Finally hearing and seeing swifts above our house earlier this week, hoping that our new swift boxes may be considered some time in the next few years. Meals involving lovely fresh asparagus. Struggling to find the joy in unpredictable, but often wet and relatively cold weather.
Blocked off a workday to take in the joys of a late spring day. Went kayaking with friends, soaking in all the vigor and vibrance of the season. Warm sunshine from a blue clear sky, cold beer, hours of conversation and contemplation amongst the winding river through leafy canopies comprised of a thousand shades of green, filled with birdsong. Do you ever have the realization that "the good ol' days" are here and now, unfolding in the present?
Deep forest floor covered in trilliums, on the drive home saw two bald eagles soaring above. Made and preserved a batch of vanilla rhubarb jam. Looking so forward to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday and our unofficial kickoff to summer with burgers on the grill, asparagus from the garden, and a strawberry rhubarb pie. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan).
So lovely seeing Chelsea Flower Show in your images and on the TV. This week has been about enjoying the roses popping up in the garden, despite the rain everything has had a burst of energy following a few days of warmth. We're also enjoying seasonal food and made homemade rhubarb and apple crumble, and delicious asparagus. The goslings are growing and we are awaiting the ducklings.
Arriving at the local osprey hide at 6am where Radio Cymru had set up camp to broadcast their morning nature programme. It was quite a special moment, talking about ospreys on the bank of the misty river to the sound of the birds (and everyone being eaten alive by midges! 😅)
Sunshine, then rain, the hedge sprouting like mad but there’s a nest of dunnocks in there so leaving the trim until they fledge. Creeping buttercups spreading through the garden and bedding plants are in!
It has been another week of thunderous rain in our little corner of France. I blame myself for setting up a rain water harvesting system to feed our Potager in the parched Summer months. But the meadow is thriving. Pyramid and Bee orchids popping up to say Bonjour.
Do you always have rain in the spring? I have a friend living in France. I need to check in with her and see how her garden is going. Thank you for sharing.
Watching the Chelsea Flower Show on TV and making notes of shade loving and bog plants to add to my own garden. The NGS garden is my favourite. I have enjoyed visiting NGS gardens near to where I live.
What a gorgeous scene you’ve described at the the flower show, Lia. Here, I am drawn to a back window this week to view the full moon lighting up the bay, something it only does now that it rises so far to the south. A ladybug 🐞, the first of the season, appeared unexpectedly on a log at the beach. The local farmers market doubled in size and is overflowing with leafy greens, still snail eaten, great stacks of tiny purple spring onions and green garlic, glowing strawberries, jars of honey, all the spring bounty.
May is the cruelest month, my friend Ruth used to say..
The switch from glorious warm sunshine, back to rain and and that icy chill in the wind does feel cruel,
but the scent of the elderflower, honeysuckle (a whole garland of it winding up the rowan tree), and the mock orange blossom - out for our wedding anniversary, (I wore a crown of it on the day) remind me that we haven't gone backwards, we can only ever go forward.
Gorgoeus pics.. you captured Monday's light very well. Luckily i managed to get there Thurs afternoon after the deluge of Tues/Weds. so much talent & exquisite woodland plantings. Digesting it all today.
Planting plants I have grown from seed for the very first time. My poppy bursting into bloom during Friday from a tight bulb to its glorious redness. Busy busy birds feeding so many chicks. An absolute joy.
Busy week, days off spent washing and styling wigs and getting my daughter’s outfit ready for comi con London , she goes every year.
Book buying, love the new book Lia!
Catching up with the Giro d’Italia, final stage in Rome on Sunday.
Flowers from the garden brightening up a rather tired looking kitchen window sill.
Never been to Chelsea flower show, maybe when I retire! 🌼
Finally hearing and seeing swifts above our house earlier this week, hoping that our new swift boxes may be considered some time in the next few years. Meals involving lovely fresh asparagus. Struggling to find the joy in unpredictable, but often wet and relatively cold weather.
We have spotted swifts over our garden and the park too. 🌼
Blocked off a workday to take in the joys of a late spring day. Went kayaking with friends, soaking in all the vigor and vibrance of the season. Warm sunshine from a blue clear sky, cold beer, hours of conversation and contemplation amongst the winding river through leafy canopies comprised of a thousand shades of green, filled with birdsong. Do you ever have the realization that "the good ol' days" are here and now, unfolding in the present?
Yes!
Deep forest floor covered in trilliums, on the drive home saw two bald eagles soaring above. Made and preserved a batch of vanilla rhubarb jam. Looking so forward to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday and our unofficial kickoff to summer with burgers on the grill, asparagus from the garden, and a strawberry rhubarb pie. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan).
Vanilla Rhubarb jam sounds delicious. Can you share the recipe?
Sure, here's the one I used:
https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/vanilla-rhubarb-jam/
Thank you!
So lovely seeing Chelsea Flower Show in your images and on the TV. This week has been about enjoying the roses popping up in the garden, despite the rain everything has had a burst of energy following a few days of warmth. We're also enjoying seasonal food and made homemade rhubarb and apple crumble, and delicious asparagus. The goslings are growing and we are awaiting the ducklings.
Arriving at the local osprey hide at 6am where Radio Cymru had set up camp to broadcast their morning nature programme. It was quite a special moment, talking about ospreys on the bank of the misty river to the sound of the birds (and everyone being eaten alive by midges! 😅)
Sunshine, then rain, the hedge sprouting like mad but there’s a nest of dunnocks in there so leaving the trim until they fledge. Creeping buttercups spreading through the garden and bedding plants are in!
It has been another week of thunderous rain in our little corner of France. I blame myself for setting up a rain water harvesting system to feed our Potager in the parched Summer months. But the meadow is thriving. Pyramid and Bee orchids popping up to say Bonjour.
Now I know who to blame!!
Eek, sorry!!
Do you always have rain in the spring? I have a friend living in France. I need to check in with her and see how her garden is going. Thank you for sharing.
We seem to have had a good deal more this year than last, and for longer.
Great excitement at work as the mute swan cygnets arrived. All 8 bobbing about in the sunshine one day, then huddled under mum from the rain the next.
Loving the Chelsea Flower Show tales.
Watching the Chelsea Flower Show on TV and making notes of shade loving and bog plants to add to my own garden. The NGS garden is my favourite. I have enjoyed visiting NGS gardens near to where I live.
Making elderflower cordial from the blooms in the park next door, better than anything from the supermarket!
I have been looking through my elderflower cordial recipes, try to do a different one each year 🌼
Brought the Barbour out of summer retirement for a morning walk and didn’t regret it. It shall be returned to rest when the sun comes back!
What a gorgeous scene you’ve described at the the flower show, Lia. Here, I am drawn to a back window this week to view the full moon lighting up the bay, something it only does now that it rises so far to the south. A ladybug 🐞, the first of the season, appeared unexpectedly on a log at the beach. The local farmers market doubled in size and is overflowing with leafy greens, still snail eaten, great stacks of tiny purple spring onions and green garlic, glowing strawberries, jars of honey, all the spring bounty.
This sounds lovely and yummy! Can't wait for our markets to open up again for the summer.
May is the cruelest month, my friend Ruth used to say..
The switch from glorious warm sunshine, back to rain and and that icy chill in the wind does feel cruel,
but the scent of the elderflower, honeysuckle (a whole garland of it winding up the rowan tree), and the mock orange blossom - out for our wedding anniversary, (I wore a crown of it on the day) remind me that we haven't gone backwards, we can only ever go forward.
I agree that at times it seems that Mother Nature is off her meds during the month of the May.
brilliant! that made me laugh!
Gorgoeus pics.. you captured Monday's light very well. Luckily i managed to get there Thurs afternoon after the deluge of Tues/Weds. so much talent & exquisite woodland plantings. Digesting it all today.
Planting plants I have grown from seed for the very first time. My poppy bursting into bloom during Friday from a tight bulb to its glorious redness. Busy busy birds feeding so many chicks. An absolute joy.