Blooming and fading away...

It's the time for the Magnolias now. The trees are full with beautiful and big buds of those magnificent white flowers

They are so beautiful in their blossom time, aren't they?

Life and death - faded away Magnolia blossom

The First and The Last

First rose - a sign of summer is already around the corner?

The last buds of Azaleas - Spring time is leaving us soon

Springtime Flowers

One of the last blooming Azaleas

Shasta Daisy flowers are blooming wild in the grass

I'm not sure if these are Jasmin flowers - but for sure, I remember the very sweet smell

New green leaves on the old Oak tree full with Spanish Moss hanging

This Azalea bush was the only one still full with flowers

The meanings of the Iris

With striking uniqueness and beauty, irises have rich meanings, and when given as gifts, they can convey deep sentiments. With over 200 varieties in a wide spectrum of colors, the iris, which fittingly takes its name from the Greek word for "rainbow," can be found in virtually every part of the world, growing both naturally and in farms. While garden irises can come in any of these many varieties, the flower's cut versions are mostly blue (the most popular type), white, and yellow.

The iris's history is rich, dating back to Ancient Greek times when the Greek Goddess Iris, the messenger of the gods and the personification of the rainbow, acted as the link between heaven and earth. Purple irises were planted over the graves of women to summon the Goddess to guide the dead in their journey. Ancient Egyptian kings marveled in the iris’s exotic nature, and drawings have been found of the flower in a number of Egyptian palaces. During the Middle Ages, the meaning of irises became linked to the French monarchy, and the Fleur-de-lis eventually became the recognized national symbol of France. From their earliest years, irises were used to make perfume and as a medicinal remedy. Today, they are primarily seen in gardens, in bouquets, and in the wild all over the world.

Through its intricate history, the meanings of the iris has come to include faith, hope, and wisdom. Depending on factors such as color and region, irises may bear additional meanings as well. In some parts of the world, the dark blue or purple iris can denote royalty, whereas the yellow iris can be a symbol of passion. Irises may also express courage and admiration. The many meanings of the iris makes the flower a great choice for an array of gift giving occasions: corporate, sympathy, get well, thinking of you, and birthday are just some of the occasions for which irises might be the perfect choice.

Today, the iris is the state flower of Tennessee, and the Fleur-de-lis is the emblem for the city of New Orleans. Irises are cultivated all over the world, and they can be found naturally in Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia, and North America.

Read about Iris flowers here

Charleston's Flowers

These pictures were photographed one week ago in Cypress Gardens and in Down Town and I hope they are not gone by this cold weather we have just now here in Charleston.

It's way to cold for the blooming nature and way more too cold for us - me and David - sun spoiled kids from Key West, as we are! We are still not used to this very cool temperatures up here in the "North". :-))

Ten Days ago - and Now

I saw this tree not even 10 days ago - it looked like this

Yesterday I walked by - and it looked like this

This proves that spring is definitely here :-)

Swamp Photos - Magnolia Gardens

Welcome to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation has survived the centuries and witnessed the history of our nation unfold before it from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1872 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in its famous gardens. So join us here at Magnolia Plantation to experience the beauty of its gardens and its rich history today.


Read more about this wonderful gardens here

Never enough of Simplicity

I made more pictures of my blooming Lily flower 2 days ago and I want to share it with you.

I love this flower, I love its innocent white color and the gorgeous shapes they have, it's inviting for photographic creations.

I know also that everybody now is involved deep in their preparations for Christmas and that's why I want to challenge the mind with these flowers to something else, something very different and something beautiful.

ENJOY!