Monthly Archives: March 2019
Raindrops, Beuret and A Poem
I am always entranced by raindrops on leaves and flowers. This leaf is particularly beautiful. Do zoom in to see the best version.
Raindrops
My bEUret arrived today ready for Saturday’s March.
bEUret
Today is the International Day of Happiness and the Spring Equinox. Let’s all be happy that Spring is on her way. BBC Radio 4 have been playing readings of Spring poems all day and I particularly liked The Trees by Philip Larkin, read by Alex Jennings.
The Trees by Philip Larkin
The trees are coming into leaf
Like something almost being said;
The recent buds relax and spread,
Their greenness is a kind of grief.Is it that they are born again
And we grow old? No, they die too,
Their yearly trick of looking new
Is written down in rings of grain.Yet still the unresting castles thresh
In fullgrown thickness every May.
Last year is dead, they seem to say,
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
Lone Tulip, Magnolia and A Poem
Just one Tulip has shown up in a pot from last year.
Just one white Tulip
A couple of years ago, three trees down our lane were felled and we were very sad. We were told that they were diseased. In their place, last year, three small trees were planted which we were very happy to see. Today, we spotted just one bloom on what turns out to be a Magnolia – what joy!
Baby Magnolia tree
Serendipitously, a friend today posted one of his poems with a photograph  of a  Magnolia and its ‘storm strewn’ petals and I found the accompanying poem very moving.
I shall not mourn the storm strewn magnolia
as fresh flowers unfurl below its boughs.
This is nature’s humble new hope
in a darkening world such as ours.
Kim’s Magnolia
Thank you, Kim.
P.S. I have sold the first of my glass pieces!!
Front Garden, Special Blossoms and A Pan
Our front garden is full of Primroses and some Periwinkles have called in from next door – they look lovely together.
Primroses and Periwinkles
The Fritillaria are beginning to bloom. Here are the first two. The chequered ones are quite remarkable.
Fritillaria
I made Leek and Potato Soup today for lunch and was delighted by the rainbow in the pan as I started. I don’t know what has caused our panbow!
Panbows
Translucence, Baby Peppers and A Bee
Our beautiful Narcissi, brought to us by a lovely friend, are dying but in such a lovely way – the white petals are becoming translucent so that the orange cup behind can be seen.
Narcissi
I bought some baby peppers for a meal this week and they look fabulous in the blue of a Jane Hamlyn bowl.
Bowl of baby peppers
There have been several bees around today. The Muscari seem to be very popular.
Bee on the Muscari
Six on Saturday – From Our Garden and In Our Garden
I will get around to showing you our garden but I am so excited about the twin lambs born in the field behind our garden, just this afternoon! There were already one pair of twins and two singletons but these are brand new! What could be more beautiful than that?
1. Â
Twins born this afternoon, on the longest zoom.
2. We have bought some instant purple, white and green for my Suffragette garden, Violas to be planted when the storms have passed. There are also two Lavender plants waiting to be planted in pots to be on the steps up into the garden, to welcome people with their scent. I’ll show you both as they get into their permanent homes.
Violas and lavender plants to be planted
3. Â Talking of scent, we borrow the scent of this amazing tree from next door but my neighbour is away so I can’t ask her what it is. She will know – maybe one of my Dear readers can help.
Wonderful scent – what is it?
4.  Our Clematis Armandii is full of flowers and quite delightful. I did expect scent from this too but it is quite elusive. I am intrigued though by the blooms, some of which have four petals, some five and some six!
Clematis Armandii buds
Clematis Armandii in flower
Clematis Armandii 4 petals
Clematis Armandii 5 petals
Clematis Armandii 6 petals
5.  There are buds on our Atlantica Glauca Pendula which we are training to form an arch as one goes up the aforementioned steps into the rest of the garden.
Buds on the Atlantica Glauca Pendula
6. Â I love the brightness of this Narcissi.
Spring colour
To visit lots of other gardeners and their gardens, pop along to The Propagator who hosts this Six on Saturday event. Do read the comments and follow the links – the conversations are always interesting.
Magpies, Soup and A Gift
I watched a pair of Magpies from the bedroom window this morning. They were working together to break up some thin prunings, obviously collecting for a nest. They were both working really hard!
Magpies collecting nesting material
I left the squash to roast while we were out and so the delicious soup was very quick to make for lunch. If you’d like the recipe, you can find it here.
Thai Spiced Squash soup
A small packet arrived today – Â the gift of a DVD of the play ‘Jeremy Visick’, derived from my Dad’s book, Â that I saw at the beginning of the month and wrote about here. The writer and producer also sent me the script to enjoy at leisure. What a very kind and much appreciated gesture.
A very special DVD
Grape Hyacinths, Robin and Libraries
These beauties are on top of a Cornish hedge on our walk up from town.
Cornish hedge with Muscari and Celandines
Robins often take a rest on Welly Dog before going to the feeders. This was in driving rain.
Robin in the rain
Libraries are so vital to the health of the nation.
Libraries!
English teacher hat on! Albert Einstein needs capital letters!
Around our Town
Three things on our walk today that pleased me were 1. a tiled entrance. 2. Â some stained glass and 3. Â renovations happening at The Old Fire Station.
I wonder what was sold in ‘The Red Shop’
There were several of these windows over two shops, really beautiful.
Gorgeous!
The old Fire Station has been abandoned for many years and looking rather sad but last year it was sold and is being renovated. It was lovely to spot someone working on the chimney and a new roof being done as we went past today.
Old Fire Station from the road
Old Fire Station from the back
I’ll show you as progress is made.
Lambs, Quiche and Bouquet
We have lambs in the back field! It is so lovely to see them, just one pair of twins at the moment but we hope for more. Last year the pregnant ewes were taken away before the lambs were born and only brought back when the little ones had grown quite a lot.
Twin lambs
There was a knock at the door this afternoon and there was a Very Dear Friend with her arms full – of flowers and a Leek and Stilton Quiche, both of which smelt divine!
Fabulous flowers
We have had the most delicious Quiche for supper with salad and send our heartfelt thanks to our very lovely friend for her love, concern and cooking!
Leek and Stilton Quiche
