A wild patch.

In front of one of my garden hedges is a 'neglected' strip.

I deliberately leave it as each year it is full of wild flowers.

I counted the other day and found;

Herb Robert, Jack by the Hedge, daisies, Forget-me-not,

primroses, celandines, dandelions, ground ivy, clover,

Speedwell, Red Campion

I'm happy to leave them to grow. I read somewhere that there is no such thing as a 'weed'. If you like the plant then it is a part of the garden.

My bees certainly enjoy the little wild patch, and they need to be encouraged as much as possible.

Spring growth.

My Clematis montana has travelled off the fence and is exploring the shed, covering up a window and part of the roof. It's very happy.

How I love the Cherry blossom. I wait each year, and each year it seems to flower more profusely. It just gets better.

In reality the Camassia is a deeper blue, but my camera doesnt catch nuances.

This cushion is the Pasque flower which travelled from France with us. It doesn't know when to stop growing!

More Camassia, just in case you hadn't seen enough.

This is such a lovely time of year, when things are giving back, benefiting from all the care, feeding, manuring and watering they have received over the seasons.

Easter Day.

He is Lord, He is Lord!

He is risen from the dead and He is Lord,

Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord

The cross.

Despite it all,

the Cross survived.

Notre Dame, Easter 2019.

Notre Dame

It isn't that many years since my husband and I strolled over the bridge from our hotel, and went to the morning service in Notre Dame Cathedral

What a majestic place, and yet in all its grandeur there was something gentle and peaceful about the atmosphere there. We will always hold that memory.

This terrible fire is a tragedy.

Although millions have been pledged for repairs it wil take years to rebuild.

No one yet knows the extent of the damage to contents and the building.

We join the Parisians in their sorrow.

Palm Sunday

Behold, the King of Zion rides,

But not in vain array;

The people wave their goodly palms,

With garments strew the way;

And loud hosannas fill the air

From crowds that, surging, throng;

’Tis meet to honor Him who rides

With cheer, and shout, and song.

Have you ever wondered who makes the Palm crosses that we are given in our churches?
Eden, a company selling  Christian literature, music, etc, says that by buying their Palm crosses, we are helping the Massai villagers of Southern Tanzania.
Their only other income is from their meagre agricultural surplus, and the sale of the crosses provides investment for future planting of crops.

That's so good to know.

A tiny visitor

Underneath the bird feeders are some little holes in the grass.

They are perfectly round and very neat.

I worried that whatever was making the holes could be one of

these.........

Which is the last thing I want in the garden.

However, a few weeks ago, I was sitting in the Sunroom, watching the Goldfinches on the feeders, when suddenly out from a hole popped a tiny face.

It was the sweetest little Bank Vole.

 He is very little, no more than 8 centimetres, has a tiny tail, and is a pretty reddish brown colour.

He obviously waits for seeds to drop from the feeders, scurries out and grabs one, then rushes back.

I am happy to have him in  (under) the garden, and he makes me laugh while watching his little scamperings.

Small happenings.

Days go by, one by one.

It would be easy to moan that 'nothing ever happens in my day'

But in fact, little things make a day worthwhile.

Carers who come in and make my husband laugh.

A physiotherapist who has just organised daily physio for the next six weeks.

My pots of tulips, opening little by little, lovely soft colours.

The beginning of blossom on the apple tree. This is remarkable, as when we came here the previous owners had pollarded the poor thing. We have diligently nurtured it, fed it, pruned it over six years, and last year it had a few first apples. Maybe this year we will have more. 

My daughter starting a super new job next week.

(I'm altering clothes for her......)

Sunshine during the last week meant that two of our carers were able to take my husband in his wheelchair for a little tour around our garden. Since he hasn't been outside since January this was a huge milestone.

Primroses, all over the garden, regularly splashed by bathing blackbirds.

Seedlings in the sunroom and in the Greenhouse. 

Hope for the coming Summer.

 Tiny little Nicotiana and Orlaya.

 Tomatoes, Sunflowers and sweet peas.

Sweet peas, (and oddly, one stray French bean?)with a wonderful pale pink Geranium that has flowered all Winter.

So, things do happen, after all!