Stop to Smell the Roses!

Resolution 10: I will fully enjoy my yard, rather than being a slave to its upkeep. I will "stop to smell the roses."

In order to "stop to smell the roses," you must begin to take an interest in the background information about your plants. That will allow you to take more joy in your landscaping. Some plants have interesting stories behind them: how they’ve been used historically and the significance they’ve had in the cultures of the world. You can access a lot of this information in minutes by doing a quick Internet search. Once you have this background information on your plants, it will change your perception of them

Too many people see landscaping as little more than a collection of chores that they must complete: mow the lawn, trim the hedges, rake the leaves.... As such, landscaping is reduced to being merely an extension of the work week. I suggest you stop to smell the roses and start enjoying some backyard fun!

clipped from lantanathemovie.com.

Average Customer Rating:

Lantana > Customer Review #1:

Australian Director Ray Lawrences second movie and his first for 17 years is an articulate, intelligent and totally compelling examination of human relationships, as well as a thought provoking thriller. Award winning and critically acclaimed, this is the type of movie that Oscar should be honouring, instead of the commercial Hollywood formulaic mediocrity the Academy often seems to prefer.

Lantana opens with camera panning down through a tangle of shrubs to reveal the dead body of a woman, stockings ripped and one shoe missing. Immediately drawn to this image we are led to wonder who the dead woman is and to wonder how she died and who killed her but rather than this being merely a thriller it is also a highly intelligent and very rewarding examination of troubled marriage. The title Lantana perhaps doesnt translate well to most countries outside of Australia. It is never explained during the movie, which is a bit of a shame, because Lantana (the name of the tropical shrub which surrounds the deceased) is used as a metaphor for the web of tangled relationships portrayed throughout this film.

At the centre of the plot is Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia), a burnt-out forty something Sydney police detective. Over-weight and troubled by chest pains, he is conducting an affair with a woman by the name of Jane OMay (Rachael Blake), who is separated from her husband. Meanwhile, unbeknown to Leon, his unhappy wife, Sonja (Kerry Armstrong) is seeing a therapist, Valerie (Barbara Hershey) about their troubled marriage. However, Valeries own marriage is also in crisis: Following the death of her 11-year-old daughter her husband (Geoffrey Rush) no longer engages in sexual relations and appears to deliberately avoid spending time with her, whilst often working late at the office. Leading Valerie to suspect her husband of a homosexual affair with one of her clients, Michael, who appears to be baiting her.

Ray Lawrence, an Aussie TV commercials director must take enormous credit too for the pace and balance of the movie, as well as the performances, which are all pitch-perfect. Lantana is at once a psychological thriller/drama, an essay in love, and an intelligent examination of human relationships, marriage and fidelity. After making this little gem of a movie, lets just hope that Ray Lawrence doesnt wait another 17 years before making his next one.

clipped from home.howstuffworks.com The Lantana is an annual flower that is abundantly covered through the summer with brightly colored blossoms. The shrubby plant comes in garden varieties bearing white, yellow, gold, orange, and red flowers; usually the older flowers in each cluster are a different color than the younger ones. Description: Lantanas are woody shrubs with large, rough leaves. They grow about three feet tall and equally wide over a summer. When protected against frost, they can grow to 15 feet or more in height over a period of years. How to grow: Lantanas need full sun and hot weather-and actually poor soil-to give their best performance. They are frost-sensitive, so plant outdoors after the ground has warmed thoroughly. Space the plants about 18 inches apart. Uses: Lantanas are most often used in containers. They grow well in sunny window boxes, hanging baskets, or patio planters. Related species: Lantana montevidensis is a widely grown, pink-lavender flowering species. Its growth is more trailing. Lantana camara can be grown from seed.

clipped from www.onlymelbourne.com.au

Victoria's Oldest Homestead

The story of Emu Bottom Homestead begins on August 30 1835, when the schooner Enterprize sailed up Port Phillip Bay.

Nestled amid verdant countryside and surrounded by fertile valley pastures, Emu Bottom Homestead captures the magical spirit of Australia's pioneer past. The windows of the homestead look out upon unspoilt landscape and enchanting garden views. It's hard to believe that this secluded spot is just a short drive from the heart of bustling Melbourne.

On board was the first party of settlers who built the huts of the banks of the Yarra from which the City of Melbourne then grew.

Among that group was George Evans, who after exploring the area, chose to settle 40kms from the city, in a picturesque valley. It was here, in 1836, that he built the handsome stone building now known as Emu Bottom Homestead.

George Evans named his homestead 'Emu Bottom' because he had settled in the low lying ground of the valley well frequented by large flocks of emus.

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

Heide Museum of Modern Art is located in Bulleen, Victoria, Australia and was established in 1981. The site was originally owned by the prominent Melbourne art collectors John and Sunday Reed, whose private farm-house was known as Heide (and now Heide I). Heide I remains on the site, alongside the newer house, Heide II, which was designed by David McGlashan of Melbourne architecture firm McGlashan and Everist and is an iconic example of modernist architecture in Victoria.

Heide was an "idyllic refuge of inspiration for artists and intellectuals" from the 1930s through the 1950s. An example of this was the work of notable Australian artist Sidney Nolan, whose famous Ned Kelly series were painted in the dining room of Heide 

As well as having galleries which house a significant collection of modern and contemporary art, the site is known for the large gardens which surround the various buildings, and are home to numerous sculpture and installation art pieces.

clipped from www.proflowers.com

History and Meaning of Pink Roses

Pink roses have a rich history that comes with being one of the longest existing roses known to us - in fact, pink roses have even been depicted in some of the earliest known pieces of art. When roses first began to be cultivated, the majority of them existed in various shades of pink, from the palest pink to the deepest crimson. Prior to that, pink roses were the dominant species among wild roses, and were likely among the earliest roses to evolve.

In time, discoveries of new rose species and the development of modern hybridization techniques would introduce many new colors of roses. Also introduced at this time were roses with the ability to bloom repeatedly throughout the year. This was a significant development, as earlier garden roses would typically only bloom once a year. As more colors and types of roses entered the palette, each began to take on their own meanings. So too, did the meaning of the pink rose become more refined.

Above all, roses are a symbol for love and gratitude. As the pink rose was the most prevalent among the old garden roses, it was most strongly associated with these sentiments.

Today, pink roses enjoy their own unique position representing elegance and refinement, as well as communicating thanks and admiration. The recipient of an arrangement of pink roses is sure to feel appreciated and special.

clipped from www.observer.com

BEE MOVIE
Running Time 82 minutes
Written by Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Barry Marder and Andy Robin
Directed by Simon J. Smith and Steve Hickner
Starring Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick

Bee wise. Bee smart. Beehave, my heart. Apologies for the bee in my bonnet, but I’ve just seen Bee Movie, and I’m bee-sotted.

You have to laugh. You also have to go away from Bee Movie with a revitalized respect for bees. (I’m talking furry, sluggish bumblebees who mind their own business, like the ones pictured on bear-shaped honey jars and tuna fish cans, not their nasty, worthless cousins, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets.) I have shared my garden peacefully with these miraculous critters for years. I know how harmless and wrongly feared they are. But I didn’t know they were so vital and lovable until Jerry Seinfeld saved their reputation for posterity. Bee Movie is bee balm for the masses.