Summer is the best time to view flowers in full bloom in the towns of Furano and Biei in central Hokkaido. Hopping from one farm to another, you will be surrounded by lavender, sunflower, poppy, salvia, cosmos, Japanese rose, and more.
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Colour Me Orange
Have you ever had a colour analysis where someone advises you what colours flatter your skin tone and which ones you should avoid at all costs? I did and was told that cool colours like blue and purple are great for me, whereas warm colours such as brown and orange don’t match my complexion. This week’s…
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Thistle me purple
Bought thistles for the first time today. Love the striking geometry of this prickly plant, as well as its purple crowning glory. This is quite a handsome flower, don’t you agree? While reading up on thistles, here are some fun facts I came upon today: * The humble weed is the national emblem of Scotland *…
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Mysterious orange blooms and the joys of letter-writing
Dear Reader, Summer’s here. Sort of – it’s being pouring the last few days in Brussels. But at least flowers are abloom and getting all the water they need. Do you like flowers? I recently bought a bunch of flowers at the market. Most of them had yet to blossom, hidden within their green pods. The…
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Royal Greenhouses of Laeken // Serres Royales de Laeken
Spring’s finally here! Inspired by the lovely weather, I went through some photos taken last year during a visit to the royal greenhouses of Laeken (Serres Royales de Laeken). Every year, for three weeks only, the Belgian royal family open their greenhouses to the public. This year, the royal greenhouses will be open for all to visit from 18 April…
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Good morning, Abashiri // 網走市, 北海道
Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. So much so that I sometimes feel bad for people who cannot take any food in the morning. Surely they are missing out! I don’t need an elaborate breakfast, just something satisfying to give me a good start to the day. A typical weekday breakfast would be…
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Susan Glaspell: Fidelity (Persephone Book No. 4)
First published in 1915, Susan Glaspell’s Fidelity has been reintroduced to contemporary readers by the excellent Persephone Books, which produces out-of-print or forgotten works from the early twentieth century by female writers in its signature grey jacket. Fidelity is set in the midwestern town of Freeport in Iowa in 1913 and revolves around its protagonist,…
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Green Spark: Royal Greenhouses of Laeken / Serres Royales de Laeken
We visited the royal greenhouses of Laeken (Serres Royales de Laeken) in Brussels two weekends ago. What an impressive structure! Or should I say ‘structures’ since this is in fact a series of greenhouses erected on the Laeken palace grounds? One cannot over-emphasize how impressive the greenhouses are – AB remarked that it looked like a…
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Welcome Back, Spring
The streets of Brussels suddenly turned pink over the weekend as the cherry trees (cerisiers) broke into full bloom. Great to have Spring back!
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Angelina Hue 