Gather ye rosebuds...

Feeling a bit rotten today, as I have caught some kind of nasty virus.  Its summer here in New Zealand now, so this seems rather unfair.  It's made me feel blue and to make matters worse, the glorious sunny days we have been enjoying are about to be buffeted aside by a deluge of wet, rainy days.  So, in an effort to cheer myself up, I snuck out into my garden this afternoon, just before the rain arrived, to capture a photo or two of the beautiful flowers in my garden.  Ta da!

This gorgeous pink rose reminds me of a fabulous lipstick my Mother used to wear when I was a child.  The lipstick was called 'Hollywood Rose' and I thought my dear Mum looked so beautiful when she wore it.

'Rambling roses' in the garden at Cape Cottage...

Lovely Christmas flowers to make the inside of Cape Cottage look summery too!  Oh and this one below I could not resist popping in here - my darling dog Max (the manic!) attempting to use the leafy garden to stay cool.

Finally, all these roses remind me of a poem I love by Robert Herrick.  Its been a favourite of mine since I was young and watched the movie 'The Dead Poets Society', with its lesson of 'Carpe Diem' - seize the day!  I think this poem captures that tone very well...enjoy!

TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME.by Robert Herrick

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,     Old time is still a-flying : And this same flower that smiles to-day     To-morrow will be dying. The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,     The higher he's a-getting, The sooner will his race be run,     And nearer he's to setting. That age is best which is the first,     When youth and blood are warmer ; But being spent, the worse, and worst     Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time,     And while ye may go marry : For having lost but once your prime     You may for ever tarry.