{Our 2016 Jasmine Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany}

Every year it is such a great pleasure to see the first bloom on our Jasmine Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany.

On July 15, we had this very big one!

So full and creamy with a greenish center still.

Now turning this beauty around, on the teak lounger on the balcony for the best light...

Loved its full green leaves.

We are turning full circle and each sight has a different 'face'...

Love this too, more open.

Sure enough this greenish center is my favorite view.

Hope you enjoyed our special Jasmine Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany as much as we did!

Thanks for your visit.

Related links:
{Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany} | previous post by me
{Late Summer Jasmine} - previous post by me

google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder

{Late Summer Jasmine}

All throughout summer we will have some heavenly jasmines blooming.
This is the thick and fully double Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany, below post you find link with more info from my previous post.n

Such a late summer jasmine, with some sunshine is pure bliss!

Placed in a tiny silver vase and photographed on the balcony.

It has some pink edges.

Playing with the light...

The backside reveals some dried up petals, from an earlier drought.

But even those dried up petals do have their charm!

Related link:

{Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany} | previous post by me

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{Heavenly Jardins de Bagatelle Rose}

Even though the HOT summer heat here in Georgia/USA is not very suitable for roses or any flowers for that matter, we did yield some Heavenly Jardins de Bagatelle Roses from the new supply via Roses Unlimited, planted on May 2nd of this year.

Tender leaves have been burned from the hot July 8 sun...

But still, this heavenly perfumed rose is such a joy to have!

We also harvested two perfect Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany buds.

The first, and larger flower on May 5, when it was not yet that hot...

A Baccarat perfume bottle is perfect as a vase.

Such soft pink touches...

Wish we could have them more often in bloom but it is really hard here in the Southeast.

These Jasmines were pefect!

Hope you enjoyed our treasures...

Related link:
{Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany} | previous post, showing you the jasmine

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany}

Last year we bought a new Jasminum Sambac - Jasmine Grand Duke of Tuscany from +Logee's Greenhouses and this year it did yield its first fragrant blossoms.

August 9, this beauty opened with yet another bud underneath.

Look what heavy rain did in just one day... 

Waiting 3 more days did yield another double blooming, highly fragrant beauty.

They are so lovely!

Jasmine 'Grand Duke of Tuscany' - Jasminum Sambac ← click it

We hope it will look bigger next year!

Related links:

{Our Jasminum Sambac 'Maid of Orleans' - "Arabian Tea Jasmine"} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Our Carolina Jasmine}

One of the most beautiful vines is the Carolina Jasmine Gelsemium sempervirens with its fragrant yellow flowers.

This species is by far not as invasive as e.g. wisterias are.

Very lovely sight when blooming like here seen on April 10.

There is a bird house right behind it and often the Caroline Wren lives in it.

What a romantic place for raising their young!

To the right you see our Wood Trail and to the left is our Gazebo...

Do you have a Carolina Jasmine?

Related link:
{Yellow Blossoms from Our Garden want to be YOUR Sunshine Today!} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Bye-Bye Confederate Jasmine...}

After decades of having our Confederate Jasmine climb up to the balcony and forming a canopy around our bedroom's French doors; husband Pieter took it down. It got very bare in spots and no longer was pretty. So I like to show you the last blossoms of this year and say Bye-Bye Confederate Jasmine.

Beautiful in April, for the very last time...

With our bi-fold shutters inside, we don't actually need this shade canopy as much as in years past. You can read below about {Going Green for our Bedroom} in a previous post, about Pieter's clever Masonite bi-fold doors, that he transformed into shutters for a fraction of the cost of ready made ones.

On the left of the Italian cypress, you still can see the Confederate Jasmine where it did climb up on a rack. 

The one on the other side of the balcony had died several years ago so we only had half of it...

You also see to the right our 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold' or Golden Live Oak.

Bye-Bye Confederate Jasmine...

GONE already, this morning. The huge fig tree to the right is also cut off partly and that one needs to go.

For being able to have the house pressure washed again and painted, this is also needed.

Do you take down things like that too after decades?

It always gives us a sentimental feeling... 

Sorry for the birds that used to nest there and sleep at night but we do have enough trees for providing nesting and sleeping spots.

Related link:
{Going Green for our Bedroom + Confederate Jasmine in bloom} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{THANKS for YOUR SUPPORT!}

As difficult this past week has been for us, it did lift us up tremendously for reading all the heartfelt sympathy and heartwarming words from this world-wide Blogger-Family. United as one strong family in Faith. We all meet only temporarily during our journey here on earth. Trying to do our best and leaving a mark, a lasting memory. Those fond memories will sustain us for times to come. Also knowing that it's not only us, every family has its sorrows and grief. So, once again a heartfelt THANKS for YOUR SUPPORT!

We all start out as a perfect bud, like this Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers in our garden...

Like in a human family, there are some buds that have bloomed already and are gone, but others follow.

Ants savor the sweetness.

Symbolically:

Parents are gone already...

Than the only brother left, becomes detached from the plant that nourished them all at one time...

Leaves have been attacked and torn up or eaten away.

But life renews.

We have our girls; Liz and Anita and soon our Goddaughter Elvira will have her baby-boy!

Yes, as new buds unfold, we again relive the tenderness of new life of new hope...

No matter how beat up those leaves might look; they produce still beautiful buds and heavenly scented jasmines!

Luckily we had some good rains so they bounce back strong.

Even after the tears we shed to wash our souls, we bounce back strong!

Yes, aging does change the original flower but the fragrance is still there and it still is part of the beautiful family.

We have peace of mind as we did visit Pieter's brother 63 times while he went through this aging stage.

We celebrated many cheerful highlights of his life.

Yes, the final stage has arrived. Ants arrive at the scene to suck the sweet life out of what remains from those once perfect buds, than blossoms... 

Dora & Thé; united again in heaven after having been separated for a bit more than two years.

Even if we ourselves could not be present at the funeral, we got well represented by my Parents and also by our best friends.

THANKS to all of you!

♥

Rust Zacht Broer

♥

Rest Softly Brother

♥

Pieter, Mariet

Liz en Hans (daughter and son-in-law)

Related links:

White Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers

{MEMORIES of HAPPY TIMES} | previous post by me about the loss of Pieter's brother Thé

{Wedding Elvira & Bob in 14th Century Castle} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Our Balcony}

First I like to thank all of you that helped identifying our mystery plant. Check my previous post about the outcome...

Our balcony is accessible from the master bedroom and is on the South West side of our home. It is nice for having dinner alfresco, having tea or reading under the umbrella... Lots of uses! Besides, it provides a perfect view over the pond, and into our garden and adjacent wood garden.

Photos are not excellent as they had to be taken through the window of our living room...

This is in April with the teak Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger and teak table out. Chairs are folded and ready for use.

The Confederate Jasmine, about to bloom...

This is in May, the blossoms of the Confederate jasmine are falling off already...

We purchased a new Suncast Resin Deluxe Deck Box with Seat; shown here.

Great for storing the teak chaise lounge cushion!

Here the view is almost obstructed by the enormous fig tree...

This photo is taken on July 25 and it is way too hot for being out on the balcony!

You cannot bear to walk bare foot on the tiles!

This is the temperature in the shade at 15:45 o'clock on July 25.

The 'Roasting' temperature for the balcony would have been way above 43°C (109.4°F) earlier in the afternoon.

The above is from 16:12 o'clock...

Do you have a balcony as well?

Tell me if you do much reading or lounging on it right now.

Mariette on Google+

{Detail Floating Jasmines and Roses}

As promised in my two previous posts, here some more detail about my Floating Candles, Jasmines and Roses Center Pieces. First of all, only those that live in a subtropic or tropical climate will have access to these exotics, minus the roses of course. My selection of Table Setting was this time in white and Cream Color on Cream Color Wedgwood, Gardenia Bowl. Also the flowers are all white. That creates a very special atmosphere, pure romance and more like a thousand and one night fairy tale setting. Our idea of home décor and thus also table setting, has been greatly influenced by our world wide travels and work as consultants. We did bring home different cultures that emit more romance with their unique world wide blend. As stated before, it might give you some different ideas as well. Let me know what your thoughts are about this, love to hear feedback from my readers! Below this post you will find other links about Jasmine and Gardenia flowers which we do grow on our property. We both love those highly fragrant blossoms! Do you...?

Seen here are clockwise from the left: Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Confederate Jasmine; Moondance AARS fragrant rose; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Gardenia Jasminoides 'Aimee Yoshida' bud; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'.

Previous post: {Floating Candles with Jasmines and Roses}

Clockwise from the left: dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'; Gardenia Jasminoides; Confederate Jasmine; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia.

Gardenia Jasminoides; Confederate Jasmine.

Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Moondance AARS Rose; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine' and Aimee Yoshida Gardenia bud.

Gardenia 'Aimee Yoshida' bud; Jasminum Nitidum  'Royal Jasmine'; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Moondance AARS Rose; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Radicans Gardenia; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'.

Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Confederate Jasmine.

Dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Moondance AARS Rose; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Confederate Jasmine (top); Moondance AARS Rose; 'Radicans' Gardenia.

Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'; 'Radicans' Gardenia; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Gardenia Jasminoides bud.

Confederate Jasmine; Gardenia Jasminoides; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Gardenia Jasminoides bud; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'.

Confederate Jasmine; Gardenia Jasminoides; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Gardenia Jasminoides bud; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'.

Confederate Jasmine (top and center); dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; 'Radicans' Gardenia; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine' (leaning onto Rose Floating Candle).

Moondance AARS Rose; Moondance AARS Rose bud; dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine; Confederate Jasmine; 'Radicans' Gardenia.

Rose Floating Candle...

Confederate Jasmine; Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'; Gardenia Jasminoides; Confederate Jasmine; 'Radicans' Gardenia.

Rose Floating Candle...

Confederate Jasmine; Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine.

Gardenia Jasminoides; Confederate Jasmine.

Gardenia Jasminoides; Moondance AARS Rose...

Let's hope you did enjoy this fragrant 'Garden Tour' with me.

It smells and looks like Paradise. 

Too bad that the blooming season for the gardenias is only limited. 

The Jasminum Sambac - Maid of Orleans - Arabian Tea Jasmine remains blooming though, as well as the Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'. As usual, I have forgotten one Jasmine family-member; our Murraya Paniculata 'Orange Jasmine'... that is near our greenhouse. I'd gathered most though, a flower basket full of heavenly bliss! Thanks for your time but I sure loved to show them to you.

Related links:

{Going Green for our Bedroom + Confederate Jasmine in bloom} | previous post by me

{Our Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'} | previous post by me

{White Indian Jasmine the Queen of Flowers} | previous post by me

{Murraya Paniculata 'Orange Jasmine'} | previous post by me

{Our Jasminum Sambac 'Maid of Orleans' - "Arabian Tea Jasmine"} | previous post by me

{Tuesday May 4, dinner with friends} | previous post by me

{Our Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'} | previous post by me

{Gardenia by Royal Albert and our Garden Gardenias} | previous post by me

{Our Gardenia duruma - White Gem} | previous post by me

{May 22 Gardenia by Royal Albert and blooming Gardenias in Baccarat vase} | previous post by me

{Heavenly Gardenia Jasminoides 'Aimee Yoshida'} | previous post by me

{Gardenias in November!} | previous post by me

{Our Gardenias} | previous post by me

{Visiting Ria from IT'S ME} | previous post by me

{6 Antique Christofle Knife Rests Griffes Antiques - Antique Claws} | previous post by me