Tina has got a marvelous treat for us this week! African wildlife in glorious images through her lens. So, now we are looking forward to seeing Your treats – be it candy, grandchildren’s visits, a splendid hike or…
One of my own biggest treats is a visit to Kew Gardens – I don’t go that often…maybe once every fifth year – and this year should have been a Kew year for me. But then came Covid-19.
Maybe the fact that something is not easily available is one of the reasons for making it a special treat?
I will let the images speak for themselves. And, I really long for a new visit … In the opener, a late night view from the plane back from London.
If you feel lost, disappointed, hesitant, or weak, return to yourself, to who you are, here and now and when you get there, you will discover yourself, like a lotus flower in full bloom, even in a muddy pond, beautiful and strong.
― Masaru Emoto,
This week we are including what we hope is a treat for all of you! At the suggestion of one of our followers we are announcing NEXT week’s theme. Our host, Patti, will share “FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT” on her blog Pilotfish. Please let us know what you think – is it helpful to know the theme in advance or do you prefer to be surprised?
Finally, sincere thanks to all of you who participated in my Hideaway challenge last week. I am glad most of us have a special place where we can focus on Life and our inner thoughts. Mindfulness. As always we enjoyed your creativity and the glimpses you gave us of your own lives.
Whatever you choose to treat us with, please remember to link to Tina’s post, and to use the Lens-Artists TAG. Until then, have a lovely week and please remember to stay safe.
Leya 
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Fabulous images!
Thank you, Amy – fabulous garden!
Beautiful images Ann-Christine, we visited Kew Gardens many years ago and it’s lovely to see it again through your lens 😊🌺
Glad to have a treat for you!
Gorgeous Pictures, Ann-Christine, hard to pick a favorite! Such lovely colors.
Thank you, Sylvia – there are always so many possibilities when it comes to flowers!
hi a.c. wow, wonderful pictures that you have chosen for the theme I like them very much.
many greetings robert
Thank you, Robert!
Gorgeous pictures, Ann-Christine! A visual treat for us to enjoy with Kew Gardens as the backdrop. Beautifully captured, especially the waterlilies.
Thank you, Sue – I wish Kew was in my neighborhood…
Lovely photos from Kew! I’m lucky that it’s just down the road from where I live but it’s a few years since I’ve been in the gardens. We’re planning to go for the Christmas lights this year – I’ll share some photos if we do 🙂
Christmas light! Please share – that would be another treat!
Unfortunately at the moment we are in lockdown so can’t go, but if it opens up for Christmas we will be there for sure!
♥
beautiful treats, Ann-Christine! your photography is superb! thank you for sharing. 🙂 🙂
Wilma, thank you! It wasn’t that easy to chose a treat for everyone – but gardens seem to be a safe choice.
Thank you for sharing! I, myself, some years ago, finally gave up on ever being a ‘global’ traveler, but thanks to folks like you, I get to have a window into ‘experiencing’ other places, flora, fauna, cultures – :). That said, my overall fave line out of this that I LOVE! was ”A microphone? Yes…listen to Mother Nature and do everything you can to help her!” – no matter where one is at – I might add – She just does such a great job of showing the way, instructing, for those who choose to sit, see, hear, feel – overall – I think – just because, She frequently blesses me when I am ‘lazy’, and do the best I can given all ‘mankind how-toing’ starts of things, but then sit and wait to see if She says, ”good to go” OR ‘try again you still didn’t get it, did ya?” LOL
Love your thoughts, TamrahJo, and so glad we are in this community of sharing and discussing, reflecting and sharing again. And these days we have all given up on being travelers other than in cyberspace. Thank you, and stay well!
Wonderful images. I love gardens like Kew – some place I have not been to for many many years.
Glad to take you – it is a lovely garden with so many artsy things as well.
WOW. Beautiful photos. The opener is stratospheric! The Hive is phenomenal. Excellent.
Stratosperic it is – lovely word…Thank you!
Just gorgeous. I can see why this place would be a treat.
Thank you for walking with me, Dawn – I do love Kew!
I can certainly see why.
What a beautiful place to spend the day. I can see why you missed your visit. Beautiful photo work as well. What a treat, indeed!
Glad you joined me, John! Hope to come back some day…
I can see why you like to visit there! So many great shots. I especially like the lilypads and the purple flower right after that shot.
Glad you liked my tour – and yes, I love Kew!
Absolutely beautiful images, A-C. I especially love the candid shots inside the metal structure. People look so relaxed and peaceful. And your nature shots are always a treat. We went to Kew last year for the Chihuly exhibit at night, but I haven’t been there during the day. I can see why you want to go as often as you can. Hopefully, we can both go there next year?? I hope you are enjoying some time in your glass house!
Thank you, Patti! Yes – next year…And, my glass house is a treat in itself. Outside about 7-10 degrees, but in my glass house 23. We have our meals there (no lobster rolls, unfortunately…) and look at the autumn remnants of our garden flowers!
Absolutly beautiful Ann-Christine!
Glad you like it, Aletta!
What a treat for us to enjoy the nature beauties here. A very beautiful water garden, AC!
Thank you, Amy, it really is!
I’ve heard of Kew Gardens for years, but I’ve never been there nor seen any images from there. Now I have, thanks to your lovely photography and selections of what to share. What a treat, for sure!
Glad to have posted for you to enjoy – I love English gardens but the easiest to access is Kew. From London.
Thanks for letting me know. Now, if we can just get rid of the coronavirus so we can travel again!
;-D Maybe in a year or two…
knowing next week’s topic in advance would help taking part when in a hurry or so. You could also work a bit more carefully on it. But, I guess, it would take some of the excitement of the Saturday evening when knowing the topic in advance. So, I’d vote against it.
A garden can be a treat. So, a great choice. But, I love especially the sunset image on the top. Btw. most of the other would also fit for “FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT” 😊
🙂 Thank you so much – and maybe I could repost this one next week…;-D
😊👍
Love these photos – I was just a young girl when I visited Kew; I would love to go back now with an adult eye and of course, my camera 🙂
I can understand that – I love it every time.
These are fabulous, and a treat for us as well as a treat for you. Thank you.
♥
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Beautiful as usual, A-C. I was at Kew Gardens some years ago and Chihuly had an installation there. Wonderful.
janet
♥ I know…I missed out on that one 😦
What a lovely garden. Your close up images of the flowers are beautiful.
Thank you, Ingrid. Yes, there is so much to see and discover. Often exhibitions of high class as well. I know Chihuly had one last year – and I missed out…
I’ve seen a Chihuly display at the Denver Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, and at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. His creations are amazing!
They are indeed!
Beautiful photos. You’re right; they tell us why you like to treat yourself to a trip now and then. I love that lotus stem in the first photo
Glad you liked them! And yes, sometimes you have to go away to find what you are looking for!
The gardens are beautiful!!
Thank you, Nora! A treat for me indeed.
It was a treat for me as well Ann-Christine 🙂
Then I am glad!
ooh la la Ann-Christine, what a glorious post! Your lens is magical when it focuses in on beautiful blooms like these. Kew is one of few famous gardens I’ve not visited. Now I have to add it to my ever-growing list! Thanks for the joy these images and quotes brought to my day.
So glad you enjoyed the visit, Tina! And what a treat for me to make you add it to your list…;-D
Thank you! Thank you ! Thank you Ann Christine! I love Kew Gardens and have visited it many times. Our son lives in London so we usually go to see him twice a year and always get in a visit to Kew. Sadly due to Covid we cannot go now and I have no idea when we will go again so I very much appreciate you sharing these photos of Kew!
Glad to have sent this treat, Anne! How great having a son living in London! If I had…I would have visited as often as possible – love London and the possibilities close by. Hampstead Heath and Highgate Cemetary are two more places I love. It might sound strange with cemetaries, but I love the peacefulness and beauty of them. Wherever i am abroad, I always walk in at least one of them.
Beautiful images Ann Christine! We have many gardens in the Bay Area that I need to get to when the pandemic is over. Thanks for the reminder!
I’d love to see them! In England there are so many beautiful gardens other than Kew, but when in London, this is the easiest one to reach.
Oh WOW, these are gorgeous photos. I didn’t make it to our water gardens this year either. It’s been a few years for me too. 😀 It was sure joy scrolling through your gallery.
So glad you liked them, Cee! Let’s hope next year will give us more possibilities then this year has done.
So lovely, quotes and photos. Oh, I started to study Swedish language! Jag tycker om svenska och jag talar svenska but not very well yet! ahaha!
Thank you, Donnalee! Your Swedish try here is perfect!
I started watching some shows in Swedish, and hardly understand a word except pojken and alskar, but it will get better!
.-) You are determined! Good – watching films and shows is a good idea. Films has the possibility to chose texting in English here.