Dragonfly In My Garden

I was out in the garden early in the morning when I saw my orchids starting to bloom. I went back inside the house to get my camera. It's been a while since I last took pictures of my flowers.

My heart leaped when I noticed this dragonfly on the bud. 

It stayed still and, oh, I so enjoyed the moment capturing it from different angles.

 This little winged thing just made my day!

Nelumbo Nucifera: LOTUS

Lotus is often mistaken as waterlily or the other way around. I, too, made the same mistake calling the waterlily in my garden as lotus. Though both kinds of flowers grow in water garden, they are entirely different plants.

The seed head in the middle is distinct to lotus flowers. It's one thing I look for to be sure it's lotus and not waterlily. It surely stands out and you wouldn't miss it.

The lotus seeds are edible and the seed head, when dried, is popularly used in flower arrangements.

Lotus is an important plant in Thailand which is a predominantly Buddhist country.According to legend, Buddha was born with the ability to walk and lotus flowers bloomed everywhere he stepped.

Aside from its religious importance, lotus is also a useful plant. The buds are sold everywhere to be used as offerings to Buddhist altars. The flowers, seeds, and roots are all edible, and the petals are often used as garnishing. A lotus leaf, which can grow as big as 60cm in diameter, is used as a wrap for food.

This week, I made some changes in my garden. I already have a spot for my future lotus plant. I can't wait to behold a lotus blooming in my own garden.

Exotic Orchids

Thailand is known for it's beautiful orchids. Here's sharing some of the photos I took during an Orchid Exhibit.









I have some orchids blooming in my garden these days but I thought I would wait until all buds are open. Also, my garden doesn't do well these days because of flooding. I hope I could go back to my normal gardening routine soon!

My Rose of Sharon is Blooming But.....

I finally have my first bloom! After months of waiting, my Rose of Sharon is now flowering but we are expecting a flash flood as the major river in our city is overflowing and heavy rain is expected. We have secured the house and I only hope that the flood would not be as bad as expected so my garden will be safe.

I would like to ask for your prayer for my host country, Thailand. Many of the provinces are now submerged in water and major roads are impassable. This weekend, the capital city, Bangkok, where I live, is expected to be hit hard by flash flood.

Although, I care for my garden but I care more for the millions of families that are affected.

Thank you for you prayers.

Rose On Fire

She stood alone in my garden.
She looked like a candlelight as a bud one night.

She's tiny yet fiery.
I can't just ignore her.
She seems to call my attention each time I pass by her.

"Won't you come to my garden? I want my roses to see you."

Richard Brinsley sheridan

My Parents' Garden

My father is a serious gardener.As soon as the cock crows, he is already in his garden. 

My Pa in his garden at sunrise when I last visited them in my homecountry. 

Durian, chestnuts, avocado, marang, rambutan, lychee, pomelo, etc. He's got them all in his garden and  they always bear fruits in season. More photos of his garden here.

My Ma is into flowers. She likes her house surrounded with blooms. Below is the collage of photos I took when I visited my parents.

I'm glad I am a gardener like them.

Something White From My Garden

The fragrant Jasmine in the night...

the beauty of Hibiscus in the morning light.... 

the hanging plaque that commands the gardener to rejoice with her blooms in sight...

they all blur when the gardener saw a promise of life --

in the birdhouse something glowed in white!

Inserted Note: Many have asked about the green fruit in the collage. It's called sugar apple (Atis). More info here.

Passiflora: The New Star in My Garden

I was so thrilled when my husband bought me this new addition to my collection. I fell in love with passiflora the first time I saw it in a park, and I never thought I would have one in my own garden.

There's a small dead tree by the fence near my vegetable garden, so I let my new vine crawl on it.I believe it will not be long when it covers the whole tree and provides shade for the gardener.

I cultivate my garden, and my garden cultivates me. 

Robert Brault

Tropical Flowers ....In My Garden

Nothing much is happening in my garden except that all my flowers continue to bloom under the heat of the sun and the heavy downpour of the rain.

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.

Gerar de Nerval

Missing My Garden.....

I've been away from home for almost 2 months now, and this pink flower was the last bloom I saw in my garden before I left. I miss the mornings where I can be alone in my garden, digging deep into the dirt of my heart, taking out stones that hinder beautiful virtues to bloom. It's a painful process yet to be surrounded with flowers makes it bearable. You just know that something beautiful is sure to come.

"Shall we compare our hearts to a garden - with beautiful blooms, straggling weeds, swooping birds and sunshine, rain - and most importantly, seeds. 

~Grey Livingston

One Morning Exactly A Year Ago

The Morning of May 20, 2010(A repost from my main blog)

I was out one misty morning. It was cold, wet and humid. Though tired from the past day's flight, I wanted to start the day early. I had my special reason and there were plenty of things I'd like to frame with my camera.
.

I was busy as the shutter was, framing flowers here and there. What a refreshing way to start my day, focusing on beauty.

As I worked on my macro, I started to notice tiny creatures creeping quietly.

I wondered, "Have they realized how short their lives are?"

I was thankful to be counting years not days.... I began to feel my inmost celebrating life!

Ahh.. they, too, were in celebration.


Then came Mr. Lizard to pose for me.

 I talked to him a bit and told him  "It's my birthday."

Thank you, Father, for the gift of life.

"....I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 

John 10:10

  

Flower Photo Collection (Hong Kong 2011)

One of the best things I enjoy when traveling is taking photos of flowers. Here's my collection during my recent trip to Hong Kong.

Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words.  

They are the hieroglyphics of angels, 

loved by all men for the beauty of their character, 

though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning. 

~Lydia M. Child

Bromeliads

 

“Blue flower, red thorns! Blue flower, red thorns! Blue flower, red thorns!

Oh, this would be so much easier if I wasn't color-blind!”

Donkey, From the movie Shrek.

Find out many interesting facts about this unique flower here.

Red Tulips

" Are these tulips?"  I asked myself. I wasn't sure from afar so I had to walk closer.  "Oh my, they are!" It was my first time to see real tulips and was so fascinated to see them up close. These were the 2 flowers I first saw....

I didn't know there will be more surprises few steps away.

My camera started to work hard, and my dear husband, who was ready for meetings, had to wait to give me time to enjoy a unexpectedly pleasant sight along the sidewalk.

It was a real treat to see these red blooms! I could stay there and wait for more of these buds to open.

I saw these gorgeous, red tulips in front of Times Square in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong the week after Valentine's Day. I believe they were meant for the love month celebration.

'Mid the sharp, short emerald wheat, scarce risen three fingers well,

  The wild tulip at the end of its tube, blows out its great red bell,

    Like a thin clear bubble of blood, for the children to pick and sell.

 Robert Browning
        Up at a Villa--Down in the City (st. 6) 

  

Zinnias: My Garden-Fillers

They're ordinary. They don't have fragrance. They don't need much care and attention. They can thrive on their own. Oftentimes, I am more proud of my other rare, hard-to-care plants. But really, these Zinnias do the job of keeping my garden beautiful. They fill my garden with flowers even when all other plants fail to bloom.

Do you sometimes feel like you're just a filler in world and that you don't really play an important role? I do! Sometimes, worse. I feel like I can slip away without others noticing my absence; like an extra in a movie where anyone could just fill my part. Irrelevant. Unimportant.

As I did my gardening today, these thorny weeds of lies were pulled out. My zinnias reminded me that I have an important role. I'm part of a big picture. Little my contribution be, I can make this world more beautiful.

For we are God's workmanship, 
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
Ephesians 2:10

Yellow and White Daisies

They are not asters, nor black-eyed Susan ,nor sunflowers.

Until someone can help me id these flowers properly,

I shall call them daisies. 

Aren't they friendly?

~ Daisies are like sunshine to the ground. ~ 

Drew Barrymore

~ The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air. ~ 

Robert Burns 

  Macro Flowers Saturday              Flowers on Saturday    

 Mosaic Monday            Mellow Yellow             Today's Flower

Cattleya In Bloom

It's been a while since I last had my cattleya bloom. And I was so delighted to see one blooming again. I have it beautifully hanging outside my window for 2 weeks now. There are 2 buds coming so I knew I'll be enjoying them for few more weeks. Lovely lady in ruffled dress, isn't she?

Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words.  

They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning. 

~Lydia M. Child

  Macro Flowers Saturday              Flowers on Saturday    

 Mosaic Monday                    Today's Flower

The Balloon Flowers

Platycodon Grandiflorus is the scientific name but it is also called the balloon flowers because before they bloom, its close buds look like paper balloons.

It comes in 2 colors, bluish purple and white. And I'm happy to have both in my garden. Thanks to my niece who gave me the newest blooms in my garden.

 

Blue thou art, intensely blue; Flower, whence came thy dazzling hue?
James Montgomery

  Macro Flowers Saturday              Flowers on Saturday   

  Today's Flower

Mosaic Monday                                        Blue Monday

Water Lily In Bloom

I have shown you my blue water lily (Nymphaea) before. Now I have another color to share.

Water lilies only bloom for few days but when they do, they really take over the show.

That's what they do in my garden. Each flower blooms like a queen.

  Macro Flowers Saturday         Flowers on Saturday   

     

   Mellow Yellow             Today's Flower   
 

Pink Flowers

 I have new blooms in my garden.

So dainty and sweet.

I am wondering if this is baby's breath?

The earth laughs in flowers.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

....and these, to me, are giggles.

  Macro Flowers Saturday         Flowers on Saturday          Today's Flower   

Special Invitation:

Saturday Sightings meme is up starting today, Nov. 6, 2010. Check out this brand new meme!