Copyright © 2010 Bianca Gubalke. Visit the original article at http://biancagubalke.com/south-africa/protea-pink-ice/.Protea Pink Ice Although it was an overcast and stormy day, I spent most of it in the magnificent garden of a friend and neighbour, here in Noordhoek, South Africa – who has invited me to take pictures of  his masterspiece of a home. Here [...]

Stock Photography Protea Pink Ice Stock Photography Protea Pink Ice…  once Photo Media Stock is opening its doors, I will have a contribution with this spectacular flower I shot yesterday in a friend’s garden in Noordhoek, South Africa. Here’s a detail: Spending the cold and rainy part of the weekend almost entirely on studying Lightroom 3, I ran it through the calibration setting Yorgo prepared for me, adjusted it in the Lightroom Develop section, then eliminated a bright and interfering little branch in Photoshop, gave it a tiny tick of sharpening – and saved it. The colour is spectacular – there is no other word! I have the Pink Ice Protea in my garden as well, but it’s really pink  – not this flaming magenta. Stock Photography Protea Pink Ice The Protea Pink Ice -  Protea neriifolia x susannae  -  is said to be the hardiest of the Proteacea family and is a low maintenance plant. On the other hand, it provides us with beautiful flowers we can adore in Nature – or of course also as a cut and dried flower… which I keep to a minimum. I just love them to radiate and glow outside… but getting a [...]

Copyright © 2010 Bianca Gubalke. Visit the original article at http://biancagubalke.com/south-africa/life-in-a-day/.Life in a Day Life in a Day turns to pure bliss when the sun is shining after icecold, stormy, gloomy winter days. Life in a Day With the creation of the iconic classic “Bladerunner” – see my film review HERE – Film Director Ridley [...]

Gladiolus Gardening and Health Gardening is and has always been my passion, well one of them. As I wrote in earlier articles, living our Passion keeps us young, fit, curious and enterprising – taking care of our mental and physical wellbeing…. especially if we do it actively outside, inhaling the powerful and healing energies surrounding plants and bathing in fresh air. Gardening and Health – especially Gardening and Mental Health – are strongly related. In fact… and as we always cling to ‘scientific proof’, a “… landmark study by Roger S. Ulrich, published in the April 27, 1984, issue of Science magazine, found strong evidence that nature helps heal. Ulrich, a pioneer in the field of therapeutic environments at Texas A&M University, found that patients recovering from gallbladder surgery who looked out at a view of trees had significantly shorter hospital stays, fewer complaints, and took less pain medication, than those who looked out at a brick wall.” Well, I don’t need Science to know this Truth; a Passion for Gardening is in my blood, going back far into the 19th Century to my grand-grand-father who was famous in Europe for the beautiful gardens and parks he created… gardens that [...]