Daffodils bobbing in the breeze, the first blush of buds on tree branches, rabbits once again in the yards, and the return of the bears, overturning our garbage bins!
What a lovely city to return to Lia ( boo to not being able to access the Botanical gardens though) Ah yes the north/ south drive and differences …we did the whole length of the country from north Northumberland to the Sussex Downs last Sunday and the differences were astounding! We were greeted here by our glorious cherry tree being totally OVER blossoming, bluebells everywhere, and the greening of trees which had barely started In Northumberland, well advanced here….. That long drive back was the start of a very long and difficult week for me - 3 early starts to go to the hospital for final pre- treatment tests which should have culminated in my chemotherapy starting yesterday. But after several attempts to get the cannula needle in to my not very co- operative veins, by my super experienced cancer specialist nurse, we abandoned it and decided to wait until my embedded port is fitted on Monday and start treatment on Tuesday! A big anti- climax I can tell you …. But I totally trust their judgement and understand the drip infusion must be delivered safely. So back to just staying calm and waiting - a walk in the bluebell woods nearby was the beautiful ending to that rather frustrating day! Acres and acres of misty blue below the green canopy, with white petals of wild cherry trees above drifting down like snow. Perfect.
I've also had the experience of gazing wistfully out at the Botanics from the function room (though it was rain not gales). It is amazing the difference between one end of this small country and the other. This week's been the first all year I've gone to the shops without my jacket on!! And starting to notice the cherry trees thinking about blossoming...
So interesting the differences around the country. I am in the south east and this week there is so much green lushness, I almost feel like Spring has happened earlier this year, certainly my apple tree is already in full bloom which normally happens at the end of this month. So many ladybirds out in the garden, and I spotted a common lizard sunbathing on the old terracotta tiles we are edging our veg beds with.
Suddenly the base of the rose arch is full of the spikes of foxgloves - the perfect plant for me being, as they are, part wild and part curated. They self seed prolifically, meaning I have plenty of seedlings to give away - surely one of the boons of gardening. I swear they grow a few cm everything I turn my back.
I think this time of year it is particularly noticeable how gradually the season appears to spread over the country. I love traveling to my son’s (Northumberland) on the train and noticing it is like a blanket slowly being pulled back.
For me this week ………the first blossom on my cherry tree. Dandelions! I will be out this weekend with my camera, they truly are beautiful in the delicate structure of their petals. Not sure my neighbour agrees. AND the pinkest of pink drive to work. My route seems to pass sooo many cherry trees, the drive along one particular road is amazing (hardly see anyone, almost always no traffic) makes me want to stop and stand under them and have it rain the pink gentle blossoms on me 🌸
I loved Edinburgh when I went there, around 24 years ago, now. It was about January I think. My late husband was up there working, and i flew up there with him, midweek, and we stayed an extra night so he could explore on the Saturday. We stayed in a hotel halfway between Holyrood and the Castle. Not sure which chain operates it now, but it’s.a stone building with a turret, built around an old tenement close, Dickson’s Close. Holyrood Palace was lovely, really interested. I also did a walking tour, and rubbed the big toe, saw the statue of King Charles the First on horseback. It was raining, and the lower drain hole in the statue is underneath, in a rather unfortunate place, so it looked like the horse was peeing, the guide said it gets called the Peeing Horse. I wasn’t up to spitting on the ground, like people who live there, on a specific spot, I was told why they do it, but can’t remember. Yuck! I also did some shopping. On the Saturday, we visited Edinburgh Castle, and a weaving museum near the Esplanade. We both had a go at using a loom. Then walked round the city a bit.
I’d love to go back, and maybe see Britannia, as well.
Signs of Spring I’ve been noticing, fabulous magnolia trees in flower, though most of the daffodils have gone over, there are muscari everywhere, and bluebells, even the cow parsley is starting to make an appearance, lovely to look at, but doesn’t smell particularly nice. Trees coming back to life. In my garden, I have muscari, and bluebells popping up, one of my roses has its first bud, the alliums are sprouting, and the giant leaved primula is well into flower.
The birdsong has been beautiful this week and it's lovely to see the splashes of bright limey green where the new leaves are bursting out on the birches - they are are so pretty contrasting against the darker evergreens. Underfoot the bluebells are blooming and flashes of yellow and purple all around on my walks. I discovered the name of a tree I see all around that blossoms between the blackthorn and hawthorn - it's called a serviceberry which is a type of wild plum. It's great to keep learning new things in nature !
Green tree canopies starting their unfurling , horse chestnuts sending their new leaves up and out like hands reaching to the skies .Bluebells and Wild Garlic flowering in exuberance and Oh the Tulips naturalised variety surprising with their flowers like stars in the Milky Way green and white striped in the low light of the evenings -The solar eclipse energy is awakening Gaia 🍃🌱🌿🙏
How frustrating not to be able to get into the garden Lia! And yes, Sally Ann, the difference between north and south is very marked in spring isn’t it? Here in Sheffield this week I can quote Philip Larkin again “The trees are coming into leaf like something almost being said”. I suspect they’re much further on further south. Also this week, the wonderful smell of cut grass for the first time, drifting over the road from a neighbour’s garden.
Bright flashes of purple everywhere in the garden as the exuberantly self-sown honesty comes into flower, goldfinches in the little cherry blossom tree. Hard bright sunshine between hours of rain.
A week of contrasts: traveled from home in Michigan (bare trees, chilly and overcast, daffodils in bloom) to Texas (leafy green canopies of tree foliage, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, roses in full bloom, summer-like skies and weather.) Destination: Corsicana, in the path of totality for the great solar eclipse. Grateful the weather cooperated: had a great view of the eclipse with friends in their backyard. Absolutely out of this world; words cannot describe it but an amazing and awestruck, memorable experience.
The first ducklings are on the canal, and the geese are very very hissy when you walk past, guarding their clutch of eggs. A lone bluebell spotted - will be May Day when they are out properly here, and seeds sown in the garden for hopefully a summer harvest. A gentle week.
Daffodils bobbing in the breeze, the first blush of buds on tree branches, rabbits once again in the yards, and the return of the bears, overturning our garbage bins!
What a lovely city to return to Lia ( boo to not being able to access the Botanical gardens though) Ah yes the north/ south drive and differences …we did the whole length of the country from north Northumberland to the Sussex Downs last Sunday and the differences were astounding! We were greeted here by our glorious cherry tree being totally OVER blossoming, bluebells everywhere, and the greening of trees which had barely started In Northumberland, well advanced here….. That long drive back was the start of a very long and difficult week for me - 3 early starts to go to the hospital for final pre- treatment tests which should have culminated in my chemotherapy starting yesterday. But after several attempts to get the cannula needle in to my not very co- operative veins, by my super experienced cancer specialist nurse, we abandoned it and decided to wait until my embedded port is fitted on Monday and start treatment on Tuesday! A big anti- climax I can tell you …. But I totally trust their judgement and understand the drip infusion must be delivered safely. So back to just staying calm and waiting - a walk in the bluebell woods nearby was the beautiful ending to that rather frustrating day! Acres and acres of misty blue below the green canopy, with white petals of wild cherry trees above drifting down like snow. Perfect.
Yesterday evening I saw a swift from my window.
There are Egyptian geese and drifts of daisies near the paddocks.
I've also had the experience of gazing wistfully out at the Botanics from the function room (though it was rain not gales). It is amazing the difference between one end of this small country and the other. This week's been the first all year I've gone to the shops without my jacket on!! And starting to notice the cherry trees thinking about blossoming...
So interesting the differences around the country. I am in the south east and this week there is so much green lushness, I almost feel like Spring has happened earlier this year, certainly my apple tree is already in full bloom which normally happens at the end of this month. So many ladybirds out in the garden, and I spotted a common lizard sunbathing on the old terracotta tiles we are edging our veg beds with.
Suddenly the base of the rose arch is full of the spikes of foxgloves - the perfect plant for me being, as they are, part wild and part curated. They self seed prolifically, meaning I have plenty of seedlings to give away - surely one of the boons of gardening. I swear they grow a few cm everything I turn my back.
It was finally warm enough to plant some veg seeds! Carrots, parsnips, broad beans, French beans and peas. Let’s hope they germinate.
I think this time of year it is particularly noticeable how gradually the season appears to spread over the country. I love traveling to my son’s (Northumberland) on the train and noticing it is like a blanket slowly being pulled back.
For me this week ………the first blossom on my cherry tree. Dandelions! I will be out this weekend with my camera, they truly are beautiful in the delicate structure of their petals. Not sure my neighbour agrees. AND the pinkest of pink drive to work. My route seems to pass sooo many cherry trees, the drive along one particular road is amazing (hardly see anyone, almost always no traffic) makes me want to stop and stand under them and have it rain the pink gentle blossoms on me 🌸
I loved Edinburgh when I went there, around 24 years ago, now. It was about January I think. My late husband was up there working, and i flew up there with him, midweek, and we stayed an extra night so he could explore on the Saturday. We stayed in a hotel halfway between Holyrood and the Castle. Not sure which chain operates it now, but it’s.a stone building with a turret, built around an old tenement close, Dickson’s Close. Holyrood Palace was lovely, really interested. I also did a walking tour, and rubbed the big toe, saw the statue of King Charles the First on horseback. It was raining, and the lower drain hole in the statue is underneath, in a rather unfortunate place, so it looked like the horse was peeing, the guide said it gets called the Peeing Horse. I wasn’t up to spitting on the ground, like people who live there, on a specific spot, I was told why they do it, but can’t remember. Yuck! I also did some shopping. On the Saturday, we visited Edinburgh Castle, and a weaving museum near the Esplanade. We both had a go at using a loom. Then walked round the city a bit.
I’d love to go back, and maybe see Britannia, as well.
Signs of Spring I’ve been noticing, fabulous magnolia trees in flower, though most of the daffodils have gone over, there are muscari everywhere, and bluebells, even the cow parsley is starting to make an appearance, lovely to look at, but doesn’t smell particularly nice. Trees coming back to life. In my garden, I have muscari, and bluebells popping up, one of my roses has its first bud, the alliums are sprouting, and the giant leaved primula is well into flower.
The birdsong has been beautiful this week and it's lovely to see the splashes of bright limey green where the new leaves are bursting out on the birches - they are are so pretty contrasting against the darker evergreens. Underfoot the bluebells are blooming and flashes of yellow and purple all around on my walks. I discovered the name of a tree I see all around that blossoms between the blackthorn and hawthorn - it's called a serviceberry which is a type of wild plum. It's great to keep learning new things in nature !
Green tree canopies starting their unfurling , horse chestnuts sending their new leaves up and out like hands reaching to the skies .Bluebells and Wild Garlic flowering in exuberance and Oh the Tulips naturalised variety surprising with their flowers like stars in the Milky Way green and white striped in the low light of the evenings -The solar eclipse energy is awakening Gaia 🍃🌱🌿🙏
How frustrating not to be able to get into the garden Lia! And yes, Sally Ann, the difference between north and south is very marked in spring isn’t it? Here in Sheffield this week I can quote Philip Larkin again “The trees are coming into leaf like something almost being said”. I suspect they’re much further on further south. Also this week, the wonderful smell of cut grass for the first time, drifting over the road from a neighbour’s garden.
Bright flashes of purple everywhere in the garden as the exuberantly self-sown honesty comes into flower, goldfinches in the little cherry blossom tree. Hard bright sunshine between hours of rain.
A week of contrasts: traveled from home in Michigan (bare trees, chilly and overcast, daffodils in bloom) to Texas (leafy green canopies of tree foliage, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, roses in full bloom, summer-like skies and weather.) Destination: Corsicana, in the path of totality for the great solar eclipse. Grateful the weather cooperated: had a great view of the eclipse with friends in their backyard. Absolutely out of this world; words cannot describe it but an amazing and awestruck, memorable experience.
The first ducklings are on the canal, and the geese are very very hissy when you walk past, guarding their clutch of eggs. A lone bluebell spotted - will be May Day when they are out properly here, and seeds sown in the garden for hopefully a summer harvest. A gentle week.
I was reminded of this:
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more.
George, Lord Byron From Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.