Lovingly called “Coralito” in Ecuador, this prolific climber graces many fences in the country.
The presence or absence of flowers says a lot about the soul of a community. What doorstep doesn’t appreciate a pot of bright-red and happy geraniums?! Cascading explosions of color come to mind when I think of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and Cuenca Ecuador makes me think of perpetual spring-time flowers. Usually when I try to figure out why a particular town instantly repels me, I note there is a lack of color in general, but a lack of flowers in particular.
Alamanda
Thoreau said that no one is so poor that he need sit on a pumpkin, and the same goes for displaying a splash of colorful flowers. One needs no budget for tending a few pots of flowers!
Volunteer and cheerful, the morning-glory starts the day with a bright cheerful smile!
Where would we be without flowers?!!!
A Crown of Golden Flowers for the Stunt Driving Queen!
A crown of flowers helped transform Barbara’s early-morning barrel roll into a late-morning of smiles and laughter! How lacking our world would be without flowers!
Happy Flowers displayed in classic Ecuadorian style. Jama, Ecuador
The town of Jama might not smile with brightly-painted homes, but splashes of color spring from lovingly-tended gardens.
Flowers bridge all cultures- High in the Andes at Banos, Ecuador
Dear Dear Betty, tending her beautiful garden in Costa Rica.
For the Love of Flowers! Rivas, Nicaragua
Classic Bouquets in Lovely Cuenca Ecuador
The exotic flowers forever capture my attention! These were growing in Jama, Ecuador
This Mystery Flower grows near Cruzita Ecuador.
Dear friend Laura, in the Republic of Panama, wins top prize for entertaining with original style!
Hibiscus flowers find their way to my table quite often! These were used in gumbo!
Hibiscus – lovely for salads, for tea and equally lovely for the eyes! Marie would remind me that they make great Zeebra Shots, too! (More about Zeebra Shots when the exhibition ends!)
Wild Heliconia Transplant – Costa Rica
Guayaquil’s Botanical Gardens along the Malecon
Flowers soften dark corners, brighten gloomy rooms and bring springtime indoors during the cold winter months. Essential to my best mental health, flowers enhance the quality of my day!
My little friend Deier!
I’m blessed to live where there are perpetual flowers year round. How boring life would be without flowers! A big “Thanks” goes to Where’s My Backpack for giving me this opportunity to bask in the flowers that color my world!
Happily catching up on posts,
Z
What is it about flowers? So soothing, such a reminder of how beauty can be found anywhere. ty
You are so right! May flowers smile on you through the rest of the week! Z
Z – I need that and thank you xx Les
Well, I’ll double that order of smiles, and remember that the full moon is smiling down at you as well! Z
Beautiful post. Flowers are for the soul, daily doses for me living in the sub tropics, as I do. My life would not be complete without them. I would love to know what the exotic flower is photographed in Jama. I’ll have to do some searching.
i think it’s some sort of cactus.. when i’m back in jama, i’ll take more photos!
thanks, z
Such a wonderful, varied selection – well done!
Thanks! I liked yours as well! Z
-Nature does not repeat constantly that God loves us. But we can understand through their flowers.
Paul Coelho
Adiós mi amiga Z..
We certainly can (understand) through the flowers. As always, thanks Carlos! Z
Gorgeous post! I feel like I was just swept away to Latin America for a spell. I needed that!
I am so happy this post provided the easy transportation! Thanks! Lisa
Much cheaper than my usual travels!
ja! so true! z
How wonderful these photos are. I so agree, a life without flowers would be a sad life indeed!
Thank you! And we can all thank “Where’s My Backpack” for the great theme! Z
Oh my goodness :Lady Zeebra……what a memory !!! and your smile and spirit of laughter presented me with relief as I thought it would be a disaster as you had just had the breaks and paid for fixed on the “convertible trooper whatever year” ??? (grin) fixed ( we thought) and I lost it on the hill up to Hank and Marie’s….. Thank you Dave for planting all of those beautiful hibiscus plants where you did..otherwise I would have rolled and rolled and might not be here to say thank you Lady Zeebra!!
But of course I knew that you’d get a surprise smile when you read this post. Ditto for Laura and those incredible drinks! Z
I’ve always loved flowers. They give color to the world!
Wonderful post!
Thank you! Z
Glorious flowers Z! These look amazing!
Thanks so much! Your hummingbirds would feel at home in many of those settings! Z
Beautiful photos — and beautiful flowers! Thanks for the gift!
You are so very welcome! Hope it’s a good day for you! Z
Z, I absolutely love this post, and what fabulous shots. That lady with the basket of flowers on her head is my absolute favourite, no wait, Betty tending her garden, or the crown of golden flowers – I can’t choose. They’re lovely! xxx Ailsa
And you are such a great cheerleader! I’m so glad that you enjoyed visiting Nicaragua and Costa Rica through those flower ladies!
2 countries I have got to see for myself. Thanks for the floral preview! xxx
Another wonderful post Z! Thanks for the floral treats. Love the Heliconia painting behind the Hibiscus. You are quite the pro at these challenges
Ha! I always loved challenges and themes, and participating allows the right brain to soar! Thanks! Z
The flowers are beautiful – a real treat, since our heat’s increased so much most of ours have faded for the time being. The exceptions? Bougainvilla, sunflowers and coneflowers – and alamanda, one that we share!
Si; I am at a friend’s house and am looking at my a 20-foot-tall bougainvilla that’s ablaze in fuschia color in the morning sunlight. It looks like you might get some rainfall from Ernesto, but I hope that his gift of water is a kind and benevolent one. z
Vibrant colored flowers that lights up our world.
And we’re thankful to be able to see in full color! Z
Very lovely, Lisa and yes you are blessed to have flowers year round. Wher I live, it is a very short season, but I especially love the delicate wildflowers in the mountains.
Richard
For sure the delicate wildflowers are lovely, and I hope that you have plenty of leisure time to enjoy them. We’re having a ‘cool’ spell, which seems to enrich the colors of the flowers. Cool spell = jacket at night for most people! i’ve needed a jacket in the daytime as well! Z
I loved this post Zee. You have some really lovely photos. I need flowers in my life, Sometimes when I’m feeling yuk a vase of flowers on the table next to me will help lift my spirits.
I was so envious to see the photo of the night blooming cereus full of flowers. (your label : “These were growing in Jama, Ecuador”)
Mine bloomed only last night for the first time. And only one flower.
What a beautiful gift your night-blooming cereus gave you! Sometimes we can better appreciate one lone lovely blossom/gift than to be overloaded with abundance. I am glad that it gave you a gift that smiled on you all night!
Thanks for your lovely comments!
Z
Love that crown of flowers
It was a great impromptu moment, when my friend all but barrel-rolled an old Isuzu trooper. I crowned her queen of the stunt drivers! the memory will burn forever in our memories!
I loved all these flowers, thank you for sharing. I like the upside down ones from Ecuador – they remind me of the Flor Infundia I see in El Salvador – but are more psychedelic.
I am glad that you enjoyed the post. I am not sure about that particular flower – I think it’s a form of cactus. The datura, which I did not have an image of, is definitely a very dangerous but lovely flower. Thanks for your visit! Z