Sky, Tree and Shades of Green

From left Duranta, Lilli Pilli, Scribbley Gum and in the foreground Coastal Rosemary set against today's beautiful blue sky

Palm fronds and Ornamental Cardamon Ginger plant bathed in sunlight

Sago palm frond at dusk...these are related to pre-historic plants

Palm frond in sunlight

Thalia leaves and Sago palm fronds (don't look at the weeds :/)

Zamia (Cardboard plant left rear) Thalia leaf and Sago palm frond

Blechnum Gibbum 'Silver Lady' fern frond

Today was such a beautiful Winter's day and as I am sick with some kind of cold... no not H1N1 thankfully...bronchitis, which is bad enough... so I decided to sit outside in the sunshine for a while to warm up, get some vitamin D and try to think happy thoughts and ponder life's mysteries...
If I had felt better I should have removed some of the 'bad' weeds from my garden...not the nice ones, some of them are lovely and I encourage them to grow.

While I was sitting there I noticed how beautiful the sky looked... such a lovely blue... looked at my tree which was filled with singing birds earlier in the morning... all of the lovely shades of green... the sun felt warm on my skin... my bed sheets which were on the clothes line looked like billowing sails on a ship as they moved with the gentle breeze which sprung up occasionally and stirred through my garden...rustling the leaves making them glisten in the sunshine...I was feeling much better already.

I had a 'light bulb' moment, I thought it would be a perfect time to try out my new camera, I wouldn't have to go far I could just practice by photographing plants in my own garden and I have heard that some of you are experiencing very hot temperatures in the US so I thought this green foliage might soothe you and make you feel cooler.

Please bear with me, I am just getting used to this camera and all of its features and as I have told Foamy I don't like reading instruction manuals so it is all a bit of 'hit and miss' for the moment...I'm sure to get better with more practice...well hopefully I will... ♥

Please left click on images to enlarge.

My Winter Garden

My lime- leafed bower

Entrance to my Secret Garden

Tree ferns and Hakea Laurina

A shaded retreat in Summer

Eucalyptus Haemostoma - Scribbly Gum

Blue sky and leaf canopy

I hope you enjoy these photos of my Winter garden, I took them today, Sunday 19th, the sun is shining, the sky is a clear blue, it is a truly lovely Winter's day here in Sydney...temperature 16º C or for my friends in the Northern Hemisphere approximately 61º F.

The foliage isn't as verdant as the greens of Summer, it takes on a different colour under the light from the Winter sun and sky... ♥

Please left click on images to enlarge.

Mid-Winter Sunset

Tonight's Dark Mid-Winter Sunset

I couldn't find a good vantage point in my garden to capture this sunset tonight because of the surrounding houses ; I must say these photos don't do it justice, the colours were spectacular. It was very cold and started to rain so I went inside and these photos are taken through the glass window of my upstairs study/office...it would have been better as a panoramic shot..have to wait for a proper camera for that. Please left click on the images to enlarge. ♥

First Sight

First sight
First glance
Of you
and I knew
Our lives
would be
You and me
intertwined
Forever...

Your first words
rocked my world
Your voice
touched my soul
Resonated in my heart
never part
Together...

The first touch
from you
touched my core
I wanted more
Not alone
any more ...

Our first kiss
took my breath
your desire
Set my heart
on fire...

Your first smile
Stole my heart
And now only you
light my face
light my life
Light my heart
with your warmth
and love

Forever...

Poem by Dianne ♥

Happy Independence Day

To all of my friends in the United States of America as you celebrate this auspicious day.

July 4th, 2009 - Happy 233rd Birthday!! ♥

Freedom has its life in the hearts,
the actions, the spirit of men and so
it must be daily earned and refreshed-
else like a flower cut from its life-giving
roots, it will wither and die.

~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

Friends Award

My friend Sarah Sofia from 'Bed and Breakfast in Denmark' has kindly awarded all of her blogger friends and followers the 'Friends Award' and as I have been hoping for this award I am accepting it graciously and would like to pass it on to the people who mean so much to me...so here in no particular order are the deserving recipients who have welcomed me into their world of blogging and made my life so much more enjoyable...each of you have contributed something wonderful by way of your beautiful blogs and the lovely comments you have left for me...I can honestly say that I love all of you... ♥

Foamy...because you are a lovely girl and have been here for me from the very start, I appreciate your advice, your kindness to me, your friendship and support have never waivered...you encouraged me to start my blog and I have never regretted it...so lucky to have you for my friend.

Chickory/K9...you too are a lovely girl, my warrior and protector in times of need, you have supported me when I have really needed a friend and given me good advice...and invited me into your beautiful world of art and nature...again lucky to have you for my friend.

Lil Lambie...you too are a lovely girl, so sweet and innocent, you dont have much to say but what you do say means a lot to me and I'm pleased to call you my friend.

Anna-Lys... lovely girl, you are inspiring with your projects that you take on, I'm proud to call you my friend and my Celtic sister.

Sarah Sofia...I realise this is passing back an award but you are deserving, you are a lovely girl as well, I like your honesty and I'm pleased to count you amongst my friends.

Helene...another lovely girl with a beautiful smile and happy disposition, our world traveller and adventure girl, another person I am pleased to call friend.

Diane...another smiling face and lovely girl, a great Mom, thank you also for your support when it was needed, I am pleased to call you friend.

Corby...a beautiful talented girl, so sensitive and expressive, thank you for your inspirational poetry and prose, your art and for your understanding,I am pleased to count you amongst my friends.

Sparrow...a very caring and generous person, you do so much to help others, one of the first blogs that I visited and though you dont come here often when you do its nice to have your comments and call you friend.

Elaine...you too were one of my first blogging friends and remain so to this day, I thank you for your beautiful photography which you share and your kind words.

Boney...Oh Boney we have had our ups and downs but we always make up, you are one of the kindest, greatest guys I know and I count you amongst one of my special friends...thanks for all the support you have given me over these months and for your help with my blog...you too are another who encouraged me to start my blog and with your help I have...thanks.

/t. ...You are a great person and have made me feel very welcome in the blogosphere with your kind and humorous words and encouragement; and for some of the technical advice you have given me regarding links, thank you my friend.

Phossy...another person I'm proud to call friend, you have left such sweet comments at my blog, always made me feel welcome, I think you are really a very special guy.

Puggles...another good friend, supportive,I really enjoy your off beat, humorous comments and how sweet you have been to me ever since I started my blog, another really special guy.

M ...I dont know how you found me but I'm pleased that you did, you have some very fine qualities for a male, I love how you dont take things at face value, how you can see so much more and express your feelings, very pleased to call you my friend.

Lee...thank you for your wise words and support when I was at my lowest point last year, it was nice that you cared and gave me helpful advice...you are a good person and friend.

Glyn...thank you for your wonderful comments and inspiring words, you have certainly been a good friend to me, someone to talk to when I needed advice, you're a good guy and thanks for listening.

J Cosmo...we havent seen you lately so I do hope that you are well, thank you friend for all of the lovely comments you have made and your encouraging words.

Pete...thank you for your friendship, humour and words of encouragement, you are also a great guy.

Ruela...what a sweetie you are, thank you for your lovely comments and your friendship, you are a special guy.

laughingwolf ... you are my newest friend, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your lovely comments, they are appreciated, you too are a lovely guy.

I am truly blessed to be in such wonderful company...and fortunate to have 'landed' where I did in the Blogosphere, with all of you...this may only be an award which has most likely been given to many, but to me the sentiment behind it is that of sincerity, true friendship and gratitude...I do hope I havent forgotten anyone...if so I apologise. ♥

White Flowers for Chickory

Japanese Windflower -Alba Anemone

White Tulips

Zephyranthes Candida - Fairy Lily or White Rain Lily

White Foxgloves - Digitalis Alba

White Aster Daisies

Hakea Sericea - Australian Native Plant

Pandorea Pandorana Australian Native Climbing Plant

Bursaria Spinosa an Australian native plant

I love most flowers, there is so much diversity in flower shapes, petals, stamens, colours and fragrances, all have their own specific beauty and attraction.
The colour range is so vast and I tend to be drawn to the warmer colours of yellows, apricots, oranges and some pinks; even amongst these colours there are so many subtle shades and variations, I do also like the some of the cooler colours like blues through to purple.
Cream features very much in my garden colour palette and also white, I have given you a sample of some of my favourite white flowers though there are many more, I have included some Australian natives and some exotics, some you will recognise, I hope you will enjoy them all.
Flowers are the smiling faces of so many plants and one cannot help but be delighted with their beauty. ♥