Earlier this year, I stopped by the Macy’s Flower Show in New York. For the first time, the show was taking place outdoors in a show tent at 34th and Broadway, so instead of pushing through crowds inside the store, it was a leisurely amble through “Brasil: Gardens in Paradise”. The Chelsea Flower Show is my benchmark for what a flower show looks like, but that has over 500 exhibitions and I couldn’t imagine a flower show of that scale in Manhattan. As it turns out; the Macy’s Flower Show is more like a single exhibit that you would see as part of a larger scale flower show, but it was lovely nonetheless.
The shop windows gave a tantalizing glimpse of what lay ahead.
Toucans were the order of the day, with paper toucans peering out of shop windows, and a giant toucan made out of dried Brazilian button flowers and black magnolia leaves sitting proudly in the show tent.
Some of the highlights were a rope bridge leading to a waterfall, a monkey made of leaves, an Amazon garden and my favourite, a Rio rooftop.
There were all kinds of exotic flowers cascading down walls, peeping out from around corners and nestled in dense foliage.
One of the more surprising things was that not all of the flowers were in pristine condition; some with chunks missing from their petals or with visible scars, but as I understand it, this was done on purpose to evoke a true-to-life vision of Gardens in Paradise. I loved it, because their imperfections did not diminish their glory in the slightest. If anything, they looked even more beautiful.
So this week’s travel theme should be a fairly easy, and hopefully joyful one. I can’t wait to see what flowers you have in your part of the world. If you’d like to join in, create your own post, title it “Travel theme: Flowers” and put a link to this page in your post so others can find it. Don’t forget to check back in next Friday for a new travel theme.
Bring on the flowers!
xxx Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Here is my entry for the Travel Theme Flowers:
Really cool, Shaanthz, I wouldn’t mind a layover at that airport! Thanks for sharing this surprising little garden with us. xxx
Thanks Ailsa – the layover was totally worth it. Thanks for the challenge for which I did have some pictures 🙂
my entry this week is a link to a very appropraite previous post on wild flowers..
Absolutely gorgeous, 4otomo, really great shots! xxx
This is interesting because I recently posted “Lotus Flower” with shots I took in Feicheng, Shandong Provinve, China. I think it fits perfectly with your theme. http://monahoward.com/2012/07/20/lotus-flower/
Your shots are beautiful by the way.
Thanks Mona, I’m glad you liked my shots, yours are incredible – those lotus blossoms look almost ethereal. Really great post about the symbolism of the flowers too. Loved it. xxx
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Thank you so much for the fabulous post, Ailsa! Here is my entry: http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/weekly-travel-theme-flowers/
What a glorious display of colour, great shots!
Thanks again for hosting this and here is my entry:
http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/travel-theme-flowers/
Really lovely, David, I’ll make sure to visit Bellingrath Gardens if I’m ever near Mobile. Thanks for the tip! xxx Ailsa
Before dashing up to Kandy to watch the Perahera for a couple of days, just had to say congratulations on another super entry – Macy’s, no less! Here’s mine: http://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/flowers-for-tet/
Hey, thanks Wanderlust, and have fun watching the Perahera! I love love love your boats of flowers, so beautiful! xxx
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Oh wow- I’m drowning in flowers and I love it! Why haven’t I found your blog before? It’s my Sunday morning treat. Thank you!
Yaay, so glad you enjoyed it, restlessjo – you should join in! xxx Ailsa
WOw …. don’t know what else to say. Thank you so much for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, viveka. There’s been some wonderful entries this week! xxx Ailsa
True pleasure to visit your world. *smile
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hey, this could not have been more apt ……shared these hues via an earlier post 🙂
& another 🙂
Two wonderful posts, Kavi. Lovely shots! xxx
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Gorgeous entry Ailsa and I love the flower shots you took! Here is my entry:
http://thirdeyemom.com/2012/07/29/a-fountain-of-flowers/
It is obvious that I LOVE flowers! 🙂
Yes, Nicole, it is obvious that you LOVE flowers, really gorgeous shots! 🙂
Thanks Ailsa! I do indeed love flowers! Thanks for the challenge.
Hei Ailsa! here is my humble contribution:-)
http://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-theme-flowers/
You’ve got a gorgeous garden, cocoa, with the most beautiful wildflowers.
the orchids are gorgeous, fun samba dancer theme too thanks for sharing 🙂
I loved the dancers too, c & c, they were very striking! xxx
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Hi Ailsa … I’ve finally gotten around to posting a challenge from you. I have had so many ideas and not enough time to squeeze them all in. This weeks theme is very close tomy heart so it seemed like I had better get to it. I hope you enjoy my little corner of heavenly orchids. Thanks for all the work you do.
Namaste,
Isadora http://insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-theme-flower/
Wow, that’s an orchid bonanza, Isadora. Really wonderful shots. xxx
A restrained Gypsy after posting so many flower photos this weekend!
http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-theme-flowers/
Very restrained 😉 but I love your choice, and a great shot, so much detail!
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Beautiful. It looks like you enjoyed yourself! Here’s my entry for the week: http://ididitforjohnny.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-theme-flowers/
I had a great time 🙂 Really fantastic macro shots,
These are my flowers! http://reginasavy.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-theme-flowers/
Those little yellow lip flowers from the Cameron Highlands are amazing!
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Beautiful orchids! I went to a flower show a few years ago in Toronto and the things they do with flowers! Beautiful. Here’s my set http://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/travel-themeflowers/
What a fabulous array of colour, your garden must be a little slice of paradise. Gorgeous shots, Lynne.
What a show!!
I love, love, love taking shots of flowers.
Me too, Rosa. It never gets old. xxx
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Great pictures of a beautiful show. This is a link to my entry:
Wow, Ron, I can’t believe you have all those flowers growing in your dooryard garden. Simply divine!
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Ailsa – My first try at this challenge! And it comes with a question for everyone – this is a flower, all right, but what kind of flower?? http://newpillowbook.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/travel-theme-mystery-flower/
Yellow bird of paradise – mystery solved. I love a good challenge! 🙂
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Okay Darling, I actually went somewhere! Can you believe it?! This woman whose flowers I wrote about is incredible. Here’s my entry with flowers, flowers and more flowers 🙂 http://joycannis.wordpress.com/2012/07/30/serenity-now/
Wow, Joy, that’s an exquisite post, and Rebecca sounds like an amazing woman. If I’m in the area I will make sure not to miss her gardens.
She is incredible! And who knows, you may end up falling in love with one of her beautiful plants and taking it home 🙂
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Yey! A lovely theme. And your flowers are so gorgeous, Ailsa. Here is my contribution – http://mywordwall.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/philippine-flowers/
Gorgeous shots, Imelda, that Lipa flower is fantastic. I’ve never even heard of it before. xxx
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I’ve combined my entry for your challenge and WordPress’ challenge for this week and come up with purple flowers
You just transported me to France with your gorgeous lavender fields. xxx
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It’s been really hot here in the Midwest, which drew me to water like a lake, pool a fountain. A puddle looked inviting. My entry is flowers by water.
Those shots of the wildflowers stole my heart, c & c. If I ever get to own my own garden, I will have a wildflower meadow. There’s nothing prettier. xxx
Hi there! Here is my response to the weekly challenge. http://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/weekly-photo-challenge-flowers-are-like-people/
Wonderful, innovative interpretation of this week’s theme, Naomi, and that close up of the daisy chain is inspired. Really enjoyed it. xxx
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I know mine is only A FLOWER – But I think it counts! 🙂
It totally counts – it’s hiding a water buffalo! 🙂
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I have gone close to home for these – http://thegingerbreadcafe.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/travel-theme-flowers
I can see why, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I can almost smell the lavender. xxx
Here’s mine. My very first blog challenge (or whatever you want to call it). Looking forward to this. I’ve been watching Tahira’s for a while now and I’m finding the whole thing very inspirational. Thank you. http://huntersholidaying.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/travel-theme-flowers/
So glad you joined in this week, Heather, with a lovely post from Bad Rothenfelde. xxx Ailsa