{First Nikon Photos - Scarlet Wisteria}

Well, since we lost our Fuji camera at the +HYATT House Miami Airport where it more than likely was placed on top of the safe deposit when we were packing up and checking out; we got a new one.
When we did call the hotel about it, nothing had been found; sad but true. The housekeeping people were already knocking on our door twice, before we rolled out at noon. With our Platinum card we are allowed to check out as late as 2:00 PM.
In that dark closet without any light, for ironing board and safe deposit, which is on the floor, one can easily forget an item. Pieter had to get on his knees for unloading the safe; laptop, iPad, camera etc... We cannot blame him or myself. Just bad fate!

Costco did have a Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera 2 Lens Bundle on sale so that's what we got!

Husband Pieter captured our beautiful exotic Sesbania punica - Scarlet Wisteria

Very full blossoms with all the rain we got

Looks like our new Nikon is capable of doing the job!

+Costco still has it on sale through July 26...

Related link:
{Our Exotic Sesbania punicea  - Scarlet Wisteria} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Our Blue Wisteria Blossoms}

By mid April our Blue Wisterias were filling the air with their sweet fragrance and they have climbed up the trees till the very top.

Don't you love those trusses of beautiful and highly fragrant flowers?

Cascading down a tree, you can see the water of the creek to the right and the road in the center...

Again the creek is visible to the right and also the road.

Another tree to the left is being filled with this rather invasive climber.

This is our bridge across the creek; one of 3.

The balusters are from Vintage Woodworks, Texas

Do you have any wisteria climbers?

Related link:
{Our Wisteria Chinensis & Millettia Reticulata (Evergreen Wisteria)} | previous post by me
{Our Exotic Sesbania punicea  - Scarlet Wisteria} | previous post by me
{Our Everblooming Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica} | previous post by me
{Antique 19th Century Silver Toast Rack Replica, Made in Kotagede, Indonesia} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Antique 19th Century Silver Toast Rack Replica, Made in Kotagede, Indonesia}

Going back and forth all those years for working in Indonesia, we did have this beautiful Antique 19th Century Toast Rack Replica made by those Silversmiths from Kotagede, Indonesia.

It sure is a bonus for having access to such fine craftsmen and when we spotted this exceptional silver toast rack from ca 1819-1831, husband Pieter took a photo of it in July of 1996. We gave the photo to the silversmiths and we were lucky as in the book, also measurements were given. So let me show you this incredible piece of art...

Here it is... After I removed the Birthday cards and such, that I keep in there for writing, I did polish it first. It was not ready for a photo shoot. What do you say? Nice detailing or not? I fell in love with the ball feet from the photo in the antiques book.

This is the photo we took with us to Kotagede, Indonesia on one of our consulting trips in november of 1996.

Don't you think that they did an excellent job in creating this replica from the antique 19th century silver toast rack? 

I have used this also for High Teas, for putting the napkins inside. 

Love the handle at the top, it really is a very convenient one.

Probably since we had this made in November of 1996, there are not that many active silversmiths left in Kotagede... I hate to see this art being lost!

On Sunday, November 17, 1996 at SS Silver shop in Kotagede with Australian business connection Geoff. He fell in love with their silver as well and purchased some nice items for his wife.

That Sunday we did hand them the photo for the creation of the Silver Toast Rack.

Husband Pieter did capture my passion for silver very well...

Here the toast rack is on our table on March 16, 1997 with a vase full of fragrant Wisteria blossoms...

The La Perla lingerie set was in Wisteria color, that's why I placed it there.

Related link:
{Have YOU Ever Seen the Making of Silver in Kotagede, Indonesia?} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Our Everblooming Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica}

In our wood garden we have an Everblooming Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica by its botanical name. Today I made another photo of its blooms. I've used them mid winter for table decoration in our small Delft White Picture Frame Vases for use as individual Place Settings. Link of previous posts with pictures, you find below post...

My husband Pieter did take this photo last year... This shows you the fragrant blooms of the Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica.

It grows next to the gate, close to the road side. It always is full with blooms and it must be heaven for hummingbirds, during the season when they stay here. 

This photo I took on January 21, to show you it really is an everbloomer.

You also can see some berries, so birds must be able to feast on them in winter.

A blue wisteria vine is competing with the Japanese honeysuckle in last year's photo. 

Did you notice that the blooms are pure white when just opened and turning more yellow afterwards.

Do any of you have honeysuckle vines?

Or some other vine blooming right now...

Related links:
{Delft White Picture Frame Vase} previous post by me
{6694 Filets & Rubans - 6 Antique French Christofle Louis XVI Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{Antique Christofle Napkin Ring and Timbale, Goblet in Box} previous post by me
Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica link with more info

Mariette on Google+

{Our Exotic Sesbania punicea - Scarlet Wisteria}

• Sesbania punicea or Daubentonia punicea, called also Scarlet Wisteria is a very exotic looking shrub with Mimosa-like leaves and coral red flowers are characteristic of those in the legume family. Sesbania punicea is native to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay).
• The University of Florida also points out that all parts of the Sesbania punicea are poisonous.
• It is the same story as for Olga's Brunfelsia in California, which is also poisonous but so exotic and beautiful! 
• We have had this shrub for years, we found it near a stream during a walk in our neighborhood and were surprised by its scarlet flowers, indeed looking like a Scarlet Wisteria. 
• So we took it home in 1993 and never ever figured out what it was! Only recently I did find out its botanical and common name and was quite surprised about its info. Nevertheless it is a beautiful and very unusual flower. See for yourself and join me on a Mariette's Back to Basics Garden Tour ←click it.

• This shows our home before the balcony was added on, with the French sliding doors.

• The view of the house is not blocked yet by our huge Live Oak...

• My Hungarian folklore blouse matches those scarlet red flowers!

• My face has no tattoos... that is the shade from harsh sunlight!

• Did put one of the Scarlet Wisteria trusses on the bridge in order to get a good closeup.

They bloom by mid May and still are blooming.

Mariette on Google+

{Our Wisteria Chinensis & Millettia Reticulata (Evergreen Wisteria)}

• There are all sorts of vines but the Wisteria chinensis is a very vigorous one. 
• You will see one picture of a 'MONSTER', which we had to cut down about six years ago. 
• It had completely strangled the tree that it was climbing up on and we were afraid that the tree would die and topple... 
• Needless to say that such a safety hazard is not wanted. 
• But their blossoms are lovely and very fragrant as well. 
• Join me for a garden tour from Book an Event ←(click it) with us.

• Above 3 photos are from our Wisteria chinensis that grows near the creek.
• Next I like to show you the one that got the death penalty... It was an untamable 'MONSTER'...

• You can see this Wisteria PILLAR and in the back you see the Azaleas that I posted {ENJOY Our White Azaleas} ←click it.

• This is a beautiful white Wisteria with very long trusses of highly fragrant flowers.

• And a pink one is climbing up the trees, that are near the creek in the back of our property.

• When those Wisteria chinensis are done blooming from the end of March till mid April, then we have in June this non-invasive Millettia Reticulata (Evergreen Wisteria) follow up!
• This one is available at Durio nursery ←click it.

Which one do you like most?

Mariette on Google+