Chinese Hibiscus

DADDY's day is here again!! To all Daddies out there...wishing you a special day filled with all the things that give you warm and happy feeling...leaving you with bright and loving memories to look back through the year :)
Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him "Daddy"
When my friends asked me what flower will I choose for my Father's Day entry here...I said "Hibiscus". You should have seen their faces!! It was as though they were screaming at me in silence...eyes glaring at me as though I was mad. LOL...
Take a closer look....
Closer....
Do you see the beauty?

A thought for you...

In Japan, this hibiscus means gentle.

In Hawaii, it means old royalty...it's the oldest flower that brings great power and respect.

In China, it means delicate beauty.

In Malaysia, it's a flower of celebration.

Does that sum up the unique characteristics of your dad?
The Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis @ Chinese Hibiscus is our country's national flower. In other words, this flower can be found everywhere on our land...in our gardens, by the roadsides, by the drains...!! A very common flower and always unnoticed.
At times, uncared for and taken advantage of...yet... look around us...look at the amazing colors...look at the brilliant varieties...look at its strength and determination and power of living...
It's only when you grow up and step back from him, or leave him for your own career and your own home - it's only then you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it. Pride reinforces love. (Margaret Truman)

In happiness and sorrow, you were always there for me

I may not have always said it

But today I wanna shout out loud...

I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!

John Bays Collection II

Friends are flowers that never fade....
It's that time of year again when my friend John gets to be creative with his camera and enjoy some good sunny weather in London again. This is John's 2nd collection here with me and I am privileged to show to the world some of his work...nature through his eyes...

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends (Persian Proverb)






Thank you John dear, again, for a beautiful collection. Thank you for soothing our souls and enlivening our spirits with such beauty of nature. Thank you for your constant and loving friendship.

In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends (Kozuko Okakura)
John Bays...

Just like a sweet flower

That blooms and blossom from day to day

As he lightens our roads with fragrance

of special feelings and even romance...❤❤❤

Moss Rose

She was there at the beginning...

And she'll be there your whole life through...

She'll be there in your mind and heart...

Just like any mommy is supposed to do.
HAPPY MOMMY'S DAY TO MOMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!
2011's 2nd Sunday of May is only 4 days away! The majority of countries will be celebrating Mother's Day again. I can't believe this celebration started all the way back in the early Egyptian days with the great Goddess Isis who was regarded as the Mother of Pharaohs.
I specially chose to write about the Moss Rose this Mother's Day. Do you know why?

These flowers are fast-growing weed-like plants that grow everywhere, even in poor sandy or gravelly soils. They love the sun and needs very little care. I have asked a few friends whether they realized that this flower is a rose and none had noticed!

Mothers are always there. They are beautiful people but we have no time to notice. They need little care because they are always caring for us. And, no matter how tough life is for everyone, mothers are our rocks as they weather all kinds of circumstances the best they know how. Rarely do I witness a mother giving up on her child. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same with children nowadays.

MOTHER: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind. (Khalil Gibran)

A symbol of beauty, strength and wisdom....AND LOVE!!!

We thank you God for the love of the mothers you have given us,

whose love is so precious that it can never be measured,

whose patience seems to have no end.

We ask You to continue to bless mothers around the world for they are our anchors in life.

This is my Mommy, Dorothy.

I thank you, Mommy,

for believing in me,

for trusting my thoughts, disappointments, and dreams.

Thank you for putting so much thought and care in our friendship,

for sharing so many nice times and making so many special memories with me.

Thank you Mommy for being my best friend in so many meaningful ways.

Home Cactus

A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.(Helen Keller)

I was flabbergasted when my small cactus in a pot decided to produce a lovely gigantic white flower over last weekend :) Life is indeed full of little, happy miracles...

White...my inspiration!! *daydreaming again*... new beginnings...angels...clouds...and my love far far away....

What greater thing is there for 2 human souls that to feel that they are joined...to strengthen each other...to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories. (George Eliot)

A white flower whispers pure and sweet love

For it reminds me of you

I knew you were thinking of me...walking with me

Through the light and darkness

In happiness and sadness

Do all things to keep us one

Being miles apart

Prickly Pear

Trample over flowers, yet only to embrace a cactus... James Joyce

Hello to all my dear friends and fans...it has been a good 3 months since my last post. This is a long overdue post but I am glad that I finally found some time to continue what I had started... to share with the world my love for nature and photography.

Happiness is an attitude...we either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong...the amount of work is the same. (Francesca Reigler)

This year has been a roller-coaster one for me, but in a good sense :) I am where I dreamt to be 2 years ago and thank God, I am my very happy self again. I am now a teacher by profession; loving every minute of sharing life's experiences and guiding our young generation to achieve their goals in their lives. I always tell my students (my kids!!!) that we must set small goals to achieve along our way so that life is more meaningful...so that when we wake up each morning, there is hope and love and smiles.

I drive past these beautiful cactus every day and always, I admire their strength. You see... along with other parts of the world, we have been experiencing stormy days that I thought would never come to an end! These cactus have been standing strong and firm all these rainy months. And...look at them now!!! Beautiful as ever...

By nature we have no defect that could not become a strength, no strength that could not become a defect. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its lust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen. (Anonymous)

The cactus flower is a symbol of maternal love...simply because the cactus is a plant that endures harsh conditions and also thrives; its flowers are symbolic of a mother's unconditional love.