More Beautiful.....

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Today's favourite photo of my Anemone Poppy which seems to grow even more beautiful each day, if that's possible.


PHOTOGRAPHY NOTE: Canon 600D, 50mm 1.4 lens with Raynox macro conversion lens. Aperture priority f 7.1 (ISO1000, 1/80), handheld. This flower is growing outside in a pot, taken in my shadow.


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Pleasantly Mistaken

                                                                                         1.                                                           Available for purchase

Gazing in wonder this week at the multitude of photos I've taken of this one flower.....

2.

Remember this bud from last week which I named Ranunculi? When it opened a few days later it revealed its true identity as an Anemone Poppy!!!!

3.

4.

5.

Look at that centre, isn't it just stunning!

                                                                                                  6.                                                 Available for purchase

Is it any wonder I've been fascinated by its beauty?

7.

Late each afternoon the flower petals gently close, as if protecting the magnificent centre-piece. The photo above taken around 9am the following morning, the one below less than two hours later.

8.

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10.

11.

Today is the third day since it first opened, it seems to spread wider open each day, maybe the gorgeous pink filament arms are a little longer too (comparing this one to photo #1 at the top), sheltered again each evening  by perfectly pink petals. I am so enjoying this beautiful flower, another first for me. Quite happy to have been mistaken, I wonder if any of my real ranunculi will show themselves and flower?

NOTE: The Anemone Poppy, Anemone Coronaria, is also known as Wind Poppy and belongs to the Ranunulaceae family. It is native to the Mediterranean area.

PHOTOGRAPHY NOTE: Each macro here taken using my fixed-lens Lumix superzoom with a Raynox macro conversion lens attached.


Sharing at Flower Art Friday, Shoot. Edit. Submit - first photo (chosen as Weekly Winner), Sneak Peek Friday, Weekly Top Shot, Your Sunday Best,
I Heart Macro.

Morning Gold

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This morning I took a rare opportunity to go beyond my own backyard during the very early morning.

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The jacarandas are slowly turning golden in preparation for a spring of purple blossoms. The misty fog was gently lifting from the river.

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While capturing the fog I noticed a spot of bright yellow.

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A lone winter sunflower stood "tall" along the river's grassy verge.

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The morning's golden hour gave way to a beautiful day which later overflowed with more challenges and blessings than anticipated. We have to take those golden opportunities whenever we can for one never knows what's ahead.


Sharing at Our World Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, SkyWatch Friday.

Open Hearts

"The world loves performance,

Jesus loves people -

just the way they are.

The world needs more people who are trusting and believing,

with a belief which is impacting -

intentional believing."

Words spoken by our gentle Pastor today as he shared more of John 3:16.

The daisies in our garden stretch towards the sunshine, as if with open hearts.

Photo available for purchase here as a card or print.

Sharing at Macro Monday.

Witnessing Miracles

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Having never grown (ranunculi) [***it has now fully opened and revealed itself to be a beautiful  Anemone poppy***] before, nor even seen them in real life, I am *surprised* and amazed at each stage as it unfolds. I feel as if I'm witnessing a miracle in my own backyard as God's creative hand reveals itself day by day in stunning ways.

From when I first laid eyes on the ranunculi "claws"  I have been happily perplexed and enjoying their uniqueness as they have slowly grown.

Taken in this morning's early light, the first bud, like a deep pink face shyly hiding under a bright frilly bonnet.

A tulip bud lies still snuggled down amongst its sheltering leaves.

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Can you believe the beauty of this little miniature? Muscari, or Grape Hyacinth, actually belongs to the Lily family,
a native of the Mediterranean area and Asia minor.

In the garden bed above, and in a pot as below, these are tiny yet truly magnificent.

Miracles {and surprises} in my own backyard........


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Just Imagine....

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The tree which moves some to tears of joy

is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way.

...some scarce see nature at all.

But to the eyes of the man of imagination

nature is imagination itself.

                                                                   William Blake

This magnificent Moreton Bay Fig stands firmly like a sentinel, not on a quiet farm but on a busy corner, as school buses and hundreds of cars pass each day. I have driven past it thousands of times, glancing briefly in admiration.
This week I stopped to take a closer look and appreciate this gentle giant.

Our valley's wide river lies only metres from the tree, over the shadowed crest and down the river bank - the house in the distance is beyond the expanse of water.

One last favourite photo, to let the imagination take you away from traffic and lead you to country fields, hobbits and the possibility of unknown worlds beyond......just imagine....


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Delightful Days

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I love watching for signs of spring and feeling the warmth in the air. Our winters are relatively mild yet spring still holds special treats and a sense of all things new and fresh again. The older I become the more I savour each season, enjoying the delights unique to each passing one.

 Our first lavender flower for the season is adding it's wonderful bright purple to the garden.

Yesterday Miss N (14) treated us to a new recipe for lunch, a delicious Layered Ham and Cheese Pie. Very tasty!

Sharing at  Studio JRU: Color Your World- Purple, This or That Thursday, Flower Art Friday (first photo, voted 4th place).

The Light

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"We can forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;

the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

                                                                                    Plato

"I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life."

                                                                   Jesus (John 8:12b)

The second generation of my Mother's Day gerber/gerbera flowers are opening, stretching in this morning's early light.


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Washpool National Park

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The sound of the waterfall and cool mountain air greeted us as we left our vehicle. A short walk of many stairs brought us to the base of the falls.

The cool, damp gully is the perfect place for several varieties of tiny fungi, nestled amongst the mosses.

The water slowly moves away as the creek winds enticingly out of sight.

With shutter speed set to half a second, I catch the top of the falls, and consider again buying a tripod.....

Barbecued sausages followed by toasted marshmallows, a treat for the children, helps warm us this winter's day.

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A long, flatter walk leads us to Lyrebird Falls, as we listen to Bellbirds, Lyrebirds and others.

This wonderful national park is just an hour and a half from home, yet 1000m higher. The landscape and climate is much different.

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On returning from our walk we discover a Red-Necked Wallaby gently grazing near the picnic area.

The best Sunday we've had for a long time - a family day bringing new sights, fresh air, lots of fun and laughter and great memories.

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