Flowers For The Day

We drove past a plants shop one day and my husband parked the car for a minute so I could take photos of these beautiful flowers.
I have my real garden that I tend everyday and I also have a garden at heart. In my heart's garden, I don't have to own the flowers. I only need my camera to get to enjoy them anytime I want. In doing so, I pay tribute to the Creator. I believe He likes it every time we pause to appreciate what He has made.

Simply Hibiscus!

Nothing beats the simplicity and beauty of these hibiscus flowers. I had a blast taking photos of them in one spot while I took my children to the pool for their swimming session. The little birdie made it even more a fascinating activity.

The kiss of sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

than anywhere else on earth.

Dorothy Frances Gurney

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

Red Roses

During my recent trip to Hong Kong, I was invited to a friends' house-warming dinner. My dear friends' little apartment was so cute and cozy. If you've been to HK, you know how expensive to have your own apartment so every inch counts! My friends did a good job in making use of every space and in decorating their home. Here are some shots of the roses in the vase by the tv set. Loved the fullness of each rose. They look so friendly!

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.

 - Emma Goldman

       

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

Euphorbia Milii

 The stem of this beautiful red flower is very thorny.
 

 Euphorbia Milii means "crown of thorns" or "Christ-thorns".

The name given to it alludes to legend that Christ's crown of thorns during His crucifixion was made from the stem of this plant.

I'm happy to have this new addition in my garden for it is guaranteed to flower for most of the year.

Ruby Tuesday

A Rose Is A Rose....

A rose is a rose is a rose!

No matter how defective, flawed, and marred. It remains a rose.....

...and it's still as lovely as a perfect rose.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, 

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. 

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ”
1 Samuel 16:7

Macro Flower Saturday       Today's Flower 

       Watery Wednesday                 Ruby Tuesday

 

Birds of Paradise

My host took me to the far corner of her garden to show me her birds of paradise. She led me through deep leaves and muddy ground to see these beauties. She pointed and told me to frame these 3. I got 3 kinds in one snap!

Then she drove me to her friend's garden to see more...

God Almighty first planted a garden. 
And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.

-Francis Bacon 

Today's Flower        Mosaic Monday        Ruby Tuesday