STITCH LINES...... Ramblings on life as a quilter, stitcher, traveler, photographer, gardener and lover of books, cats and fine chocolate....

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Longing for some Green...

If you are visiting on the Grow Your Blog Party, click here for my GYB post and Giveaway. Only one more week to enter!!
Brrr, I'm cold. I've just come in from wading through thigh-deep snowdrifts, almost waist deep in places, to take some photos... hopefully you'll see them in a new header this coming week. We have a LOT of snow. I've lost track of how many storms we've had in a two week period.. six,  I think? Doesn't matter... but please, let me know if you'd like some snow... I'd be happy to send you some. We have lots to spare.
It's only February and I'm already tired of winter; tired of its endless white cover, its icy sidewalks and driveways, its treacherous driving, its bitter cold days and even colder nights. I long for the greens of summer and my gardens of colourful blooms. (I think my inner gardener is screaming to get out! ha!)
I need some Vitamin G!! (If you don't remember my post explaining Vitamin G, read it here.)
So, for all of you who feel the same (Who am I kidding, I'm really doing this for my own pleasure) here is some green, and some colourful blossoms to go with it. My recent visit to Florida was balm for my gardener's soul; I tried to "stock up" on both Vitamins D and G! Sadly, I feel my "reserves" are now waning...








Hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine,
plumbago, bird of paradise, passionflower, and many others I cannot name.. what's not to love when you can enjoy such beauty in mid-winter?















One day we were out for a drive and saw this magnificent tree, all in bloom. I asked Sandi what it was but she didn't know. At the time, I said "the blooms look like orchids." I have since seen photos on someone's blog (can't remember who/where) showing this same tree, and it was referred to as an "orchid tree." So that's what I'm calling it. I don't know if that's a nickname or a proper name. Maybe one of my southern readers can tell me...







Bougainvillea is a common plant in the tropics. If you have ever traveled in South America, the Caribbean or the Mediterranean you have no doubt seen it. It blooms in a variety of colors. Did you know that the colored petals are actually leaves? The bloom is the tiny white flower in the center of the colored bracts. In the collage below, the bougainvillea is on the top right and bottom left. On the top left is Plumbago, I cannot identify the plant on the bottom right- we called it "Q-tip flower." lol


Passionflower is another plant common in the tropics.I first saw it in Venezuela years ago, then had luck growing it in my garden one year (one season only.) It has a very exotic looking blossom. Below is one bud, and one red bloom. The white flower is spiral jasmine.



You can't get a much more exotic looking blossom than Bird of Paradise, can you? Isn't it beautiful? The peach coloured bloom on bottom left is a double hibiscus, and I've no idea what the other one is.


I hope you've enjoyed this dash of green, this "dose of Vitamin G."  For all my friends and followers "down south"- Florida, Arizona, California, "down under" in Oz and NZ and anywhere else where you ARE warm... I'll have some COLD snowy pics for you soon!



I am joining Judith of Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday. Be sure to stop by her blog and see what lovely mosaics others have done this week. Judith is currently down south, and I see she is enjoying some of the same beauty in the gardens that I saw... Sigh.....

Peace,
Linda

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful. They are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul." ~   Luther Burbank

23 comments:

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Yes, I remember the vitamin G post, it was very good - worth reposting don't you think?
I don't know the names of all the plants I'm seeing here but I can say it is warm - 84F today, perfect for floating around in the pool. Please don't send any snow down, there'll be enough left to enjoy when we come home. :-)
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Linda.

sunny said...

Your flowers are beautiful, and greatly appreciated. We recently returned from southern Florida as well, and it was a rude awakening to have to wear long pants and coats again. I'm ready for SPRING!!!!

Jennifer said...

What gorgeous flowers......many of them look familiar, because they grow here too!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Oh the joy that flowers bring - I have some daffodils and tulips that are coming up - but that is all the color I have so far. Soon, soon - we'll have more.

Linda said...

Absolutely gorgeous, Linda!

Vee said...

Well I ust find out about the Vitamin G. Perhaps I need some. Six storms? Only six? Seems like a hundred. This is our third day of snow. we cleaned up the yard and it started snowing again!

So, for those reasons, I am in love with the blooms no matter what they are. Beautiful and colorful is enough for me.

Pamela Gordon said...

Gorgeous photos Linda! The flowers are so brilliantly coloured and unique looking. They sure brightened my day seeing them here. At least we haven't had any snow for a few days - almost a week! Have a beautiful week!

Cranberry Morning said...

What beautiful flowers. Balm for the green-starved soul. If I leave winter in any time other than March, I'm faced with more winter upon my return. When I'm gone the last part of March, I'm more likely to return to spring weather - except for a couple years ago when we got 18" of snow in early May. :-(( Hope you have a wonderful week.

2dogs2luv said...

thank you for sending a burst of warmth today; I long to feel the sun on my back & perhaps soon?! Such gorgeous pictures.

Lorrie said...

Gorgeous color in those flowers. They are a welcome sight in the midst of grey and rain here. We were away somewhere warm at the end of January, but I'm already craving more. Bring on spring!

bj said...

What beautiful mosaics of beautiful flowers...very nice.

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Oh, those lovely colourful flowers and the lush green leaves!
Your mosaics are all so beautiful that I couldn't pick a favourite.
Thank you for sharing! :)

Unknown said...

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful, Linda! When you look at them, how could they not brighten your day! Hang in there with all the snow! Thinking of you from sunny, green, Florida!

Antiques And Teacups said...

Hi Linda. Nice to meet you! Love your collage! Such beautiful photos! Not many of your choices grow here in the Pacific Northwest of the US either...thanks for the visit and anniv. wishes!
Ruth

Donna@Gardens Eye View said...

And these pics are balm for me too as we are also in the snowfest of this winter with endless snow and cold.

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Oh my goodness, Linda, I LOVE these flower mosaics!!! Bougainvillea is one of my very favorites; our neighbor years ago had a hanging bougainvillea on their porch, and it was so pretty. We live in the southeast part of the U.S., so it can be grown here, but I've never tried to grow it. All these flowers you photographed are gorgeous and exotic, and the q-tip flower made me laugh. That was my first thought when I saw it. :-D

I can't believe how much snow you've had in Canada; I'm sure you're sick to death of it by now. We haven't had the first flake all winter here in our part of North Carolina. I enjoyed your post, and hope the weather warms up for you very soon!

Hugs,

Denise

DeniseinVA said...

These photos are a sight for sore eyes, of winter that is. Beautiful flowers and thank you so much for stopping by. Have a great week :)

This N That said...

Love the flowers..Wonderful pictures..I big relief form the grey skies and dirty snow that we have to look at here..I can't imagine having that much snow though...Happy Winter :)

AppleApricot Wen said...

Thank you Linda for sharing these gorgeous colourful flowers with us! Oh yes how I do long for Spring... We might be a bit ahead of you though. No snow here, snowdrops everywhere and I even spotted a crocus and a narcissus! And birds singing everywhere. Ohhh, and the magnolia has buds! So I'm hopeful spring will arrive soon here. Wish I could send you some! I LOVE your new blog header by the way. It's gorgeous! Beautiful reds, pinks with whites and beautiful photography. Wishing you a sunny (!) day ~ Wendy of Apple and Apricot

eileeninmd said...

Oh wow, beautiful flowers and images.. I am longing for greenspace and to see flowers blooming once again.. I am not a winter person or a snow lover. I have enjoyed this post, it gives me hope. Spring is coming.. Have a happy day!

deb @ frugal little bungalow said...

It's wonderful to see some summer flowers and green, yes :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Florida has such beautiful flowers. I am always amazed by the "bird of paradise" flogorgeous!wer. Your collages are

Kathy said...

What a beautiful post Linda. It feels more like spring just seeing all the green....if only....

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