The flowers in the hotel were amazing too. These two views are of the same arrangement. One side looked quite different to the other. We found it hard to determine initially what flowers were plastic and what were real. The orchids were plastic, the leaves and some of the lillies were real. We knew this because of the exquisite fragrance and the feel of the petals.
We had lunch at a wonderful hotel in Shangyu, in Zhejiang province in southern China. On the table were some wonderful fresh roses. They looked spectacular on the round table. They glistened too, as they had been sprayed with a fine mist of water. Enjoy.
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The hedge of Gardenias sits along a very smelly walk in the college. Perhaps the sewerage pipes are around here. In any case at times there is an odd smell emanating from something near here.
We have watched as the Gardenia hedge sprung forth with Spring growth, and watched as the buds formed. And then it happened. One Monday morning as I was passing on my way to class I saw the first buds. There were two that had opened up.
Within days there was a mass of blooms and the delicate aroma, the sweet delicate fragrance of the Gardenia filled our nostrils as we passed by. Late in the afternoon and early evening is best as the air is filled with this fragrance.
The flowers attract many students who pick the flowers - they don't live long, but I am sure the fragrance in the dormitories is most appreciated.
In the ponds near the entrance to the college were many plastic pots with small sticks in them. That's what they looked like when we arrived at the college just as winter was almost over. In the spring there was some activity in the pots and the sticks seemed to come to life - and green foliage slowly emerged. The gardeners put the pots further into the centre of the pond, and soon the foliage was flourishing. Goldfish swim in the pond and now had something to play hide and seek around. Just a couple of weeks ago I noticed the flowers. Beautiful strong flowers on a tall straight stem. There are pale pink, darker pink and white blooms and they are exquisite. When the flower fully opens up the seed pod is revealed and it grows larger as the petals fall into the water. 
