In honour (!) of today's predicted 41 degree heat (= 106 degrees Fahrenheit), I thought a cactus would be a good subject for today's shadow shot. I love these flowers - they have a bit of personality I think! I took these photos in the succulent garden section of Sydney's Botanical Gardens a fortnight ago.
Shadow Shot Sunday is a fabulous meme set up by none other than Tracy of Hey Harriet fame! It's open to all and here are the instructions on how to enter!
Meanwhile, what to do today when the very thought of thinking makes you break out in a sweat? I could either stay at home and drink iced water all day and read a book or I could go into town and hang out in the cool of the shops. Hmmmm...however, the big problem today which is a lot bigger than the dilemma of how I shall stay cool is the bush fire threat. Apparently, the bush is bone dry and there may well be a wind today - I just send all my thoughts out to those people who live in areas close to scrub and bush and keep my fingers crossed for them that today won't be as bad as predicted.
On a lighter note, happy Sunday all!
Marvelous cactus! And what terrific shadow shots!!
Have a great weekend and stay cool!!!
Sylvia
Posted by: Sylvia Kirkwood | November 22, 2009 at 05:09 AM
The cacti are in bloom, the heat and the sun the ingredients for their colorful flowers.
Egads, that is blistering heat! We don't see it that hot in the Northeast US, I have Arizona desert. Stay cool (it would be nice if we could export some of our cold weather to temper your heat in OZ)
Posted by: Ralph | November 22, 2009 at 05:29 AM
love those cactus shadows...
Posted by: Catherine | November 22, 2009 at 06:10 AM
Wow; that is warm...maybe I can send some of our cold weather to you...
Posted by: The Clothes Horse | November 22, 2009 at 06:29 AM
Oh my! 106 and wind. Here in California we know well the threat of wild fire. I'll hold a good thought for those in the bush.
Posted by: Martha | November 22, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Great cactus flowers and shadows!
Posted by: Margaret Gosden | November 22, 2009 at 09:03 AM
Perfect pictures for SSS, and beautiful flowers. I hope your fire season is mild.
Posted by: Dimple | November 22, 2009 at 11:06 AM
I like the cactus-very cheery! The heat sounds too much-and the thought of fires-so scary. Over here it is floods.
Posted by: Sarah | November 22, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Yikes! 41 degrees!
Hopefully the bush fire won't be as bad as they predict :(
Stay cool and have a good weekend, Sam!
Posted by: Anna | November 22, 2009 at 12:31 PM
The cactus blooms are quite pretty.
I do hope that your day wasn't too hot.
The fire threat sounds scary indeed.
Posted by: Patti V. | November 22, 2009 at 01:20 PM
I hope everyone comes through this safely and that you were able to find some cool air!
Posted by: Kristin | November 22, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Great shadow shots--gorgeous cacti! Keep the ice in your lemonade or tea, and a fan on you. That's a heat wave! I hope no bush fires result. Thanks for your kind comments on my blog post! Happy new week!
Posted by: Jane (Scrappy-Gram) | November 22, 2009 at 02:59 PM
So charming Sam, they reminded me of those fanciful ladies who watch the horse race!
Hopefully no more fire in your country, the last one was horrible...Stay cool dear~
xo*
Posted by: lenorenevermore | November 22, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Mmmm. Lovely shapes and colors along with those shadows!
Posted by: Deb | November 22, 2009 at 03:14 PM
That is soo hot!! The cactus seems like perfect picture for it, too!!
Posted by: Diana | November 22, 2009 at 03:29 PM
Dear sam these are gorgeous cactus in bloom!! I love love the flowers and you captured these sooo lovely! Sydney's Botanical Gardens sounds like fun place to go. :) Hope you're having a wonderful merry happy weekend and love to you!
Posted by: Jacqueline | November 22, 2009 at 03:52 PM
I love that you do this every Sunday. I killed a cactus once - tough I know but I did it!
Australia is such a harsh place sometimes. I hope there's some rain/moisture soon.
Posted by: ana b | November 22, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Gorgeous and very appropriate shadow shots Sam! 41 degree heat for you today? Oh no!!! I'm guessing your place doesn't have air con? Mine doesn't & it's killing me so I can't begin to imagine what a temp of 41 would feel like without air con. As much as I don't like hanging around shopping centres I can understand the attraction during such hot weather. I hope you managed to find some relief with whatever you ended up doing today. Take care and drink lots of water! My thoughts are also with all those in danger of bush fires. And with you Sam! Please don't melt away! Take a book and your drawing materials to a nice air-conditioned cafe. And eat lots of ice cream. That helps :)
Posted by: Tracy | November 22, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Beautiful shadow shots - but the heat! How do you cope with it? I do hope the bush fires can be avoided. Fire is so powerful and frightening.
Posted by: jabblog uk | November 22, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Your cactus flowers are gorgeous. It is the first time I see yellow ones. Ours, in the Botanical Gardens are just orange-red.
Sorry about your sufferings in your beautiful country, 41 degrees are insupportable heat. I hope, nothing bad will happen and everyone comes through this without problems.
Thanks for your kind words on my shots and take care!
Posted by: Maia | November 22, 2009 at 06:49 PM
The cactus shots are gorgeous Sam!
The heat is/has been dreadful! We stayed home and clung to the A/C today sipping cold drinks, watching movies and doing Sudoku...day after day of extreme temperatures wears me out.
The fires are dreadful...on the news it said there was something like 80 separate outbreaks throughout the state...bring on the cool change, we're more than ready >^..^<
Posted by: Chaton | November 22, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Wonderful prickly pear cactus, we have them here in Iowa too, though a real pain to farmers, when plowed they just spread like wildfire.
Posted by: Sweet Repose | November 22, 2009 at 11:17 PM
beautiful cactus flowers and shadows. Hope you don't get bushfires...
Posted by: Crafty Green poet | November 23, 2009 at 12:25 AM
I like these!
Happy SSS to you==stay cool.
Posted by: Jen | November 23, 2009 at 01:07 AM
Hey there. How are you doing today? I hope you've been having a fantastic weekend. Take care. Have a great week ahead. Cheers!
Posted by: Keith | November 23, 2009 at 02:56 AM
Ah beautiful cacti and its shadows...
Posted by: Pacey | November 23, 2009 at 04:14 AM
Sam, beautiful catus with lovely flowers! Can't believe that kind of heat! I'd have to leave town! Your drawings in your side bar are amazing! :)
Posted by: maryt/theteach | November 23, 2009 at 07:34 AM
I'm LOVING these Sam!! Wow...I have never seen a cactus in the wild like that, cause I'm in Canada. Very exotic and I just love the flowers, very pretty and unique.
I hope you can stand the heat...wow, its funny over on this side of the world it's starting to get chilly...eeek. extremes of anything I suppose is the not the best.
Hope your weekend was manageable.
Posted by: Kathleen | November 23, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Beautiful shadows and hopes that it doesn't get too hot there dear Sam... sounds a lot like our Los Angeles predicament. We love the sun but yeah, fires and dangers of sunstroke!
Posted by: Gabbi | November 28, 2009 at 06:44 PM