Flowers

Remembering Cee

/ Leya / 23 kommentarer

Today was Cee’s birthday, and thank you to Marsha for making us honour her today!

Thursday Thoughts – Along the Roads of Funchal, Madeira

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

I am dreaming myself back to Madeira again… We’ve had a wonderful summer here in Sweden, but now Autumn is in full swing with wind, rain, and much cooler temperatures.

So, I allow myself to contemplate for a while, just like this lady among flowers and lush greenery.

But, I love wandering in cactus and succulent gardens too. These are from the cacti collection in the Botanical Garden of Madeira.

I have some cacti in my home, but mostly epiphyllums – no spikes! My biggest cactus (with huge spikes…)has fallen and hit me hard a couple of times – it is taller than me.

Begonias in splendid show at Monte Gardens.

I just had to have one of these, so, I brought one home, now sitting in my window waiting to come outside next summer.

I love Madeira for many reasons – one of them is their exquisite stone layered streets. Here together with exquisite Bougainvillea too. Grey colours and the vibrance of this flower/tree go so well together.

There are some forgotten gardens as well…and houses. But even those ones are lush and quite beautiful. This one was carefully guarded by fiercely barking dogs.

Ferns have a special place in my heart. Big or small – any size.

And one of my favourite ferns grow abundantly in Madeira. Back home in June, I promptly bought two Dicksonia Antarctica. A friend of mine has successfully brought up one of this species, but they have to stay in an orangerie to manage our winters. I will give it a try too. At least the summer went well for both of them!

Thursday Thoughts – End of Summer

/ Leya / 24 kommentarer

So, it’s the end of a wonderful summer – but also a frightening summer with far too high temperatures.

The little port at the other side of the water, is glowing in the morning sun. It’s September, and temperatures should be falling. Should be…but are not. We swim every day in the warm sea.

I pick up Milo and we walk along the summer houses by the water. The neighbours let their flowers invade the walk, and I love those high, handsome bells.

As we head for the meadows and the canal, one of the big herons sweeps over our heads. It is the last visit to our summer house this year, and I always feel sad to say goodbye to this beloved place. A piece of freedom – a haven of peacefulness it is. And when the summer tourists have left, everything is quiet, and Mother Nature can take it back and have it all to herself.

The car is packed, and we drive back home again. The first thing to do is to water all the plants and flowers. Hardly any rain fell here this summer, and some plants didn’t survive. We don’t have our own well – so – there are choices to be made. Which plants or flowers do I absolutely want to live? Which ones must I let go?

It’s easier indoors, where I can close the blinds and and save all the plants from the scorching sun.

I try not to think about that ominous heat – only to love the beautiful summer we had. But, something is very wrong with the climate. And – with many other things in this world. Still, I am grateful for a wonderful summer with family and friends. They are my hope. I hope you had a lovely summer too. Or the season you are in.

Thursday Thoughts – Late Summer Garden

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

September is the first Autumn month, and a long warm Summer is drawing to its close. We’ve had a glorious time – a bit too hot for me, but bright, cooler mornings and evenings.

We have spent extra much time at our summer house with children and grandchildren. Precious days to remember as cold and darkness is arriving.

We haven’t had any rain for two months, so my garden is dry and most flowers are gone. These are some that still were here a couple of weeks ago, but most of them have now given in.

I have been waiting for the lovely hummingbird hawkmoth – and yesterday it arrived! No pictures though – but I hope to see it again another day this week. Have a great day!