The Clematis Armandii sent us the last blooms today.
Choir was on Zoom tonight and was great fun! What a lovely lot we are! Thanks to Claire for a fabulous lesson. 
It’s my kid brother’s birthday today and despite us posting on 7th April (to Atlanta, USA) his card has not arrived so here is another! 
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.
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. 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!
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. 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.
In fact the strangers today were us. As we were leaving a car park in Truro, a young woman with two children in the car – her father’s – drove in and forgot that there was a top box on the car. The box became wedged under the barrier and she could move neither forward nor backwards. The lovely Mr S tried various ways to free the car and eventually went to a nearby hardware store to borrow a crowbar. He discovered that they keep one under the counter especially for such an emergency. The older boy, about 12 years old, was distraught and allowed me to hug and reassure him while the car was being freed. The younger boy, about 8, thought it all a great adventure though they were both disturbed that so many people seemed to find their plight funny. Some 45 minutes later, they were able to drive away, albeit with a broken top box, waving madly and grinning at us both with relief.
Our Clematis Armandii is in bloom. It is supposed to flower in February/ March. It is cold and very not-summery but not really that cold!
Armandii blossom
Our dramatic Flame Gladioli makes us both smile, here with Verbena Bonariensis and daisies. Look carefully and you will spot a few nearly ripe Blackberries.
Flame Gladioli
I love the colour in our Spring garden!
Click on any photo for the bigger picture.
1 What a lovely day – cards, flowers and calls for Mother’s Day from our beautiful daughters and Skype with our lovely son and daughter-in-law in Barcelona. I feel very lucky indeed to have such loving people in my life.It has also been a day to remember my own wise and wonderful Mum and all that she taught me.
2 This beautiful Narcissi has bloomed in the sunshine and showers of the last few days. Please see the P.S.
Narcissus
3 We have just five Clematis Armandii flowers, better than none at all!
Clematis Armandii
P.S. I send these flowers to all my female friends out there in the ether with this beautiful post from a friend, P, showing such care and thoughtfulness.
A message of love and compassion to all friends out there on Mother’s Day who do not have their own children, to friends who are estranged from their children or their mothers and to friends who have lost treasured members of their family ... may you find unconditional love in unexpected places and a healthy channel for your own nurturing and creativity to help make the world around you a place where you feel cared for and are seen and known for who you are. x x
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