Cactus flower

I am not particularly fond of cactus plants. So it was only with the appearance of a flower that I became interested. For me, flowers define the plant and when they are absent, my attention span is usually down to zero for any particular plant unless other aspects of the plant or tree is interesting.

Flower from a kindergarten child

Today I was blessed with this thoughtfully conceived flower made out of tiny colourful beads arranged in perfect symmetry and topped, like icing on a cake, with two well chosen stickers of a heart and a kitten. Thank you little Gabrielle for this flower that made me smile throughout the day and for many days whenever I see it on my table :-)

Torch GInger

In the Singapore Botanic Gardens, these ginger plants are always flowering. When the rest of the plants in the gardens are taking a rest from blooming, I can always be assured that there will be flowers here. This time, I found them rather late and the sun has almost set. Forgive the blurness in some of the pictures. Even when technical perfection is lacking, the flowers never fail to delight.

Clerodendrum philippinum - Chinese Glory flower

A flowering shrub bearing natural bouquets
that look good enough for a bride
I chanced upon them still holding out
in the fading, evening light

I am impartial to white flowers
but for these I made an exception
Because of their collective power
I gave to them my undivided attention

When you only get to see the same flowering plant - no I mean, the only flowering plant day after day because there is not opportunity to get close to any other, then that plant claims all your attention. So I can be forgiven for putting up the same flowers day after day because they are all I have for the present.

Because these precious flowers continue to delight day after day, I began to look at them as being more than just flowers to be photographed at face value. I paid more attention to lighting and the effects on them, the angle and trying to show them as more than just ordinary flowers.

Hibiscus

It's been many months since I last saw more than one flower on this small shrub. On this hot, humid day with the sun beating on all living things with the power to reduce them to cinders, these flowers were holding out the best they could in the intense heat. They might survive another day and die after that but at least they had their day today.

Heliconia - Crab's claws

Crab claws - imagine what the crab looks like.

A private garden

If, like my friend, you are a patient and meticulous gardener and a lover of plants, you do not have to go searching for peace and serenity beyond the boundaries of your own home very often.

Garden in Summer

I wish for a garden like this in Singapore. Perhaps when the Garden by the Bay opens, we will have visual treats similar to these in Australia. My excuse for posting these photos here is to have a reminder to myself that I should do an oil or acrylic painting soon based on one or both of these beautiful scenes.