Gerbera Daisies

WOW...2011 certainly zipped past me! Still unbelievable to me that today is my last working day for this year and after a 3-day break, a whole new year will start again.
I am choosing these vibrant beauties to end this year in this blog of mine because the flowers represent cheerfulness and innocence...PERFECT way to start a new year!
These flowers started blooming in my garden on Christmas eve and they are so beautiful up close...bright and merry for the end of the year celebrations, with family and friends.
Be inspired by life...
A simple 'Thank you' from my heart for being such loyal friends of this blog, thank you for always being there for me and bringing joy into my life...
Hope we all have learned much of life's philosophy from my flowers...
My wishes for all of you...

A great start of 2012

Love for Feb, peace for March,

No worries for April, fun for May,

Joy for June to Nov, and happiness for Dec :)))))))

White Mistflower

Happy December everyone!! Could not believe that November whizzed past me without me realizing it...was soooooo busy with work and life but I am happy that I have a chance to share with you once again a unique flower, at least to me...
Hehe...not even sure that this looks at all like a 'flower'... more like a hairy ball!

Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.

...Love is in the mist...
"... Take my hand...take my whole life too...for I can't help falling in love with you" (Elvis Presley)

This flower is incredibly surprising. Not attractive in colours and image, yet, it attracts butterflies from all around by its fragrance. Beauty lies deep in its soul... This is one flower I have shot with 3 different butterflies enjoying its pollen whilst I was there!

So I would like to sum this post up with the word "Love"...

November was a month of Thanksgiving and December is when we celebrate Christmas. Both celebrations bring families together, in love. This is the favourite time of the year for me. Somehow this is the time that I reflect on the days that have passed this year...the good and the not-so-good ones...and I always end up being very grateful for what I have today.

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. (Thornton Wilder)

Cockscomb

Cock-a-doodle-doooooooo....

When witches go riding, and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween :))))
May Jack - o - lanterns burning bright of soft and golden hue

Pierce through the future's veil and show

What fate now holds for you...
I was thinking about what flower I should choose to share in this Halloween month... couldn't find a black and orange flower!
Then I realized my row of Cockscombs are blooming. Watching them grow was quite miraculous. They looked bright pink when they were babies but look at how magnificent their color changed when they grew up!
The Cockscomb Flower or usually known as the Brain Celosia is quite an unusual flower. The tightly clustered blooms resemble a rooster's comb! It symbolizes affection and I can't figure out why.....;)
Caresses, expressions of one sort or another, are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves are to the life of a tree. If they are wholly restrained, love will die at the roots. (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Hehe....an adult cockscomb look exactly like a gory brain...muahahaha perfect for Halloween!! Red for Halloween - fake blood, fire, devilish, anger, power -

Eat, drink and be scary....!!!!!!!

Cockscombs are red, violets are blue

now the boo is gonna scare you!

Cockscombs are red, wishes are true

now the crow is gonna eat you!

Cockscomb are red, I have no clue

why creepy spiders are crawling all over you!

Cockscombs are red, oh my goodness look at all that glue

might get to play a trick on bats that are creeping up to you!!! LOL...
Look at how amazing this flower looks like up close and personal....
Almost velvet-like...

So? What is Affection? Affection is warmth, love, intimacy, and joy. Oh yeahhh...I can see it now!!! The warmth of being cooked in a witch's cauldron! The love of being scared half to death by ghosts wannabes! The intimacy of spirits roaming around humans! And the joy of children (and adults) gorging in never-ending supply of candy and chocolates!!!! YUPP!!! THAT'S DEFINITELY THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN :)))
I miss the Halloween spirit. It's been a good 16 years since I last enjoyed my last Halloween in Oklahoma, USA, together with my dearest friends. All that's left in me now are fond memories; grateful that I had a chance to experience all that years ago. I wasn't much into the gory stuff, but I made sure my place was well stocked-up with candies and chocolates bought from good ole Wal-Mart :)) and I enjoyed opening doors to children dressed up in their costumes who were most enthusiastic about collecting candy!!

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." (Hans Christian Anderson)

..... And a fond memory now and then to keep one smiling always .....(Jo-Ann)

Heliconias

I was on a mini vacation recently...to a beachside resort...only to find so many varieties of Heliconias in one place :) Imagine these beauties belong to one family and just look at them... individually unique in shapes and shades of colours.
I won't go into individual Heliconia names this time...maybe one day I might decide to do an entry for each Heliconia type. Today, I wanna talk about Friendship :)
Nobody sees a flower...really...it takes time and we haven't time...and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time (Georgia O'Keeffe)
I thought these flowers were cute as their tips of orange and black remind me of Tigers!

So TEAM TIGER!!! This entry is dedicated to all of you :))))))))
Team Tiger consist of a group of great people whom I have got to know in Facebook, particularly in the game named Friends for Sale; some for about a year already and some are new friends who just joined our team. Most importantly, these are people whom I have grown to love and trust....and proud to call them "Friends".
Count your blessings...once you realized how valuable you are and how much you have going for you, the smiles will return, the sun will break out, the music will play, and you will finally be able to move forward the life that God intended for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.

The meaning of Heliconia is GREAT RETURNS. Knowing people in Team Tiger has brought great returns to my life...continuous smiles to my face...and knowing that someone is always there when I need a shoulder or a listening ear...and for that I am truly thankful.

The people when rightly and fully trusted will return the trust (Abraham Lincoln)

A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the same (Elbert Hubbard)

KENNY @ King Kenny, Head of Team Tiger...this is especially for you...

Oh...the tiger will love me...there is no sincerer love than the love of food!!!!! (George Bernard Shaw)

TEAM TIGER: STARS OF MY LIFE...

A look from you is like the blinding sun

As stunning as your eyes I lose myself in

A look from you is as pure as the clear dark blue sky

Lost within

Every minute I am not with you

I feel like I have left something behind

But I know in my heart you will always be true

No matter what, I know your love for me will shine...

Prayer for Friendship...

I got down on my knees today and said a prayer for you,
For you are always in my heart and I often think of you,

I asked the Lord to send his angels to protect my dearest friends,
I prayed that all the joy and happiness, you have will never end,

I asked the Lord to comfort you, when you are feeling blue,
And when you have a tear, He’ll wipe away that too,

I asked the Lord to bless our friendship, so our ways will never part,
For true friends always stick together, For we’re in each others hearts.