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? 
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Ailsa, this is a theme I could not resist. So here are some flowers for you: http://empireoflights.com/2012/08/01/into-the-greenery/ I hope you enjoy.
How lovely, tms, the curves are gorgeous and I love your choice of black and white for this! xxx
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Hello! I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Here’s a link to it, if you’d like to go there: http://remissionary.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/wins-day-twice-blessed/
Have a blessed day!! (I’m working on a flowers post, just haven’t got it ready yet, for this travel theme)
Thanks for sharing the love, LubbyGirl, and congrats on your award! xxx Ailsa
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Very cool indeed! I love flowers. No matter what, they always make me smile. Sorry I’ve been absent but we were out of town. I’m doing my best to get back into the swing of things and posting. Here’s my contribution for flowers:
http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/travel-theme-flowers/
Take care!
TB
Really lovely selection of flowers, TB, makes me want to hop a plane to Honduras now. xxx Ailsa
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well I finally got mine posted
http://pollysspace.wordpress.com/2012/08/02/travel-theme-flowers/
Lovely shots, Polly. I bet they will look wonderful in your garden too!
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Thank you for granting me this flower-quest journey through my files! Z
Thank you for posting these wonderful pics, Z, and that Thoreau quote is perfect! xxx Ailsa
You’ve had so many great flower posts, and this morning a friend who is not a blogger sent images of flowers to me as thanks for my post. Thanks for the great great choice of themes!
What a great response to your post, Z. I love it. 🙂
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Here’s mine in the last minute 😀
Gorgeous, Inge. That single daisy is just breathtaking. xxx Ailsa
Thank you very much for your supporting comment, Ailsa! 🙂
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Dear Ailsa, you inspired me and I launched a new photographic contest: Music in picture! It would be nice if you could check it out and if you like it join me in this adventure! Hope to see you there soon 🙂 Here’s the link http://autumninbruges.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/music-in-pictures-contest-fly-away/
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I am so excited that I found you this morning. In the keeping with the theme, I invite you all to travel to my home for coffee this morning and to view my very favorite garden flowers. Here are the links. http://imissmetoo.me/2012/07/27/morning/ http://imissmetoo.me/2012/08/02/glorious-morning-glory/
(Okay, please forgive me – they are links to previous posts but I love the flowers and thought you might, too. 🙂 )
Really lovely, Pat, I adore morning glory – the blue is just so breathtaking. Congrats on getting them to bloom in Michigan! xxx Ailsa
Thanks, Ailsa. It is fun to bond over morning glories. 🙂 Yesterday I took several of a blossom unfurling but haven’t figured out how I want to show them. I haven’t learned to do timed lapse yet. 😦
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I am so very late this time Ailsa but I guess it is better late than never 🙂 This is mine:
http://demaodyssey.com/2012/08/06/travel-theme-flowers/
Really beautiful, Dema. xxx Ailsa
Hi, I hope it’s not yet late to join in…:) Here’s my entry….
Really beautiful, I adore that photo of the roses with the dress on the bed, simply lovely!
Gorgeous collection. That purple cala lily is my fave! While not recent – I would like to submit my collection of flowers from around the world… I realize that it defeats the purpose of a weekly photo challenge, but I am rather partial to the collection! http://traveldestinationbucketlist.com/2012/02/14/flowers-for-valentines/
Really lovely, Anita (just catching up with my comments as I’ve been on the road for a bit and still am, with sporadic access to internet!) My favourite is the field of tulips, they look so stately! xxx Ailsa
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I think I’m going to end up with a wall covered in your ‘Flowers’ 🙂
Haha, awesome, Juanita, a flower-covered wall sounds pretty cool 🙂 Hope you’re doing well, great to hear from you! xxx Ailsa
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I love your flower challenge! Your photos from the Macy’s Show are outstanding! I can almost smell the macro images! Great post!