From bland to grand

There are hollyhocks.

The hedges are changing color.

On the ground, the maples are glowing.

And this exuberant hydrangea makes me smile.

Really? It's opposite of bland.

Whether mops of color or delicate sprays,

what it takes is a closer look ...

and even the seed heads have a lovely geometry.

Early October in Seattle looked bland at first glance (below). But what beauty we found with a closer look ... What's around you?

A sunny walk

There are fragrant roses.

And on the same plant, rose hips.

But the cone hydrangea waves, "Look at me! Look at me." So we do.

Fluff and stuff

Everywhere I look, something is ready for reassignment. These tall dried grass heads are a perfect complement to the book corner. 

Not done yet!

 Our daughter-in-law and her friends are gleaners, picking up expired food and flowers from a variety of supermarkets. This wall-hung vase offers a second chance: "One more round for you!" and the bouquet lights up the corner for another week.

Star-crossed

The shrub in a Seattle boulevard boasts a star-cross topping. How pretty!

What the blazes?

On a walk around the Seattle neighborhood, the grandkids pause beneath a fall tree, ablaze with color.

Dry finds

 This week, I find moss and seed pods on the street. That's enough to make a collection for the nook table.

Shaded lilies

 In a shaded corner of the garden, amaryllis bulbs are spreading under the "water apple" shrub.

Sunshine and shadow

Along a concrete wall, this sprig casts a shadow. The hot tropical sun ensures constant and steady growth. The biggest challenge is pruning plants back into shape.

A pinch of yellow

What's that? A 2 cm/1" pinch of yellow catches my eye, hanging from a vine beside the gate.

Small wonder

I brought a little bronze vase from Mom's place. A spray of tiny flowers, held on twigs above low leaves in the garden, are the perfect complement.

Casual beauty

In the tropics, exotic flowers are everywhere. They're taken for granted.

A few times a year, a neighbor's flowerbed fills with white blooms.

It's messy and wonderful.

Another neighbor's hedge covers the drainage ditch by the road.

We admire the abundance.

An elegant mop

This elegant mop adorns the stage of the IES Bandung hall. #TitikBadudu's arrangements have flow and beautiful geometry.

After a week, the sunflowers have faded. I raid the garden for two branches from one plant, a few grasses, and some hedge clippings.

You don't need much imagination to spruce up a bouquet when one branch has red and black colored leaves, four stems down from the yellow, peach, and green leaves at the top. The colors practically sing themselves into place.

The capture

The orchid roots have captured a lizard. It dries out, fossilized by the time we remove it. I hide it among the books on the shelf. Someone will spot it - and that will be fun.

Decisions, decisions

Pink today or red? Well, let's do both. The flowering hedge by the #PadmaHotel catches our attention.

Rooted contentment

I pluck a plant from the edges of the hedge. It's very happy in the 70cm/2' Bali glass we use as an aquarium on the Porch.

Roses are red and twigs are brown ...

This combination of red, white and structure is eye-catching. Another unconventional creation by #TitikBadudu.

3 stages of beauty

The rows of color are lovely when #TitikBadudu creates the arrangement for the IES Bandung hall.

I water it until Phase 2, when it begins to fade. The colors soften and the arrangement becomes thinner. It's still beautiful.

After a week and a half, I strip out the remaining mums and clean the oasis and container.

But don't throw out those flowers too soon. There's enough for a third stage of wonder. The bud vases light up the nook, sitting atop a traditional Medanese cloth.

Purple clipping

I took a clipping from the neighbor's hedge last year, pushed it into a pot, and forgot about it. This morning, I walk out to the whole vine filled with clusters of purple. The fragrance is sweet and delicate.

Iris smiles

 I've never seen irises in Bandung. My Dutch friend sends over a bulb. And there it is. Makes me smile.

Magenta pompoms

This tiny plant lights up a corner of the garden

Red, white, and green

A pot on the curb suddenly erupts in red flowers. I got a plant clipping from a neighbor because I liked its leaves. The blooms are a bonus.

Faces aglow

 At movie night, lights from the Christmas trees create warm ambiance and set faces aglow inside and on the Porch.

How did we end up with 6 trees this year? We have no idea. We just kept finding more in storage.

White corners

On one end of the shelf, the white poinsettia and red berries light up the wall.

At the other end of the shelf, they draw the eye to a lantern and a broken slab of tile. Never underestimate the adventure as a roving eye explores a room.

Nothing special

With the addition of pine cones, a few wooly hats, and gold leaves, there's nothing too special about the artificial wreath. But oh, how it cheers up the old wooden door that leads upstairs.

An empty vase

White birds perch on the entry table. My mom crocheted the doily when we kids were small, 50 or 60 years ago.

I set the empty vase inside a simple wreath. That's enough for now.

Simple geometry

The collection looks simple until you get up close to the hydrangea and other garden pickings. "I just used what I had on hand," says #TitikBadudu.

What a hand it is! I water it on the stovetop in the "dirty kitchen" before bringing it into the living room.

Family history

Our Christmas tree gathers memories from childhood through our grandkids. There are souvenirs from trips around the world. And there are dated ornaments from campaigns and landmark events.

We love to remember how rich and full our life has been, filled with people and places.

A little tree on the bookcase sparkles and lights up the corner to the hall.