Tag Archives: FOTD

Flower of the Day Challenge: Advent Flowers

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Alstromeria. Photo: TLClark, 12/29/19.

We bought a bunch of mixed flowers several weeks ago, choosing purple and white because we were still in the season of Advent. Just a few of the blooms remain.

While drying dishes last evening I noticed the stigma of the alstromeria (commonly called Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas or Parrot Lily). Though the flower is nearing the end of its vase life, the stigma was still standing straight up.

Alstromeria. Photo: TLClark, 12/29/19.

Though the flower is nearing the end of its vase life, the stigma was still standing straight up. Wondering if I could capture it in a photo, I left my husband to finish the dishes while I played with the camera. I’m pleased with the result – the automatic flash highlighted the flowers and completely darkened the background. The only editing of the photos was cropping.

Alstromeria. Photo: TLClark, 12/29/19.

Posted in response to Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge.

Life Is Short

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Gerbera Daisy. Photo: TLCLark, 12/1/19.

“Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us.  Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.”

–  Henri Frederic Amiel (Swiss Philosopher, 1821 – 1881)

Last week did not go according to plan. Not that we had any specific plans. But instead of staying home, we dropped everything to go be with family. Short story: Mom fell. Brain bleeds, broken cheek bone, and lots of facial bruising.

The good news: she’s doing really, really well.

It could have been otherwise.

Now that we’re home and getting back to our regular routine, I’ve been thinking about a Commissioning/Benediction I’ve used at the end of many Worship services. Based on a quote (above) by Henri Frederic Amiel, it goes like this:

Life is short
and we do not have much time
to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us.
So be swift to love,
Make haste to be kind,
And go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

~ ~ ~

It’s more than a flower picture, but since it is a flower I’m linking to Cee’s Flower of the Day Photo Challenge! Thank-you, Cee, for sharing beautiful flowers and encouraging the rest of us to do the same.

Pink Flowers and a Butterfly at Reiman Gardens

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Butterfly on Flower, Butterfly House, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.

We always take time for the Butterfly Wing when visiting Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University. Before opening the door the guide told us the butterflies “are active today.” He was right – just a few of the 500+ butterflies were in the mood to pose.

Wild Rose, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.

The staff was out watering the flowers, hence the water droplets on the rose (above).

Flowers, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.

It was bright sunshiny day – the light was almost too harsh for getting decent pictures of some flowers. But it was fun to try!

FOTD: Yellow Flowers at Reiman Gardens

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Flowers, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.

A beautiful morning with no obligations was the perfect opportunity to visit Reiman Gardens on the campus of Iowa State University. Bright sunshine made for great shadows – but also meant I had to pay attention to where my shadow fell!

Flowers, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.
Flowers, Reiman Gardens. Photo: TLClark, 8/23/19.

Thanks, Cee, for the Flower of the Day photo challenge!

FOTD: Flowers at Iowa State Fair

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Sunflower, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

A week ago I shared photos of zinnias in the Discovery Garden at the Iowa State Fair. Here are a few more flowers taken the same morning. Hope they brighten your day!

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Helenium, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

The Discovery Garden has signs identifying most of the flowers. Couldn’t miss this one!

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Disco Belle Hibiscus, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

Another fair goer gushed about how easy the hearty hibiscus is to grow – even for someone like her who does not have a green thumb.

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Hearty Hibiscus, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

There a small water garden complete with water lilies, cattails, and goldfish tucked into a corner of the Discovery Garden.

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Water Garden, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

Thanks, Cee, for the Flower of the Day photo challenge!

FOTD: Zinnias at the Iowa State Fair

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Zinnias, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

One of our customs when attending the Iowa State Fair is to stop and enjoy the flowers in the Discovery Garden.  Click here for information about the garden.

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Zinnias, a Marigold and a Fly, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

The zinnia with a fly isn’t a dahlia and a bumble bee as shared by Cee in her Flower of the Day photo challenge (click here) but her rules are simply to post a picture with a flower.  It’s a great challenge to follow for a little color, a little happiness no matter what your day holds.

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Zinnia, Discovery Garden, Iowa State Fair.  Photo: TLClark, 8/13/19.

The red zinnia caught my attention when at the garden but it wasn’t until looking at the pictures at home that I realized it was the rolled-up edges of the petals that made it look red and white.