Flowers

Thursday Thoughts – Madeira Gardens

/ Leya / 17 kommentarer

Another lovely walk was through the Gardens of Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro. A property belonging to the Blandy family.

They boast some of the most valuable and rare exotic plants on the island. Starting in 1885, the Blandy family has developed the gardens to a today’s Mecca for botanic lovers.

They are renowned among other things for the splendid Camellia selection – but unfortunately we arrived after that intense bloom. On the other hand – there was so much else to see. Here is a short gallery:

The garden is situated with a beautiful view over Funchal, and luckily we had it all to ourselves for an hour or two. I’ll give the plant names a try: First out – a Gladiolous, in a fabulous combo of colours, Gazania, then some slipper flowers (yellow and red), a crassula (Buddha’s Temple?) and some beautifully cut and trimmed hedges.

Next are bluish and pink flowers in Watsonia, Brunfelsia and I guess a Risp. The last picture shows a Japanese Pagoda tree.

This was a relaxing and interesting visit to one of Madeira’s most renowned gardens. I recommend a visit if you go to Madeira!

Lens-Artists Challenge #360 – Found at the Fair/ Market

/ Leya / 107 kommentarer

You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.

– Walter Hagen

We have all been to a market or fair at least once when we were children. Some of these are still fun to visit as grown-ups, even if we don’t buy anything. It is the joy of an abundance of fruit and vegetables, flowers, people…And often everything for sale is elaborately exposed.

Here are some of my summer memories from such events. Enjoy the season and the smiles, and then – I’d love to see some of your memories too! They can be from any fair, Farmers’ market, Christmas market, or maybe a carnival? From your own country or from abroad – feel free to choose whatever you have in store!

Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise.

– George Gershwin

Ystad Jazz festival last week – Good music, lovely people and beautiful, creative art! (And ice cream of course…) Jazz maybe attracts mostly grown-ups and elderly people, but they do bring their children and grandchildren too. (And dogs) Hoping they will get hooked on the feeling?

Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

– Hans Christian Andersen

Every year there is jousting at Hovdala castle – our nearest castle just 10 kilometers away. I used to go when one of my students was in the competitions. Fun for all ages. Knights, horses, castles and fair ladies!

To me, flowers are happiness.

– Stefano Gabbana

Finally, Madeira – the lovely land of flowers. When we visited for a week in June, we came upon several different fairs and markets. They have quite a few over the year. One of them had a sustainability theme. At the harbour they had put up big hearts for life and painted recued PET bottles as a ceiling.

A big Thank you to John for another turn of learning last week! I truly enjoyed seeing examples and tips. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week! Next week we will have another chance of ”Looking Back”, with Sofia at the helm. Be sure to visit her beautiful site for more!

Until then – stay calm, be careful and loving.

Thursday Thoughts – A Glimpse of Funchal

/ Leya / 28 kommentarer

Madeira always holds a moderate and soft temperature. That’s why it is a haven for both flowers and people. We walked the old streets to see if we could still recognize something from long ago…

…and we did. The typical black and white stones and street patterns of course, but also Zarco’s house, the Portuguise who colonised Madeira. The second picture shows our first hotel in Madeira, Monte Carlo, and the next picture shows the view from there. They kindly let us in to look at the premises again, and could not believe we stayed there as early as in the 1980’s. Fond memories!