After singing at the eco park this afternoon, this lovely bunch of marigolds in a blue painted trough caught my eye.
My lovely Mum died in 1994 and these words of Tennyson ring true. She was the gardener who inspired me.
Another gloriously orange flower, one of the Californa Poppies.
I went down to the allotment today just to check on things. It’s always good to see what others are growing. One plot had irises just opening.
Another had banks of tulips.
I found this quotation today and love it.
The Ingleheart Singers are learning a beautiful new piece, ‘Crossing the Bar’ an arrangement of Tennyson’s poem with the music by Rani Arbo and arranged by Peter Amidon. We managed just the first verse last night and here it is. It’s a four part harmony and each verse is going to be different. We love a challenge!
Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have cross’d the bar.
I found a delicious sounding vegan recipe this week, Spinach, Chickpea and Lemon Pilaff and it tasted as good as it sounded!
Spinach, chickpea and lemon pilaff
After the annual Lantern Parade in Truro before Christmas, two of the lanterns have been put up in the Lemon Street Market, Pegasus in the background and a Lion in the foreground. The theme for the lanterns last year was stories. Perhaps this is Aslan from C S Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
There are snowdrops popping up all over the place.
Tennyson welcomed them with this delightful poem.
The Snowdrop – Alfred Lord Tennyson
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid!
Ever as of old time,
Solitary firstling,
Coming in the cold time,
Prophet of the gay time,
Prophet of the May time,
Prophet of the roses,
Many, many welcomes,
February fair-maid!
Dinnertime here for a beautiful Blackbird……
Enjoying the fat cake
Getting stuck in
Ready for the off, dinner done for now
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Today’s poem, one being posted every day this month of national Poetry Month, had to be something linked to my photos so here is Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem ‘The Blackbird’. The ‘gold dagger’ of his bill is very evident in the photos.
O blackbird! sing me something well:
While all the neighbours shoot thee round,
I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground,
Where thou may’st warble, eat and dwell.The espaliers and the standards all
Are thine; the range of lawn and park:
The unnetted black-hearts ripen dark,
All thine, against the garden wall.Yet, tho’ I spared thee all the spring,
Thy sole delight is, sitting still,
With that gold dagger of thy bill
To fret the summer jenneting.A golden bill! the silver tongue,
Cold February loved, is dry:
Plenty corrupts the melody
That made thee famous once, when young:And in the sultry garden-squares,
Now thy flute-notes are changed to coarse,
I hear thee not at all, or hoarse
As when a hawker hawks his wares.Take warning! he that will not sing
While yon sun prospers in the blue,
Shall sing for want, ere leaves are new,
Caught in the frozen palms of Spring.
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