Street Flowers

 To walk around the streets is to be greeted by flowers. I love yellow roses, and these ones, just popping out of their buds, are sheer delight.

 A corokio hedge has been newly cut, but its flowers are determined to bloom.

I love their little star-like forms, chattering away in the hedge.

From yellow to red, and I spot puriri flowers peeping out from high branches

a flame tree, now sporting new leaves as well as its vibrant scarlet flowers,

and in one of the street gardens, gladioli flaming on their stalks.


In the book by Maoshing Ni on Secrets of Longevity, I came across a page called 'Stress-Busting Flowers'. She describes the effect of flowers on a person's moods, and declares that colourful flowers combat stress. A study showed that people typing beside a bright bouquet were able to relax better than people who sat beside foliage alone.

As I came down the hill towards home, I passed the softness of camellias,

and finally, as I came in the gate, here were two tall trees enjoying their pink frilly leafing time. I can't remember the name of these trees because I think of them as 'truffula' trees - as in Dr Seuss's book The Lorax. As long as the truffula trees are thriving, the world is doing OK.
And as long as the streets are blooming with such exuberance, I am uplifted.