Thursday, September 13, 2012

The beauty of Nature

From the pretty pink magnolia


The beauty of nature is so inspiring.
When we see the leaves budding or when we smell the freshness of a Spring day, new hope will always come to us.
To the pretty tui with a tuft of white feathers at his neck

The rich golden glory of the Kowhai flowers,  are so pretty and had to take a photo on my walk this morning. The Kowhai is a native tree to New Zealand and the Tui's  feast on the nectar from the flowers.

Love is a canvas furnished by Nature and embroidered by imagination.
~Voltaire.

Many thanks to all my wonderful friends, just want to say how much I appreciate all your visits and kind comments.
I am having a little giveaway to say thank you... a beautiful big hard back book~
' The best of New Zealand Geographic, Exploring our land and culture'

Our friend Andrew Caldwell, was the Art Director on the book.
We bought two copies and keeping one and would like to gift the other, to one of you.

To enter is simple:
1. If you want to join my giveaway, just leave me a comment on this post.

2. Of course I would love it if you follow my blog 

3. A winner will be drawn on the 20th September and will be happy to send worldwide to whoever wins.

I hope that you are having a wonderful week
Hugs
Carolyn




55 comments:

  1. So pretty Carolyn :) Toss my name in the hat! Great giveaway!

    xx
    leslie

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  2. Dear Carolyn,
    your Magnolia and the Kowhai Flowers are beautiful!

    And what a lovely Giveaway!
    I am sure, this book is very interesting!

    Have a happy and wonderful rest of the week, my dear friend,
    love and hugs,
    Claudia

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  3. I'm so pleased to be learning about your country through your beautiful photos and information. I also like today's quote.

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  4. Dear Carolyn, you have the most fantastic nature around you, and birds and flowers I would never see, if not being your blogging friend :-)
    thankyou for taking us on your morning walk, the bird is so special, and so is the yellow gorgeous flowers.
    Please let me join your wonderful book giveaway- thankyou .
    Hugs from a colder and more autumnlike Denmark-
    xx,Dorthe

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  5. What a beautiful flowers!!....love the book !!...please count me in......have a nice day darling.....love love love ...Ria...xxx..

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  6. indeed, the title speaks for itself!

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  7. Dearest Carolyn,
    Oh, it is spring in your country and it must be wonderful to have a walk enjoying your nature♡♡♡
    Oh, I would love to enter the give away of the book "New Zealand Geographic". I just wonder if it is ok for me from Japan. (haha, it is far away place) Please it is up to you whether you can count me in or not(*^_^*)
    It sure must have lots of different nature we can enjoy from the book!
    Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous post, darling!
    Love the flowers!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  9. Hi Carolyn ... the pink magnolia is just gorgeous so exquisite.
    Love the quote by Voltaire he certainly had a way with words.
    Hoping you have a wonderful week ... I'm off to beautiful Paris in a few weeks staying in a great foodie street.
    xx

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  10. What a gorgeous book. I would love to know more about the flora and fauna of New Zealand. You can toss my name into the mix if you like.
    Hugs
    Kay

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  11. The new hope of spring, so beautiful the magnolia and special flowers.
    What a great give away!
    Lieve groetjes uit Holland,
    Renny

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  12. Hi dear...

    how are you???

    All ok?

    KISSES...for ever...in my heart! BYE!! NI

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  13. Beautiful pictures. Love the pink Magnolia and the Kowhai Flowers.

    Greetings from a colder part of the world! In Germany the weather is crisp, the sky is blue, and the leaves are starting to turn. I'm looking forward to Autumn!

    Hugs,
    Gaby

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  14. Hi Carolyn,

    I'm a little jelous!
    You are enjoying the spring when here is almost autumn!
    Spring is so full of joy and beauty!
    Have a great day! :D
    xxx
    S

    http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it

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  15. Hi Carolyn. You lucky gal you....spring is coming your way. Today I sit as it is raining outside. Still it is nice to have some rain after a very long dry spell.

    I'd love to receive this great book....are you going to allow someone from Kansas to win?

    God bless,
    d

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  16. Dear Carolyn,
    Fist, thank you so much for coming over to visit and leaving such a sweet note for me.

    Now, you giveaway.. Oh yes please enter me... I would love to have a copy of this book.

    Thank you so much for taking such beautiful photos of nature and sharing them with us.. Just beautiful Carolyn.
    Blessings,
    Penny

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  17. What a lovely book for a giveaway! Lovely photos too, the tui is a very handsome bird!

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  18. Carolyn,
    I would love this hard back book from your Giveaway! My husband loves to read about interesting places from around the world, and so do I. The yellow flowers are so unique and exotic looking.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose ALley

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  19. My dear dear Carolyn!

    I had missed your post this morning and now I found that I never came! Please include me into your beautiful giveaway!! Anita

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  20. Dearest Carolyn,

    So glad you are at that stage of the year for enjoying the new blossoms, the color of life.
    Hugs to you,
    Mariette

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  21. This book looks wonderful - sweet idea for a fiveaway! I hope to visit NZ someday - when i have more time ;) Have a lovely friday!

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  22. Dear Carolyn,
    Please include me in your giveaway the book looks so interesting and it is fun seeing and learning aboutthe native animals and plants of NZ through your blog.
    Sarah x

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  23. What a lovely book cover. I bet the pages in between are just as interesting. Have a great day, Carolyn.
    Maureen

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  24. i have never seen a pink magnolia--stunning!!

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  25. Love and hugs
    Love to see your Spring photographs

    Love Jeanne

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  26. Dearest Carolyn, it is so wonderful to see spring awakening in NZ!!! Love your photos. And of course I will try to win this amazing book - what a pretty giveaway!!!
    So many hugs to you and best wishes to your family,
    Love, Traude
    ๑๑๑๑♛♛♛♛♛♛๑๑๑๑

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  27. The magnolia is so beautiful, our neighbor has one that blooms in spring. Looks like a wonderful book, what a nice give away.
    Happy weekend and hugs
    AnnaMaria

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  28. The world around us is indeed beautiful! It is rich with vibrant colors, it is filled with people we dearly love and once we step out of our homes, it is surrounded by the beauty of God's creations!

    Such a beautiful post. Very inspiring. Happy weekend :)

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  29. Nice flowers!
    I sent your gift about "Summer's swap" today.
    I hope it will arrive to you as soon as possible!
    Kisses!
    Monique

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  30. Hello Carolyn,

    What wonderful flowers - so very different from those I see where I live at this time. I love the vibrance of the colors. I can't seem to resist photographing flowers either.

    I love your previous post with the different design items. Those retro refrigerators are so cool!

    Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
    Sharon

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  31. These are lovely...colorful and fun.

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  32. Muy buenas imágenes,un beso desde murcia

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  33. Dear Carolyn,
    You are such a dear to come visit and leave such sweet words.. Thank you so much.
    Wishing you a beautiful Sunday.
    blessings,
    Penny

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  34. HI!!!
    HOW Special to see those beautiful pink magnolias!!My daughter just moved into her first NEW HOME....and she has a southern Magnolia tree...she lives in Florida...for us that is a delight..oh we have blooming trees...but I love hers!!!You are coming out of winter into spring!!!How wonderful and we are about to enter fall...I love fall...although it is still quite warm here.....near 100 degrees!!!HOT!!!It will be warm til November....I would love to visit New Zealand one day.....I sure hope we get a chance!!
    Hugs,
    jamie

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  35. Lovely reading about your son Marcel, Carolyn.
    I've never heard of Kowhai flowers! So unusual and the golden color is marvelous. Thanks you for introducing me. I've alway loved nature walks and in your beautiful country, they must be extra special.

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  36. Hello Carolyn, and a very warm welcome to my blog Thriftwood! Thank you for following me and I would like to return the compliment ... I love reading new blogs! Thank you also for your kind comments.

    Love, Claire xx

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  37. The sight of magnolias blooming is a treat, Carolyn, and so is your generous giveaway. So sweet of you to share what must be a stunning book. Here we are at another year and your photos of spring flowers brighten my day!

    xo

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  38. Hi Carolyn, thanks so much for visiting my blog. The Kowhai flowers are beautiful, I've never seen them before. I love seeing flora and fauna from other countries
    Donna x

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  39. Hi Carolyn!

    What a beautiful blog you have. Your photos are so lovely, New Zealand has to be so gorgeous... what a great place to live. I've seen your country on a couple of programs on tv and fell in love with the beauty of it.
    Please enter us in your giveaway. What a grand prize you are giving. Thank you so much!
    Hugs, Edie & Marie

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  40. So petty pics!!!
    Love especially the one with the bird!
    Have a great week! :)
    xxx

    S
    http://s-fashion-avenue.blogspot.it

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  41. Very pretty! Wishing you a wonderful week ahead Carolyn!

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  42. oh how wonderful!!!! these blooms are so pretty!! and I love seeing things through your blog!!!! Happy Spring to you and Happy Autumn to us!!!!

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  43. Hi Carolyn,

    The beauty of nature has inspired so many things. Your flowers are so gorgeous. I remember when I lived in Asia and I used to go to the flower market, and the flowers from New Zealand were amazing. One of my favorite painters is from there and she paints such beautiful flowers.

    Thank you for including me in your giveaway.

    Have a gorgeous day.

    Karen

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  44. What a lovely post, Carolyn!!

    I hope you are having a wonderful week and that all is well!!

    xoxo
    Marsha

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  45. How beautiful, Carolyn! It's so important to stop and admire the beauty nature offers us all. Hope you're having a lovely week! xoxo

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  46. Hi Carolyn,
    Love all the beauty your homeland is sharing this season. The flowers and sweet birdie is beautiful.
    What a grand giveaway you are having. I would love to enter too.
    Hope you enjoy a wonderful week my friend.

    Big hugs, Celestina Marie

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  47. Dearest Carolyn,

    Happy 19th Birthday to you son!
    Hope you have some special family time.
    Hugs to you,
    Mariette

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  48. Dear Carolyn
    So beautiful your post. The flowers are very nice.
    Thank you also for your lovely comment on my blog. I wish you a happy week with a lot of sun. Love and hugs Yvonne

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  49. So beautiful - love the photo with the bird!

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  50. Hello Carolyn
    Isn't Spring a wonderful season.
    We've got some lovely noisy tuis in our garden too!
    I wonder if I can squeeze in a Kowhai just for them!!!

    A lovely giveaway for your overseas friends to learn something more about our lovely country.

    Please DON'T put my name in the hat - I'm just commenting!!!!!!!

    Today I'm off to Hamilton - an embroidery day out!!
    hugs
    Shane xox

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  51. I am a lover of magnolias - for me they're incredible! That's why I have 7 or 8 trees/bushes of magnolia in my garden :)

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Thank you so much for visiting Draffin Bears.
It always makes me happy to read your comments
and I look forward to visiting you.


Carolyn xx