Skywatch Friday: Solstice Rose

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Roses always bring to mind "The Queen of Argyll" by Scotsman Andy Stewart (formerly of Silly Wizard). Here's the refrain of this courtliest of ballads:

And if you could have seen her there
Boys, if you had just been there

The swan was in her movements

And the marvel in her smile

All the roses in the garden

They bow and ask her pardon

For not one could match the beauty

Of the Queen of all Argyll


More Skywatch Views at Wigger's World

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116 Comments

  1. Anonymous2:35 PM

    I'm back ... oh no, cried blog world ... he's back!

    But you, Mrs. Sandy Carlson, you gave me such a surprise with this beautiful photo of a white rose!

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  2. It bears it name with pride - as both of you should.

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  3. Sandy: What a great poem to add to SWF.

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  4. I love the contrast of the rose against the darker background and the lovely color and detail of the flower itself!

    Also a beautiful poem!

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  5. A beautiful white rose and I bet it's perfume is fantastic.

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  6. the flower is beautiful and the sky is great...

    thanks drop at my post

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  7. That is just simply beautiful.

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  8. Anonymous2:53 PM

    great sky and poem...

    Mine in here Thanks

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  9. OH WOW... Splendid rose... so amazingly beautiful!
    Mountain Retreat

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  10. Anonymous2:54 PM

    Your rose is beautiful, Sandy. I like your poem as a complement to a beautiful photograph.

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  11. Just great, can almost feel the smell in my nose .-))


    Nice weekend to you, from Anne in Norway.

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  12. Nice shot Sandy. I always find it difficult to photograph roses. It was Andy Stewart who also sang a Scottish Soldier was it not? That take me back a few years :)

    Our other site: Port Elizabeth Daily Photo

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  13. Anonymous3:17 PM

    Beautiful sky white rose and quotation.

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  14. That's beautiful! I like the poem.

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  15. Anonymous3:22 PM

    How delightful.

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  16. Beauty in words and picture Sandy... you are way in front on our world wide tour of the skies..
    and look we have that handsome Mr. Q but with us this week..

    Thank you for helping to make Sky Watch so popular and special. I hope you enjoy your Sky Watch as much as I do.
    Tom

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  17. So beautiful Sandy :)

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  18. Anonymous3:40 PM

    Nice pictures! I like macros.

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  19. I love roses. Beautiful!

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  20. Gorgeous rose! She lives up to the name "Queen." Thanks for sharing the poem; a perfect match.

    Very nice Sky Watch.

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  21. A wonderful song and the use of a contrasting setting of dark sky highlights the beauty of the rose. Lovely.
    varying seasons

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  22. Very beautiful, Sandy.

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  23. Anonymous4:16 PM

    I can smell it even. :) Lynn

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  24. Photo very beautiful, congratulations.

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  25. Lovely shot and great poem, too!

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  26. Sandy, the lighting on this flower is just so lovely! Great Skywatch! I have a very "special" award for you at my blog: Work of the Poet

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  27. Beautiful SWF and poem!!!

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  28. Anonymous6:11 PM

    Very pretty!

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  29. Stunning white rose! And how symbolic to be called Solstice - one of the critical moments in the seasons of the sky!

    Love the whole posting!

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  30. Pretty one for SWF! Which reminds me the quote... "we all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon".... Mine's up too hope you can drop by. Happy Weekend!

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  31. Anonymous6:44 PM

    Love it!! You always have unique posts for Sky Watch. Thank you!

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  32. Sky Watch ~ fun people taking amazing photos, nicely done.

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  33. Most beautiful poem, and of all of us here on earth - the rose is one watching the sky more than most of us.....

    Gorgeous Rose!

    Thanx for commenting on my pictures:)

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  34. Anonymous7:35 PM

    so lovely!!

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  35. This picture is lovely!!! Very Pretty! thanks for the comment! (:

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  36. Love the "courtliest" of ballads to go with your rose image :) Hmmm the scent from a white rose!

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  37. Oh Sandy, this is so beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  38. Anonymous9:05 PM

    It's really sweet looking. A gorgeous bloom against the sky :)

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  39. Anonymous9:22 PM

    A fine white rose and pretty sky background. Lovely!

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  40. It is indeed a lovely white rose -- making the remains of the day oh so sweet. A nice tribute for the solstice.

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  41. Well that is one beautiful rose, i saw in my yard that i have a single white rose that i should go take a photo of. as i think it will be the only one i will get, as i really thought the bush was dead. Thanks for sharing it

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  42. The color contrasts are striking - how do you manage so many blogs???

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  43. Wow very beautiful and huge rose. I love roses. Have a nice weekend.

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  44. Sandy you are a rose gal as am I and I truly am enjoying my peonies too!
    Love roses and blue sky!

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  45. The blue of the sky is such a contrast to the rose ... which is just glowing in this picture! How pretty!!

    My SkyWatch here

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  46. Beautiful. And, the poem read aloud with my best Scottish accent was splendid.

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  47. Lovely Sky Watch entry. Great close up.

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  48. Wow. What a beautiful flower.

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  49. I took photos of my roses today on the other coast. It's a lovely time of the year.

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  50. Anonymous11:00 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have a lovely picture!

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  51. what a lovely sweet soft flower you always shoot so lovely

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  52. Just beautiful Sandy...I love roses, and this one made my day!

    Thanks for stopping by on SWF--

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  53. I never get tired of roses!

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  54. Sandy, like always, neat picture. My wife loves flowers, herbs and her lovely garden. I bet you have a nice garden, too. Thanks for sharing. Mustang Mike

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  55. In your garden? Simply beautiful. You always have something different to offer. :)

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  56. I just know that beautiful rose, framed by that blue sky, has the most wonderful scent.

    Lovely SWF, Sandy.

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  57. Very beautiful rose and also sky watch picture:)
    Petunia's SWF

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  58. Anonymous1:33 AM

    she's so sweet, sandy!

    happy skywatching!

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  59. Roses are an inspiration for writers, photographers, and painters.
    See how your flimsy white rose hide your Sky, and draw attention, we're all, Sky Watchers, writing about "her", personalized "Queen" of the flowers.
    Have a romantic week-end, Sandy.

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  60. Beautiful rose and a matching poem.

    Great SW.

    Happy Sky Watch!
    Gary
    Bodge's Bulletin

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  61. and a very blue sky as a background!

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  62. what a beauty..I could almost smell it from here :)

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  63. Anonymous3:02 AM

    excellent combination. a great rose and a great poem. well done

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  64. Beautiful post in all respects, Sandy!

    "Louis" thanks you for your kind words Chez Louis.

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  65. Anonymous3:59 AM

    A lovely rose for the Solstice - great!

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  66. Oh, I just love the combination of your photo and the ballad - they go so well together!
    /Katarina

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  67. So wonderful! I always wonder what kind of camera every body's using. I have this 2MP camera phone most of the time.

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  68. Thank you for your kind comments on my sky watch photos. Great photo this, I love white roses. From AnneKa in Norway

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  69. Superb rose glowing against the sky. So beautiful.

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  70. A beautiful ballad. And being a Yorkshireman, I always love a white rose.

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  71. so delicate and beautiful, like summer...

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  72. dear Sandy,
    Thanks for this great rose, this flower is like you, a fantastic person thanks that you visited me while I was in hospital.

    JoAnn /Holland ,is joining SWF
    Happy SWF & Weekend!

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  73. Sandy, if you have these in your garden...what a lucky woman! Gorgeous and I love the focus on the rose versus the backgound :)

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  74. That's a striking shot.
    I love the muted deep blue of the background.
    Really makes the rose POP.


    Nina at Nature Remains

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  75. That's REALLY gorgeous Sandy! I love the white of the flower and the background of the blue sky!

    Jen

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  76. Very pretty Sandy...and a LOVELY poem!

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  77. Very pretty on all counts.

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  78. It's great the way you make that flower "pop" out from the background.

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  79. Wonderful picture! And your meditations and thoughts are always very impressive.

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  80. Beautiful! I love the picture and the words.

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  81. A most fitting tribute to beauty! I'm always drawn to white or buttery flowers as well. Thanks for sharing!

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  82. you rose to the occasion with this one!

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  83. Anonymous9:42 AM

    95 comments!!!!! Wow! That is a great shot. Congrats on all of the comments. Is that a normal day for you!??

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  84. Anonymous9:56 AM

    She's definitely a Beauty, Sandy!

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  85. nice pic have good weekend

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  86. Such a beautiful flower .. with a bud peeking out ...


    :-Daryl

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  87. So soft and beautiful....nice poem too!

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  88. Lovely named blosoom and so pretty.

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  89. Great photo! Love roses and this one is perfect!Have a nice weekend

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  90. Anonymous12:27 PM

    White roses are a favorite. Beautiful against the blue sky...

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  91. Anonymous12:39 PM

    nice!

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  92. Hi Sandy... I've left a message for you at Raven's Nest.

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  93. Anonymous12:56 PM

    truly beautiful... so crisp and lovely.

    Happy SWF and thanks for visiting mine :)

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  94. Oh wow, that's beautiful!

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  95. I could have sworn I left a comment here - oh well.

    Your last two pictures of roses - don't know which I love more.

    I'll bet that top old fashioned rose has a wonderful aroma.

    Lovely SWF, Sandy.

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  96. Anonymous2:59 PM

    I can almost smell the fragrance.

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  97. "None could match the beauty..." True.

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  98. Sandy, what a perfect pairing of a photo and a poem! The photo, like the rose, is exquisite! Thanks as always for stopping by my blogs! You are so faithful!

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  99. What an excellent post...well done!

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  100. Beautiful poem for a beautiful rose..thanks for shsaring

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  101. Beautiful Sandy - words and pictures!

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Thanks for being here.