TULIPMANIA 2015

panoramic view from South American Garden

This was the last burst of tulips Fairy Tales display before the change to Nursery Rhymes and my goodness, the tulips looked drop-dead amazing! These photos were taken before the crowd came in.

The kaleidoscope of colours was mesmerizing and the new varieties such as the frilly ones were eye-popping! 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Cinderella

Little Red Riding Hood

the Snow Queen

Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood'

Hansel and Gretel's Candyhouse

the Ugly Duckling

almost black tulips

yellow-orange Tulips

Tulipa 'Queensland'

the white frills lend a unique look to the conventional Tulips

this is the first time I see the Dicentra spectabilis

I didn't expect it to be so small in stature

nature produces so many hearts in a plant

windmill

yellow Daffodils (Narcissus)

CINDERELLA

This is the latest fairy tale that came to the big screen.

Starring Lily James as Cinderella (Ella), Cate Blanchett as the wicked Stepmother (Lady Tremaine), Richard Madden as Prince Charming (Kit) and Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother. This 2 hours long movie followed true to the storyline, unlike the many such as "Into the Woods" which were screened of late.

To me, the best part of the movie wasn't the romance between Prince Kit and Ella, which was saccharine sweet, but the fantastic portrayal by Cate as the stepmother. She proved to be my screen goddess once again. Every role she steps into, she does it so naturally and convincingly. In this movie, she was every bit the much hated and wicked Stepmother everybody will grow to loathe.

Oh, I am beginning to see a trend in society where every young girl wants to become a princess. Who would eventually emerge as the real princess(es) where courage and kindness triumph all the hardships?

Ella's first encounter with Kit, the "apprentice"

Cinderella going to the ball in her pumpkin carriage

Helena Bonham Carter as the strange Fairy Godmother

Lady Tremaine and her two loathsome and shallow daughters

if only looks could kill, Cinderella would definitely be dead

a side profile of the two leads

Nonso as the Prince's aide