Sunday, November 8, 2015

What a Beautiful World















Looking back over photos from the last few days reminds me of how much there is to be grateful for. Our town is awash in purple jacaranda flowers. I love the fleeting, royal display these trees give each year in mid spring. The town's annual week-long Jacaranda Festival has just finished. 

Grace performed five of her original songs at the Jacaranda TAFE markets yesterday, a wonderful experience for her and a delight to the audience. We were fascinated by a back stage tour of the TAFE's music facilities, learning more about the course Grace has been studying this year. Batman and Poison Ivy made an appearance promoting an upcoming Cosplay event.

My birthday happens to fall during this festive floral time. I enjoyed choosing some new plants for the garden, including the two above*, which although they look like Australian natives are actually native to South Africa - close cousins to many of our native flora. The children surprised me with a beautiful Tree of Life pendant for my birthday - I love it!


* Botanical Notes: Both the potted plants shown above are from the Proteaceae Family and are native to South Africa. The orange flowering plant is "So Sincere" - Leucospermum linear hybrid. The silver 'coned' plant is Leucadendron galpinii female, commonly known as Purple Haze as its foliage turns silvery purple in winter.
The purple flowering jacarandas are native to South America, primarily Brazil, yet thrive in our climate.


Sharing at Our World Tuesday.

30 comments:

Janneke said...

The Jacarandas and the beautiful carpet of petals look like magic!
Congratulations with your birthday it is a bonus as it falls in this festive floral time, where daughter Grace is performing wonderful.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I always love seeing the Jacarandas in bloom each spring here too.

How fun for you daughter to be performing during the festival and that you had a birthday too. Lovely gifts. Belated Happy Birthday to you.

FlowerLady

eileeninmd said...

Hello, lovely post and images. The Jacaranda blooms are lovely, even on the ground. Beautiful flowers. Happy Birthday to you! Happy Sunday, enjoy your new week!

SarahZ said...

It is a simple, yet still funny thing, that my birthday is in the Fall (Oct) and yours is in the Spring, and only weeks or days apart :) Happy Birthday Karen!!!!

Giga said...

Happy Birthday. I wish you health and happiness in life.They look wonderfully flowering trees. Plants purchased are very interesting. Daughter good luck in singing. Regards.

papillon said...

Happy Birthday and all the best for you! Very beautiful flowers...many spring greetings to you from the autumn in Europe.
J+C

Olivier Bailleux said...

This purple tree is beautiful.

O'Quilts said...

Jacaranda is one of my favorites...Your pictures are really lovely. When I lived in Miami,Florida... we had Jacaranda trees too...

Filip and Kristel said...

A purple blanket. Super. Also like the flower macro.

Greetings,
Filip

CountryMum said...

My... that first photo is just divine.

Barb said...

Happy Birthday! Those Jacaranda Trees and Grace are performing just for you. Your Tree of Life from the children is so appropriate - wishing you good health and much happiness, Karen.

Dirk Rosin said...

flotte og teknisk perfekte bilder !

Allison said...

Little shots of spring reminders will be helpful for those of us who are getting ready to head into the dark winter months. If I had a tree like this around, instead of making snow angels, I would plant myself right in the middle of all those fallen blooms and make flower angels. Lovely photos!

Greetings from Germany!

P.S. Enjoy your birthday! Flowers sounds like the perfect gift to give yourself!

DeborahGun said...

There is nothing quite like the purple beauty of Jacaranda Trees. One of my favourite things about Australia!

geanina said...

Happy birthday! !
Very nice images! :)

amanda said...

I'm completely enchanted with those Jacaranda flowers.
Beautiful birthday gift from your children - and much deserved. You are so blessed with all of them, as they are with you!
Best wishes for another year of creating, growth, blooms, and happiness.

Sylvia K said...

Happy, Happy Birthday!! Oh, the Jacaranda trees are so gorgeous, I do love them and what wonderful blooms just to celebrate your birthday!! Thank you for sharing!! I hope you have a beautiful week!! Enjoy!!

carol l mckenna said...

Happy Birthday and Wow to those first few shots of the gorgeous tree and petals ~ lovely macro photography too!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol

Photo Cache said...

If ever I find myself in your neck of the woods, I'd make certain I come during jacaranda season. I love love love the purple blooms.

Worth a Thousand Words

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Those purple jacaranda flowers are so lovely! I'd love to stand under that tree and have those blossoms fall all around me--so magical!

Happy birthday!

Andrea said...

I searched which part of Australia are you but there's none i could find. The first time i was in Sydney decades ago it was the jacaranda blooms which got my heart. However, a friend who promised me seeds forgot all about it until we are not in contact anymore, haha! Those carpeted floors really melt my heart, i want to even lie on them. And of course, i love the grevilla, it was placed on my birthday cake when i celebrated my birthday there end of November. Oh how i miss many things in Australia.

Teresa Duryea Wong said...

Wow. The purple carpet is amazing. Looks like something from a fairy tale... especially with your beautiful photos.

Bethany Carson said...

Happy birthday! The purple jacaranda flowers are remarkably beautiful, and so are the flowers you picked out.

Liz said...

Firstly, Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day.
Those Jacarandas are stunning. I was hoping to head down there for the festival this year but have been in St Vincent's hospital for the last 2 1/2 weeks (home on Friday!!). Maybe next year.
I love your new plants. Well done to Gracie too!! She has the voice of an angel.

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday. Love love love the jacaranda pictures!

Connie Smiley said...

Those trees are stunning, and your images perfectly dreamy! Hope you had a good birthday.

maryandpatch.blogspot.com said...

The jacaranda trees are incredible. I didn't know such a thing existed!
And Happy Birthday!

Julie said...

I love Jacaranda and their purple snow. We have Pohutukawa season to look forward to soon and it's red snow underfoot.

diane b said...

The jacarandas are beautiful this year. Your photos of them are lovely too. Looks like you too have an artistic family.

Rosemary said...

I had to come to visit this specific post to feast my eyes on your Jacaranda photos and it was more than worth it! Happy belated birthday, the necklace you received is incredible. I'm so happy to see the many quilts you have made and are making. Oh, also, huge congratulations on being featured in a magazine. So many joys!

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