My Gardenia Blooms

 

These flowers used to be permanent fixtures in my small garden. I had the lone shrub for years and it produces such lovely white flowers  every year. Some months ago, the leaves slowly turned yellow then they dried up to brittle brown ones. This afternoon, my son and I decided to finally put it to rest so what is left now is a small stump  of the trunk.

My gardenia is gone. All I have left are random photos  of its flowers. Funny but I still could smell their heady scents from here.

 

Foliage

I have always been fascinated by the different colors of greens in our small garden.  I sometimes make it a point to take some shot of them when they are at their best. It’s been a while though since I took photos, my camera is not working well. I rely  on my camera phone and tab  for quick shots. Here are some foliage shots I took over the years.

My Eugenia plant

Every tip is colored orange when the leaf is young. I so love this. You can shape Eugenia anything you want.

San Francisco or Croton plant

San Francisco comes in a variety of colors and shapes. They are easy to propagate shrubs but you need to trim them so they won’t grow too tall.

An ornamental
pineapple plant.

I have this for quite sometime and I am still waiting for it to produce those lovely fruits to no avail.

I forgot the name of this water plant.  It grows as vine and so easy to propagate. You can even use it inside for vases.

This belongs to the family of those Taro plants you commonly see in gardens.

A mosquito repellent plant.  I  use it as grown covers too. When you want lovely foliage in your garden, this is it.

Regina Rosarii RICA

One of the best places we visited in  our road trips is Regina RICA in Tanay, Rizal. It is a place of prayer and worship and that 71-foot tall image of Mama Mary is one sure attraction of the place.

I love going on road trips. One learns a lot of things  when one visits religious sites like this.  Aside from the peace and quiet that it brings, it makes you think of your Maker and the wonderful life you have. Life is precious and it is more felt in those places where the lush green of the countryside abounds.

Regina Rosarii RICA

Another Day In Paradise

Go ahead –

Find some quiet place and listen

to the silence

Feel the sun on your face

Savour the sound of the wind

See the distant roar of the sea

Absorb the beauty of another day.

Today’s Quote

 

Punta de Uian

I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees. The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets. It has
given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day. It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful. Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me – I am happy.
~Hamlin Garland, McClure’s, February 1899

Misty

 

This reminds me of those cold mornings I used to spend in the province.  Seeing the beauty of nature, pondering what life is all about, discovering things that evoke lovely memories of old.

It was a misty morning alright.

 

One More Day

Every time I see cloud formations like these, I am reminded of this wonderful quote from Rabindranath Tagore:

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.”

Then I begin to sing;

♫♪♫♪See the clouds adrift so far below
Ever changing as they come and go;
Makes me wonder why I’m up so high
When really I am down so low
Of all the wonders I was one allowed
I think that I would always choose a cloud,
Always bring my feelings right out loud,
Whether I’m ashamed or proud.♪♫♫♫

It makes me wonder what life is all about. Took this shot in front of our house. You can view it in large format.

 

Gifts Of The Morning (Chasing Raindrops)

What could be more inspiring than waking up to the morning seeing nature at its best? Then you wish life could be this simple – seeing the beauty of a water droplet and deeper  thoughts come to mind. And there is silence all around.

I love the freshness of  an early morning after the rain.  Although I hate the heavy downpour, it is always amazing to see greens all around.  The tears of heaven cleanse the soul and it wash away the pain of feeling sad  and alone.

Musings

When you look forward to a new day

With all its promise –

It does not need to be perfect,

It does not need to be boring.

When you see a new life blossoming,

All you need to do is give thanks,

There is always something there

That makes it worth  waiting for.

Reminiscing

Sometimes you wish the day would be as beautiful and as colorful as this.

I love Hydrangeas. I actually tried planting them in pots years ago but the heat in such a tropical country like ours is a bane for these plants.  They love partial shade and cool climate.

I always love taking photos of flowers, sometimes practicing on macro shots like this.  I know, I know, you remember the place and you smile at the memory it evokes.  You remember your delight in discovering such lovely blooms.

I miss you Caleruega. Someday, I am going back there to visit you again.