A Sad Sign Of The Times

Jackie had a reasonably smooth shop this morning, after which she worked in the garden until the temperature became too hot. The Co-op was selling bedding plants, some of which she naturally bought, although she will have need of

all her pelargonium cuttings in the greenhouse.

After lunch I took a tour with my camera and deposited some debris into the compost bin.

Even these white daffodils turned their backs on the bright sunlight.

The younger tulips in the patio pots are in hot pursuit of their elders,

more of which are fully opened;

others continue to grace the Rose Garden

and the foreground of this view from the concrete patio leading towards that area.

The species Lilac Wonder attracted a rather small bee,

This is time of year when, before coronavirus, we would have visited local bluebell woods, however we do have

plenty of our own.

Lavinia Ross spotted pot marigold calendulas in yesterday’s post. Here is another variety of the genus for her.

Our Magnolia Vulcan is now coming into bloom.

Camellias brighten many views like this one of the Brick Path;

they form a sympathetic backdrop to the red Japanese maple;

and come in a variety of hues.

Spirea sprays spread across the Palm Bed;

pieris leaves flame over the lawn;

self-seeded Erigeron has leaped to cascade from the Kitchen Bed obelisk;

and spring daffodils nod to summer snowflakes across the Cryptomeria Bed.

Caterpillar-like catkins wriggle on the tips of Weeping Birch branches.

Tiny epimedium blooms cast their shadows on the West Bed.

The borders of the back drive contain unusual daffodils, sympathetic snapdragons, and vinca colour-coordinated with honesty.

The far end of this drive stands opposite the car park of The Royal Oak which bears a sad

sign of the times, advertising their spring menu for which no-one is able to stop and enjoy until the pandemic rules are relaxed.

This evening we dined on tempera prawns with sweet chilli sauce, diet garlic bread, and fresh salad with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Mezquiriz. We had planned a houseful for Easter so stocked up on items such as these before panic buying had cleared the shop shelves.

82 comments

          1. I have to go to a different grocery store to get the kind of flour I prefer. So I buy in bulk so I don’t have to go very often.

  1. A pelargonium rich garden will still be a thing of beauty I’m sure. Nature is carrying on with an even greater abundance it seems – dolphins were seen swimming in our inner harbour a couple of days back – not a common occurrence at all……. And a different kind of Easter weekend for us all is here. I wonder
    what it will be like next year?

  2. It’s fortunate that you’ve done so much with your garden that it is beautiful even without new additions. I hope you’ll be able to get together virtually with some people you had planned to host at Easter. At least you have a well-stocked freezer!

  3. Easter will be different for everyone this year, but thankfully we’re all still healthy. The garden belongs in a magazine, Derrick. Kudos to you and Jackie…it’s gorgeous.

  4. SO beautiful. Your photos show the glory of every flower. We are just starting to be able to think of our garden (still too cold to plant anything but pansies). So, my guy planted me dozens and dozens of pansies in our front deck planter. Can’t help but smile. Happy Easter, even though it will be so quiet for most of us.

  5. You had sunshine? That is so not fair!
    Diet Garlic Bread? Well, I suppose we all need to make an effort somewhere!

  6. The sunshine on your beautiful gardens is a welcome sight! We are having some nice weather here, too. What a colorful array of blooms! You and Jackie live in your own bit of paradise.

    I love that light pink and darker striped camellia.

    Calendula is a very useful, and beautiful flower to have about. We eat the petals on salads, and when dried, they make a nice, healing tea and tincture.

  7. The contrast between the simplicity of the white daffodil and that complicated red and yellow one is quite dramatic. You are a lucky lad to abide in a house where the menu is so varied and delightful.

  8. I wish that we had had some of your fine weather up here. I needed cheering up. A crossword blogger had described ‘greet’ as Scottish slang for ‘cry’. I suppose that the blogger thinks that all foreign languages are patois or argot. I should be above these things but it really got my goat so it was good to be calmed down by your lovely post.

  9. I’m sorry your plans for Easter have had to change. Your bluebells are a lot further on than ours are. I checked out the local wood today and they are still stalkless. I’m always excited to see epimediums. They are such tiny flowers, but perfect as any.

    1. These bluebells are the ‘Spanish’ blue bell’ they bloom earlier than the native delicate English blue bell, I really should eradicate them as they are considered a ‘thug’ in the garden and they hybridise with the native bluebell and are spoiling them apparently. I have planted the English bluebell in the west bed, they will flower later.

      1. The BBC published an article last year that said they are not as much of a problem as expected because where they grow together, the English ones seem to be holding their own. Your garden will make an interesting experiment to see if that’s true.

        Mine are Spanish ones. The biggest problem I have is that the garden is small and the bluebells swamp out most other plants simply by thriving so well, but they are so beautiful in flower I haven’t the heart to get rid of them. Japanese anemones are just about the only plants that can share a bed with them, but they can be invasive too.

      2. Hi Susan, the BBC news re the bluebells is good news! I always think I should get rid of the Spanish B’bell but then it flowers and is so pretty that I leave them to flower and then forget to dig them up.

  10. How fortunate we all are to have a platform with which to “visit” and share with one another during a time like this. Thank you for the lovely photos, as always.

  11. There is no pandemic in the world of flowers. Thanks to your plenteous garden and its exquisite chronicle, I have received valuable lessons in floriculture.

  12. Your flowers are always beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us. That shot of the epimedium casting shadows is especially nice.

  13. OH! I love how so many of the flowers turn their faces to the camera and smile! 🙂

    ‘Tis sad that so many restaurants are unable to do what they do best. 🙁 And spring and Easter meals by dining out will be missed. But we will celebrate with a lovely meal we fix at home. I’ve even invited The Easter Bunny to join us! He accepted and said he’d enjoy some greens and carrots! 😉 😀

    Sounds like you will have enough. Sad none of our families can gather together. How about this! When The Easter Bunny is done here, I will send him to your house to eat with you and Jackie. ??? ?

    (((HUGS))) and <3 🙂
    PS…last night we had leftover ribs and a big bowl of green beans!

  14. Your photography skills amaze me!! I love the Caterpillar-like catkins, the way you zoom in on certain items and blur others. I have a Canon Rascal that does all those things… but oh my, the patience to really perfect it escapes me. You do it for me! God bless you, Derrick. Your garden is coming alive more and more day by day. I love it!!

  15. I was admiring beautiful camellia flowers in front gardens near us today – along with red tulips. Red flowers on a bright and sunny day look so spectacular – like the camellia with your Japanese maple.

  16. We have also planned for company on Passover, yet for the first time in my life it was just the two of us. We hope and pray that these sad and lonely times will pass soon. I have enjoyed photos of your blossoming garden, as always, Derrick.

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