Sunday, April 29, 2007

Secret garden

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When I was growing up in northern climates (read: cold!), I dreamt of one day living in a warm paradise, full of sunlight, azure skies and balmy waters. I had no specific vision of the house itself but one thing I knew for sure - there would be an abundance of cascading bougainvillea all over my garden!

You know The Secret Oprah is talking about? The philosophy that claims that "we create our own circumstances by the choices we make in life. And the choices we make are fueled by our thoughts—which means our thoughts are the most powerful things we have here on earth. So if you really want something, you have to visualize it".

Well, at least in one aspect of my life, The Secret has worked - there is bougainvillea in 4 vibrant colors (salmon, red, burgundy and purple) cascading around my warm paradise...

What's your Secret?

28 comments:

freefalling said...

Personally, I think "The Secret" is a load of ... Well, not so much the secret itself, but all the hoopla associated with it. IT'S NOT A SECRET! Doesn't everybody know this?!
Aren't we all just heading toward that picture in our minds? (Am I being naive?).
Apart from that-I love Bougainvillea too-do you know there is a place in Papua New Guinea called Bougainville?
I'm the opposite to you - I went from the tropics-Queensland, to the um.....non-tropics(?) Victoria (Aust).
On a personal note (I'm not quite sure of the correct protocol yet - I'm new - do I reply to a comment on my blog, here, or on my blog?)- Isabella, my husband's head has swelled to twice it's normal size, please don't ever encourage him again by calling him a dreamboat-it may have serious health complications for him!!!

Monica said...

One's gotta be happy when surrounded by this beautiful bougainvillea.
I've seen Oprah talking about it and I believe it can come true. I'm glad to say it has happened to me more than once.

Kate said...

I like your presentation, Isabella. Collages with a common theme are so appealing to me, and I am enjoying this one. My secret? But, if I told you, it would no longer be a secret would it?

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

i wish i had one ;)

Ming the Merciless said...

My secret is being content and happy. And one way to do that is to love yourself. Once that is achieve, you can be happy anywhere you are.

Bougainvilleas are my favorite tropical flowers. I always envision a backyard swimming pool with cascading bougainvillea plants on the edge of the stone walls.

Z said...

Show off! :-)

Your bougainvilleas look yummy. I'm jealous. I think I'll go look at some of the wisteria around town.

Gerald (SK14) said...

Isabella -- You are not a winner on my puzzle picture last week but you made an interesting comment. Contact me privately [through the CDPB forum or check the contact page on my www.geraldengland.co.uk site] with your snail-mail address and I'll send you a postcard.

Kala said...

I actually saw that episode and think its a good message - just being positive and optimistic does wonders for ones psychie (sp0 and to have the four colors of the bouganvillia must be amazing - we have those here and they are really beautiful - my secret is staying a secret =D

alice said...

My "secret" could be to try to find something, even a tiny one, nice and positive and smooth (hope you understand) , every day even on bad days. Not always easy. Tes bougainvillées me font baver d'envie...

Jilly said...

Used to be able to get Oprah on the Sky channels but she seems to have disappeared of late so I don't know about the Secret she speaks of. However, for sure, visualisation works. No question. The secret is to remember to visualise!

Bougainvillea really does summon up balmy summers although I remember in tropical Queensland it was pretty much a weed, like lantana.

My bougainvillea died last year. I'll get another in your honour, Isabella.

isa said...

Freefalling - LOL! I meant it though about your hubby, especially after what he went through...No protocol as such, whichever way is convenient.

Monica - glad it happened to you...repeatedly ;-)

Moi - I bet you do..you're just not saying!

Gerald - how can you say I'm not a winner! How many others do you know who get postcards from nice people like you ;-) I'll be in touch soon.

Alice - nice "secret" ;-)

Jilly - will you name it after me, as well? ;-)

Thanks for visiting everyone! I'm on the road, so I can't recipricate...See you soon!

Anonymous said...

Ok, my Secret is, oh wait, if I tell you I won't have it anymore then I would be lost.
Sorry :-(

Anonymous said...

I don't spend a lot of time "thinking" about it. I just do it. It saves time and in the end thinking and doing ends up at the same place in time.

I never put much stock in what "people" say, and a classic example of that truism is the reason we went to war in Iraq according to Bush.

I like your Bougainvilleas and wish they were able to grow and survive here. Unfortunately, we have a mean winter and it often kills things that are supposed to grow here.

lv2scpbk said...

Interesting picture of pictures.

Mandy said...

Glad you made your dream.

Where do you go from here?

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous colors and very effective collage. I don't really know this flower - is it fragrant? It looks as though it should be.

Blather From Brooklyn

Anonymous said...

Your bougainvillea is reminiscent ( is this word in use ?? )me of pictures taken in Mediterranean countries during holidays, always at least one photograph near blooming bougainvillea :))
I should collect them and make collage !
Live happily with your Secrets!
I have my own bougainvillea!

The Wellspring said...

oh so lovely :)

My secrets? Where do I begin...oh wait, I'm with Kate. ;)

~Lisa in Quito

GMG said...

Your bougainvillea look beautiful! I was born in Madeira Island (the motherland of the Pride of Madeira for the flower experts) and bougainvillea, hibiscus, orchids, gerberas, anthurium, hydrangeas, whatever... were part of my life. No special secrets!

Anonymous said...

I don't know anything about Oprah's Secret (I hardly ever watch TV and haven't read about it), but I believe in the power of our thoughts.

I don't really have a dream, except maybe to live in NYC or Paris for a year some day. So maybe if I put the intention out there to the Universe, it might come true?

blueboat said...

Well Isabella, I've been visualising a tiny waist and small behind for about 10 years now and so far it just isn't happening! (I must visualise harder, ....and eat less I suppose!)

Olivier said...

si on le dit, ce n'est plus un secret ;o) un secret doit rester secret, on ne peut que le susurer qu'a l'oreille d'une fee.


if it is said, it is not any more one secrecy; O) a secrecy must remain secret, one can only murmur it whom the ear of a fairy has.

angela said...

I don't watch Oprah but can imagine what you mean.
I don't visualise...remember the Chinese proverb: Be careful what you ask for. You may get it.
I'm lucky though because I'm naturally positive and cheerful (drives people nuts) but it does mean that the life I have is satisfying to me.
And though I live in the South of France bougainvileas have never worked for me: every one I've planted has died.
Have a safe trip.
Angela

Chuckeroon said...

Only you could weedle all these "secrets" out of people. Well done.

Lori said...

A lovely post which reminds us how much we can control our own destinies. I wish I could grow flowers as pretty as that!

JAM said...

First, I love the pics of the bouganvillea themselves, but I especially like the polaroid instamatic arrangement just as much. Well done. I have a book that shows how to do this in Photoshop Elements but I've been too lazy to try it yet.

Anonymous said...

Isabella, thank you for the beautiful flowers today! If you visit Asheville Daily Photo you will see what the Easter freeze has done to springtime in the mountains. Although we are slowly recovering. I am visualizing mountain slopes covered in spring wildflowers (and will share them when they arrive!)

Carlos Lorenzo said...

Fine selection of colorful flowers. You always have the most exuberant pictures. Remind me to visit Paradise Lost some day.