Abundance

How easy it is to see what is missing in our lives. Easy to notice how charmless and dire our circumstances are. This is why I literally stop and smell the flowers to ground myself on the opposite. 

Flowers just bloom wherever they are, regardless of environs. They are fancily clothed and are free to show off who they are and what they are made of. They open for anyone whether they get noticed or not. Their duty is not to perform but just to blossom.

And they do not scrape for more color or more parts or look this way and that to compare who bloomed best. More so, they just have so much to give. Ask the bees. Ask anyone whose heart has been touched by the gift of flowers.

Channeling Cherry Blossoms

While paying a visit to an all-glass chapel perched atop a hill overlooking a fantastic view of a cove, I could not help but be enchanted by the Banaba tree which was in full bloom with its delicate lavender blossoms. It stood regally along the chapel's wrap around glass terrace. 

I could almost imagine the flowers dreamily floating down and gently brushing my cheeks. That is how I picture the famous cherry blossoms in Japan. Never been there. Only through photos of friends who have. The photos themselves already are fabulous. What more seeing them for real. But for now, I see, I am captivated by this next best thing -- Lavender Banaba Blossoms.

Billowy Mussaenda

Sprinting to the car from my sister in-law's gate (it was scorching hot, that's why), I could not help but notice the showy clusters of what I mistook for flowers overhead. On closer inspection I realize that its true flowers are the little yellow ones tucked in nicely in the folds of the big peach pink sepals. It was a pleasant confusion. Nature can be quite surprising. 

I had to stop and brandish my ever reliable camera phone and snap away at those fascinating pastel tones and velvety textures.