Three Monkeys

October; Food for thoughts;

2011-10-04T07:23:00.000+10:00

"The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names" Chinese Proverb

Memorial for all the victims of aggressions, violence and wars. There has been not only one holocaust, every war and violence is a holocaust for the people innocently involved .
For the native people of the Americas.
For the native people of Australia
For the Africans traded into slavery and made second grade citizens in their own homeland.
The Palestinian when they lost their land and homes in 1948 to the Zionist movement and the state of Israel was created
For all the dead people of all lands who have lost their lives through aggressions due to wars and the arrogance of politics and Politicians.

July; Food for thoughts;

2011-07-20T05:52:00.001+10:00

Winter, Camellias are in bloom, the subtle harmony of pink and gold.

"Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come!" Victor Hugo

"O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength! But it is tyrannous To use it like a giant. William Shakespeare "Measure for Measure," Act II, Scn. ii

The Seven Blunders of the World ;
The seven blunders are:

Wealth without work

Pleasure without conscience

Knowledge without character

Commerce without morality

Science without humanity

Worship without sacrifice

Politics without principle

My Library; Serpent Dust; by Debra Adelaide;

2011-06-29T11:14:00.000+10:00

Serpent Dust by Debra Adelaide

In my view a very poetic wonderfully written story.

Excerpts from this book;

Page 67
Mrs. Twineham:"...What will become of this colony, I am unable to say, and I am moved to consider how this
bustling self important little place should ever survive, let alone prosper.

Page 86
Dyirra:"...But we'd been camped on the edge of the maiyal settlement for month, watching our fishing places swallowed up. Then our water supply, then the badagarang hunting grounds. All going or gone.

....less than moments, then our himeland was transformed into something utterly unrecognizable

Page 87
Dyirra:" Meanwhile we were still stalking backwards, still retreating, creeping, silently putting one foot behind the other with our bags and stick...

Page102
Strawberries, ten bushels of India seed corn, bamboos, quinces, oak and myrtle trees...
Six bullet molds, fife hundred and eighty-nine women's petticoats...

Page 171
Cowper:"...out here you can belong. The land holds you when you submit to it. And so I have come to the bush that looks after you, if you let it.
That's what those grubbing, tree felling, gravel scraping fools back at the settlement will never understand.
...to truly look at the land they have claimed for their own, too stupid to think beyond the scope of thir own stores and provisions...

Page 181
The Reverend MR Arthur Twineham:"....we brought the seedlings with us. Yet the trees seem to me a crude punctuation in this landscape.....while the originals, the grey and drooping gums have long been felled and turned into fuel and shelter.

Within two years of the fleet's arrival, those watchers had suffered the shocking ravages of smallpox, their numbers decimated. the disease spread to aboriginal people throughout the country with devastating results. But how did smallpox arrive in Australia?

June; Food for thoughts;

2011-06-11T14:24:00.000+10:00

There is always a dark cloud; I know I am an optimist and look at the blue sky...cogito ergo sum.

Hopefully, even if it does not look like it, never has, "tous va pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes;" Voltaire.

'To plunder to slaughter, to steal these things they misname empire and where they make a wilderness they call it peace." Tacitus- Roman historian 55-120 AD

"I bear solemn witness to the fact that NATO heads of state and of government meet only to go through the tedious motions of reading speeches, drafted by others, with the principal objective of not rocking the boat." - Pierre Trudeau

"I think that NATO is itself a war criminal." - Harold Pinter

"The ruling class has the schools and press under its thumb. This enables it to sway the emotions of the masses." - -- Albert Einstein - (1879-1955) Physicist and Professor, Nobel Prize 1921

"After the advent of the written word, the masses who could not - or were not permitted to - read, were given sermons by the few who could." - Theodore Bike

"And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." -Thomas Jefferson-

I believe Gandhi is the only person who knew about real democracy - not democracy as the right to go and buy what you want, but democracy as the responsibility to be accountable to everyone around you. Democracy begins with freedom from hunger, freedom from unemployment, freedom from fear, and freedom from hatred. To me, those are the real freedoms on the basis of which good human societies are based.

Food for thoughts; April 2011;

2011-04-03T09:23:00.001+10:00

Sunset;

"We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive." ~Albert Einstein

"A normal person does not want to kill and will avoid it at all costs. The military won't let you remain normal. It doesn't matter if you think you are smart enough not to get caught up in their lies. They will change you.

Don't be sucked into the biggest myth and lie that dying for your country is somehow heroic" Larry Kerschner

"[War] is legalized mass murder, it is rightly relegated to the measure of last resort by civilized people the world over. Thus the majority of the civilized world was horrified when the United States launched a preemptive war on Iraq without the authorization of the United Nations." Thom Hartmann

This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector." - Plato quotes

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy"

- James Madison

The time is always right to do what is right." --Martin Luther King Jr.

Today's Flowers; Camelia sasanqua;

2011-03-27T16:49:00.000+10:00

This beautiful, white Camelia sasanqua is the first to flower in my garden, always right at the beginning of autumn, it shows of its soft flowers with big yellow centers.It is a very tough shrub or tree as it can grow quite large. Easy to grow, it demands not much, reasonable soil, mine is clay, acidic and it is also drought resistant and has never any diseases or insects which chew its leaves like C.japonica. Sasanquas come in many colours, single and double flowers, they all are worthy to grow. They can be grown from cuttings or from seed which might give you a nice surprise.

Please visit Today's Flowers and enjoy;

Photos TS myGarden

Food for thoughts; March 2011

2011-03-01T18:56:00.000+10:00

"And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed." - John Steinbeck - Grapes of Wrath

"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy" - Charles de Montesquieu

Brahmanism: This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.: Mahabharata 5:1517

Christianity: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.: Matthew 7:12

Islam: No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah

Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.: Udana Varga 5:18

Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowmen. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.: Talmud, Shabbat 31:a

Confucianism: Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.: Analects 15:23

Taoism: Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.: T'ai Shag Kan Ying P'ien

Zoroastrianism: That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good: for itself. : Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5

Something "smells" of fascism;

2011-02-28T05:41:00.000+10:00

Laurence Britt, a political scientist, wrote an article about fascism which appeared in Free Inquiry magazine -- a journal of humanist thought.

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -- Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia.
Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights -- Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that
human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need". The people tend to 'look the other way' or even approve of torture, summary executions,
assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause -- The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived
common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc

4. Supremacy of the Military -- Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding,
and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized

6. Controlled Mass Media -- Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by
government regulation, or through sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in wartime, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security -- Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined -- Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public
opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the
government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected -- The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power,
creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed -- Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated
entirely or are severely suppressed.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment -- Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing
to overlook police abuses, and even forego civil liberties, in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in
fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption -- Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to
government positions, and who use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for
national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections -- Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against (or
even the assassination of) opposition candidates, the use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and the manipulation of the
media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

My Library; The Hand of Fatima;

2011-02-21T10:13:00.000+10:00

The Hand Of Fatima; Ildefonso Falcones; published in Spain 2009.

The Hand of Fatima, I.Falcones marks the four hundredth anniversary of the expulsion of the Moors from seventeenth century Spain.

Moors and Christians have been enemies for centuries, this is the story.
Religious wars are the worst, they defy everything Religion preaches. It is the story of Spain, the struggle between two religions, bloody for the people involved, for kings and clergy a macabre game to satisfy their lust for power.

Not much has changed. Religious wars are still raving and power struggles are still well alive.
In 1948 we have witnessed the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their country and land. It was taken over by an other tribe. The powerful in politics from the whole world have watched this with eyes wide open and have silently acknowledged the expulsion of the Palestinian people.

I highly recommend this book, if you like history.
1564, the kingdom of Granada, after years of Christian oppression, the Moors take arms against their masters
and daub the white houses of Sierra Nevada with the blood of their victims

Today's Flowers; All Gold;

2011-02-13T14:26:00.000+10:00

Tecoma capensis, yellow; I have always liked this particular yellow hue of this very profuse flowering and easily grown shrub.

Alamanda; can be trained as climber or lax shrub.

Cassia fistula is burdened with the funny name pudding pipe tree, because of its long shaped seedpods which look not at all like vanilla beans!

This shrub or small tree is a relative of the Oleanders, everything is poisonous. It is not for nothing called the dangerously beautiful Thevetia.

All this gold is flowering in my garden at this time of year.

Find more beautiful flowers here

Salt "Ain't" Salt;

2011-02-10T14:58:00.001+10:00

Salt is a dietary mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride that is essential for animal life, but toxic to most land plants. Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes, an important preservative and a popular food seasoning.

Salt for human consumption is produced in different forms: unrefined salt (such as sea salt), refined salt (table salt), and iodized salt. It is a crystalline solid, white, pale pink or light gray in color, normally obtained from sea water or rock deposits. Chloride

and sodium ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for the survival of all known living creatures, including humans. Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body. Salt cravings may be caused by trace mineral deficiencies as well as by a deficiency of sodium chloride itself.

Unrefined salt

Sea salt, Halite, and Fleur de sel

Different natural salts have different mineralities, giving each one a unique flavor. Fleur de sel, natural sea salt harvested by hand, has a unique flavor varying from region to region.

Refined salt, which is most widely used presently, is mainly sodium chloride. All the minerals are taken out for medicinal and other purposes.

Food grade salt accounts for only a small part of salt production..

The majority is sold for industrial use. Salt has great commercial value because it is a necessary ingredient in the manufacturing of many things. A few common examples include: the production of pulp and paper, setting dyes in textiles and fabrics, and the making of soaps and detergents.

The manufacture and use of salt is one of the oldest chemical industries. Salt can be obtained by evaporation of sea water, usually in shallow basins warmed by sunlight; Today, most refined salt is prepared from rock salt: mineral deposits high in salt.These rock salt deposits were formed by the evaporation of ancient salt lakes, and may be mined conventionally or through the injection of water. Injected water dissolves the salt, and the brine solution can be pumped to the surface where the salt is collected.

After the raw salt is obtained, it is refined to purify it and improve its storage and handling characteristics. Purification usually involves recrystallization. In recrystallization, a brine solution is treated with chemicals that precipitate most impurities (largely magnesium and calcium salts). Multiple stages of evaporation are then used to collect pure sodium chloride crystals, which are kiln-dried.

Fleur de sel

Fleur de sel ("Flower of salt" in French) is a hand-harvested sea salt collected by workers who scrape only the top layer of salt before it sinks to the bottom of large salt pans. Traditional French fleur de sel is collected off the coast of Brittany (most notably in the towns of Guérande - Fleur de Sel de Guérande, hand harvested from salt marsh water being the most revered), Noirmoutier, and also Camargue. It is often slightly grey due to the sandy minerals collected in the process of harvesting the salt from the pans. On occasion, the presence ofDunaliella salina (a type of pink micro-algae commonly found in salt marshes) can give it a light pink tint. Due to its relative scarcity, Fleur de sel is one of the more expensive salts. It is usually sold in airtight jars as it is slightly damp

The Portuguese variant "flor de sal" from the Algarve is of similar quality but is pure white and usually sells for half the price of the French fleur de sel.

Due to the small size of the crystals, fleur de sel dissolves faster than regular salt. Hence it is best used similarly to fresh herbs, sprinkling it onto food just before serving.

Pink Salt is a rock salt mined in several parts of the world, including Hawaii, Bolivia, theMurray-Darling basin of Australia, Peru, Pakistan (?Himalayan salt), and Poland. The color results from iron oxide.

Unfortunately, table salt contains ingredients other than sodium and chlorine—aluminum, for one. Two of the most common anticaking agents used in salt production are sodium alumino-silicate and alumino-calcium silicate. Aluminum is a toxic metal that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease and in any case has no place in a healthy diet.

Table salt without aluminium is available. I use organic sea salt, which slightly gray and moist. For my home made herb salt I use aluminium free refined sea salt, as this is easy to mix the dried herbs into it.

Photos TS

some excerpts courtesy Wikipedia.

Food for thoughts; February 2011;

2011-02-06T11:21:00.001+10:00

"The strength of a civilization is not measured by its ability to fight wars, but rather by its ability to prevent them." Gene Roddenberry

This I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits
or destroys the individual.-John Steinbeck

"Civilization can only revive when there shall come into being in a number of individuals a new tone of mind, independent of the prevalent one among the crowds, and in opposition to it -- a tone of mind which will gradually win influence over the collective one, and in the end determine its character. Only an ethical movement can rescue us from barbarism, and the ethical comes into existence only in individuals. - Albert Schweitzer

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be". -Thomas Jefferson

Today's Flowers; a few tropicals;

2011-01-16T07:15:00.008+10:00

Heliconia bihai (please enlarge pictures, click)

Mussaenda erythrophylla;

Heliconia rostrata;

Anthurium (these are good to pick for vases and last long.

Visit Today's Flowers please click here

Photos TS my garden;

Food for thought; January 2011;

2011-01-01T16:37:00.011+10:00

"In order to rally people, governments need enemies. They want us to be afraid, to hate, so we will rally behind them. And if they do not have a real enemy, they will invent one in order to mobilize us."

Thich Nhat Hanh - Vietnamese monk, activist and writer.

So let us regard this as settled: what is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)

"The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." : Samuel P. Huntington

"As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests". Gore Vidal

Today's Flowers; Callistemon/Bottlebrush;

2010-12-19T15:52:00.005+10:00

Callistemon Violacea;

Callistemon...from Greek kalos; beautiful and stemon; stamens.

Pictures TS from my garden; please click...

Although one of the older Callistemon cultivars, Callistemon 'Violaceus' is typical of some of the excellent, colourful bottlebrush cultivars and hybrids that have become available in recent years. Similar cultivars include 'Purple Splendour', 'Purple Cloud' and 'Mauve Mist'. All of these form dense, bushy shrubs 2-3 metres tall by a similar spread, producing yellow-tipped purple brushes in mid to late spring (October to November). They are hardy shrubs which will withstand at least moderate frost and which flower best in a sunny position.

Like most Callistemon cultivars, C.'Violaceus' produces viable seed which germinates easily. However, because of seedling variation, any plants produced from this seed will not be identical to the parent plant and cannot be called 'Violaceus'. Plants produced from cuttings (which usually strike readily) will produce genetically identical plants to the parent.

Many callistemons can tolerate less than perfect drainage but usually perform best in gardens with reasonable drainage and regular availability of water. Callistemons respond well to annual fertilising after flowering and are not as sensitive as some other Australian plants to phosphorus.

Please visit Today's Flowers

Today's Flowers; Pond flowers;

2010-12-05T15:42:00.004+10:00

Please click the pictures;

Pickerel Rush; Pondeteria cordata.

This is a very pretty plant for your pond. Easy and freely flowering.

The Pickerel Rush, also known as Pickerel Weed, Pickerelweed, and Wampee,

is named after the Italian botanist, Giulio Pondeteria.

Shiny, green, spear-shaped foliage with distinctive swirling send up spikes of soft blue flowers, reaching 18 to 24" tall, or slightly more. The flower spikes grow from leaf bracts at the top of stems. The plant adapts from very shallow water to depths of up to 18".

Plant the Pickerel Rush in a 5-gallon or larger pot to accommodate strong and plump roots. The pot should be placed in sun to part shade, and the plant will bloom in late spring through early autumn. Divide plants in spring while pruning away the rotting portions from the previous year. Stolon cuttings may be taken in summer and started, or a new plant may be started from fresh seeds collected in late summer and planted. Zones 4-11.

Please visit Today's Flowers and enjoy!

My Library; The Return; Victoria Hislop;

2010-11-03T19:49:00.009+10:00

The Return by Victoria Hislop.

The story is sad; the daughter returning to the birth country of her mother.

It is a sad history of the Spanish civil war. So many lives changed at the whim of politics. Prosecuted, incarcerated, forced labour and killed; all those people died because of savage, fascist politics, which have lasted from 1936 t0 1975.

General Francisco Franco, was a murderer together with his Government in unison with the western governments. He and his government were never brought before Justice.

Please click to read;

A bit of Philosophy; Thucydides (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC)

2010-09-14T04:59:00.005+10:00

Nature survives!

Thucydides (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC) (Greek Thoukydídes) a Greek historian and author of the History of the Peloponnesian War, which recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC.

Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientific history" because of his strict standards of evidence-gathering and analysis in terms of cause and effect without reference to intervention by the gods, as outlined in his introduction to his work

He has also been called the father of the school of political realism, which views the relations between nations as based on might rather than right.

His classical text is still studied at advanced military colleges worldwide, and the Melian dialogue remains a seminal work of international relations theory.

More generally, Thucydides showed interest in developing an understanding human nature to explain behaviour in such crises as plague ,massacres, as in that of the Melians, and civil war.

Viewed as a tragedy, his portrayal of the Peloponnesian War leads us to a very different set of questions, understandings of politics and of knowledge itself.

Greek tragedy was rooted in the empirical observation that there is no relationship between justice and suffering. Tragedy confronts us with our frailties and limits and the disastrous consequences of trying to exceed them. It advances a counter-intuitive thesis: that efforts to limit suffering through the accumulation of knowledge or power might invite more suffering. Thucydides drew heavily on epic poetry and tragedy to construct his history, which not surprisingly is also constructed as a narrative

Thucydides sees himself as an Athenian. His father was Olorus, he was from the Athenian deme of Halimous He survived the Plague of Athens that killed Pericles and many other Athenians. He owned gold mines at Scapte Hyle, a coastal area in Thrace, opposite the island of Thasos.

The maxim of Thucydides, that the strong do as they wish, and the weak suffer as they must, which holds with its customary precision.

When a politician uses the word “folks,” we should brace ourselves for the deceit, or worse, that is coming.

sourced and footnoted in Noam Chomsky’s new book Hopes and Prospects.]

some excerpts courtesy Wikipedia)

My Library; A Novel, Someone Knows My Name;

2010-09-08T18:30:00.006+10:00

Someone Knows My Name; by Lawrence Hill;

It was originally published in Canada under the title The Book of Negroes;

Slavery in any form is a very dark and shameful mark through all the centuries on the people of all races who were involved in buying, selling and owning other human beings.

The magnitude of these crimes will never be forgotten or extenuated.

From Page 234

The people of Great Britain and other seafearing nations have devised unspeakable punishment

for the children of Ham, but in that moment and in that time, none seemed worse than their own self-inflicted torture: to sit unmoving but forbidden to sleep, in a cavernous room with arching stone and forbidden windows while a small man adopted a monotone for the better part of a

villainous hour.

From Page 452

In the endless grey of London, I missed the colours and tastes of my homeland. I found bread and meat uninteresting and unpalatable and I wondered how it was that people who sailed the oceans and ruled the world cared nothing for food and how to prepare it.

Londoners ate hardly any fruit at all. I missed the bananas, limes oranges and pineapples of Sierra Leone. I especially missed the malaguetta peppers....

Gail Anderson-Dargatz, her words about this novel;

A novel that should be sung rather than read. It is a song of worship, in praise of the taste of an orange, the smell of a newborn; and it is a lament to the horrors we are capable of inflicting on each other, no matter what colour of our skin.

The Nobel Peace Prize is a farce;

2010-08-04T14:40:00.029+10:00

It has about as much value for peace in the world, as it was given to my chooks.

Actually it should be renamed The Nobel War Criminal Prize .It is used as sort of a Club of the

western Governments, to honour the war criminals they like.The ones they do not like are prosecuted by the International Criminal Court.

The true receivers of this prize should reject it; the Nobel peace prize is tainted with blood.

BARACK OBAMA for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.

He has increased the troops and he has ignored the massacre in Gaza! He is not a president of peace he is a president of wars.

SHIMON PERES , Foreign Minister of Israel;
Peres’ criminality and cruelty assumed a high-pitched expression in 1969 when he as Prime Minister ordered the Israeli army, the Jewish Wehrmacht, to bombard the UN peace-keeping forces at the village of Qana where hundreds of Lebanese civilians had sought shelter from indiscriminate Israeli bombing of Lebanese villages and hamlets in southern Lebanon.

The bombardment, in which heavy artillery shells were used, killed at least 101 children and women and injured and maimed many others. His hands are bloody.

YITZHAK RABIN , Prime Minister of Israel.
for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East. ha ha ha....if it would not be so sad it would be funny.
Qualifications: War Criminal. Like Hitler, gave the orders that others carried out.
Mr. Rabin was certainly not a man of peace. His history of war crimes includes a key role in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from the towns of Lydda and Ramleh in 1948. In 1967, Rabin also lead the Israeli forces that conquered the West Bank, Gaza and Golan Heights. His infamous 'broken bones policy's openly encouraged breaking the arms and legs of peaceful Palestinian demonstrators during the first intifada.
Mr. Rabin Was Responsible for Ethnical Cleaning / Deportation in 1948
In the 1967 war between Israel and Jordan, Yitzhak Rabin was Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces. In this short war some 5.000 inhabitants from three villages in the Latrun triangle between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem (Emwas, Beit Nuba and Yalou) were expelled by the Israeli army and their villages totally destroyed. An Israeli soldier, Amos Kenan, who took part in the expulsions, described these acts in a report sent to all Israeli Members of Parliament. According to press reports, including one in Jerusalem Post of 24 October 1991, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin admitted in Canadian TV having given the order to destroy the villages. The inhabitants of these villages were never allowed to return and rebuilt their village nor bury their dead in the lands of their former village

MENACHEM BEGIN , Prime Minister of Israel.
Qualifications: Killer. Terrorist. War Criminal. Leader of the terrorist gang Irgun. Responsible for the Deir Yassin massacre, the bombing of the King David Hotel, etc, etc.

HENRY A. KISSINGER , Secretary of State, State Department, Washington.
Incredibly, Henry Kissinger—the man who rivals Pol Pot for the dubious honor of being the person responsible for the death of the largest number of innocent people in South East Asia (and far surpasses Pol Pot in criminality when one factors in Kissinger's various levels of responsibility for wholesale slaughter and repression in other parts of the world)—still wields significant power in the United States; but his role as eager facilitator of mass murder, totalitarian repression and other atrocities is never discussed in polite society.

Masterminded the murder of as estimated 600,000 peasants in Cambodia (the "Secret bombing")
President Ford and Secretary of State Kissinger gave the go ahead to Suharto's invasion of East Timor and subsequent massive war crimes there, and the same Kissinger, who helped President Nixon engineer and then protect the Pinochet coup and regime of torture and murder, and directed the first phase of the holocaust in Cambodia (1969-75) ...

The time was September 11, 1973. The country was Chile. The event was the bloody overthrow of a democratic government. And the criminals were Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, The CIA, and Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet. Pepsico, ITT, and other large U.S. corporations were also guilty parties in these crimes against the State and against The People of Chile.

Many more with blood on their hands have received this prize. It is a scam and a shame.

.

Our international family 1972; Athina;

2010-07-29T08:29:00.013+10:00

Athina from Athen, the tall girl with dark curls, holding Mireille from Paris, Mireille came to us for the summer holidays from "Brot fuer Brueder" as this help organisation was called then.

Peter, and our three girls.

Athina was in the Pestalozzidorf in Trogen, and came to us to spend her summer holidays.

The Pestalozzidorf was a refuge village for children in the second world war.

Later it was used for children from all over the world who's countries were in upheaval from wars and military coups like it happened at this time in Greece.

Dictatorship Military Junta 1967-1974

Shortly before the elections the Greek government was overthrown by a group of ultra conservative officers under Georgios Papadopoulos and established a dictatorial Regime Military Junta with exceptional conditions.

No freedom of the press, mass arrests and deportations ( Mikis Theodorakis was a victim) concentration camps. We want to save Greece for christian greeks was the slogan of the military junta. Men were not allowed to wear long hair and mini skirts were prohibited. Sophokles, Tolstoy, Euripides, Aristophanes, Ionesco, Sartre, Albee, Beckett, Dostojewski were prohibited. The traditional throwing of glasses, sociology, modern Mathematics and the letter Z which means in old Greek “He lives” were prohibited.

As this regime was extremely anticommunist it was supported and helped by the USA. The USA had fully accepted the coup regime of the Military Junta.

When Bill Clinton visited Athen on 2oth November 1999 he appologist for the USA ’s involvement and support of this terrible Military junta who caused the death, torture and incarceration of so many innocent people. He said, the USA was sorry to have let its own interest prevail, which they are still doing and is still going in many countries. Empty words of apology do not erase the suffering and bitterness.

I am glad we could give Athina a happy summer in our family. She was home sick.

Her father a minister in the previous government was tortured and incarcerated on an island.

Her mother had died and her elder sister was away in an other country at university.

Athina had extended family which she loved and missed. She spoke well Swiss German.

Todays Flowers; Magic Carousel;

2010-06-27T19:47:00.007+10:00

Rosa Magic Carousel offers rounded petals edged in red and frame snow-white centers. The vigorous plants grow about 50 cm high. Zones 5-11

Christmas cactus;

The common holiday cacti (Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, ) comprise several closely related species in the genus Schlumbergera and the species Hatiora gaertneri, often called Zygocactus in older works. They are originally forest cacti, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 1000 and 1700 meters (3300 to 5600 feet) above sea level in the Organ Mountains north ofRio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America. They are called Flor de maio (May Flower) in Brazil.

Many modern holiday cactus cultivars are hybrids between Schlumbergera truncata and S. russelliana, first hybridized about 150 years ago in England.

Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera and Hatiora hybrids) include:

Christmas Cactus, (S. bridgesii, S. x buckleyi, Epiphyllum x buckleyi)

Thanksgiving Cactus, Yoke Cactus, Linkleaf Cactus, Crab Cactus, Claw Cactus, (S. truncata, formerly Zygocactus truncatus)

Propagation

Holiday cacti can be propagated quite easily by removing a single segment and planting it a quarter of its length deep in a pot filled with slightly sandy soil. It helps to put some kind of rooting hormone on the base of the cutting. Place the pot in a well lit area (but not in direct sunlight) and keep the soil moist. The cutting should begin showing signs of growth after two or three weeks.

Care

The joints of the plants are quite fragile and can break apart if the plant is in poor health. The flower buds' joints are especially easy to detach.

Watering

The soil should be evenly moist for best growth, but they are intolerant to constantly wet soil and poor aeration. If outdoors, an established plant may only need to be watered every two or three days in warm, sunny weather; or every week in cool, cloudy weather.

Lighting

Christmas cactus will do best in bright indirect light. Long term direct sunlight can burn the leaves and stunt growth. If taken care of properly, a single planting can last for hundreds of years.

Flowering

Christmas cactus will create flower buds when subjected to cooler temperatures.

Click here for Today's flowers.

How much is one Trillion?

2010-06-20T06:37:00.010+10:00

Paul Nash, (1889 – 1946) Ruined Country;

1 Trillion Dollars for Wars, does it make Sense?

What is $1 trillion really worth? - If you made a million dollars a year, it would take you a million years to earn $1 trillion.

"War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people who know each other" Paul Valery; French poet, essayist and critic, 1871-1945

"The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." : Samuel P. Huntington

The belief in the possibility of a short decisive war appears to be one of the most ancient and dangerous of human illusions": Robert Lynd (1879-1949), Anglo-Irish essayist, journalist

"The first sign of corruption in a society that is still alive is that the end justifies the means.": Georges Bernanos

Conquered states that have been accustomed to liberty and the government of their own laws can be held by the conqueror in three different ways. The first is to ruin them; the second, for the conqueror to go and reside there in person; and the third is to allow them to continue to live under their own laws, subject to a regular tribute, and to create in them a government of a few, who will keep the country friendly to the conqueror: Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

If their criminality is able to manifest in a perfect form then they are capable of dominating countries and nations.' - Socrates in Plato's Republic

A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murder is less to fear: Cicero Marcus Tullius - Born on January 3, 106 BC and was murdered on December 7, 43 BC.

Today'sFlowers; "Winterlings";

2010-06-13T19:08:00.008+10:00

In winter Poinsettias light up the garden.

Bougainvilleas are tough and floriferous not shying away from the cooler season as long as there is no frost.

Please click HERE for Today'sFlowers.

Today's Flowers; Autumn's delights;

2010-05-23T18:19:00.006+10:00

Autumn is the time of life for Aloes;

Roses have their comeback in autumn; this one is Apricot Nectar;

Hibiscus are still going...

Some hang on just a little to long!

Please click here for Today's Flowers;

Thank you to the Flower-Team;

Witches Chant; by William Shakespeare

2010-05-12T18:20:00.012+10:00

Witches Chant; From the Tragedy of Macbeth.

Round about the cauldron go:

In the poisones entrails throw.

Toad,that under cold stone

Days and nights has thirty-one

Sweated venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first in the charmed pot.

Double,double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blindworm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing.

For charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double,double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Scale of dragon,tooth of wolf,

Witch's mummy, maw and gulf

Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,

Root of hemlock digg'd in the dark,

Liver of blaspheming Jew;

Gall of goat; andslips of yew

silver'd in the moon's eclipse;

Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;

Finger of birth-strangled babe

Ditch-deliver'd by the drab,-

Make the gruel thick and slab:

Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,

For ingredients of our cauldron.

Double,double toil and trouble,

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

This was "the stuff" that would give me goosebumps! Can it get worse than this?

The Tragedy of Macbeth (commonly called Macbeth) is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath.

It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. The earliest account of a performance of what was likely Shakespeare's play is April 1611, when Simon Forman recorded seeing such a play at the Globe Theatre. It was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book for a specific performance.

Shakespeare's sources for the tragedy are the accounts of King Macbeth of Scotland. However, the story of Macbeth as told by Shakespeare bears no relation to real events in Scottish history as Macbeth was an admired and able monarch.

In the back-stage world of theatre, some believe that the play is cursed, and will not mention its name aloud, referring to it instead as "The Scottish Play". Over the centuries, the play has attracted some of the greatest actors in the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The play has been adapted to film, television, opera, novels, and other media.

Song of Innocence; A free spirit;

2010-03-10T07:57:00.011+10:00

A free spirit;

I had my first encounter with religion when I was eight years old.

My parents did not like organized religion. My father was an atheist. I am not sure about my mother but I think she was not a believer. I never saw her at church, only once when I had my first communion and usually at Christmas, because I went there with my class to sing Christmas carols.

It was actually a protestant church as I went to a protestant school in a protestant village . It was all very confusing. Anyway I was baptized In the catholic faith, as both my parents were at a certain time, when they did not have a say in this matter.

As I was to receive my first communion I had to be instructed about it. For the religious instructions I had to travel by train to the next village. It was a prosperous, catholic village with two beautiful big Churches.

The instructions were held in a schoolroom of a newly build school. It was terribly boring, I did not understand what the priest was talking about and I never learned my lines from the catechism. I was more interested in the other children and my surroundings. I felt very grown up as I traveled alone to this village and had to find my way to the school.

I soon made friends with another girl who was beautifully dressed.

She was black haired with freckles, her name was Genevieve. When I first met her she wore a lime green coat beautifully tailored, she said her Mother was a dressmaker and made all her garments. I was only eight but I had this feeling for beautiful things, it did not matter what it was.

At the church, all the instructions about the big day and what we had to do went over my head as I was entranced and overwhelmed with the paintings and overall sanctity of the church. The singing, the smell of incense the ancient Greek words, the Kyrie Eleison, falling like pearls from my lips. I was now really looking forward to my spirituel entrance into this community.

My mother had bought white fabric to make my first communion frock, I think she was as excited about the project as I was. When I asked her if she liked to make this beautiful garment she said don’t be “meschugge”. She never said mad or silly always meschugge. I liked that word it was different, the other children didn’t know the word meschugge. I did not know where it came from and why she used it.

She said:” you can help making the frock but be careful this is silk.” I knew silk was made by grubs and in my imagination I saw all this tiny grubs patiently making the thread for this rippling, white fabric.

My mother cut out the pattern. The dress would be long, reaching down to my shoes.

The front on top would be embroidered with smocking stitches. It was very elaborate work and my fingers and hands got sticky and I soiled the material. My mother dismissed me quickly from helping.

Finally the first communion frock was finished and I slipped into it, whirled and danced around in the living room, like it was made for this frivolous purpose. I could barley wait until white Sunday arrived. I received new white sandals, first my mother wanted to colour my brown shoes white. I said I am not wearing them they are ugly. She said that I could be right and bought new, white sandals. I had to carry a tall candle embossed in gold with the sign of the holy spirit. The base of the candle was wrapped in one of my mothers lacy handkerchiefs. My short plaits were tied with white ribbons. I wanted to leave my hair falling in waves over my shoulders like Maria, the mother of god. My mother did not allow it.

My mother did not have a veil for me but she said that the nun who looked after us had one for me.

When I arrived at the schoolhouse where the children were assembled to go in a procession to the church, all I saw was a sea of veils popping up and down.

The girls all in white and the boys in blue suits. A nun took me aside and pushed a veil on my hair which she secured with a small, green wreath and a lot of bobby pins which made my scalp itch. I put my hand up and tried to loosen it, she slapped my hand and said:" leave it alone, now you made it all askew with your scratching.” I forgot about it when a friend of my mother was looking for me and gave me a pretty silver chain with a silver cross which she fastened around my neck. I thought this was so special because I was not expecting such a nice present. It was my first jewellery I received. I endured the long, alien ceremony and was glad when it was finished. After white Sunday I have never worn my white frock anymore. My mother gave it to another first communion girl to wear. However I wore my silver necklace for many years and I always thought with fondness of the lady who gave it to me.

Today's Flowers; Jazzy blues;

2010-03-07T19:08:00.008+10:00

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora also commonly known as blue ginger.

Thunbergia ( I am not sure which one)

Peruvian Morning glory;

Pictures are from my archive, but these are now flowering in my garden.

Please click here for Today's Flowers

My Library; The Island; Spinalonga was a former leper colony;

2010-03-01T05:06:00.009+10:00

The Island by Victoria Hislop.

Plaka 1953, a cold wind whipped through the narrow streets of Plaka and the chill of autumnal air encircled the woman, paralysing her body and mind with a numbness that almost blocked her senses but could do nothing to alleviate her grief. As she stumbled....

A powerful story about the fate of people who were unlucky enough to be infected by Lepra, had to leave their families and friends and were banned to the Island of Spinalonga.

The Island of Spinalonga, off the north coast of Crete, was Greece's main leper colony from 1903 until 1957.

It is notable for being one of the last active leper colonies in Europe. The last inhabitant, a priest, left the island in 1962. This was to maintain the religious tradition of the Greek Orthodox church, in which a buried person has to be commemorated 40 days, 6 months, 1, 3 and 5 years after their death. Other leper colonies that have survived Spinalonga include Tichilesti in Eastern Romania, Fontilles in Spain and Talsi in Latvia. As of 2002, few lazarettos remain in Europe.[1]

There were two entrances to Spinalonga, one being the lepers' entrance, a tunnel known as Dante's Gate. This was so named because the patients did not know what was going to happen to them once they arrived. However, once on the island they received food, water, medical attention and social security payments. Previously, such amenities had been unavailable to Crete's leprosy patients, as they mostly lived in the area's caves, away from civilization.

Pictures and Paintings; a potpourri of memories;

2010-02-18T06:32:00.008+10:00

Summer; ripe wheat, a view from a window; in the distance the village of Sommeri. Nomen est omen!

Hudelmoos; a preserved wetland area where we used to go for walks with the children.

The bee house in the garden; The poeta was a hobby bee keeper.

Our home; was; has been; happy days;

The pond where we went skating with the children.

Bought this on a trip to Appenzell; Naive painting on wood by Willi Keller.

I embroidered the Butterflies 1988.

Have we met? I received this water colour painting from my dear friend Jan.

Kilchberg ZH, drawing by Erika Streit, We got married here 1960. Our first home was Toediweg 2. The poeta had a business here. I was treasurer of the Skiclub Kilchberg. Now just memories.

The poeta and I have cherished this drawing; It has suffered with age spots like us!

The piano player is still playing his haunting tunes.

Today's Flowers; Salvia "Black Knight";

2010-02-08T10:05:00.009+10:00

SALVIA BLACK KNIGHT

2.0 x 1.50m. Dark purple tubular flowers in black calyces are produced in abundance during the summer months. Great for the back of the border and very easy.

Salvias are some of my favourite plants in the summer garden. The tropical ones grow easily from 1 - 1.5 m in height. There are many colours to choose from, purple, yellow, hot pink, soft pink and mauve and blue and more.

In my garden they grow and bloom from spring into winter, when I cut them back. They also grow from cuttings taken in summer.

Today's Flowers click here please;

Teddy Bear Love;

2010-02-03T18:31:00.012+10:00

The Studies Bear, it was given to Lilli when she was studying for her BA in Natural Medicine.

Oliver is a Christmas Bear and was given to Lilli when she came back from an overseas stay.

Roesli the Bear in front belonged to my sister, she gave me hers and our Mother's Bear.

Butzli Bear was made by my middle daughter Jacquei for me, when she was still at High school .

Matti was my Mothers Bear. The little bear in front is a foundling.

This was one of Lucian, my grandson's, bears. He would spend holidays here as a child. He is now 20, studies medicine and sometimes he still comes to study here because it is so nice and quiet, he says.The "Hostipel" bear as Lucian called it, where Jaqcuei worked in the Children's ward at the Mater Hospital.

Lena in front belonged to Lilli.

History

The name Teddy Bear comes from former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was "Teddy". The name originated from an incident on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi in November 1902, to which Roosevelt was invited by Mississippi Governor Andrew H. Longino. There were several other hunters competing, and most of them had already killed an animal. A suite of Roosevelt's attendants, led by Holt Collier,[1] cornered, clubbed, and tied an American Black Bear to a willow tree after a long exhausting chase with hounds. They called Roosevelt to the site and suggested that he should shoot it. He refused to shoot the bear himself, deeming this unsportsmanlike,[2] but instructed that the bear be killed to put it out of its misery, and it became the topic of a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902.[3] While the initial cartoon of an adult black bear lassoed by a white handler and a disgusted Roosevelt had symbolic overtones, later issues of that and other Berryman cartoons made the bear smaller and cuter.[4]

Morris Michtom saw the drawing of Roosevelt and the bear cub and was inspired to create a new toy. He created a little stuffed bear cub and put it in his shop window with a sign that read "Teddy's bear," after sending the bear to Roosevelt and receiving permission to sell the bears. The toys were an immediate success and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Co., which still exists today.[2]

At the same time, in Germany the Steiff firm, unaware of Michtom's bear, produced a stuffed bear from Richard Steiff's designs. They exhibited the toy at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903 and exported 3000 to the United States.[2][5][6]

By 1906 manufacturers other than Michtom and Steiff had joined in and the craze for Teddy Bears was such that ladies carried them everywhere, children were photographed with them, and Roosevelt used one as a mascot in his bid for re-election.[5]

American educator Seymour Eaton wrote the children's book series The Roosevelt Bears,[7] while composer John Bratton wrote "The Teddy Bear Two Step" which, with the addition ofJimmy Kennedy's lyrics, became the song "The Teddy Bears' Picnic".[8]

Today's Flowers; Lipstick pink;

2010-01-31T09:12:00.005+10:00

Ipomea horsfalliae, climber; Please click the pictures

Click here for Today's Flowers;

Thank you to the TF Team;

Luiz

Denise

Pupo and Valkyrien.

Today's Flowers; Plumeria

2010-01-10T16:53:00.009+10:00

The wonderfully scented Frangipani are flowering in the garden.

"Plumeria" species are easily propagated by taking a cutting of leafless stem tips in Spring and allowing them to dry at the base before inserting them into soil. Make sure soil has good drainage, to prevent root rot. Pruning is best accomplished in the winter for deciduous varieties, or whenever cuttings are desired.

There are over 300 named varieties of Plumeria.

Click here for Today's Flowers

The pleasure of reading;

2010-01-05T18:43:00.005+10:00

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant first published in 2009

Historical Note:

By the second half 0f the sixteenth century, the price of wedding dowries had risen so sharply within Catholic Europe that most noble families could not afford to marry off more than one daughter.

The remaining young women were dispatched for a much lesser price into convents.

Historians estimate that in the great towns and city states of Italy, up to half of all noble women became nuns.

Not all went willingly!

This story takes place in the northern Italian city of Ferrara, in 1570 in the Convent of Santa Caterina.

This book makes interesting reading. It is also scary and cruel that so many young girls were forced to enter a convent when their intent was to get married and have a family.

...and so the story goes...

The convent of Santa Caterina in the city of Ferrara is filled with noble women married to Christ because their families can not afford husbands. Sixteen -year- old Serafina arrives, ripped from an illicit love affair, howling with rage and determined to escape...

Today's Flowers; Exotics;

2009-12-27T19:30:00.009+10:00

Heliconia rostrata

Heliconia rostrata is one of the most recognized and widely grown species, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is still considered one of the most beautiful. The inflorescence it produces is one of the most colorful you will ever encounter. The mature plant normally starts to flower in the summer. The flowers last a long time and make an excellent cut flower. It is an easy grower in tropical areas but some room is required because the stalks can reach 7 feet in height. Bright shade is ideal with good moisture in the air and in the soil, but no soggy soils. Heliconias are also heavy feeders.

-related to Bananas and Bird of Paradise

-clump forming, erect banana like foliage

Allamanda cathartica;

A genus of tropical shrubs or vines belonging to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).

The genus Alamanda is native to South and Central America. Their year-round production of large, bright flowers have made the Allamanda popular ornamentals.

For Flowers from around the world click here please.

Tomatoes...essence of summer;

2009-12-19T05:02:00.006+10:00

Despite the dry we had a great crop of tomatoes. They are grown organically, no pesticide at all. This summer not one tomato was infested by fruit fly.

Ingredients for my Tomato Chutney, truly delicious and healthy.

1 kg tomatoes ripe and red

1/2 tbl spoon salt

1 fresh chilli or 1 teaspoon chillipowder or tabasco to your liking,

1 piece (ca.2 cm) fresh, finely grated ginger,

250 g organic sugar,

1/2 tbl spoon Garam Masala

lots of garlic, at least 5 big cloves pressed through a garlic press,

2 dl apple vinegar.

Mix all the ingredients, tomatoes halfed, and let slightly bubble for 1 hour until like a jam.

Generally I leave skin and seeds as they are good for a healthy diet.

Fill in squeaky clean glass jars. These are recycled. Enjoy!

Today's Flowers; Summer delights;

2009-11-29T20:35:00.012+10:00

Hoya carnosa is happiest...

climbing up a tree;

Hoya carnosa is one of 100 species of Hoya that are native to Eastern Asia and Australia. Hoya carnosa was named for Thomas Hoym, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland at the end of the 18th century.

Blooming Time: Summer: Clusters of attractive, star shaped, pink-white blossoms are produced in summer. The delicate flowers appear to be made of porcelain and are truly unique.

Culture: Hoya carnosa does best in at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day, but also can be grown in bright indirect or curtain-filtered sunlight. Water freely during flowering but allow the soil to become almost dry between waterings when the plants are resting. Fertilize every 2 months in spring and summer. Do not remove the leafless spurs or stubs, on which new flowers appear every year.

Propagation: Hoya carnosa can be propagated at anytime by air layering or by stem cuttings. A portion of the stem including one or more pairs of leaves will quickly produce roots in water or damp sand.

Brachychiton discolour flowers from late spring into summer;

Australian native tree with a striking Summer flowering display.

Features: A large, bushy tree with a stout, grey trunk and attractively patterned bark. The large, matt-green leaves have a felt-like covering and fall from the tree prior to flowering. Then, in Summer, the bare tree is covered in a profusion of 6cm, woolly, pink, bell-shaped flowers that hang in clusters at the ends of the branches.

Conditions: Enjoys a warm, sunny, moist, well drained position but will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, and an occasional frost, once established.

For Best Results: Mulch to maintain soil moisture. Fertilize in Spring if required.

Planting Ideas and Uses:

- striking specimen tree

- site where Summer bloom can be enjoyed

The herb Dill has pretty flowers and dainty leaves. It is now ready to cut and dry for my herb salt.

Click here for Today's Flowers;

The Heart of the Swag; Henry Lawson; Australian Poetry.

2009-11-28T12:49:00.007+10:00

The Heart of the Swag; by Henry Lawson; written 1905.

Oh, the track through the scrub groweth ever more dreary,

And lower and lower his grey head doth bow;

For the swagman is old and the swagman is weary—

He’s been tramping for over a century now.

He tramps in a worn-out old “side spring” and “blucher,”

His hat is a ruin, his coat is a rag,

And he carries forever, far into the future,

The key of his life in the core of his swag.

There are old-fashioned portraits of girls who are grannies,

There are tresses of dark hair whose owner’s are grey;

There are faded old letters from Marys and Annies,

And Toms, Dicks, and Harrys, dead many a day.

There are broken-heart secrets and bitter-heart reasons—

They are sewn in a canvas or calico bag,

And wrapped up in oilskin through dark rainy seasons,

And he carries them safe in the core of his swag.

There are letters that should have been burnt in the past time,

For he reads them alone, and a devil it brings;

There were farewells that should have been said for the last time,

For, forever and ever the love for her springs.

But he keeps them all precious, and keeps them in order,

And no matter to man how his footsteps may drag,

There’s a friend who will find, when he crosses the Border,

That the Heart of the Man’s in the Heart of his swag.

The grey leaves of a River Gum along the Darling.

Time to read....

2009-11-16T05:30:00.006+10:00

when the sun sets...

A favoured time, a favoured book.. it can not get better;

The Dark Mountain by Catherine Jinks.

Based on the true story of a colonial family. This compelling tale includes a memorable cast of characters including Australia's first female Novelist. The story is set against the brooding backdrop of the Southern Highlands.

In the summer of 1836 a violent incident in the Belanglo wilderness, sets of a chain of events that transforms Charlotte's and her siblings life.

It was first published in 2008.

Oh! The light from the mountain is fading away

And the shadows creep over it chilly and grey,

I see the stark rocks in their sternness and pride;

But the flowers are hidden that grow by their side.

The tall trees are tossing their wild arms on high

As the shriek of the curlew goes mournfully by,

The cold night is coming it will not delay.

For the light from the mountain is fading away.

Louisa Atkinson calvert, ca.1850

Today's Flowers; Little puddles;

2009-11-01T13:35:00.010+10:00

Jazzy Bromeliads;

I like Bromeliads in the garden. They are tough, easy to maintain and adding vivid splashes throughout the garden. They also provide homes for tiny frogs. I hope you enjoy Bromeliads.

Today's flowers click here

Slippery slope....

2009-10-22T19:26:00.004+10:00

The vegetable gardener has broken the fibula in the ankle. He slipped on the round fruit of the Cocos palms which are planted in one row on a fairly steep slope. This accident was like a chain reaction.

As it happened, Billy brought every day a piece of bread; which we do not like a he eats it and gets fat. We do not feed him bread. The Bandicoots must have brought it into our garden, as Bandicoots do that sort of thing! Anyway he wanted to investigate where the bread comes from. The Vegetable gardener went over the fence to ask our neighbour. She was not at home. While on the other side of the fence he saw a big Bowen Mangotree and thought he has a look if this tree is bearing any fruit this year. Generally Bowen Mangotrees do not bear fruit in our area as it is to wet when they set flower. The flowers are affected by a fungus. As it is a very dry spring this year he was interested to see if this tree would bring some fruit. He did not reach this tree as he slipped on the round fruits of the Cocos Palms. He had to get home on his knees as nobody could hear him calling for help! I do not know how he managed to get over the fence!

If there is a moral to this story, do not go over the fence to see the neighbours Mango trees!

Now, I have to take over the care of the Veggie garden as well, which is not a mean task...for the next six to eight weeks.

Today's Flowers;The glory of spring;

2009-09-20T11:33:00.010+10:00

Wisteria
Hippeastrum

Callistemon viminalis (Bottlebrush)

Click here for Today's Flowers;

Thank you to Luiz Santilli jr. and his team.

Today's Flowers; Dendrobium speciosum;

2009-08-31T10:59:00.006+10:00

RockOrchids; Dendrobium speciosum are flowering at the end of winter.

It is a wonderful show when the big sprays of orchid flowers appear. They have a very distinctive fragrance, not sweet, but still very special when you smell it you know the rock orchids are flowering.

A native orchid that grows on rocks or trees. It has sprays of small, creamy-yellow flowers, thick, leathery leaves and swollen, bulbous roots (called pseudobulbs). The flowers appear in spring. A third petal in the centre of each flower is known as the lip, which serves as a landing strip for insect pollinators.

Click here for Today's Flowers;

Thank you to Luiz Santilli jr. and his team.

Song of Innocence; Something blue;

2009-08-25T06:22:00.007+10:00

Something blue;

Wednesday afternoon was school free. When I returned home for lunch, which I did every day not just on Wednesday, I spotted already from afar an unfamiliar blue colour between a small copse of birch trees and my home.

I loved the look of those trees at anytime of the year. One of them stood out much taller. I liked to peel off their soft, silken bark. My mother said one should not cut deep into the bark of the birch because it will bleed. I could not resist and tried to carve my name into the bark. The letters looked crooked and the tree bled which made me feel bad and I did not finish my name.

In spring, heart shaped leaves unfurled in the softest apple green. They quivered like a ballet dancer en pointe with the slightest breeze. Towards summer the leaves changed to dark green and their shadows danced on the coarse grass. In autumn the leaves turned golden before their final dance to the ground.

The trees looked white and ghostlike in winter, gossamer shreds peeling from the trunks and limbs. Their soft shape merging into the white, misty landscape.

On the tallest and sturdiest of the birches my father had hung a swing on a branch. He had sanded and smoothed a piece of wood, carved my name into the seat and blackened the letters with a blowtorch. I loved to sit on the swing and move slowly to and fro. There was always a creaking sound when I swung forward. I liked to look up through the sunlit leaves into the blue of the sky.

Today I ignored the swing as my attention was drawn to a sky blue painted gypsy wagon. All was quiet when I walked around it. Small, neat windows surrounded by painted flowers. I wondered who had left it there and who lived in there.

I looked around and saw a girl coming towards the wagon. She carried a full bucket of water that slightly spilled over the rim.

To me she did not look at all like a Gypsy with black hair and a dark complexion. She looked rosy and a long red blond plait was hanging over her shoulder. I was rather disappointed with her looks. There was nothing exotic about her, no golden earrings and bangles, or colorful skirts. She was wearing a very ordinary, rather drab skirt and blouse.

I said hello and pointed to my house where I lived. I asked if I could help with the bucket. She shook her head and walked on towards her wagon. I followed her and asked her all sorts of questions, which she patiently answered. She opened the door, I asked if I could come in as I had never been inside a gypsy wagon.

I had seen the wagons of the circus people when my mother and I went to the side show. My mother did not let me near the wagons because she said the circus people do not take it kindly if one invades their privacy.

I was wondering if the girl would welcome me into her home. When Serafina, she said I can call her Fina, let me see her home, I was amazed how neat, colorful and comfortable everything looked.

She put her finger to her mouth and looked at me while she opened a curtain to reveal a tiny room with just enough room for a big, high bed and a small window. Where ever I looked there were flowers, the bedspread, the curtains the carpet, the walls were painted with flowers, it was like a flowering bower. In the middle of the bed slept a baby. Everything about it was tiny.It was only two month since it was born.

It was getting late and I had to go home to do my homework for school. I hoped she would still be here tomorrow. I wanted to visit her after school. Fina said if everything goes well she will stay for a week or two and than she has to move again. I wondered where her horse or tractor was to pull the caravan. There was no horse as the caravan was transported by train.

I mentioned that it must cost a lot of money to transport a caravan, so she better stay here for a long time. Fina said she can not decide how long she is allowed to stay. There were certain rules they had to obey.

I also met her husband, he had a big red moustache and I thought he did not like me as he ignored me completely. Perhaps he did not like me visiting his family. I thought he looked like a Walrus, but I did not say that to Fina as it would have been rude. He was not often there when I visited which I was glad about.

Fina knitted everyday tiny garments for her baby. She said bring your doll and I will knit an outfit for her. I asked my mother for wool. She gave me a jumper which was too small for me. There were different colours and Fina was very pleased when she saw it and I helped her to unravel the knitting and we made neat balls of wool, each colour separate.

One day, out of the blue, the wagon was gone like it had arrived, without an announcement.

A small card was in the letterbox. It said “Perhaps we meet again”. I have never forgotten Fina and her baby. She was kind and had a lovely voice when she sang. She had knitted underpants, socks and made a dress for my doll. Sometimes I thought I saw the blue wagon in the copse when I returned from school but it was only my imagination. We never met again.

Reading: The Memory Keeper's Daughter; by Kim Edwards;

2009-08-23T14:24:00.005+10:00

Life is like a glimpse through the trees. (T.S.)

A bestselling novel about parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.

Pick up this book and you want to read it.

Today's Flowers; Daylilies;

2009-08-16T14:05:00.015+10:00

It is not yet Daylily time in my garden. As I am planting some now I thought to show off some of my beauties. Usually the first start to flower at the beginning of October.

Charlie Pierce Memorial is a new one I have planted now.

Champagne Elegance is a new one.

Spode; I planted last year; it was a bonus plant from my Daylily supplier Shelly.

Bold Encounter I planted last year.

Maleny Debutante; was also acquired last year.

So softly spoken,flowers since many years in my garden.

Double Orange; I received more then 30 years ago from a fellow garden friend. Her Ancestors migrated to Australia in the 19Th century and brought this plant with them.

These are just a few of my daylilies. I must admit I am addicted to them!

Click here Today's Flowers; Luiz Santilli jun. and his team.

Today's Flowers;

2009-08-09T18:58:00.009+10:00

Bridal Pink; floribunda; 1967. This rose is recommended to grow in zones 5-9. It does grow and flower well in my subtropical climate zone 11. This rose lasts especially long as cut flower and looks attractive at any stage has also a nice fragrance.

Heartsease growing from the base of a hanging pot. A seed must have lodged itself there.
Photos T.S.

Today's Flowers click here

A facelift...

2009-08-04T07:47:00.007+10:00

For my kitchen;Welcome; The front entrance which leads into the boot room and is actually the back of the house has received a facelift as well, a new door and a new colour, it looks much friendlier now!

This sunny nook in the kitchen is my favourite place!

My farm!

New mosaic tiles; new Caesar stone counter top. The cupboards were still good so they got a new laminate paint. The colour is apple bitter and it is a moody colour which changes with the light from beige to a buttery colour or a tint of green. It matches well with the wall tiles and the floor. New sleek handles and the transformation is complete.

The exhaust was not replaced as it is very efficient, so just got a new copper lining on the hood.

A new big, deep sink; on the right the well water and on the left town water. Well water is for drinking and cooking.
I like my kitchen it is simple, easy and very functional. I do not like the new super kitchens with their big stoves, to much to clean. I also do not like to many gadgets. I would not know what to do with a rice cooker! I have a few handy appliances which I use. A kitchen Aid, a stick mixer, a blender, a toaster and a Espresso machine that is about it....and I like to cook!

How does your kitchen look like, what do you like best in your kitchen? Do you like to cook?

Today's Flowers; a Rose is a Rose...

2009-07-26T05:53:00.006+10:00

Rose "Tzigane" bought last winter has just put on a couple of flowers. One came with me into the kitchen. Its scent is delicious, a hint of citrus and mellow rose. I wish you could smell this rose's delightful scent.

Please click the picture you might get a whisper.

Smell the flowers around the world; click here

Reading; The Thirteenth Tale;

2009-07-19T19:04:00.007+10:00

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield; First published in 2006.

A tangled web, great story; great plot! Utterly enjoyable.

"All children mythologize their birth. It is a universal trait. You want to know someone? Heart, mind and soul? Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won't be the truth: it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story.

Blooming Friday; Bromeliads;

2009-07-10T06:22:00.004+10:00

Vriesea carinata happily clinging to this tree.

The same tree supports many plants, different Bromeliads, Ferns, and Orchids.

In winter many Bromeliads start to bloom and put on brilliant colours to offset their flowers.. One can just see a little of the flower emerge

This is a huge clump climbing up a tree, together with a native Hoya and the flat leafed Epiphillums.

For flowery treats click here

Today's Flowers; Pink Camellias;

2009-06-21T06:40:00.009+10:00

21. of June, winter brings an abundance of Camellia flowers. From today the days start to get longer again and I am always looking forward to this. So winter will continue until the 1. of September. Camellias have a long flowering time. The first ones in my garden, generally the Sasanquas start end of summer and the latest ones show their blooms into spring.

For a mixed bouquet around the world click here

Thank you to;

Today's Flowers; Mussaenda frondosa;

2009-05-31T07:37:00.006+10:00

This is a tropical shrub. It is quite hardy if growing in a sheltered position. It grows well in the subtropics. Responds well to pruning. This shrub has many colloquial names, Dhobi tree, Handkerchief bush, Flagbush etc.

PROPAGATION.
Seeds, which are rarely available, germinate
readily. More commonly, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings
are rooted during the Summer.

Photo TS.

For many more flowers click here

Improvisation; A cottage in the bush;

2009-05-28T07:40:00.013+10:00

A pretty sky announcing a lovely day;

Paint mosaic done by sun and rain;

It works....

Sunny and cosy;

Reading by candle light....

A pretty window;

Hand washing facilities; Designer J!

Outside shower;

Room with a ...

view;

A friendly neighbour called Monty likes to munch apples.

Today's Flowers; Lady of the Camellias;

2009-05-24T05:46:00.006+10:00

Camellias flowering now in the garden.

The Lady of the Camellias (French: La Dame aux camélias) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils, first published in 1848, that was subsequently adapted for the stage. The Lady of the Camellias premiered at the Theatre de Vaudeville in Paris, France on February 2, 1852. An instant success, Giuseppe Verdi immediately set about to put the story to music. His work became the 1853 opera La Traviata with the female protagonist "Marguerite Gautier" renamed "Violetta Valéry".
In the English-speaking world, The Lady of the Camellias became known as Camille and sixteen versions have been performed at Broadway theatres alone. The "lady of the camellias" is Marguerite Gautier, who is based on Marie Duplessis, the real life lover of author Dumas, fils.

To read more source wikipedia.

Enjoy more flowers click here

Song of Innocence; Knitted twins;

2009-05-19T13:58:00.005+10:00

Knitted Twins;
My Mother was not surprised when I returned earlier than foreseen from my holidays. The school holidays had not yet ended and my Mum said I had to look after myself and reprimanded me to be good as she had to work.

I did not mind to be on my own. Most of my time I would join the village children to play. We played in the gardens on the fields, in the woods and in the haylofts.

I also liked to be by myself. Along the river I had discovered a place where huge boulders had formed a sort of a cave. There I made my own home. I took my books, my crayons, drawing paper and my twin dolls Freddy and Sonja to this secret place.
They were a Christmas present my mother had made for me. She had knitted their bodies and made many garments for them. Sonja was slim with a longish face that did not smile. It was like my mother had run out of stuffing when she made the doll. Freddy was chubby and had a friendly smile on his face, he was also the pretty one of the two. They were soft and pliable only their hair was very rigid in tight curls. Their feet were knitted in black wool to identify shoes.
It was a time when my mother was short of money. My father had caught a bad cold and his kidneys were badly affected. His Doctor made a bad decision and treated him for appendicitis. He was near death and had to spend a long time in hospital until he recovered. It was around Christmas and she made all the Christmas presents herself. Later I received more sophisticated dolls but none were as loved and precious as the knitted twins.
On a visit from a friend of my mother, she gave the twins away to her small daughter. When I discovered that the twins were given away I was very angry with my mother. I pleaded to get them back. She could not understand why I made such a fuss about the rag dolls as I had now better dolls who could say “Mamma” and close their eyes. I said I want my twins back you can give all the other dolls away. My mother relented and talked to her friend about the dolls but they were already thrown away and could not be recovered. I really loved the odd twins, I never got them back. From then on I did not play with dolls anymore.

Photo TS

Today's Flowers; Azaleas;

2009-05-16T18:16:00.008+10:00

Bettina;

Little Girl;

Mrs.Bolton;

I grow mainly evergreen Azalea-Rhododendron X; also a few Kurume with small flowers. They are all easily propagated from cuttings from December to February.

Please click here to enjoy many more flowers

Photos TS.

Light is time; Octavio Paz;

2009-05-06T05:38:00.008+10:00

Light is time thinking about itself; Octavio Paz.

Octavio Paz Lozano (March 31, 1914–April 19, 1998) was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature
　
he wrote El Laberinto de la Soledad ("The Labyrinth of Solitude"), a groundbreaking study of Mexican identity and thought.
A prolific author and poet, Paz published scores of works during his lifetime, many of which are translated into other languages. His poetry, for example, has been translated into English by Samuel Beckett, Charles Tomlinson, Elizabeth Bishop and Mark Strand. His early poetry was influenced by Marxism, surrealism, existentialism, as well as religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. His poem, Piedra de Sol ("Sunstone") written in 1957, was praised as a "magnificent" example of surrealist poetry in the presentation speech of his Nobel Prize. His later poetry dealt with love and eroticism, the nature of time, and Buddhism. He also wrote poetry about his other passion, modern painting, dedicating poems to the work of Balthus, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Antoni Tapies, Robert Rauschenberg, and Roberto Matta. Several of his poems have also been adapted into choral music by composer Eric Whitacre, including "Water Night", "Cloudburst", and "A Boy and a Girl."
As an essayist Paz wrote on topics like Mexican politics and economics, Aztec art, anthropology, and sexuality. His book-length essay, The Labyrinth of Solitude (Spanish: El laberinto de la soledad), delves into the minds of his countrymen, describing them as hidden behind masks of solitude. Due to their history, their identity is lost between a pre-Columbian and a Spanish culture, negating either. A key work in understanding Mexican culture, it greatly influenced other Mexican writers, such as Carlos Fuentes.

Quotes by Octavio Paz
Reality is a staircase going neither up nor down, we don’t move; today is today, always is today.

The North American system only wants to consider the positive aspects of reality. Men and women are subjected from childhood to an inexorable process of adaptation; certain principles, contained in brief formulas are endlessly repeated by the Press, the radio, the churches, and the schools, and by those kindly, sinister beings, the North American mothers and wives. A person imprisoned by these schemes is like a plant in a flowerpot too small for it: he cannot grow or mature.

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to see it with our ears.

Brotherhood

Homage to Claudius Ptolemy
I am a man: little do I last and the night is enormous.But I look up:the stars write.Unknowing I understand:I too am written,and at this very moment someone spells me out.

Today's Flowers; Golden Girls;

2009-05-02T18:32:00.017+10:00

Euryops pectinatus;

I like to dedicate Today's Flowers to the much loved, late actress Bea Arthur.

Bea Arthur, best known as star of the hit TV comedies Maude and Golden Girls, has died at 86.

Click here Flores...Flowers...Fleurs...Fiori...

The Team

Luiz Santilli jr.

Denise Gullickson

LaertePupo

DeniseB.Castro

Song of Innocence; Vera;

2009-04-29T05:43:00.007+10:00

Vera;
It was summer. My mother and father were very busy at work. I was to spend a part of my summer holidays with a family I did not know, but my mother knew them well. My mother said I had to be on my best behaviour every day and that I could learn manners which she thought were badly missing in my education.
She packed my small suitcase and without much fuss I was send away. It was not far to travel only to the next big town.
The house was in a very quiet road with gardens and lots of trees. It was a tall villa in a soft vanilla wash, mellowed by its age. The garden was small, ornamental with bushes cut to lollipops. The play area was small. I did not see any flowers like in my mothers garden. I do not remember the kitchen. There was a smiling woman in a flowery frock who did the cooking and a pretty girl who helped with all the chores around the house.

I remember the dining room. All meals were served in the dining room. It was friendly and sunny. Vera and I sat together on a sofa. Vera sat on a few cushions as she was smaller than I. The food was good. Lettuce was served with a bit of sugar on top. We did not drink tap water. Henniez was served, a bubbly mineral water, which I liked very much.

I learned quickly to watch my manners, not to lick my fingers and use a napkin to clean my mouth not with the back of my hand. I soon knew which fork to use for certain dishes. In the village, manners were very basic, most of the time disregarded. There was no time for it. We were to busy playing, ate our apples with big bites the juice running over our chins. Handkerchiefs were most of the time lost items or used for anything else.Here the apple was cut into neat slices and served on a plate.
From the dining room led a door into a glassed in Veranda, like a winter garden. It was furnished with wicker chairs. I spend a lot of time there curled up in one of the chairs with a book in my lap, reading and daydreaming. Most of the time I was left alone.

I slept in the same room as Vera. It was the most darling bedroom one could imagine. All the furniture was painted a soft blue and decorated with gold and flowers. The whole room smelled nice and fresh. I liked to look into her wardrobe filled with pretty frocks on hangers. They were all in light colours which would not have been practical in the village. Vera was a quiet girl, dainty, with blond straight hair and rather cool blue eyes.

As I was at this time reading the “Heidi” books I thought she was a smaller version of Clara Sesemann. When we went to bed, her mother always came to kiss her good night and she gave me her hand to say good night. Vera was afraid of the dark, a tiny nightlight was left burning. I told her stories about the man in the moon and the stars and their names. She loved it and wanted every evening the same story which was rather annoying as I would have liked to tell something different. She could not be persuaded and made a tantrum. I said I did not want to tell stories anymore, but she cried, so I relented.
With time I ventured outside to see if their were other children in the neighbourhood.
The house on the other side of the road looked similar yet the windows had no curtains and I could see the people moving around. It was the only house without curtains. It was a French family with one girl called Jacqueline. We played sometimes together. I asked Jacqueline's mother why she had no curtains on her windows like all the other houses. She looked at me puzzled and said she had not thought about it. She just liked her windows without curtains that was all.
Most of my time I spend with Liselotte. Her parents were German. She was as free as a bird. Her father was the manager of the only department store in this town. Sometimes we visited him in his office and we received sugared almonds. Her mother was always ill. Liselotte said that her mother did not know her most of the time.

I thought it was strange, that she did not know her own child. I questioned her why but Liselotte said she had to accept that her mother was ill. Her elder sister went already to university and did not take much notice of her either. Liselotte had enough money to go to the tearooms to eat ice creams. She always invited me and we used to have a lot of fun.
On one of my strolls around the neighbourhood I saw a girl on a swing. She waved to me and gestured to come into the garden. I opened the gate and walked towards her. I saw that she was taller and older than I. Her clothes were beautiful and her hair was cut with a long fringe like a Japanese doll I had seen. She had lovely eyes with long lashes.

I saw in her face that something was different. I was standing near the swing and she did not take any more notice of me. She made shrill sounds of laughter like a little child and spittle was running down her chin.
Her nanny came out of the house and asked me questions where I was from and my name. When I explained who I was she said it was alright to visit Ariane, which was the girls name. I said I must go home but that I will return tomorrow. Which I did.
When I arrived at the house Ariane was standing behind the fence. She wore a white frock and looked beautiful. She waved her arms around, her face was eager, her mouth twitching, she was trying to say, come. She took my hand and hold on to it like a clamp. I told her not to hold on so tightly as she was hurting me. I showed her how to hold hands. She was very exited and talked in a funny way, tried to tell me something.

We sat on a bench and just looked at each other. I asked her if she wanted to hear a story. She nodded yes. While I was elaborating my tale, she sat there, limp, her hands in her lap only her eyes followed the flow of my words. She looked happy and relaxed and made little gurgling noises to show she followed my story. When I finished the story I said I had to go and stood up to leave. Her face crumpled, it was wet from tears and saliva. She made moaning noises and was holding on to me.

It was awful to watch and I did not know how to handle such intensity and left her as quickly as possible. I decided not to go back.
When I met up again with Liselotte I decided to take her to Ariane. When we arrived, Ariane was in the garden and cried out when she saw me. I explained that Liselotte was my friend and we came to visit her.
I saw Liselotte was dismayed. She said she did not want to come here. She did not like this girl. Ariane was the idiot girl and nobody played with her. She can not talk properly and she slobbers.
Liselotte said to me come away now or I will never play with you again. I tried to persuade her but Liselottes mind was made up. Ariane was following our dispute but she did not cry this time. We left her standing behind the gate. I turned around and waved she was standing there watching us.
I never went back, as shortly after I went back home.
The first of August was approaching it is the Swiss national day. I was hoping to be home as it was rather a nice celebration in the village with a bonfire, lampions and fireworks.I used to receive small boxes of matches to do my own fireworks. I always received a few boxes in different colours and patterns. I was looking forward to it as I was expecting a new lampion, as mine had burned out the year before. It was not to be.
Living in the top apartment of the villa was Vera’s Grandma. I had never seen her before and I did not know that she was living up there. We were to celebrate up there with the grandma. I was told we will have an Icebombe to eat. I was looking forward to it. I had heard of ice bombs, but had never tasted them and did not know how they looked like.
I was warned not to look directly at the grandma because she was always in tears. We were sitting around the table when the Icebombe was brought in.
The bombe was raspberry pink with a Swiss flag on top. It looked rather small, I had expected something much more elaborate and big, which I mentioned and asked why is it called a bombe. The explanation was that the vessel in which the ice-cream is frozen is called a bombe. I was rather disappointed. It was cold and sweet with a raspberry taste .
I was supposed not to look at the grandma. But my eyes strayed towards the old lady with tears streaming down her face. Vera’s dad said to me do not stare at grandma. I tried to keep my eyes on my melting blotch of ice-cream.
After we sang the National Hymn we left. I was glad when the celebration was finished. I missed the first of August in the village with the other children.
Vera’s dad was very angry and blaming me. When we were playing in the garden, Vera disappeared into an other garden and everybody was looking for her. I was supposed to look out for her but I forgot as I was only a small child. I did not comprehend the responsibility they heaped on me. I was very upset and wanted to go home to my parents which I did. Thus my holidays ended abruptly and I did not say goodbye to Liselotte nor Ariane.

Today's Flowers; A Rose;

2009-04-26T07:01:00.008+10:00

Apricot Nectar;

This is in every way a rewarding rose, from its healthy foliage and nuanced color, to its abundant, very fragrant bloom. Excellent for cutting.

Name: Apricot Nectar

Class: Floribunda Height: 4 feet

Growth: UprightColor: Apricot and Apricot Blend

Bloom size: 4"
Zone: Zone 6Bloom type:

Fully DoubleRebloom:

Fragrance:

Hybridizer: Boerner

Year introduced: 1965

I grow this rose since many years in my subtropical zone 11, garden.
Here it grows very tall. It is practically disease free. It has a wonderful scent and grows easily from cuttings.

Go and pick many more beautiful flowers by clicking here

Today's Flowers; picked this morning;

2009-04-19T14:21:00.013+10:00

I have this Hibiscus since twenty years in my garden. Unfortunately it must compete with two massive Palms and a Lukasi Cypress. Before summer I had cut it back and it has not been as floriferous as usual. So it seems it is making a comeback into autumn. It is a very beautiful, subtle colour, a tiny red eye and flouncy petals. Please click

The emerging flower of the Fishtail Palm; Caryota.

Caryota is a genus of palm trees. They are often known as fishtail palms because of the shape of their leaves. There are about 13 species native to Asia and the South Pacific. One of the more widely known species is Caryota urens, which yields sap used to make an unrefined sugar called jaggery, and also to make palm wine.

Autumn brings the seasonal Chrysanthemums. These are hardy and reappear like clockwork as soon as the temperatures drop. I love these simple, pretty flowers.

Please do not click the picture you do not want to see the many weeds!

Flowers for you to pick....click

Hungry? Simple, tasty food;

2009-04-15T18:33:00.020+10:00

Lemons from the garden. Not sprayed nor waxed. Full of goodness inside and out.

Orange sweet potatoes;

Peeled, diced and ready to cook.

Sweet potato mash; a knob of butter; 1 tablespoon milk, a little grated nutmeg and salt.

Emperor, Red throat fillets. I pick out the few fish bones with tweezers.

Homemade breadcrumbs, eggs from the chooks; dip fish fillets into beaten egg and coat with breadcrumbs. Add a tablespoon of Ghee into a non stick frying pan and fry until golden brown and fish is done.

Serve with lemon slices and homemade Mayonnaise.

I make the Mayonnaise with one egg yolk, 1 dessertspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

a little salt and peanut- or grape seed oil. Make sure the ingredients have the same temperature.

Measure all the ingredients into a jug, whisk then add oil drop by drop at the beginning, as soon as the Mayonnaise starts to amalgamate you can pour the oil slowly. Add oil until you have a smooth, thick Mayonnaise. With a handheld, elctric stick beater it is quickly done and the Mayonnaise turns out well.

For dessert a homemade Lemon Sorbet.

3oo ml lemon juice and 450ml Syrup. Make syrup by cooking 275ml water with 275 g of sugar to make approx. 450 ml syrup. Cook for 1 minute until sugar has dissolved. Let syrup cool before use. Mix with lemon juice. Beat one eggwhite until almost stiff and add to mixture.
Pour into icecream machine and churn.

Bon Appetit!

Today's Flowers; Grevillia;

2009-04-12T05:21:00.010+10:00

In the wild garden the Australian native Grevillias are flowering. This is Misty Pink.

A profusion of flowers on the shrub.

Grevillea is a member of the Protea family (Proteaceae). Grevillea is named after Charles Francis Greville who was one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1804. There are over 300 species in the genus, most of which are endemic to Australia but a few species occur in Papua New Guinea and islands to Australia's north.
　
One of the great features of grevilleas in gardens (apart from the colourful flowers) is that many attract honey-eating birds which act as pollinators for the plants. A number of species rely on other methods of pollination, eg, beetles, moths, bees, ants, and even small marsupials

Source Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) click - ANPSA to read more about Grevillias.

Photos TS.

Click Today's Flowers to see more.

Today's Flowers; Mussaenda;

2009-04-05T17:50:00.010+10:00

The showy, pink mop heads of the tropical Mussaenda are flowering in my garden all summer into winter.

The tiny, yellow star flower are quite attractive too.
click pictures.

Mussaenda

Family: Rubiaceae

This shrub is sometimes referred to as "Bangkok Rose".

It produces a showy display in shades of white, pink, salmon to red over an extended period. Unfortunately, the bushes are not so attractive in winter when they can loose their leaves, at least here in Brisbane. Therefore, they might be best in a mixed garden where other plants can provide interest when the Mussaenda is not in flower.

Bracts or sepals?The showy part of the Mussaenda flower is composed of enlarged sepals, either white or variously coloured. In a "typical" flower, the petals are the showy component while the sepals (which form the calyx) are usually green and relatively inconspicuous in the open flower.

Today's Flowers around the world click here

Photos TS.

Song of Innocence; Winter Tale.

2009-03-31T08:44:00.012+10:00

Winter tale;
It was end of November. Snow had not yet fallen however one could smell it in the air. A blistering, cold wind was hurling itself against the closed shutters.

My mother said: “I wish I would not have to go to fetch the milk while she was already putting on her warm coat, a shawl over her dark hair, warm boots and gloves. "She won’t take the bike as the roads were wet and this strong wind was blowing."
When she returned, warming her hands and saying oh it is so cold I think it will snow to night, I would have pondered about the snow because I was looking forward to it. But my interest was taken by a young woman who was standing behind my mother. I had seen this woman before, it was Selina, she was one of the gypsy woman who lived on the edge of the woods not far from our home. In summer they moved from village to village to do odd jobs. Usually they were not on the road anymore on the onset of winter, as they had a village with houses to go to. Selina's husband did not like to go to the village. He always waited until the first snow fall before he moved there with his family.

I knew most of the gypsy women as they came to the station to fetch water, where I spend a lot of my time. Most of them were very nice and liked to talk to me. One always cursed at me even if I had been nice to her. Selina clutched a bundle wrapped in a fraying, gray blanket.

My mother led Selina to sit onto a chair in our warm kitchen. Gently, she took the bundle from her arms. She unwrapped the blanket and inside was a tiny newborn baby. It did not wear clothes and was encrusted in blood and other things I could not identify. My teeth were chattering and I was trembling.

My mother notched me and said do not panic the baby is fine it has not been cleaned after its birth. She wrapped the baby in a soft towel and placed it on a blanket near the stove to keep it warm. It was quiet like a mouse, its eyes tightly shut in a crumpled tiny face.

I was standing there gawking doing nothing while my mother knew exactly what had to be done. She placed a cup of coffee and a slice of bread with honey before our guest and said:” eat up, after giving birth one is always hungry.” The honey indicated to me that it was a real emergency, because honey was not dispensed lightly, it was precious. It was used for comfort in days of sickness, or bad coughs, to sweeten tea or milk.

When Selina was comfortable, my mother gave her attention to the baby. First she warmed a little oil, it was a special oil, called Johannis oil, it was made from the plant called St. Johns Wort. In the bottle floated a few red berries and the oil looked reddish too.

With a soft rag she applied the oil to the encrusted skin of the baby and cleaned it gently while murmuring little endearments, it sounded like a soft spell. Then she washed it with warm water and finally wrapped it in a clean, warmed blanket.

She asked Selina if it had some milk. My mother wanted to chase me out of the kitchen, but I did not budge this was to interesting to miss. My mother was to busy to pursue me further.

Selina opened her cardigan and her blouse, she did not wear a bras like my mother did. She freed one of her breasts which was small but plump, snow white with fine blue veins with a big reddish brown nipple which had little drops of milk seeping out. Unceremoniously she squeezed it into the babies mouth which instantly began to suck like it already knew what to do, then it lost its source of food and began to cry shrilly and distressingly, showing its tiny, toothless gums until the nipple was once more firmly stuck in its vigorously sucking mouth. Selina said she would name the baby Emma, after me, I felt glad about it.

Selina said to my mother not to mention to anybody that she had this baby girl. The authorities would come and take it away from her, as they thought she was not fit to bring up children. She said she has three boys but they were taken away and placed with other families. She did not know where they lived and it made her very sad.
My mother wanted to cheer her up and brought out the box with a pink ribbon on top which contained my baby clothes, my mother had knitted herself. I had it opened many times and marveled at the tiny garments I had once worn.

Fancy bonnets with pompoms, Jackets, booties with pink ribbons and tiny mittens. Selina was to choose some of the garments as my mother said she has no further use for these, she kept it only out of sentimentality. Just as well this baby girl can wear it.

It was getting late. I had not my usual cup of hot milk because my mother gave the dairy a miss when she met Selina on her way to fetch water. Selina said she should get back to the camp her husband would be worried.

However my mother decided for her to stay over night with us. , I traced a little anger in her voice, when she said to Selina, your husband should not have let you go out to fetch the water after you gave birth. You stay here and have a good rest.

Selina gave in willingly as she was rather exhausted. My mother showed her the couch in the living room where she and the baby could sleep. I can sleep on the floor with a blanket, said Selina. But my mother insisted that she sleep on the couch. She gave her the baby and covered her with a blanket and a warm eiderdown.
Early the next morning when my mother left for work, Selina and her baby daughter left too with a small box, filled with some of the chosen baby clothes, dangling on a string from her fingers.
I said goodbye to Selina and the baby and said that I hoped to see her in spring again together with a much grown baby. Celina said:” she was looking forward to spring she hated the cold winter.
When spring was here again I saw Selina and waved to her, she did not wave back. Her baby girl was not with her. When I asked my mother, she said:” they have taken the baby and placed it with a respectable family.” I was sad for Selina and I knew why she did not wave back; we belonged to the same clan who persecuted and judged her and took her children away.

Today's Flowers; Angel's Trumpet;

2009-03-28T18:40:00.012+10:00

Angel's Trumpet

It is a common name for two closely related genera in the Solanaceae family:
Brugmansia - comprising woody plants with pendulous flowers
Datura - comprising herbaceous plants with erect flowers

Brugmansia are large shrubs or small trees, reaching heights of 3–11 m, with tan, slightly rough bark.
The leaves are alternate, generally large, 10–30 cm long and 4–18 cm broad, with an entire or coarsely toothed margin, and are covered with fine hairs.
The name Angel's Trumpet refers to the large, very dramatic, pendulous trumpet-shaped flowers, 14–50 cm to 20 inches long and 10–35 cm across at the wide end. They are white, yellow, pink, orange or red, and have a delicate, attractive scent with light, lemony overtones, most noticeable in early evening.

Photos TS.

Click her for Today's Flowers.

Created by Luiz Santilli JR.

Song of Innocence; Barely there;

2009-03-24T14:49:00.016+10:00

Barely there;
I had some discipline but not much.
In the evening when my mother came home from work she brought bags full of exotic fruits like oranges, mandarins and bananas. They were already nearly over ripe

therefore my mother was allowed to take them home for free. Some of the oranges and mandarins had spots of whitish, blue green fungi which gave off dust particles when I touched it with my fingers. When I pressed harder my finger got stuck in a mushy mess. The banana’s skin were mostly dark brown but inside they
were still fine, very sweet. For a long time I did not know that ripe bananas were yellow. My mother made good use of these fruits. She cut out all the bad bits and prepared fruit salads.
My mother went to work, while some mothers stayed at home. As far as I know they all worked, some had a cow or two, vegetables and flower gardens. Some had tobacco fields. Many took home work from factories.

Some women had big piles of net curtain fabric on the table of their living room. I was fascinated by the stylistic patterns they embroidered by hand, flowers, birds and other designs onto those curtains. The curtains were mainly beige and white and the embroidery was in the same colours.

The mothers did not have time to play with their children. Most families had many children at least three but the rule was rather more. The well to do had usually less children than the ones with less money. I always thought this was odd, not really thought out well.

Anyway the older children generally looked after their smaller siblings. While my friends played I liked to look after their tiny sisters and brothers. I loved the little ones with their pink gums showing perhaps a tooth or two when they laughed . I carried them around and pushed their prams until they fell asleep.
I did not think of anybody to be poor in the village. Poor people lived in Africa or India. At school on the teachers desk stood a wooden money box with the curly haired head of a black boy protruding from the lid. He wagged his head up and down when I placed a coin into that money box, for the missions in those countries.

I was happy at school and I learned easily to be able to help other children. One boy, with a delicate pale face and a great mane of dark hair was always in the bad books. I felt sorry for him because he was not really bad but was always picked on by the teacher. I did nothing to help him I did not even tell my mother about it. Christmas time was his worst time at school, because Santa Claus put him in a big hessian bag and carried him away, while we received gifts.

One of my task was to go to the dairy and fetch the milk. It was open at 7 pm. In winter when it was very dark my mother went to get the milk. I liked the balmy summer evenings when it did not get dark until 10 PM. After I had purchased the milk I would play hide and seek and other games with the village children.

I liked to go to the village to watch the farmers bringing the milk. Some brought it with the tractor , but some still carried a heavy load on their backs. The small stone dairy was cold inside in summer. It was full of activity. It was like a social gathering, the children played while the adults had a word and perhaps a bit of gossip.

I could swing the full milk bucket, it was every day two litres of milk, over my head without loosing one drop of milk. I had to swing it very fast so the milk did not splash out. A half full bucket of milk ended in a tirade and a slap from my mother for wasting the milk.
My father explained to me the gravitational pull when I asked him why the milk stayed in the bucket when I swung it fast. I also learned about the magnetic force of the moon who influences rivers and oceans with ebb and flow. I gathered there were forces in nature I did not know about. It stimulated my want to know and learn more, I was only seven.

To go into the village I had to cross a bridge over the young river Rhine. There were small windows along the lower part of the bridge.Flat on my stomach I could look down into the fast flowing water. I saw its urgency to become more important and while rushing to its destiny tame and ruined.
There were no boats, very seldom a canoe. It was still a dangerous fast flowing river with boulders and rocks lodged in its bed.
We lived quite a way from the village. Our house was isolated though it was not far from the railway station. We did not have neighbours.
In the war years the house was sometimes a hiding place for refugees. They were on transit and not allowed to stay or go through Switzerland because they did not have identification papers or pass ports. They moved when it was dark. They were like shadows, here and then gone. I saw some fleetingly but did not know what was happening, pale faces with sad eyes. I knew nothing of their tragedies. The door to the cellar was always open whoever wanted could stay there for a day and as soon as darkness fell move on. It was something hidden and one had to be quiet about it. Only once somebody came up the stairs into the kitchen ate all the leftovers and took a pair of my fathers heavy work boots.
Many years later my mother received a postcard from a person who made it to the USA, addressed to the lady in the chalet near the train station.
In late summer the harvest of the grain was finished. We with many others went to the fields to glean the leftovers. We stuffed the grain into bags which we brought to the threshing barn a noisy and dusty place. In return we received a bag full of milled flour.

I was barefoot and the stalks hurt the soles of my feet. That instigated my resolution not to walk barefoot any more. My mother knitted socks and bought me a pair of sandals.

Today's Flowers; Daylilies;

2009-03-22T07:50:00.013+10:00

Are...

A self sown seedling Daylily;

Bold Encounter;

Delta Blues;

Always Afternoon;

Daylilies in the Garden;
Photos TS.

Please click here for beautiful flowers around the world;

A little bit of music;

2009-03-20T04:57:00.007+10:00

Some of my all time favourites.

Antonio Vivaldi; 7 Concertos;

Violin Concerto in E RV 271 L'Amoroso.

Franz Schubert; The Trout Quintet A major.
The work was composed in 1819 when Schubert was only 22 years old; it was not published, however, until 1829, a year after his death.

Filippa Giordano sings Ave Maria (Gounod)

Rimsky-Korsakov; Sheherazade opens a passage straight into the Arabian Nights or into One Thousand and one nights!

The Seekers singing Isa Lei a Fijan Farewell; from the Seekers Jubilee Album.

Demis Roussos singing Kyrila from The Phenomenon 1968.

Today's Flowers;

2009-03-15T10:46:00.009+10:00

For Today's Flowers I want to show some unusual flowers.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

A very tall Canna, over 1.50 m, dark wine red leaves wit satiny soft orange flowers. This Canna does well in a bog situation. It is a graceful, tall Canna.

Globba with its unusual pink and yellow flowers plus dark red foliage looks very exotic. It belongs to the Ginger familie and disappears complety in winter to grow again during the hot summer.

Globba winitii is a tender perennial from Thailand. It forms clumps of mid-green, lance-shaped leaves, which has a heart-shaped base and is slightly hairy underneath.
Blooming Time: July-October. Each stem produces a terminal pendant inflorescence with mauve bracts and yellow flowers.

Culture: Globba winitii needs a well drained, slightly acidic potting mix (1 part peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite). Water it abundantly while it is growing actively. Globba needs a minimum night of temperature of 65 degrees and day temperatures of 65 degrees or higher. This plant thrives in at least 50% shade. When night temperatures fall below 65 degrees the plant goes dormant; at this time restrict watering to a minimum of once a week. Repot and divide plant when the growth period begins.

Propagation: Globba winitii is propagated by division or by seed in the spring. Start seed in a mixture of 1 part peat moss to 1 part sand, seeds germinate readily at temperatures of 65 to 72 degrees in about 21 days.

Pretty Euphorbia specie with small pink flowers. It flowers profusely all year round, sets seed which can end up in a new, different plant as it interbreeds with other Euphorbia species.

The exotic looking flower of a Heliconia specie is emerging.

Tall red spikes with tiny yellow flowers of a Bromeliad specie.

Click here for Today's Flowers worldwide.

All photos from my Garden. TS

Poetry; Dorothea McKellar;

2009-03-12T03:04:00.019+10:00

My favourite poem;

The Colours Of Light; Dorothea McKellar;

This is not easy to understand
For you that come from a distant land
Where all the colours are low in pitch -
Deep purples, emeralds deep and rich,
Where autumn's flaming and summer's green -
Here is a beauty you have not seen.

All is pitched in a higher key,
Lilac, topaz, and ivory,
Palest jade-green and pale clear blue
Like aquamarines that the sun shines through,
Golds and silvers, we have at will -
Silver and gold on each plain and hill,
Silver-green of the myall leaves,
Tawny gold of the garnered sheaves,
Silver rivers that silent slide,
Golden sands by the water-side,

Golden wattle, and golden broom,
Silver stars of the rosewood bloom;
Amber sunshine, and smoke-blue shade:
Opal colours that glow and fade;
On the gold of the upland grass
Blue cloud-shadows that swiftly pass;
Wood-smoke blown in an azure mist;
Hills of tenuous amethyst. . .

Oft the colours are pitched so high
The deepest note is the cobalt sky;
We have to wait till the sunset comes
For shades that feel like the beat of drums -
Or like organ notes in their rise and fall -
Purple and orange and cardinal,
Or the peacock-green that turns soft and slow
To peacock-blue as the great stars show .

Sugar-gum boles flushed to peach-blow pink;
Blue-gums, tall at the clearing's brink;
Ivory pillars, their smooth fine slope
Dappled with delicate heliotrope;
Grey of the twisted mulga-roots;
Golden-bronze of the budding shoots;
Tints of the lichens that cling and spread
Nile-green, primrose, and palest red

Sheen of the bronze-wing; blue of the crane;
Fawn and pearl of the lyrebird's train;
Cream of the plover; grey of the dove -
These are the hues of the land I love.

Photo TS

Today's Flowers;

2009-03-08T19:03:00.007+10:00

Autumn is the time when some of my hardy Miltonia Orchids start to flower. Unfortunately the label has became unreadable. They are growing outside in hanging pots under a tree.

Today's Flowers around the world click here

Reading; My Desert Kingdom;

2009-03-05T20:24:00.010+10:00

My Desert Kingdom by Jill Koolinees
Finding a life in Saudi Arabia;
First published in Australia in 2004

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
It is uniquely personal, a great portrait, it offers a rare insight into a hidden world.

Page 83
....At various points along the coast of the Eastern Province, the miracle of fresh water occurs. On a Friday morning we set out to visit one of these places; the legendary oasis of Quatif, situated only thirty kilometres to the North of Dhahran....

Page 271
....The pilgrim route from Damascus to Mecca once ran close by Medan Saleh and, because they believed that the ancient city was accursed in the sight of Allah, the pilgrims would avert their eyes as they passed by.....

Fortune cookie: Truth is a torch that gleams through the darkness without dispelling it.

Today's Flowers; in my garden;

2009-03-01T09:30:00.013+10:00

Daylilies are having a new flush of flowers; Please click pictures to enlarge.

Groundcover Convolvolus mauritanicus; I have always known this plant under this name. I am not convinced that it is its right name. The flowers are sky blue, it is drought tolerant and spreading; it needs a cut from time to time to rejuvenate its growth.

Abelia; its sweet fragrance drifts lazily through the summer garden and evokes longings for lazy, carefree days.

Abelia Grandiflora; evergreen shrub, with arching branches to 2m. Shiny dark green glossy foliage, with white flushed with pink tubular flowers. Appearing in summer to autumn. Suitable for informal hedges, and screens.

Today's Flowers around the world please click here

Today's Flowers; Lycoris Aurea;

2009-02-22T09:30:00.008+10:00

Please click the pictures for details.

Lycoris Aurea also known as Spider lily, surprise lily, naked lady. This yellow magic lily, is a beautiful golden yellow and blooms here in late summer. They reach heights of 20 inches and are often called the "Magic Lily." The strap-shaped green foliage is also very attractive. It disappears before the flowers start to grow.

For many more beautiful flowers click here

Today's Flowers;

2009-02-15T05:22:00.010+10:00

Today's Flowers; Canna;

I grow a few Cannas in my garden. I am always impressed by these stately, exotic and tough flowers.
Here some information on this fabulous plant.

Canna (or Canna lily, although not a true lily) is a genus of approximately twenty species of flowering plants The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae. Such a family has almost universally been recognized by taxonomists. Recognizes the family, and assigns it to the order Zingiberales in the clade commelinids, in the monocots.
The species have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have turned it into a large-flowered, brash, bright and sometimes gaudy, garden plant. In addition, it is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is an agricultural plantAlthough a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world as long as they can enjoy about 6 hours average sunlight during the summer. See the Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars.
The name Canna originates from the Celtic word for a cane or reed

Source Wikipedia

click here for flowers around the world!

Australian Poetry;

2009-02-14T08:22:00.025+10:00

Henry Lawson (17 June 1867, Grenfell goldfields, New South Wales - 2 September 1922, Sydney) was an Australian writer and poet. Lawson and his contemporary Banjo Paterson are the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period.

His mother was Louisa Lawson 1847 - 1920 was a prominent suffragist and owner/editor of The Dawn journal which was partly responsible for Australia becoming one of the first countries to attain adult female suffrage.

His father was Niels Larsen, a Norwegian seaman who settled in Australia; on Henry's birth, the family surname was anglicised and
Niels became Peter Lawson.

The Song of the Darling River;

The skies are brass and the plains are bare,
Death and ruin are everywhere --
And all that is left of the last year's flood
Is a sickly stream on the grey-black mud;
The salt-springs bubble and the quagmires quiver,
And -- this is the dirge of the Darling River:

`I rise in the drought from the Queensland rain,
`I fill my branches again and again;
`I hold my billabongs back in vain,
`For my life and my peoples the South Seas drain;
`And the land grows old and the people never
`Will see the worth of the Darling River.

`I drown dry gullies and lave bare hills,
`I turn drought-ruts into rippling rills --
`I form fair island and glades all green
`Till every bend is a sylvan scene.
`I have watered the barren land ten leagues wide!
`But in vain I have tried, ah! in vain I have tried
`To show the sign of the Great All Giver,
`The Word to a people: O! lock your river.

`I want no blistering barge aground,
`But racing steamers the seasons round;
`I want fair homes on my lonely ways,
`A people's love and a people's praise --
`And rosy children to dive and swim --
`And fair girls' feet in my rippling brim;
`And cool, green forests and gardens ever' --
Oh, this is the hymn of the Darling River.

The sky is brass and the scrub-lands glare,
Death and ruin are everywhere;
Thrown high to bleach, or deep in the mud
The bones lie buried by last year's flood,
And the Demons dance from the Never Never
To laugh at the rise of the Darling River.

The Darling near Bourke.

click here to read about the Darling River

Today's Flowers;

2009-02-08T13:39:00.007+10:00

Peruvian Morning Glory. I have searched far and wide but could not find this plant's Latin name. It grows into a weeping shrub, freely flowering most of the year. It is not invasive at all. Responds well to the occasional haircut!

Please click here to see wonderful flowers around the world.

Photos T.S.

Today's Flowers;

2009-02-01T19:42:00.010+10:00

Purple; Pink and Skyblue;

Tibouchina; Princess flower; Lasiandra and many more names for this glorious shrub.

Petunia a wonderful bedding plant; I never miss a season to grow this easy and floriferous plant.

Bog Salvia; Salvia uliginosa, loves a moist place and flowers all summer long.

Please click here to see beautiful flowers around the world.

PhotosT.S.