Macro Flowers, September 23, 2011

Purple flower Hostas and white Astilbis. Thanks to all who identified these.

Believe it or not these lovely plants are planted by the roadside on a quiet residential street near my place.  Isn't it amazing that people will plant small spaces in the city just to give the rest of pleasure?
I don't know what the white bush and the purple flowers are but they are lovely. I see there are also numerous varieties of hostas planted here. Maybe the purple flower is even from a hosta. I can't quite tell from my photos.

Purple flowering Hostas.

A Colourful Respite

The summer here is fading fast. We have had beautiful weather in the month of August and though my garden didn't do very well this year, I have enjoyed the beauty of other gardens.

Here are some photos I took when I went to my acupuncture doctor yesterday. This community garden was near to her parking lot and I went over after my treatment and snapped these photos. I couldn't resist.

The colourful flowers stood tall and were beckoning me come and stay awhile. Although the sky had been overcast, the sun peeked out as if to say it wanted me to see the garden in all it's splendour. 

(You can click on the photos to enlarge).

If you missed my update on food relief in the Horn of Africa, please read my previous post. Also consider leaving a word of encouragement for Jonah. Thank you so much!

Join Tina and Maia for Weekend Flowers and Macro Flowers

and experience some awesome flowers.

Macro Flowers, September 9, 2011

I captured these hydrangeas a few months ago. I was intrigued by the colour because they seemed to be light green and turning blue.  I know little about flowers so perhaps blue hydrangeas start out green.

There seems to be an over abundance of wasps in the area this year. I'm not sure why.  They even came into a restaurant when a friend treated me to dinner last week.  The owner had to scurry around trying to kill them and shoo some out the door.

Please join in the Weekend Flowers and Macro Flowers memes for some true beauty.

A Daisy Will Do You

 

As I was taking photos one day not so long ago for my macro flower submissions, I spotted a nice grouping of daisies.

As I got closer, I saw a few ants enjoying the daisies as well.

Ponder the ant a bit. Such a tiny creature and sometimes a real nuisance in your garden or house. They can damage crops and invade buildings. How many of you have ever had your garden or your home over run with ants?

Yet ants are very social creatures and very industrious too. Apparently ant societies have division of labour, communicate with one another and have an ability to solve complex problems. This makes ants quite fascinating. 

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)

I bet some of you remember your fascination with ants as a child. Or perhaps you have a child or grandchild who watches the ants and sees how they work so feverishly; marvelling at the heavy loads ants can carry on their backs as they prepare for the winter.  I think we can all learn something from this hard working little creature.

The daisy is such a simple flower but yet so intricate and beautiful at the same time.  Look at the fascinating centre of the flower. Such perfection!


I learned that the daisy has some medicinal properties. I believe this daisy is called an English daisy. 

It has the following properties:

• anodyne - pain relief
• antispasmodic - suppresses muscle spasms
• antitussive - cough suppressants
• demulcent - agent that wraps around mucus membrane to relieve minor pain and inflammation to the area
• emollient - softens or soothes skin
• expectorant - to helps remove mucus from lungs, bronchi, and trachea
• laxative - induce bowel movements or loosen stool
• purgative - helps induce vomiting
• tonic - improve health

It can be well tolerated in homeopathic remedies but since the daisy is a diuretic, there can be dangers of toxicity when taken with anti-inflammatory painkillers. Don't try to self-medicate. Get some professional help if you want to consider an herbal remedy.

I will be travelling for a family funeral so I apologize in advance if you visit  my blog and I cannot comment right away. I may have one or two pre-scheduled blog posts if I have enough time.

Please join in to the memes, Macro Flowers Saturday and Weekend Flowers of Friday. You will see some beautiful flowers.  Thank you to Maia and Tina for hosting these beautiful memes.  Happy weekend!

Lily Macro Series

The lily was beginning to fade when I photographed it.  But I found it quite beautiful as I got closer to it. It was amongst a group of flowers planted around a post on the street.

The young shopkeeper came out to water the flowers as I was photographing them. I thought it was very charming of him to tend to flowers that are growing on the side of the street.  Perhaps he planted them.  Anyway, they make a nice touch in an otherwise not so pretty area.

Enjoy your weekend and enjoy more flowers and beautiful scenery at the following links (click badges).

Scenic Sunday

Pretty in Pink ~ Macro Flowers

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Famous line from Shakespeare's, Romeo & Juliet

 

I've always loved roses of any kind and especially if they are fragrant. These ones are located along a busy road way at the edge of someone's garden.  

Even when the rose begins to wither, it's beauty is still there.

 

 

 

 

Click the badge to join in Macro Flower Saturday.
or 
Join in the fun at Weekend Flowers hosted by the lovely, Tina.

Macro Experiment & Skywatch Friday

This was a failed macro photo but as I looked at it, I realized I liked the effect of the stems against the lovely sky. Happy Sky Watch Friday everyone. I do have an entry for the macro flowers meme so come back a little later *wink.

Link up with Sky Watchers here.

Macro Flowers ~ Blue Hydrangeas

I'd like to welcome my newest follower, Icy BC. Please click on the name to follow her blog. She actually has several and you can check them out on her profile page.

These shots are all from different bunches of hydrangeas and at different stages of bloom.

They seem to be in plentiful supply right now and I took these shots as I was out for a walk.

At first I thought this bush was a also a hydrangea in late stages but upon closer inspection, the blossoms look quite different. maiaT from Macro Flowers helped me identify it as the Endless Summer, Twist and Shout which is a new hybrid of hydrangeas.

I am not used to taking macro photos and hope to practise by joining in with the Macro Flowers meme from time to time. I also found a meme for Weekend Flowers. Check them out.


Please join in by clicking on the badges to see some spectacularly beautiful flowers.