I was surprised to see that I had never used the flower theme for the CBBH Photo Challenge before, because I take so many photos of plants, trees and flowers. So, I thought I would remedy that situation by sharing with you some of the flowers that grow here in my garden in southern Spain, at different times of the year.
The first photo (above) is a waxy-flowered stephanotis, which creeps along my fence and gives off a delicate fragrance.
I sometimes find it difficult to photograph the purple agapanthus, as they flower at the end of long stems, so I got in close for these shots. I like the effect of the first photo, in particular, but what do you think? 
Here is a photo of the first delicate blossom on one of our 47 almond trees, in January this year. 
….and these beautiful wild Butterfly Orchids also make their appearance each year, heralding the arrival of Springtime in Andalucía. 
I’m a huge fan of the colour purple, so this plant is a favourite of mine, and it was only thanks to some of my readers that I finally found out its name. Hardenbergia comptoniana, a native of Australia, is a vigorous climbing plant and the arching flowers look so beautiful after the rain.
So, I’ve shown you mine – now it’s YOUR turn to show me YOURS!
Don’t forget that the CBBH Photo Challenge is a little different from some other challenges, in two ways. First, it’s only once a month – giving you lots of time to consider your entry before the end of the calendar month. Second, and most important, this is a BLOG HOP (after all, it is the CBBH – Conejo Blanco Blog Hop, conejo blanco means white rabbit in Spanish), so DON’T FORGET that in your post you need to add links to two blogs that you have visited and commented on during the past month.
That way, when we visit each other, we can HOP OVER to your links, connect with others and share a little blog love around!
My Featured Blog Links for this month:
*** Travel writer Annie Bennett spends most of her time Mooching around Spain, researching articles for national newspapers and magazines, but often just sitting in cafés, reading the paper and drinking wine. Not only does Annie love writing about her travels, she also loves writing about food. So, if you want to know where in Lanzarote you can buy the best cheese, or exactly where you can find a traditional shop in Menorca that sells everything horse-related, then Annie is your woman!
*** Another blogger I always enjoy visiting is Tamara at A Foot in Two Campos who, two years ago, bought a beautiful old house in the village of Colmenar, in Málaga province. She had me worried for a while when she admitted in one of her blog posts to stalking me – but fortunately, what she meant was that she was inspired to visit three places that I had blogged about! Tamara has thrown herself into village life in Colmenar and also into learning Spanish. Indeed, at the end of each of her blog posts she discusses a particular language point, which always proves helpful.
Please HOP over and say HELLO to both of these ladies, and tell them Marianne sent you!
So that´s the CBBH Photo Challenge for July, everyone.
Remember, all you have to do is post your entry by the end of the month, tag your entry ‘CBBH Photo Challenge’, link back to this blog and, most importantly, don´t forget to add links to any two blogs that you´ve commented on during the past month, so that we can all HOP OVER and have a look.
Make sure you follow this blog so you don´t miss next month’s exciting challenge!
For more information on how the CBBH Photo Challenge works click here.
I hope everyone taking part enjoys the exposure the CBBH Photo Challenge offers to featured blogs and, who knows, you may end up finding a new favourite!
I´m looking forward to seeing your interpretations.
[CBBH logo Image credit: (cc) Mostly Dans]
East of Málaga 
What wonderful photos Marianne…I have never seen an almond blossom before so thank you for that.
OOHHH haven’t you, Jo? We have 47 almond trees on our land, and when the blossom comes out during the winter months, it is reminiscent of the cherry blossom in Japan. Absolutely gorgeous and a photographer’s dream 🙂
What a lovely variety of blooms you have. Am pleased you included an almond bloom which is new to me. And what do you do with your almond harvest?
I guess they are not too dissimilar to apple blossom, Lynne. Very pretty, anyway.
As for the harvest, well we don’t do much with it, to be honest. Our land is on a steep hillside (for the most part), so mechanical means of shaking the almonds from the trees are impossible. Even whacking the trees with big sticks could prove dangerous if you lost your balance and fell down the bank! We tend to knock some of them off for personal use – but that’s it.
Of course, there’s then the not too small matter of cracking the hard shell open to get to the nut inside!
These are fantastic photos Marianne! 😀
Very kind of you to say so, Dianne 🙂
So beautiful shots… 🙂
Thanks Drake 🙂
Yes, yes – take up the challenge and get snapping again! 🙂
Beautiful flowers, Marianne. The Agapanthus are a stunning colour.
They are indeed 🙂 Thanks Sylvia.
Lovely…I like your first image of the agapanthus …
OH good – thanks for letting me know, Sue. Looks like it’s got the seal of approval, then 🙂
I used to have Agapanthus in my garden, and could never get a decent shot…you had the right idea, getting in close …so yes, defo seal of approval 😀
😀
The shots are beautiful Marianne but the almond blossom is just stunning. I’m very fond of rock roses and dog roses which often come out in those colours.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Like I said in the post, we have 47 almond trees on our land, and the very pale pink (and white) blossom in late December through to February is a joy to behold! When the petals drop, it looks as though the ground is covered in snow 🙂
The agapanthus are beautiful right now. I have quite a few in my garden. Love your photos, especially the hardenbergia with the raindrops – my kind of picture! Are we limited to one shot?
OOHHH no, Maggie – as many as you like! 🙂
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The Hardenbergia is exquisite! Happy July Marianne 🙂
Thank you, Madhu – Happy July to you too 🙂
Lovely to see everything dear, but it’s sooooo long since I saw Almond blossom, Marianne: what a treat! Even more, the butterfly orchid – is it growing wild out of your ‘lawn? I do so love it when wild flowers creep into our more manicured spaces. There’s a prostrate form of Hardenbergia you might like to have cascading down your embankments, if you can find it there. Spanish bees and butterflies might like it as much as ours do 🙂
Yes, the butterfly orchids are growing wild – not in the lawn (we don’t have one of those here – the land is too rugged) – but in a couple of the banks. Still in one of the wilder parts of the land, rather than manicured.
OOHHH Meredith, this IS the prostrate form of the Hardenbergia – which has scrambled right up the bank and into an almond tree standing about 20 feet above the house! 🙂
I guess it’s happy there, Marianne 🙂
Yes, they seem to be content 🙂
I love agapanthus! Your first shot of it is great 🙂
I love them, too! I prefer the bluey purple ones to the white – how about you?
Definitely! Some are almost a kind of cornflower blue…
The purple agapanthus…I think it looks more blue, in fact I learned the name the other day round at a friend’s house when I asked what the blue flowers were called…beautiful pictures x
You’re right, Wendy – it does look more blue. Soooooo pretty 🙂
oh flowers! I am already imagining what I might share … some of those extraordinary wildflowers from Andalucia 😀
They would be VERY pretty (and appropriate), Christine 🙂
I remembered! Both to say white rabbit and to look for you this morning, Marianne 🙂 Incredible that you haven’t featured flowers before! The Stephanotis is an exquisite shot but my favourite is the last one.
Tamara sounds my kind of girl. I’d better go visiting. Happy July to you! Hope the fires are now well contained?
Yaay! Happy July to you, Jo 🙂
Thankfully the fires are now extinguished. That was scary!
Fabulous flowers Marianne, I love this months challenge. Now how on earth will I find the time?!? 🙂
I love it too, Gilly – can’t believe I haven’t had a flowery theme before!
Ahah, I thought I recognised the Hardenbergia 🙂 At one stage I was always wandering around the garden at Taylors Arm, Sydney Botanic Gardens… anywhere indeed snapping flowers, when I think of it but I haven’t done so for a while. Yours were a lovely reminder of the merit in it 🙂