Friday Flowers: Again, Some Summer Roses

Roses at Heritage Court, Redondo Beach

And, to celebrate Mick Jagger's 70th birthday, here's a video:

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Rainbow's End

Roses: Rainbow's End

Yeah, I'm still on my rose kick. ;-)

"Rainbow's End" by Modern English

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Old Port

Rose: Old Port

Summer is now upon us, long days and warm weather. It's time for travel and strolling the gardens, enjoying the great outdoors.

It's time for fun!!! ;-)

"Summer Dreams" by Mirami feat. LayZee

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Among the Winter Roses

Rose: Honor

Sonnet 73


That time of year thou mayst in me behold 
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang 
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, 
Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. 
In me thou seest the twilight of such day 
As after sunset fadeth in the west, 
Which by and by black night doth take away, 
Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest. 
In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire 
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, 
As the death-bed whereon it must expire 
Consumed with that which it was nourish’d by. 
   This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, 
   To love that well which thou must leave ere long. 

---William Shakespeare

Rose: Olympiad

It's always a good time to feature a poem by Shakespeare, but, during this drab period in which so few flowers are in bloom, stunted by the unusually frigid weather, it seems especially appropriate. Though the blossoms are scarcely to be found, these elegant words bring color to the gardens of our minds.

Well, the icy days may be behind us now. Today was nice and warm, inspiring me to head outside and bask in the sunlight. Perhaps the flowers will be soon to follow. ;-)

Friday Flowers: A Plethora of Pretties

Fuchsias: Angel Earrings

Some, too fragile for winter winds

The thoughtful grave encloses —

Tenderly tucking them in from frost

Before their feet are cold.

Never the treasures in her nest

The cautious grave exposes,

Building where schoolboy dare not look,

And sportsman is not bold.

This covert have all the children

Early aged, and often cold,

Sparrow, unnoticed by the Father —

Lambs for whom time had not a fold.

--- Emily Dickinson

Winter-Blooming Bergenia

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. We have returned to featuring poems as a part of Friday Flowers. It used to be a favorite of my readers back in the good old days, but I got lazy. So, here we are with poetry and floral pretties.

Friday Flowers: Wet Roses

Pink roses, still in bloom at the Banning Museum


I don't want to skip our weekly celebration of floral delights. ;-)

There aren't very many roses to be found in the local gardens, but an occasional blossom here and there can catch the eye. These photos were taken last weekend, as I visited the Banning Museum to see their annual Christmas celebrations. The garden wasn't in high color, but that's to be expected, even out here with mild California winters.

The day wasn't very pretty, with dark skies constantly threatening rain. However, the little drops of moisture, having accumulated upon the petals and leaves, made for a nice sparkling accent, like liquid gems ornamenting the last roses in the final days of Autumn.

Very beautiful.

An orange rose, heavy with rain water


Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: Brigadoon

Rose: Brigadoon

Well, it hasn't been a hundred years, but these Friday Flower posts have gotten infrequent.

I can't let another week pass by without offering you all a pretty. ;-)

And a bit of music. . .

Friday Flowers: Silent Roses

Rose: Judy Garland

We'll watch our words tonight.

Rose: Moondance



And savor these graceful sights.

Rose: Love & Peace


;-)

Friday Flowers: Walking on Sunshine

Rosa Floribunda: Walking on Sunshine

Hey!!! It's Friday and we've got some flowers, some beautiful roses!!!

A while back, I decided to limit my flower posts to only one per Weekly Wrap cycle. That was a mistake. I've been snapping photos at my regular pace, which has led to a huge build up of lovelies that I would have liked to share with you all. So, I'll be returning to my old tradition.

If it's Friday, then there will be flowers. ;-)

And, hopefully, some poetry as well.

Rosa Floribunda: Walking on Sunshine


But, for now, let's just celebrate these All-American pretties. And don't it feel good?

Friday Flowers: Temple of Love and Roses

Roses: French Lace (Floribunda)

Sonnet 55
(By William Shakespeare)

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone besmear'd with sluttish time.
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory.
'Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
You live in this, and dwell in lover's eyes.

We've skipped a few significant Shakespeare related dates over the past few weeks. So, here's a brief post to compensate. ;-)

Temple of Love in the Rose Garden at the Huntington Gardens

As for the roses, it's about time that we celebrated their return. Lovely, lovely flowers!!!

Friday Flowers: Spring Is Coming

A rose, pink and white, blossoms in the garden. Spring is almost here!


To a Child Dancing in the Wind
(By W.B. Yeats)

Dance there upon the shore;
What need have you to care
For wind or water's roar?
And tumble out your hair
That the salt drops have wet;
Being young you have not known
The fool's triumph, nor yet
Love lost as soon as won,
Nor the best labourer dead
And all the sheaves to bind.
What need have you to dread
The monstrous crying of wind?


It seemed only proper to spotlight an Irish poet tonight. ;-)

I'm not the biggest fan of Yeats, but his poems certainly have a compelling rhythm and evocative imagery. And, on the night before St. Patrick's Day, it feels just right.

A display of orchids

I couldn't settle on what type of flowers to feature. I might get soft with the poetry, but you'll not be finding any shamrocks or clovers posing for my Friday Flowers. Therefore, it's a mix this evening, which is probably the best way to anticipate the upcoming glories of Spring.

Friday Flowers: All America Rose

Rose: Love and Peace


New feet within my garden go --
New fingers stir upon the sod --
A Troubadour upon the Elm
Betrays the solitude.

New children play upon the green --
New Weary sleep below --
And still the pensive Spring returns --
And still the punctual snow!


It's been a while since I posted an Emily Dickinson poem. When I began poetry blogging back in April, I went a bit thick with her works. Seeing as how she's my all-time favorite poet, that was a predictable course of action, but I felt that I was overdoing it. Thus, I began showcasing more contemporary, lesser known artists.

But I decided to treat myself to some Emily for the holiday weekend. :-)

Rose: Europeana

In regards to the roses, I'm featuring a few that had been selected as "All-America Roses." It seemed appropriate for Thanksgiving.

Friday Flowers: Bitter Roses

Rose: Prima Donna

This Is A Sin
(By C. K. Williams)

right off we started inflicting history
on each other day after day first thing this
is historical and we gave dollars for it
and this and we gave movies and sad poems
and obviously newspapers and a little less
valentines and sometimes it got right
up against us and into us we would squeeze
it out like a worm it would come back
by itself through the pancreas through
the eye or womb and with great tenderness
on the faces of wives and babies we
would reinflict it until there was
such beauty it was unbearable because
it was too much history too much suffering
and also birds suffering their leaps
from branches dogs
lifting their dark mouths the paths
of mantises cows plopping were we afraid
of what would be left of us? sometimes
a person was erased entirely
and children dead of shame stuck
upright in the snow like pipes the wind
screaming over them or I would forget
you darling your breasts the wind
over them our lips
moving darling the child the wind breasts
our lips over them


Today we're wishing a Happy Birthday to C. K. Williams, born on this day in 1936. The intensity of his poetry makes it a hard read, drumming a rough rhythm into the head, evoking images in disturbing juxtapositions, but it drives the mind into serious contemplation, which is what I most admire in poetry.

Rose: Lime Sublime

And I'm pairing his poem with roses because I want people to read it. No other flower gets flow through internet traffic like a rose. Not orchids, dahlias, fuchsias, magnolias, begonias, sunflowers, hibiscus, plumbago, marigolds, irises, or daisies. In the assessment of the Google Image search, roses reign supreme. ;-)

Friday Flowers: Paying the Floral Debt

Orchid: Little Gem Stripe


The Debt
(Paul Laurence Dunbar)

This is the debt I pay
Just for one riotous day,
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.

Pay it I will to the end—
Until the grave, my friend,
Gives me a true release—
Gives me the clasp of peace.

Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best—
God! but the interest!


LOL!!! No that's not how I feel, but it's good to finally deliver on my promises of flowers from the many shows and gardens that I've visited over the summer. I keep on writing things like "Oh, and I have some more Fuchsias to share with you all" and then I forget to share 'em.

Well, here's some sharing. ;-)

Fuchsia: Pink Jade

Lovely.

La Vie En Rose

When Roses cease to bloom, Sir,

(By Emily Dickinson)

When Roses cease to bloom, Sir,
And Violets are done --
When Bumblebees in solemn flight
Have passed beyond the Sun --
The hand that paused to gather
Upon this Summer's day
Will idle lie -- in Auburn --
Then take my flowers -- pray!

This weekend I attended a Rose Show at the South Coast Botanic Gardens. Yeah, this post nearly writes itself. ;-)

Rose: Trumpeters


So, let the Trumpeters sound!!! And let's do some flower blogging.