In Memory ....and in Honor....

At midnight on the 29th of February, 1960, Agadir was destroyed by a tragic earthquake. In 15 seconds 25, 000 people perished. This weekend, in the mosques and churches across the country, memorial services will be held and prayers will be offered for the victims.
From the rubbles of the diseaster a new Agadir was born, the Agadir I know and love!

I would like to dedicate my "gardens and flowers" posts, to the memory of those who lost their lives when the city fell, and in honor of those who labored to rebuild it.
Please remember this while you are visiting.

Beautiful and breath taking, Bougainvilia

I've not done any official research to know for sure, but I'll venture to say that the bougainvilia, named for a French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville, is the most popular and decorative plant in Agadir. As you can see from these pictures (I hope there aren't too many!!), the bougainvilia is varied in color: from red-violet tones to purples, from pinks and oranges to salmon, and even white. They make solid, massive hedges which line walls and avenues, or very quietly creep and crawl up trees, through fences and over terraces.

They're just simply beautiful!!

Notice the dainty white flower pistils in the center!

Hmmm, love this one!!

The orange ones are rare, and less resistant, but they do exist!

Pure pleasure

A bridal bouquet.

The following couple pictures of this extaordinary wall of solid purple and red- violet bougainvilia were taken in the yard of a dear friend...I must have taken a couple dozen pictures of it..it is just magnificent!!

I love to see them like this in a "mescloum" , a tantalizing mixture.

Isn't it peaceful!! It's during the lunch hour and no one was in the street!

This is a close up of a mass of bougainvilia who've attacked a very tall tree!

Here if you look closely you can see this hedge is made up of red hibiscus growing above the bougainvilia flowers.

Here you can get an idea of how high they climb

Happy, Hardy Hibiscus

The ones I've pictured are red, but the bushes used as hedges and decorations along the walls and yards can also be pink.

We had one once in the yard of our villa when the kids were growing up that was white with a red heart.

And for a few years on the out door window sill of our living room we had one that was apricot in color.

Jovial Geraniums

Geraniums grow very well in Agadir. They're a favorite for decorating balconies, drive ways, sidewalks and using in large beautiful argile pots in the yards. Most of them are in the pink, red tones..

Brillant bright pink geraniums!!


Besides the pretty geraniums in this picture, you can see my merry, fidel, Pegeot 500. We've been together for a good many years already. I'd LOVE to have a brand new one. Same color , same model, same car!! But they don't make them anymore, and as yet , no one has found a way to clone them.. :-)

Delicate, Delightful Daisies!!

There are delicate delightful daisies everywhere you look at this time of year. But as the song says" please, please don't eat " them and don't even pick them. Enjoy them to the fullest as you walk or drive by, and let them brighten your day..all for now, but mind you a new post is on its way.

Aren't they just beautiful!!

February's Blooming Mimosa

February is coming to a close. We were blessed with so much rain this month, that the gardens and flowers are just too beautiful not to photograph and share.
The problem is, as always for me, deciding which pics to share....
There are way too many for only one post. The only solution is to do MORE than one...and that is what I'm going to do. Here's the first dedicated to the lovely Mimosa trees( a variety of acacia) now gracing the yards and avenues!
I don't remember seeing Mimosa trees in Indiana, at least not where I lived, but maybe they exist in So. Indiana....they surely exist in Texas, Arizona, California...warm states, quoi!!!
Something interesting to note; in French , deviled eggs,are called "oeufs mimosa" referring to the flowers of the Mimosa tree which are like little yellow balls.
Enjoy our Mimosa !!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

"HUG SOMEONE YOU LOVE TODAY!!"

That is what the little card says, but why not just HUG EVERYONE you love today!!(unless they're miles away, then send them a card!!) That's what Valentine's day is all about.

I had a great page prepared in my head to post for the 14th of February, but we are already there and I haven't been able to get done what I wanted to do. My idea was to make a valentine box out of a shoe box, you know like we did back in the 50's when we were in grade school. I've no idea if such things are still done, or have been done over the years.

Well, I didn't get the box made!

Next I wanted to take pictures of some very old Valetine's that date back to when my Dad was in grade school..the pictures and verses written on them are much different than any I've seen..

I didn't get that done either, mainly because I haven't found them !! I put them in one of my treasure holding drawers, but so far haven't found the right one. And I have been loooking!!

So they will not appear at this time..maybe next week, if I do find them.

I was also going to make cookies and take pictures of them, but I just made a cake instead and it's not really worth a picture..it's heart shaped and chocolate, but not frosted (my family never liked the frosting) or decorated!!

So just let me say, I hope you enjoy your Valentine's day. It's one of my favorite holidays!!

xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxo

The Gift of Time

I celebrate myself, and sing myself
I loafe, and invite my soul....Walt Whitman


This week of February is SUPER BIRTHDAY WEEK.
Three dear friends and yours truly will be celebrating their special days in a four day suite: the 5th ,6th-7th- and 8th.
I've chosen to write in purple, NOT because I'm in morning but because it's the color of our lovely birthstone the amethyst.
My wish for us this year and always are in the words of a thirteen-century English mystique, Dame Julian of Norwich:
"All shall be well,
And All shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well."


The song says, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold!!"" Isn't it so true.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO You,

My Golden Friends !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY To US!!!!!!