Helios 44-2

Purple Edged African Violet

Posted February 10, 2022 by Ellie

Purple Edged African Violet

I have to confess that I got very close to writing a ‘This Project is Coming to an End’ post. I must have let myself get a little low and I started to feel a little burned out, which is never a good thing. Thankfully I prepare my photos and posts a couple of days ahead, so I let myself have a breather and even picked up my camera again, as you can see by today’s photograph. I walked around our African Violet collection, as Steven suggested and saw how many beautiful ones there are. It was refreshing to look again at what is right in front of me, not to yearn for what is not around outside at the moment. So I am still continuing, my friends, I hope you are still getting enjoyment from the daily posts. If not, take a breather yourselves and come back to them with fresh eyes and they might, again, cheer the day a little. Flower a Day #516 View all posts on the Home page.  

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White and Pink Rhododendron

Posted February 9, 2022 by Ellie

White and Pink Rhododendron

The early flowering rhododendron I shared a couple of days ago came into full bloom shortly after I took that photo and here is how it looks when the flowers on the clusters are all open. This is why I never saw the shy little pink one hiding in the undergrowth, as it is such a prolific bloomer and is so eye-catching that it’s hard to see anything else. At times it seems to me that our spring doesn’t really get going until June, but I see that this was taken on May 21st, so I shouldn’t be so pessimistic! It won’t be too long before we see the days really getting longer and perhaps the sun’s rays will be strong enough to melt at least some of the snow that has accumulated over the past few weeks. I hope this pretty thing helps to lift your spirits first thing in your day. Flower a Day #515 View all posts on the Home page.  

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White Rattlesnake Root

Posted February 8, 2022 by Ellie

White Rattlesnake Root, White Lettuce

Speaking of anniversaries (which I have been, a few times lately), I was pretty certain that I shared one of these White Rattlesnake Root (or white lettuce) flower photographs for our wedding anniversary on December 11,2020. Sure enough, a quick search showed me this post with the photograph that I remembered. It was my favourite of the ones I took of that plant on that day, but I decided not to waste the other frames I took and so today, here we have one other. I have never seen these flowers anywhere else before or since. I have to confess that I never thought to go back and find them again last September, so I have now made a note on my calendar to do just that this year. Before that happens, however, we all have a beautiful, rich, flower filled summer to enjoy. I am/was writing this in the middle of an ice storm a few days ago in case we were to lose power for a period of time, so that heady summer thought seems almost an impossible dream. But experience tells us that we will get through this, as we have so many other trials, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep on keeping on, dear friends. Flower a Day #514 View all posts on the Home page.  

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Thyme-Leaved Speedwell

Posted February 7, 2022 by Ellie

Thyme-leaved Speedwell

It’s thyme (;-) for another patch of little blue beauties today, my friends. Just the name of this pretty little plant brings a smile as firstly the word thyme evokes a lovely herby scent to me, redolent of bees and summer and salads and pasta sauces. Secondly the name speedwell is such a cheery one for all travellers, expressing a wish for a successful and quick trip. Now of course voyages are not taken as freely or as speedily as they have been in our not so distant past, but nonetheless we can all remember when such a time brought joyful reunions of friends and family. Hold on to the thought and to the image of this happy patch of tiny blue flowers as you contemplate a time in the future when the meaning of the word will again come into its own. Happy Sunday everyone! Flower a Day #513 View all posts on the Home page.  

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