halloween Edition

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So fleurday and Halloween are on the same day! If you celebrate Halloween I wish you a monstrously good one …

… and if not, I hope you enjoy these autumnal flowers.

Flowers are beginning to be a bit difficult to find now that we’re almost into November, but this lovely sunflower still looked beautifully sunny.

I’m not entirely sure what these are although I think they might be a type of carnation. Does anyone know? No matter what they are, they’re a very pretty addition to the late autumn bloomers club.

I found this very attractive pot marigold, clearly not yet affected by our changing calendar.

Happy fleurday; happy Halloween. 🎃 🌼

nature, Photography

Picture Jumble

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These are October pictures that I like but haven’t posted before as I chose to publish others from the same sets in more cohesive ways.

Petunias from a large pot on my deck; they’ve been beautiful all summer and are actually still blooming.

Yellowing ginkgo biloba leaves – I love the shape of them. Ginkgo biloba trees are ancient; they’re part of the fossil record.

A path through the Japanese Garden; I walk there probably two or three times a week. It’s peaceful, calming and beautiful.

The stages of autumn change are shown through a colourful ash tree, some dried ornamental grasses and in the foreground, grape vines.

This clump of dahlias looked particularly pretty against the blue sky.

Autumn is beautiful and can be beautifully surprising with its colours, skies, and often, lovely temperatures. There’s probably nothing better than sitting outside in comfortable, glorious autumn temperatures, the season settling and relaxing into a luminous winter.

Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile. ~ William Cullen Bryant 

nature, Photography

October 24’s Friday Fleurday

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Although the flowers are of course dwindling now I am still discovering a few here and there.

The matador roses are really hardy and in some protected corners I see them blooming even into December.

The crane’s bill flowers are almost all gone now, though.

Asters are quite tolerant and I may also find some of them well into November or December.

Chrysanthemums are the stars of course and will tolerate a light frost; I’ve even seen them survive a freezing rain. The fact is, however, that time is running out for our garden lovelies. It’s time to enjoy the last of them!

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

Colours

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There are so many beautiful colours at this time of year, and not just the gorgeous leaves.

I’ve been watching these bigleaf hydrangeas since May and have seen their glorious transformations throughout late spring, summer and autumn. They’re fading now, but what a beautiful gift they have been!

And then there are the vanilla fraise (strawberry vanilla) hydrangeas. Not nearly as dramatic as the bigleaf hydrangeas, but their beautiful metamorphosis from white to pink is equally glorious. The picture below from early September shows how they have changed.

Happy Saturday.