Southern Spring

25 Sep '07 8:31 pm

I love that, Liza!!

Perhaps she's not so little, but that is meant affectionately; she sure is beautiful even though a bit too dishevelled and excitable for polite company Smile

26 Sep '07 1:17 am

Jack, your progression photos were so nice. I love seeing the changes from day to day like that. I also loved the photos of the spring blossoms you have encountered in your ranbles. The violettes are one of my favourites and Aunt Mae's Iris looks identical to one I have in my garden, however, mine only blooms once in spring. I don't know what it's varietal name is because it is one that was pre-existing in one of my former gardens when I lived in North Carolina. I brought some of it with me when I moved here. It is avery prolific multiplier. And as for your rose, I sort of like the scruffy ones sometimes. They have a devil-may-care attitude that says "I'm doing my thing whether you like it or not."

26 Sep '07 2:21 am

On Sunday we were 8 people at lunch. I served gazpacho and crusty bread, followed by a Yellowtail fish barbeque with roasted veggies and steamed baby potatoes. After a walk we had icecream for dessert.

Then on Monday at 7 a group - some from the previous afternoon - arrived for a morning walk in which we went up into the arboritum to look at what is known locally as the dog roses - different from the European dog rose - and the azaleas... They loved it, but I don't think anyone enjoyed as much as I did. Everything was at such a perfect state, and today's soft rain has been exactly what was needed to extend the season.

Life is good!

(Rose and azalea pics to follow!)

26 Sep '07 4:10 am

Jack, these latest photos are , oh, SO lovely!! Because the ambiance is SO Springing glamorous! I LOVED the table for 8 by the pond!! I can see you have all had great time! I loved what you cooked!! Light, healthy, and delicious!!The fact that the table is shown amidst the Springing joyful Nature, makes us from here participating even more with your own world over there.. Lovely!

You are going to laugh now, but just look at this delicious light dish Thanos prepared for himself the other day!! Lovely Mediterranean things mainly, including fetta cheese,hot little peppers,dried tomatoes, and rice rolls with vine-leaves -- a traditionally Greek delicacy. The pink thing is smoked salmon. When I saw his dish , I simply ran to take my camera!

26 Sep '07 7:51 am

Dolmades... mmmmm - I love them Drool

What a worthy subject for a photograph this is! Cool

26 Sep '07 8:17 am

An out of position dogwood - it happened at the beginning of the walk, just after the picture of Doubly swimming which I posted with the 'progression' series.

And then the roses, Rosa laevigata, at the highest point of the arboritum, which in this season completely dominate everything. I must photograph them from my parents' house tomorrow to give you an idea of just how bulky they are! From there we walked down Park Lane, the motor access point which has become so valuable now my parents grow older.

From the bottom of Park Lane The Avenue shoots up, the two forming a V through the arboritum. Originally my dad was all for matching Park Lane by calling it Avenida da Liberdade after the famous broad avenue in Lisbon, but, to put it mildly, our Portuguese pronunciation is shaky, and so we stuck to The Avenue Laughing

But it seems those photos must wait for tomorrow.

There is a puppy snuggled on my lap, it has been raining softly for 24 hours and the frogs are ecstatic. Time for bed. All is good with the world.

26 Sep '07 6:32 pm

to me, such lovely photos. Your wisteria is gorgeous, a plant I have always loved.

26 Sep '07 7:01 pm

Walking down Park Lane and looking up The Avenue, then along the road below the Arboritum heading for the bridge and morning coffee under the oak...

26 Sep '07 9:21 pm

Along the road a variety of flowering cherries are planted.

26 Sep '07 9:37 pm

This is a Spring-exuberance!! And Shelley is ...blossoming herself under the blossoms!! Lovely photo! Jack!! These latest photos are great, both as captures AND compositions!! Such a sea of colours!! Bravo! I will help you in ID-ing, maybe tonight, ok.