Yearnings for summer;

Tall, orange Cannas;

The warm scent of Abelia;

Silky orchids;

Red, ripe tomatoes;

Pink daylilies;

I don't know why she is yearning for summer, winter is not to bad!

Paul; Sepia Saturday;

I think he missed his role in "Brideshead revisited."

'

Paul was Peter's, my husband's father. He was an artist mainly watercolours, a photographer and  he worked in a cigarette factory as designer. He was a brilliant entertainer,very clever, but he lacked the commitment to  his family. He got ill with Tuberculosis and died 1947 when he was 40 years old.

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Nostalgia at its best.

Sad...

Mrs Benteli our pet Guinea fowl was with us for over 15 years. She followed me and when I called her she always answered. In the morning I fed her together with the chooks. Sometimes I gave her little treats. She loved oats with milk. This morning when I called her she did not answer. I was afraid something happened. When I went in search of her all I found was her feathers. Perhaps a fox got her. She was only a little guinea fowl but she was very cute and we loved her.

A sad end for Mrs. Benteli.

Sepia Saturday; My Grandmother;

My grandmother Franziska Tischler - Schneeberger, born  1889 in Austria. She had 3 girls, Victoria, Rosa my mother, and Helene. She also gave birth to 4 boys, Josef, uncle Peppe. Franz died in the second world war, killed by a mine just as he was captured by the Russians. Simon died in the second world war,missing.
Richard, the youngest of the siblings is 88 years old. Franziska died when he was born, a stepmother brought him up. C'est la vie.

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Sepia Saturday; My dad;

My dad, Emile, as a tiny boy; he was born in April 1903 he would be 107 years old. I loved him very much and will never forget him. He was clever and had a good sense of humour.

Please follow the link Sepia Saturday to participate  or to visit and enjoy interesting  and beautiful photography.

The Hot; The Loud and The Proud; Dendrobium Orchids

For this end of month meme orchestrated by Noel Morata A plant fanatic in Hawaii

I have chosen Dendrobium Orchids. They are all growing in small hanging pots under trees.

They are easy to grow and flower abundantly every spring.

Click here to admire The Hot, The Loud and The Proud;

Busy...busy...

There is a lot of gardening to be done in the cool season. A few new comers have been added.

Bougainvillea "Coconut Ice". The colour is very luminous which does not really show in the picture. I planted it in a pot with the intention to curb its vigour a little but still let its roots make their way into the ground which will save on watering. I prune it after flowering.

This startled looking cat has found her way into the herb garden planted with a variegated thyme.

The herb garden is also turning more and more in a little rose garden. Yesterday I planted "Brandy" a hybrid tea rose, as they do generally well in winter, spring and autumn. In summer they struggle with the humidity and hot weather. Brandy is a yellow apricot blend. I also bought

again "Just Joe" also for the herb garden. The two colours will compliment each other.

Lady Mann grows in a big pot for many years. It is an Australian bred Rose by Alistair Clark.

Here she looks a bit bedraggled from the rain we had over night...

Generally she looks like this...perfect!

I also bought a new red torch Ginger for which I have to find a good spot. When I plant it I will split it and share it with my daughter Marie-Louise.