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This WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY highlights the marvel of tulips, well-known in most gardens and often seen on windowsills in the United Kingdom. Tulips are amongst the most popular of bulbs, valued for their brilliant flower colours and shapes according to the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Their flowering time is usually between March and May, so they are not around for long, but while they are in bloom, they are spectacular! The obvious thing to do would be to stagger their planting time between October and November so that you can admire them for longer. Also, if you want to cultivate specific colours, mark your bulbs clearly before storing them in a cool and dark place during cold winter months. For me, just seeing them for those few weeks is sufficient, even if their colours are mixed. I hope you enjoy these photographs from our garden.

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Tulips have a fascinating history. They originally come from Kazakhstan where they grew wild in the mountains. During the 16th century, part of the country was conquered by the Ottoman Empire where Sultan Suleyman the First was understandably impressed with the tulip’s beauty. Constantinople (Istanbul) was an important centre of commerce and culture in the 16th century and became known for its amazing gardens. Each year, many came to admire the city’s flowers, especially the tulips, in which honour the Sultan gave a feast. Gradually, the popular tulip became a symbol of power and wealth and to express this, Ottoman sultans wore a tulip on their turban. Interestingly, the original word for a turban is derived from the Persian word, “tulipan”.

Soon, dignitaries from other parts of the world also became interested to own such beauty, and from Turkey, the bulbs found their way to the Emperor of Austria’s garden. There, the Emperor’s gifted a friend, Carolus Clusius, acquired a few tulip bulbs which he jealously guarded. When Clusius became head of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden in 1593, the first tulips were planted in the Netherlands, but they were scarce and expensive. Clusius neither wanted to sell nor share his bulbs or knowledge, but sadly his beautiful collection, which he viewed as a major hobby was stolen. Fortuitously for tulip lovers, many of the bulbs survived those tumultuous times and steadily gained recognition during the 17th century when Dutch painters such as Rembrandt van Rijn immortalised the exotic tulip in their paintings.

Of course, one of my Bucket List wishes is to go to the Netherlands during Spring to  visit the Keukenhof Gardens.

Tulips in the Spring Breeze

Tulips elegantly bow their heads in the spring breeze – Upright and brave, back and forth they move, Lowering bright faces away from a gust of wind and I stare at them in wonder. Poppies happily join them in this dance Soon to end.

Tulpe in die Lentebries

Tulpe buig elegant in die lentebries – Uiters regop en braaf, heen en weer Liggies word helder gesiggies weggedraai van die stoute wind, maar Papawers dans saam, want binnekort is alles verby. Ek staar verwonderd.  _________M.M. Botha

Thank you so much for popping in. Should you wish to comment on this post, please do so beyond the About Me Section. You are most welcome to join us too! Have a great Wednesday and don’t forget to pop back on Wednesday the 15th when we will  have a closer look at CLEMATIS and ROSES. And if you’ve missed the post on Bluebells, here is the link:

https://marethabotha2013.com/2020/07/01/1-july-2020-my-garden-glimpses/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XDRQJQX/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

    8 July 2020 Spring and Summer Garden Glimpses – Wonderful Wednesday

This WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY highlights the marvel of tulips, well-known in most gardens and often seen on windowsills in the United Kingdom.

8 July 2020 Spring and Summer Garden Glimpses – Wonderful Wednesday This WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY highlights the marvel of tulips, well-known in most gardens and often seen on windowsills in the United Kingdom.

#(RHS) Royal Horticultural Society #Afrikaans Poetry #Afrikaanse Gedigte #Carolus Clusius #gardens #Hortus Botanicus Leiden #Keukenhof Gardens #Netherlands #Ottoman Empire #tulips

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Photograph by Sarah

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY – a perfect time to sit back and think about all that which makes gardening such a pleasure – besides writing or reading a good book, of course!

BLUEBELLS During Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, carpets of enchanting, sweeps of blue erupt from sleep during April and May. These fairy flowers can be found everywhere along woodland edges and under trees, and for a few short-lived weeks, you might have opportunity to walk among them. Our garden has the foreign Spanish bluebells – unfortunate in a way – because they are more robust than the native British ones and might endanger them. Even so, catching a glimpse of early dandelions for the first bumblebees is also a pleasure.

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Such a wonderful sight often inspires us to write poetry or even to paint them. Here, as part of the slide show is a watercolour done by Elizabeth Aaron, who was inspired while walking with her mom, Sarah, in the western Pennines near their home to paint blue wild flowers,  and below is my poem, “A Brief Life” and  in Afrikaans, “‘n Lewe van Kort Duur”.

A Brief Life Trapped dewdrops sparkle on bluebells’ petals as the sun appears above an eastern hill. They dance lightly in the breeze, inviting an early bumblebee to have his nectar fill – What a delight! Yet, suddenly the earth beckons and soon,  they disappear to face another long night.

~*~

‘n Lewe van Korte Duur Doudruppels skitter op blou hiasinte blare en sodra die son bo die heuwels verskyn Dans hulle ligvoets in die windjie en roep na ‘n hommelby om sy nektar te kry – Wat ‘n plesier! Maar gou roep die aarde en spoedig verdwyn hulle vir nog ‘n lang nag.  – M.M. Botha

~*~

Thank you for popping in at my Wonderful Wednesday post today. Please be sure to come back for another glimpse into my garden on the 8th of July! Should you wish to comment and/or follow this blog, please check below the About Me section. Thanks again. 🙂 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saving-Evergreens-Secrets-Maretha-Botha-ebook/dp/B07DLCMGQ6/

  1 July 2020 – My Spring and Summer Garden Glimpses – Wonderful Wednesday

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY – a perfect time to sit back and think about all that which makes gardening such a pleasure – besides writing or reading a good book, of course!

1 July 2020 – My Spring and Summer Garden Glimpses – Wonderful Wednesday WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY - a perfect time to sit back and think about all that which makes gardening such a pleasure - besides writing or reading a good book, of course!

#Afrikaans Poetry #Afrikaanse Gedigte #British Bluebells #Spanish Bluebells #Spring and Summer Garden Glimpses #Wonderful Wednesday Gardening Glimpses

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Puppies Pictures

This is true puppy cuteness! Who could resist such a lovely pup?

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Animal Pics

One happy dog and his human!

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The Building Blocks of Story

The Building Blocks of Story

Do you want to know the science behind setting scenes and follow up with a sequel? Perhaps you do it naturally, but Staci Troilo gets to the nitty gritty of this important aspect of writing. I hope you find the information useful too!

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Up-Close

It certainly is a wonderful thing to see all the wonders of nature so clear and close-up. This garden reminds me of my parents’ garden years ago where I grew up in the Western Cape, South Africa. Now that autumn is drawing to a close there, I love seeing the last of the stalwart flowers and shrubs still showing their faces to a fading sun, but they still look lovely. Thanks for this trip down…

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Cloud There is something about clouds which remain forever fascinating. Here is an awesome moment captured in a photograph!

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My Review - "When the Bombs Fell" by Robbie Cheadle @bakeandwrite

My Review – “When the Bombs Fell” by Robbie Cheadle @bakeandwrite

Today, I’m happy to tell you more about Robbie Cheadle, who says the following about herself: “Hello, my name is Robbie, short for Roberta. I am an author with six published children’s picture books in the Sir Chocolate books series for children aged 2 to 9 years old (co-authored with my son, Michael Cheadle), one published middle grade book in the Silly Willy series and one published…

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#biography #family #Fictionalised Biography #Historical Fiction #https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MCRJYG4/ #WW2

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My Review – “Die Leeu en die Hond” (Afrikaans); “The Lion and the Dog” by Patricia Furstenberg @patfurstenberg

I love having a fellow South African Children’s Author on Fauna Park Tales blog, and three years’ ago (how time flies!) I had the privilege to interview Patricia Furstenberg. Here is the link to this interview. Just FYI, her book, “Joyful Trouble” has been on amazon’s Best Seller List. Here is the link to my interview:

https://marethabotha2013.com/2017/05/25/interview-patricia-furstenberg-childr…

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#Die Leeu en die Hond In Afrikaans by Patricia Furstenberg #Die Lowe und der Hund Patricia Patricia Furstenberg #https://twitter.com/FizaPathan #JOYFUL TROUBLE/Patricia Furstenberg #Patricia Furstenberg #The Lion and the Dog by Patricia Furstenberg

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About Shana Gorian

Shana Gorian

Shana Gorian is the author of the Rosco the Rascal series, chapter books for kids 6+ in which a sometimes rascally but always lovable German shepherd uses his steadfast heroic nature to help his pals, brother and sister James and Mandy, find adventure and overcome obstacles.

Shana grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and the ‘real’ Rosco the Rascal – her fun-loving German shepherd who constantly inspires new stories.

Shana is an avid lover of the great outdoors, spicy foods, dark chocolate, and spending an afternoon on a comfortable chair with a mug of hot cider and a good book. She is always working on more stories!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084RY4VJW/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

My Review: “Scaredy Cat Scare and Rosco Saves the Day!”

This little Rosco the Rascal’s Ghost Town Adventure by Shana Gorian is the first one I’ve read in this series with the purpose of seeing whether my grandson who is now 10 would like all of its 177 (print length) pages – good value too. I think he would love the excitement of going into an old mine and have a real survivor, adventure experience because the author built the story slowly but surely to reach a wonderful climax. When writing for younger ones, a story with a secret is always a good thing. The children – James and Mandy – thought that they would just have a good holiday with their parents and grandmother. Instead, they had much more – a trip of a lifetime inside an old mine, riding on an old mine cart, meeting miners and an old marshal, while chasing after an elusive cat with different coloured eyes and trying to rescue the restaurant owner’s cat, Calico. The author has also taken the trouble to put a small Quick-Look Vocabulary at the end of the story. There are also a few black and white illustrations: Rosco climbing a steep, rickety ladder; a miner’s lantern and pick; an old-fashioned rocking chair; a miner from the 1800’s and a tunnel inside the silver mine. A lovely story, highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R7ZI2VPRPMFW3/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081ZHTBV6/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i6

https://shanagorian.com

This wonderful five-book series is also available on audio! Please visit Shana Gorian’s Author Page for more detail.

https://www.amazon.com/Shana-Gorian/e/B00NEZNR4E/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Thank you for visiting our blog today. If you enjoyed this review, why not head over to Amazon and obtain a paperback for a loved one? 

  To obtain this LARGE PRINT @£7.84 163 pages, please leave me a message under comments, Thank you! Publisher: Independently published (3 Mar. 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 1710342404 ISBN-13: 978-1710342406 Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 1 x 22.9 cm https://myBook.to/OrphansPlight

            https://www.amazon.com/Shana-Gorian/e/B00NEZNR4E/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

My Review – Rosco the Rascal’s Ghost Town Adventure by Shana Gorian @AuthorShana

About Shana Gorian Shana Gorian is the author of the Rosco the Rascal series, chapter books for kids 6+ in which a sometimes rascally but always lovable German shepherd uses his steadfast heroic nature to help his pals, brother and sister James and Mandy, find adventure and overcome obstacles.

My Review – Rosco the Rascal’s Ghost Town Adventure by Shana Gorian @AuthorShana About Shana Gorian Shana Gorian is the author of the Rosco the Rascal series, chapter books for kids 6+ in which a sometimes rascally but always lovable German shepherd uses his steadfast heroic nature to help his pals, brother and sister James and Mandy, find adventure and overcome obstacles.

#https://www.amazon.com/Shana-Gorian/e/B00NEZNR4E/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 #ROSCO THE RASCAL SERIES/Shana Gorian

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Fauna Park Tales Series - YouTube Videos - Series Notes #11

Fauna Park Tales Series – YouTube Videos – Series Notes #11

There is so much going on in my life right now that I find it difficult to keep track of everything I need to do, and most of the time, my writing and Fauna Park Tales suffer and need to be revived. So, I hope you have a chance to look at two little book trailers which have been featured on my website a while ago. There are also a few other short clips which you might enjoy.

https://marethmbotha.…

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#Book Trailers

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My Review - "Elizabeth's War" - @DLFinnAuthor

My Review – "Elizabeth's War" – @DLFinnAuthor

Elizabeth’s War by D.L. Finn is the fourth book I’ve read by this author who writes in diverse styles – short stories, poetry and memoirs, and now, this children’s book in the historical fiction genre.

Elizabeth is eleven years old in 1917 and lives a protected life on her parents’ farm - she almost died as a three-year old – thus her parents and even her siblings dote on her, and she does not…

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#Coming of Age #Historical Fiction #WW!