My husband said so just the other day...
And I quote, "We really do live in the Garden of Eden, don't we?"
Yes, indeed, we do...
And as you might expect, today dawned gloriously blue and sunny here in Eden (aka Florida)...
So much so that I ventured outside for a morning walk...
When, suddenly, I was stopped dead in my tracks...
By a magnificent yellow shrub!
You see, fall is "blooming season" in Florida for some of the most beautiful plants and trees I've ever seen...
This one is a case in point...
While I'm not sure of its name [edited to say that several bloggers feel it is cassia], I am sure of its beauty...
Isn't this lovely with those yellow blossoms accented against that blue, blue sky...
Reaching its arms out to wave happily at passersby including us?
I found it spilling over a wall...
Here...
There...
And everywhere...
It's a friendly sort of shrub, popping up to greet you...
Through a crack...
Or through a window of branches...
And shaking hands in the middle of a pathway...
While beckoning friends and strangers alike to enter a garden gate...
Now, this clump of blooms looks just like a bridal bouquet, possibly for a fairytale bride...
Judging from the cryptic symbols on the fence...
While the mother of the bride's corsage is just over here...
Reminds me of a storybook wedding in an exotic locale. How about you?
And if you'll look just beyond the yellow blossoms...
You'll see just a hint of a pink surprise I have in store for you next week...
In the mean time, let's wave goodbye to our sunny friends...
But first, they have a tiny nosegay they'd like you to have as a token of their esteem...
Then we'll take a stroll...
Down to the water (see it just ahead?) where we can cast our cares into its depths, and maybe, just maybe we'll even dip our toes in... you think?
Thank you so much for joining me here today, and I look forward to visiting with you, too. First, though, I'm going to pop over and visit Susan and her friends at Outdoor Wednesday and hope you will join us there by clicking right
HERE!
Wishing you sunny days and smooth sailing throughout the rest of the week and the weekend ahead! I'll be hanging with my buddy here, who happens to be my godson and will be here tomorrow along with his mother and grandmother!:-)
Warmly,
Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)
95 comments:
The yellow buds are so bright!!
Thank you for the "warm" pictures. It is 30 degrees here and snowing. BRRR!!
I can't believe I am your first comment on this gorgeous post. I think that is the tree in my daughter's yard that I shared last year. It is truly beautiful. I will check it out and get back to you.
Thank you for the sweetest comment about my cousin. Riding is a blessing for her. I didn't know you are an Equestrian too. A totally beautiful event to see.
Fall is almost gone here. Winter is well on her way. I love my electric blanket. We bought a heated bed for Cheri' and the fist night she howled all night. Now she like it. She missed her pink bed. We adore that darling little pup.
Wishing you happy days my dear friend.
Love, Jeanne xoxoxo
Stunningly lovely photos - I love that tree - wish it was blooming season here. We got up to 47 today - with lots of rain - but at least we are green (and mossy between our toes sometimes LOL)
Yes! You do live in Eden! And having just recently visited Florida I am longing to go back!
My husband said to me when we were down there "I could get used to this".
Your story and photos are lovely. My favorite pictures are the road leading to the water (so quaint looking, makes me want to be walking there) and the photo of the flowers with the beautiful green wooden garden gate behind.
Great job as usual, Sheila! I loved it!
Love to you,
Eileen
Is that the Cassia Tree? It is ever so beautiful, whatever it is.
My first question was going to be, what plant is that? I love it, it's so bright and cheerful. And it looks like it spreads like crazy. Love all your gorgeous photos, makes me want to visit again. It's been too many years since we've been to Florida, and I miss it tremendously. Thank you so much for stopping by and your always supportive comments. It means the world to me Sheila! Kat
What beautiful, beautiful flowers. I love how you did a study with your camera and caught them in different moods and backdrops. Are you sure you aren't a painter. That's what painters do, you know?
Karen
Gorgeous and you got some great shots...don't you love when the pics turn out good???
So Sheila - thanks so much for reminding me that hope springs eternal.
The fall most of us experience - is the falling of leaves, the changing of colors, and the trees going to sleep for the winter.
And yes it is beautiful and I love it.
But just a few hundred miles away -your bushes and shrubs are blooming and growing.
You are getting new life as ours goes to sleep.
Lots to do about nothing.
sandie
Oh my goodness, how beautiful that trees blooms are WOW. WOW. What beauty, looks like you are really enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. I have one tree blooming in my yard right now { Autumnalis Cherry }, The rest are bright with their fall colors, and some are already losing their leaves. It's been in the 70's the past couple of days so it's been quite nice here as well.
So glad to see you, I'll be checking in more often now that you're back. Hugs-Carrie
Hi Shelia! Yes, you ARE in Eden! Your photos are gorgeos! That tree was blooming all over Walt Disney World when we were there two years ago. I think they said it is a tipu tree. You might check. I loved it, though! How fortunate you are to have such a wonderfully long growing season! We had our first frost and all of my ginger lilies were killed before they could finish blooming. :-( Hope you are having a great week!...hugs...Debbie
Sigh........
Those are just beautiful! I would love to take a walk with you in Florida at this time of year. It must be so nice to still be surrounded by vibrant beauty.
And I tend to agree that it would make a wonderful flower for a fairy tale wedding. Oh, a plain old fairy wedding, too.
You need to do a table with those as the centerpiece. I would love to see it. It would be a breath of fresh air.
Hi Dear One! OH, this is a gorgeous plant! I don't have a clue what it is but oh, what pretty blooms! Yes, you are blessed to live in such a beautiful place!!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
That is a gorgeous shrub/tree? I think the SW and Florida do become paradise this time of the year ..especially for all of us northerners who are battening down for winter and well aware of the cold and ice and snow that is right around the corner.
Your blue skies and waters and warm temperatures are a lure that beckon Mrs Magpie! :)
Happy Outdoor Wednesday!
♥ Pat
Oh I just love Florida -- what gorgeous pictures of your own personal Eden. Looks heavenly indeed.
Jenny
xo
OMG! That tree with the yellow flowers is just gorgeous! I wonder what it is called. The pink flowers in the background are beautiful too. Looks like you are having a nice weather in Florida, Sheila. I hope it stays since I will be there soon....Christine
Hi Beautiful Soul! What a gorgeous yellow sunshiney plant!! I love it! And I love YOU! And I agree that we pretty much live in the garden of Eden, especially now that hurricane season is over for this year!! WOOHOO!!!
Thank you so much for your love and encouragement, Sheila! You have been a bright spot in some pretty harried days here lately! Really want to come squeeze your neck!
How is Mr. Magpie? All recouped and stuff??? I sometimes make up words! HA!!
Pray for my time management, PLEASE!! My business is going well, and it is such a huge answer to prayer, but I have to do better with my time and organizing the tasks!!!
Don't know when I'll get up there, but maybe I could come up for the Christmas thingy! You gonna be there then? Would love to see it with you!!
Big hugs and love to you!!
Becky
What a gorgeous tree, my friend! You truly live surrounded by beauty. And to think this is your growing season!! WOW! All I have are my mums...but they are beauties!! You are going to have to keep up with showing us new blooms each weeks as it gets colder up North here. It will give us fresh hopes of spring!
XO,
Janie
Eden, indeed! The photos are so cheerful. I always liked going to Florida when my parents wintered there, and would ooh and ahh over many flowering shrubs. Looking forward to whatever the pink is!
Ohhh just a heavenly yellow tree or bush? What is that please tell us! lol Such beauty all the time from you! xoxo
Oh yes, the Garden of Eden does exist. I can see what your husband meant.
If you have time, do drop by:
My Outdoor and Watery Wednesday Post
Through a crack... Oooh, that is just the coolest photo!
Yes, we do live in a wonderful place!!!
Have fun tomorrow with your sweet visitors.
Hugs,
Lisa
What gorgeous photography!! You know I love that yellow tree!! If you learn the name of it let me know!
Okay, where is this in St. Aug? We were there today, but for a dr. appt. I did go to Hobby Lobby for about 30 minutes though.
Enjoyed seeing Eden! Yes, we do live in Paradise!!
Katherine
Absolutely gorgeous flowers. Takes your breath away.
Thanks for sharing.
Those yellow blooms are stunning. I love yellow flowers. They're so cheerful. Your commentary about each of the images was delightful, as well.
Visiting from Susan's Outdoor Wednesday. Also became a follower.
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com
Hi Sheila! I loved your photos!!! That yellow tree/shrub is in bloom in several yards in my neighborhood. One house...the tree got so heavy with blooms that it actually split. It seems to be affected by the cold weather, but it comes back each year...and grows quickly. I think it's called the "Scrambled Egg Tree"...Cassia surattensis - Glaucous Cassia, Scrambled Egg Tree. (That's from looking for it online. I will ask my neighbor...a plant expert...if she knows the true name and will let you know.)
Hugs,
Jane (Artfully Graced)
Hi Sheila,
How stunning! I love those yellow flowers and against the blue sky, it is just magnificent!
Thanks for the stroll and the tour my friend! It's been 5 years since I've been in Florida and I sure would love to go back soon!
Hugs Friend,
Cindy
Hi,
I have to agree with your husband, it really is a Garden of Eden. I think the shrub with the yellow flowers is a Cassia, we can grow them here in Southern California too. Lovely! thank you for visiting me.(-:
Sheila,
I love all the beautiful blooms...Happy Outdoors Wednesday! Have a great visit with Huddy,his mother,and his grandsmother. I am doing great...Thanks for stopping by....I did not partcipate in this events...Have no flowers tos show here in Mississippi :( Have a wonderful week Kat
Oh Sheila....what a beautiful post! You captured the essence of what I so adore about your home state...outrageously beautiful flowers, a canopy of blue skies and sunshine, and water...
These yellow blossoms are just heavenly. I love all the photos...such creative shots. But the one with the aqua painted gates...oh my. Can I "steal" it just to put in my personal journal pages? Promise I won't sell it.
You blessed my day with these beautiful flowers! Xo, Sue
Wow how beautiful. Just what I needed on this very chilly early morning in Georgia where things aren't quite blooming still except for maybe the pansies. Thanks for sharing!
Those yellow blooms are beautiful. You captured a lot of great photos of them.
Thank you for the beautiful photos of blue sky and gorgeous flowers. It's cold and dreary here and it will be many months before we see such things again. I'm so envious that you can walk to the water, Sheila. You live in a beautiful place.
I don't know the name of this beautiful tree/shrub either but I saw the exact same thing in Jamica when I was there recently... and longed to have one in my yard!
Beautiful photos Sheila, especially the one showing the blossoms through the crack in the fence!
OMG!!!! How breathtaking! Just beautiful and you got some of the most gorgeous shots of that bush. WOW! (Is that enough adjectives to let you know how I feel about this post!!) :=)
Hello, my dear poet friend! Not only are these flowers breathtaking but, even more lovely are your words! This was the most beautiful post. You just paired your words perfectly with each photo. You are gifted!
Best,
Gloria xxoo
Love this post,I felt as if I was on this wonderful walk with you.Thank you.And I don't know what kind of shrub that is but it is about the prettiest that I have seen.
Thank you so much for visiting LazyonLoblolly your sweet comment is so appreciated.
-Jo
-LazyonLoblolly
That's a gorgeous color and a lovely plant. Wish they were good for my zone! Thanks for stopping by. Jane F.
That is a spectacular example of Florida blooms.
How can life be grim when we have God's beauty to see.
How gorgeous, Sheila...makes me wish summertime wasn't so far away...sniff, sniff!
Hi Sheila,
Such beauty! Thank you for taking us along on your morning walk and sharing the spectacular vibrant yellow blossoms (stunning against that bluer-than-blue sky!).
Hope the rest of your week goes well.
Warmest regards,
Bill
The flowers peeking out the wood fence are just wondeeful. You could blow up that photo and do so much with it...gorgeous. ♥O
I Sheila, I guess we all have our "Eden's" .... I lived in Florida (2 places) --and know how pretty it can be certain times of the year. BUT--since I was born and raised in the mountains, I missed the beautiful season changes and the snow in winter.. That's why I don't live in Florida now!!!!!! I guess I'm just a mountain gal!!!! That's my 'Eden'....
Great pictures...
Hugs,
Betsy
Hi Sheila
I really enjoyed this warm and sunny post today. The pictures you took are beautiful and the sky looks really blue. Hope you are having a fun day with your godson and friends. Thinking of you.
Lindsay
x
I am sooooooo greeeeeen with gardening envy :) Gorgeous. Be still my rapidly beating heart !!!!!!
(I, BTW, was born by the River Eden).
Those were gorgeous photo's. Happy Outdoor Wednesday.
I have to agree with your husband, you do live in what I would vision the Garden of Eden looking like.
Wow, those yellow flowers are so beautiful. Great post of Outdoor Wednesday.
Would that be the Pirate ship? Sure looks like it.
Those pretty flowers make me want to run not walk back to St. Augustine Mrs. Magpie. I need more yellow in my gardens for sure.
Stunning photo's Mrs. Magpie. You captured the beauty of your town : )
Hope your having fun with the "little man".
Love You
Love Me
xoxoxoxoxoxo
You do live in the Garden of Eden. It is so hard to come home after being where things are blooming, to Illinois where things are dying. I love the way you created a story with those wonderful blossoms. We still had hibiscus blooming when we left, but we came home to everything brown and curled up...so sad.
Thank you so much for all the kind words...my parents really were a love story from the beginning to the end. How lucky were they?
Oh that is beautiful. Your photos are stunning. Wonderful job capturing it.
Sherry
Oh Shelia are those yellows are just beautiful girl..How fun to have flowers this time of year ha ha!! Love ya girl...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
Dearest Magpie aka Sheila,
You are so sweet, I love finding your comments on my blog and then I realize that I have completely missed two of your posts. I am so thoughtless, can you forgive me?
Well, I am here now, so that only makes one that I have missed.
Anyway...what a gorgeous flowering bush!!! I have never been to Florida, I would love to go at this time of the year, when it is finally cooling down and so many plants and shrubs are blooming. Thank you so much for all of the lovely photos, it has really brightened my evening and of course your sense of humor always brightens my day.
Love and hugs, Cindy
I enjoyed seeing these pictures again and strolling with you down St. Aug streets!
Thank you for your sweet comment to my tablescape! It was fun the way it just came together - totally different from what I had planned!
Enjoy your company! Looks like the weather is going to be perfect!
Katherine
Sheila,
These sunshiny photos just perked me up! :) You do live in the Garden of Eden!!
Looking at the photos from a quilter's perspective -- so many of those would be nice to be interpreted as quilts!
You really do live in the garden of Eden. Maybe I will someday. Right now I live in yuckville! Ok, I am not a cold weather kind of gal and I escape as often as I can but haven't been able to move away permanently! I loved the green gate with the flowers in front. That one should be framed and hung.
Hi Sheila...
My friend, you certainly do live in the Garden of Eden!!! Ohh...I really enjoyed your fabulous photos of all those gorgeous flowers! The pink hibiscus...lovely! And...ohhh, the bright yellow flowers are divine!!! How I would love to have a tree with those beautiful blooms!!! Your photos were magnificent, my friend! Thank you for sharing your garden and walk with us!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
GORGEOUS shrub & beautiful photos! LOVE the one through the crack and the contrast with that gorgeous Florida blue sky :-)
I know you are enjoying your company right now! I knew that St. Augustine was "the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States". We loved our visit to that beautiful city on the water!!!
I also LOVE all the fantastic photos you captured of the Florida flowers!
You're making me homesick for my house in Venice!! I cried when we left...but I cried when we left Ohio, too. I cry a lot. ;-)
Have fun sharing Eden with your guests!
Sheila,
The pictures are beautiful. I need to get out soon and take some myself but right now I have my nose to the needle on the sewing machine and my fingers on the computer keys trying to catch up on visiting my blogging friends!
Carol
Oh what a lovely walk with you today -- that fall blooming is quite beautiful -- looking forward to your "surprise" pinks too! Thanks for your sweet visit to my table this week.
OK, that was just mean.
I thought you said 'Garden of Eating' and I was getting out my maps to plan my trip immediately.
Darn. I pictured cupcakes bushes and trees dripping with bacon and stuff like that.
Sure, sure, the flowers are pretty and Eden like...but the other image...wow.
ha!
Happy Thursday.
that as absolutely wonderful, a gorging of yellow, warm, embracing, beautiful with a hint of deep blue sea, FANTASTIC!
thank you so much for sharing, I love the yellow.. wow. this has been such an inspiring post..
it is so beautiful...
show off.
:)
love that turquoise door too!
hugs~
chas
Hi Sheila, I promised to look up the yellow flowering tree. Here is the link. Cassia yellow flowering tree Check Google. My daughter's Cassia tree is actually on the images on Google. I thought I remembered that beautiful yellow flower.
Hugs and love to you today and always,
Jeanne xoxoxo
Sheila,
Glorious post. What beauty you have captured in the photos. I love it!
Isn't the beauty in God's creation a blessing?
Florida at this time of year is always a treat! The flowers are just beautiful! This was such a lovely post Sheila, thank you for sharing Eden with us.
♥, Susan
from ancient far away lands
whose stars shined the same ~
but whose good earth was sand
i held dear in my heart ~
the voices of friends most sweet
of who's sisterhood i could not part
and without i felt incomplete.
dog tags searing in the desert sun
i searched for eden months on end
i fought the battle that must be won
ever grateful at home i had a friend!
Always Hugging you....
From Across The Seas...or Here At Home !
(please enjoy your time with your beloved family)
(and 3 cheers to Ruth ) !
How could anyone not be in love with God after seeing the perfect art he created. Thanks for sharing. Love you, Mollye
Just stopped by to say hello... and see what the Magpies were up to today! I love the photos... my favorites... the flowers peeking through the fence to say "hello" and the photo against the aqua shutters... just beautiful-beautiful... take care dear friend and know that you are often in my thoughts and always in my prayers... hugs... Dixie
Sheila-If I had to pick my own personal Eden on earth, it would definitely have a Florida zip code :)The cassia is just gorgeous and a plant I am unfamiliar with--those yellow blossoms would be a welcome sight around here in the fall!What lucky houseguests! I know you will all have a wonderful time together. Can't wait to hear about you adventures together and see more pics of your adorable god son! Hope all is well with you and Mr. Magpie--take care :)
Beautiful flowers - thanks for sharing them with us.
Thanks for stopping by. Yes - the older I get the faster time does go by, and since I stopped working, it goes by even faster.
Enjoy your evening.
Shelia, I think your husband may be right. You do live in Eden. What gorgeous photos. That tree is incredible, and I love the imaginary wedding you created with words and photos. Lovely post. laurie
And how is Ms. Magpie today? I bet you could root a piece of that yellow bush quite easily. You know, I keep dropping subtle hints to my DH about retiring to Florida. He owns his own business and says he can never retire. I say "pooh!". What do you say?
Ah. That is the sound of me sighing. Yellow is my very favorite color. It always makes me happy. Of course anyone would love this gorgeous floral display.
And, yellow and pink is one of my favorite color combinations. Maybe your pink will be around for Saturday.♥
Oh my.... those flowers are just beautiful!
Hi, I came to see if you had a new post... Nope! But I DID want to say it is awfully nice of you to change your heading pic and words to celebrate Veterans Day! Good for you! I love that picture of the poppies too. Beautiful!
Best,
Gloria
What a nice flowers pics!
Asi que te gusta veranear en Siesta key, es un lugar maravilloso. I fall in love with Sarasota
xoxo
Oh, as far as your comment on my blog--we have eaten at Magnolias too. I am wondering if Charleston has any of the yellow thingies.....hmmmm, I wonder!! They surely are happy flowers!
What a glorious tree, and you captured it so beautifully with your camera, Sheila. I hope this finds you enjoying every minute of your company's visit. May it be filled with Florida sunshine and flowers as beautiful as those in your pictures.
What a beautiful flower! Is it a vine? It certainly is pretty! Enjoy !
What a gorgeous plant...love the pictures of it peeking through the fence :)
Just wanted to take time out from the Open House to say hello & see what you've been up to - so glad for your comments this week! It's got us through the long days of decorating! Enjoy your sunshine & have fun with "Adam" in your garden....
Sheila, the yellow flowers are gorgeous, but the pink Hibicus stole my heart!
Hugs, Ann
Oh Shiela Sweetie...
What a gorgeous share. I loved my yellow sunshine stroll with you. Florida must be beautiful. I have never visited, but have a BIL who keeps insisting we come for a visit. Perhaps, one day.
We too, are having beautiful weather here in the desert. It is the reason I stay here. We have the best of at least (3) seasons anyway. Warm and sunny again today, very little if any, wind.
Thank you for the gorgeous share. I hope you enjoyed your godson. He looks so sweet in his hat, and just reading away. I know you had something special in store for him.
So happy to know that Mr. Magpie is much better, and getting back to himself again. He really gave us all a scare.
Have a beautiful weekend sweetie. Please know that you are so loved. Many hugs and much love, Sherry
Hello, Sheila,
You certainly do live in the Garden of Eden!! Such lovely cheerful yellow blooms. Thank you for sharing them with us. Your godson is a doll, and being a retired school teacher, I love that he is reading!! Have a beautiful weekend, sweet friend~love always~Vicki
I especially love the yellow blooms with the back drop of that rustic blue door. Hope you have a great week!
Oh my, I DO so love that yellow shrub or whatever it happens to be. That is one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen!
Brenda
You are most definitely in the Garden of Eden Sheila with those gorgeous flowers. Sometimes I like to use a French phrase, "la bonne vie," or the good life. Once we even named one of our houses La Bonne Vie.
Sam
Beautiful absolutely beautiful Shelia, and to be able to walk among such beauty such a great blessing.
Thank you for sharing, and I love to see a gentleman reading a book, and your buddy is so handsome, I know you had a great time with him and his family.
Thank you for you sweet words on my post.
Hugs,
Sue
That's so pretty Sheila! I hope you're having fun with your godson :)
What gorgeous pictures! Also, I'm lovin' the poppy header picture!
Hugs from Heidi
Hi Shelia....I lived in Florida for 7 years and Inever remember seeing this beautiful flower....the hibiscus we had everywhere but not this pretty yellow plant...ofcourse it could have been there and I just never noticed...after all I went to get in the car one day in our car port and there was a tree infront of it and I saw things growing on it...Oh I got so excited....I wetn and piced off the "Limes" and brought them inside and showed them to the Boss....we cut one open and there was nothing inside....well there was but it sure wasn't a lime.....No we found out some time later that it was grapefruit that just hadn't gotten big yet....
gorgeous!!! thank you for the lovely walk and FL is one of my favorite places to be! Fabulous photos really.
Stunning!! Absolutely Stunning!! Great photos too! You are quite the photographer!!
No place like Florida :)
The Sunshine State!
Lou Cinda
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