A return to Montsalvat with Sis

TRAVEL DIARY: MONTSALVAT WITH SIS Its funny to experience the same thing with different people. You see how they react, and how they meet or subvert your expectations. I had a fantastic time at Montsalvat earlier this year with friends, so when my sister came to visit in April, I was excited to introduce her…

A single white flower

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.” – Buddha I am linking this to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Single Flower, for Cee’s FOTD and my first time (I think) joining Floral Friday Challenge.

Camellia

Camellias are beautiful shrubs with full flowers. For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge.

Monochromes in the Cloudehill Garden & Nursery

This week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge doesn’t have a specific theme, so I decided to follow Leanne’s lead and showcase some flowers in monochrome. I captured these photos at Cloudehill Nursery in Olinda, a charming town in the Dandenong Ranges. I am linking this to Leanne’s Monochrome Madness and for Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Exploring Forest Glade Gardens

“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden I previously posted the rebuilding of the Forest Glade Gardens, and now I’m excited to share a special walk my husband and I enjoyed there last May. I almost overlooked posting about it, but Anne-Christine’s Lens-Artists…

Birthday Flower for my “partner in Crime”

It is unsure where the term Partner in Crime came from. Some say that it may may have originated with an Agatha Christie story, and others say it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. Well it is such a generic term that it may have originated from anywhere. But for me…

Floral Monotone

“I think I like wildflowers best. They just grow wherever they want. No one has to plant them. And then their seeds blow in the wind and they find a new place to grow.” ~ Rebecca Donovan Here is my interpretation of MONOTONE for this week’s One Word Challenge from Debbie. Photo taken with my…

Monochrome Trees

“There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.” – Minnie Aumonier This week is a “themed” Monochrome Madness  week, and Sarah at Travel With Me is hosting with the theme “Trees”. For me, not all trees look good in monochrome, it has to have the shape,…

Aeonium undulatum

Aeonium undulatum is a striking succulent known for its spoon-shaped, glossy leaves. Now that it’s winter, it blooms vibrant conical yellow flowers, adding a burst of color to my back garden. Even the bees are happy. For Cee’s FOTD Challenge And here is how it looks like when the leaves wilt.

Fresh Blooms flourishing in my garden

One more month of this chilly Melbourne winter. These white and purple blooms are beginning to flourish in my garden, benefiting greatly from alternating sun and rain. I am linking this to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday and for Cee’s FOTD

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….

Hydrangea

I don’t particularly like the colour of this Hydrangea but have this lovely memory of time spent with my sister who came here in Melbourne to visit me last April. And just in time for Cee’s Hydrangea post for today. Taken in Cloudehill Gardens in Olinda. Linking it to Floral Friday and for FOTD

Garden Dahlia

I am glad to hear that Cee is slowly but surely coming back to blogging. For the time being, she is resuming just FOTD. Here are some white Dahlias to welcome you back.

Orange Flowers for you…

Here is a flower photo that I have taken a few months back and I can’t even recall if I have posted it here before. Anyway, i want to send it to Cee and hoping for her full recovery very, very soon. FOTD

A catch-up with my friend Carmen

Last week, Carmen, Edna, and I met at Carmen’s to catch up. Her garden, thriving under the warm, glorious weather, captivated me, despite it being winter. Photos taken with my iPhone. I am linking this to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday, for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and for Cee’s weekend FOTD.

Florals

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.” – Luther Burbank This week, Sofia hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of FLORAL. I am linking this also to Xingfumama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge and to Cee’s FOTD challenge. Hope you get well soon Cee. Flowers,…

The flower is burgeoning

Not my usual choice of word that I would use for flowers growing rapidly, but now I’m using it for Becky’s SquaresRenew challenge. I don’t even know if I used it correctly, but here goes… Also linking it for Cee’s FOTD Weekend challenge and for Cellpic Sunday Here is a pink Dahlia that I found…

Autumn Leaves

It’s Day 3 of Becky’s SquaresRenew and here is a symbol of change. The autumn leaves on the ground symbolize the beauty of transformation and renewal, as nature undergoes its seasonal cycle of change.

Vicinity of Dom Luis Bridge

This was me and Hubby walking on our first day in Porto and seeing these doors in our walk from our Air Bnb to the Dom Luis Bridge. The Dom Luís Bridge is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the river Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal….

Succulents

This is a photo taken on the 14th of April while my sister and niece were still here in Melbourne having a holiday. These are succulents at the Cloudehill Garden & Nursery. For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge – FOTD

White Dahlias

Took my sister and niece to one of my favorite spots for urban sketching, eager to share my go-to location with them. Here are some white Dahlia at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick. For Cee’s FOTD

As the sun sets

“Sunsets are the most peaceful moments that nature offers.” – Unknown The word “dramatic” immediately takes my thoughts to the enchanting canvas painted by sunsets. There’s a certain beauty and emotional intensity in the way the sun bids farewell, with a sense of drama and wonder. “As the sun sets, the world becomes a canvas…

Weekend Sky in Finsbury Park

It has been my third day here in London and this is the first time I have seen the sun shining this brightly. It is 9:20am here. Have a great weekend friends! Linked to Hammad’s Weekend Sky

Sunday walk under the blue skies

A leisurely walk at our local Wilson Botanic Gardens. The sun’s so beautiful today that I had to share this with all of you. Inspired by Hammad’s Weekend Sky But first coffee with some friendly people and pets. I thought I would not be able to post any walk for Jo’s Monday Walk but fortunately…

My Melbourne weekend

Saturday, I and hubby decided to go to the city just because… We started off at about 4 pm and saw this magnificent autumn colours and the weekend sky. Inspired by Hammad’s Weekend Sky Challenge I wanted to go and see the Temple of Boom at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria). We got there…

Is it raining … or not?

The sky in my backyard And at the same time, the sky in my front yard. Will have to wait a few more minutes to see what’s going on. Haha Inspired by Hammad Rais’ Weekend Sky

Autumn in Emerald Lake

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”-ALBERT CAMUS Autumn … how lovely it is to sit under its lovely coloured foliage … from yellow to orange to red to maroon to amber and brown. I am sharing with you some lovely scenes of autumn in my part of the world. For…

Pat’s Tiny House solo Getaway

A mother always worries about her child no matter how old they may be… so when Pat told me that she booked a tiny home to stay all by herself in a place far, far away from the rest of civilisation… I was worried! For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – CFFC – Tiny House I…

Greeneries

Today’s Challenge from Cee is to post anything that is “Found in Nature”. Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – CFFC The next two photos were taken in the local wetlands… These are herbs taken in the rooftop of my sister’s place where we stayed in the Philippines. These are Jackfruits from my friend’s place also in…