FLOWER FRIDAY

Not all flowers are perfect, but all flowers are beautiful!  

I have been keeping a careful eye on this clematis, a new one last year, called Astra Nova, hoping that it would be at its peak for a Blip on Flower Friday, but it was not to be.

Because of the lack of rain, and although Mr. HCB has been watering the pots, rather than the flower garden, this clematis has obviously suffered and even when the first flower came out, it was not quite as it should be.

However, I was hopeful that the other buds that I could see had formed, would be better, but again, it was not to be, but despite their imperfections, I think all the flowers are still beautiful.  

It made me think of people and how sometimes they are written off because they are not “beautiful” as the world perceives beauty - but as the saying goes “Beauty is skin-deep” and often we need to look further than the outside to see something exquisite inside.  Perhaps we should all take longer to look deeper for what is often hidden from our eyes.

I was determined that these flowers would have their fifteen minutes of fame on Blip, so here are two of them - and actually, they are a good illustration of what Mr. HCB and I have been feeling like for a few days.  This hot and sticky weather has really played havoc, not only with growing things but also with living things!  In fact, we have both been a little “crabby” at times and are quite sure that it’s the heat and humidity that has made us feel like that and I’m sure we aren’t the only ones.

Having decided on this for my Blip, Mr. HCB, who has been out harvesting cucumbers, our first tomatoes, runner beans, mange tout peas and gherkins - see first extra - he said that there was a beautiful poppy in one of his raised beds.  We aren’t sure where this came from, but it is lovely, and they don’t tend to transplant that well, so this may be its first and last chance to be Blipped.  Just as I was getting ready to take the shot, it was photobombed by a hoverfly, collecting nectar, see second extra.  

Spoilt for choice for today’s Blip - and still praying for the promised rain, although we won’t believe it until we see it.

“When we see someone
     or something
          as imperfect,
it is a reflection of
     OUR limitations,
          not THEIRS.”
Steve Maraboli