Plants of Sweden

GBBD is supposed to be flaunting the blooms from your own garden, although the meme owner Carol of Maydreams Gardens did not specify that. This time of the year our dry season already started, many plants are still blooming, but most of the annuals are already turning brown. The grasses specially, already died from so much heat. We still have some blooms in our own garden, but i seem to be already bored with posting mine. They don't die from frost or snow, so they are still there, but i am really bored seeing them again in my post. So, i would rather post blooms from foreign lands. I am sure these might be more familiar with most of you.


I had the opportunity to be in Sweden in June a few years back, which I suppose is advance spring. However, i remember that the temperatures were mostly around 10C. The flowers and plants are luxuriously blooming. Whenever we had the time outdoors, I normally took their photos, while my companions are taking people shots or what we call tourist shots. If they did not voluntarily take my photos, i wouldn't have my photos at all. What i have are all buildings, landscapes, plants and flowers. Please let me know how they are called in your temperate climates. 

not sure what the above tree is, maybe of the apple family, they surround the Scandic hotel grounds

a plum tree blooming profusely on top of bougainvillea hedges near a research facility (thanks to Nick of www.nixpixmix.blogspot.com)

 planter boxes at the Scandic hotel in Svalov, Sweden

 Forget-me-not growing as weeds 

 pansies on public grounds

 found this in a friend's garden, at the back with white hanging flowers is Solomon's Seal or Polygonatum odoratum (Thanks to Karin for the ID). If only i've known that before, i will smell the scent.

tulips seem to be growing as weeds or volunteer plants

various colors of tulips in gardens

mainly red colored tulips, with some darker than red mixtures

the grounds around our Scandic Hotel bloom with those whites and yellows, which look like miniature daisies

To foreigners like me the burgundy colored leaves are amazing. This is in 

our neighborhood in Svalov, Sweden

Everywhere we go, landscapes are profusely carpeted with yellow rapeseed, Brassica napus. 

I am amazed at the great volume of canola oil which these flowers will produce later on. 

I just don't know how much of these are GMO.

On our way to Stockholm, spring flowers abound in the roadsides. I think this is the best about spring

This Welcome sign, planted to pansies, signals entry to Stockholm.  

GBBD

   

Some foreign lands: Strasbourg

Strasbourg, France is an old place of the known Alsace region, which was able to preserve the many old buildings and architectures of history. It is reported to be the place where culturally, "French and German collide". The architecture is distinctly German, even the dishes are German but written in French. The Ill River winds through the city hosting many cruise tours. This is also one of the best areas in France when it comes to delectable cuisine, 

I've been able to walk its major streets a few years back, and joined one of its canal cruises. Day and night scenes are also beautiful and really  gave a lot of contrasts. 

La Petite France Cathedral's courtyard 

La Petite France is said to be Strasbourg's prettiest and most enchanting neighborhood. It is where the city's millers, tanners and fishermen used to live during the Middle Ages. It was named so by its former German inhabitants not for its architecture, but for the prostitutes working there during those times. In Germany, prostitution was known at that time as "the French business". The courtyard now hosts the city's immensely popular Christmas market. 

a small busy street in La Petite France, Strasbourg

the famous Strasbourg Cathedral

Strasbourg Cathedral is one of Europe's most beautiful example of gothic architecture. The stunning pink sandstone facade is quite unique and breathtaking. The famous circa-1800 astrological clock is inside, where intricate carvings captivate. The cathedral's construction spanned for centuries, from 1015 to 1439. It gets its special pink hue from Vosges sandstone used to build it. The cathedral is also a hub of activity, with shops and restaurants nearby.

the astronomical clock

This is the famous 18-meter high astronomical clock, one of the tallest in the world and a fine example of Swiss artistry that dates from 1843.

picturesque old buildings half made of timber along the canal

one of the closed bridges crossing one of the canals

This is a very old building formerly used as a tannery, now used as a restaurant. 
The marker is on the right side not seen at this angle

an inside alley in Strasbourg commercial area at dusk, they said the

 middle black building is the oldest in this stretch

ornamental peppers on breakfast tables at Holiday Inn, Strasbourg