Spring is coming..!

Last weekend i was lucky to attend a little Spring Ball in APTEKARSKY OGOROD in Moscow. Don't ask me what i was doing there again! Now, happily back Home! I was told the exhibition would be closed the next day, so i decided not to miss the chance. The weather was cold and windy but, in spite of long standing in a queue (i even caught cold! ...now much better, thanx!;) i could steal a glance of what was going on behind the scenes of Spring!

... though, already past their best, most of the tulips were still glorious!

... i could see many new to me sorts! How do you like these amazing cabbage roses-like tulips with "frosted" edges?!

 

 

↑...  and these cream-vanilla tulips, very elegant! Hyacinthuses were splendid too! I loved their not so commonly met deep blue, crispy white and skimmed milk tones. And the double-flowered baby-blue hyacinth in the lower right-hand corner... a little miracle!

 

↑... unfortunatelly, i didn't have enough time to make notes of sorts names. So, thinking of our future garden, i shall have to find most of these by their images only... Well, that's going to be a real hunt!;)

↑... fascinated by their egg-shaped heads!

↑... like flames of fire!

Still Life from my terrace...

... just a few still life pictures i took at our terrace last weekend ツ

Well... you already know, i❤ roses. And this time here's my two pleasures in one - a ROSE + my FAV tint of RED! I don't know what the rose name is, but i love her shape, crimped edges and, of course, her cabbage-like middle (i have an enormous love for cabbage roses)!

... i guess, i started reading this book a year ago or so, and am finishing it only now! Often, i find myself reading lots of books at the same time, may be up to 7. Anyone like me?!
I should confess, it doesn't seem to be right thing to do, 'cause i noticed that it's making me feel kinda nervous, e.g. thinking that my reading speed is not that fast as i would like it to be and there are tons of books still unread, and so on...
So... my self-experienced wisdom -- aiming at an insane amount of things simultaneously, does affect the quality of the present moment.☝
Thus, from now on, stickin' to the 'one book at a time' rule [OK, 2-3 & not more! My word! :]]

... still holding on! ツ Ok, a very good book, by the way, THE GYPSIES & THEIR JOURNEY. Bury me standing by Isabel Fonseca! An interesting collection of documental stories about prominent European Roma people along with excursions on the Romani culture. I can't realize how it could stay this long forgotten, getting dusty on my 'next-to-read' shelf... Setting all right! ✌

By the way, i have found an on-line reading speed tester, here. You are suggested to read a few extracts from some English classics (you choose which one), then press 'stop recording' button and get the results.
I have choosen THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES and my result is 211 words per minute (average speed is considered to be 200 wpm). They say if i read for just 60 minutes a day, i could finish the book... in 2 days?!! Hmm...i really didn't suspect me having a potential like this 0:)
Ok, so, after this, i cannot insist on my slow reading anymore... the fact is that i just like to make little pauses while reading to imagine the described episodes bright and just soak up the beautiful moment. Ultimately... isn't this what we are reading for? ツ

...take time to smell the Roses!

...some amazing roses i clicked while at walk in the park. I love all the flowers, really, but roses do have a special place in my heart!

"IF THE ROSE IS A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER, IT's ALSO BECAUSE IT OPENS ITSELF" ~Charles De Leusse

"EVERY ROSE THAT IS SWEET-SCENTED WITHIN, THAT ROSE IS TELLING OF THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE" ~Rumi

"Don't try to force anything. Let life be a deep let-go. See God opening millions of flowers every day without forcing the buds." ~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

"Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds." ~Ritu Ghatourey

Spring 'Hello' from the Moomins

The Moomin Trolls are awaken already, floating on their snow clouds! That means...
... Spring is at our doorsteps! ;)

... just want to say that in spite of my rare presence here, i'm preparing lots of interesting things to share, including decor stories from our home & garden, travels, my handmade creations and curious discoveries. Meanwhile, i'll be posting at a comfortable to me pace for some time now, not remaining away from here for long though... ;

Summer goes on!

“I love borders. August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know...

...twilight is the border between day and night, and the shore is the border between sea and land. The border is longing: when both have fallen in love but still haven't said anything. The border is to be on the way. It is the way that is the most important thing.” ― TOVE JANSSON

Roses.Summer 2015

... and one more post for today! Beautiful roses for us, those who don't want to let Summer go! These are from different places, anywhere when they came into my sight...

Hope you enjoyed and ready for another portion of flower power?! Soon to follow!

Cheery Cherry Summer

... have just found some cherry tree photos i took this summer when the berries only started giving their first blush. Though the quality is not what i had meant it to be (the pics were taken with a mobile cam), yet the happy summer mood is transmitted anyway... agree? ツ

My New African Violets

Recently, i was given a couple of African violets (Saintpaulias) - one has violet flowers and white, slightly ruffled edges (its name sounds like 'Mirror of Fate') and the other is 'Emerald Love' (E. Kolb) -- a chimera African violet with semidouble creamy white flowers and wide green edge. I've been circling around them with my cam quite enough, opting for most advantageous sides & angles for the shoot. So, here they are!

... since i am having my first species already, i am thinking now of arranging a small African Violets Garden with more sorts as a table centerpiece, or spotting 'em in groups somewhere near the windows.

AFRICAN VIOLETS LOVE: small, not tall pots (6-9cm ⌀), good drainage, warmth but not heat (16-21C), bright light but not direct sun rays and moderate watering, as the soil dries up.

AFRICAN VIOLETS DON't LIKE: water spraying when at bloom, draughts.
When necessary, dust from the leaves may be removed with a fine brush, or some say it's ok to gently showering the leaves with a warm water, taking care not to wet the soil as well. If any of you have saintpaulias, please advice what you do for the leaves to stay fresh and shiny? Is it safe watering them or not?

Blooming Spring

... Spring blossom season doesn't last long... Enveloping with sweet memories...

↕ ... this is a bird cherry tree with green-purple leaves and pink blossoms!

My Stapelia Flower

Well, my enigmatic succulent (now I know, it's Stapelia) has blossomed! As you can see, the flower looks like a fantastic movie, e.g. Avatar, decoration, but.., to my big surprise, it has one fault -- ...

... -- it stinks with... rotting meat! In the first few days of its blooming, the smell is quite strong -- you feel it right once you enter the room, then its 'fragrance' wanes. In South African deserts where it naturally occurs, Stapelia uses its distinctive smell to attract flies-pollinators. Though, there are non-smelling sorts too.

Actually, the flower should spread the petals to look like a five-pointed star, but mine prefers to keep them bent on the wrong side. Anyway, I think, it's still a norm.