You know me, never one word where 932 or so will do. But today I’m going to give you pictures and little else.
Yes, okay, I admit it, the red words in my last post did cause a minor tiff. Not on a scale that would normally bother me. But at the moment I’m tired, dispirited and preoccupied with other more important things. So I’m in no mood to vent my fully justifiable fury at the world.
And anyway, it’s hard work, writing justifiable things.
It’s there though, building. Pressure cooker style.
Expect debris.
And no doubt I will feel the fallout. But I will be secure in the knowledge that I am right. (That’s for one of my other online jousters, who’s always accusing people-like-me of being smug, virtue-signalling liberals. Sigh)
SOOOOOOO.
Gardens. And birds. A double treat.
The quote is from that widely disparaged colonial-style poet Rudyard Kipling. Not my go-to poet of choice, but he happened to be to hand. And it’s appropriate.
So, here we go, my modest back garden and WLBF*.
And my capacious (enough for three or four cars though we only have one) front garden. Largely paved, thank you predecessor (we dug some of it up). And WLBF* there too.
*WLBF?
What Lurks Beyond the Fence – and the reason we were happy with our modest patch of land. Look and you’ll see what I mean…
First, the front section of my springly selections 🙂
Trees to the side of our front garden, in the golf course rough, which LBF
My favourite tree, sort of in front of the garden-ish and also LBF
A white rose planted by our predecessor – and bear in mind, this is early May and it is unfurling already!
The bay laurels have all flowered (we have several) and are looking fat and healthy
Prostrate Rosemary making her bid for freedom – love her pretty flowers!
I don’t usually like variegated things but enigmatic pulmonaria – lungworts – tucked into shady hiding places are gorgeous
Convolvulus cneorum – white flowers are very hard to photograph!
A prostrate ceanothus/California lilac with one of the chive plants that edge the border and lemon balm
California lilac (ceanothus) and buddleia yet to flower and real lilac which never has yet
The yew puts on such bright green growth in spring
Now for the back…
Sempervivum – houseleeks – good for healing burns – rub the burn with the juicy end of a leaf pulled out
Early geraniums and ferns unfurling
Starburst of a the broom just keeps on keeping on – bees love it and it smells like honey – set off by perennial wallflowers
A shy violet has found its way beneath a step – which is good for butterflies to hatch from
Mexican daisies get everywhere and I love them – met them first on the Scilly Isles
More – love them!
Red French lavender
Spanish lavender
Paeony putting on her crinoline, serenaded by bees in the wallflowers
Hydrangea petiolaris, the self-clinging climbing one, those modest white flowers again – so elusive
Ah – and the sky above, free floating spirits only need apply (or those needing solace after stress)
And looking back to WLBF behind our – and the neighbours’ – garden
Finally, I promised you some birds – well, perhaps not quite so soothing, nature after all, is red in beak and talon.
It’s prowling
Intent on menace
Baby snatched 😦 !
But all is well, and all manner of thing shall be well, or at least, on a sunny day, in spring, at the nature reserve on the moss they shall 🙂
MEMOIRS OF A HUSK 
Beautiful garden ! Liz
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What a wonderful tour of your garden……I’ m amazed how early things are.
Birds with nasty habits live here too: the toucan turns out not to be a vegetarian…the blasted things raid nests for the babies. It should stick to Guinness.
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That made me laugh out loud. Those old Guinness ads and the 3D props, so memorable. Yes, I was a bit shocked to see the heron snatching baby birds, but that’s life – and death. As for early – this time last year the leaves were still barely visible on the trees – and as for a rose! Stealthy steps of climate change methinks.
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I noticed the change when living in the Loire Valley….the main grape for red wine was Cabernet Franc – a quicker ripener than Cabernet Sauvignon. Then vignerons discovered that it was getting hotter – the Cabernet Franc did not make such a fresh wine, but the Cabernet Sauvignon had the heat and the length of season it needed…so the plots began to be replanted with the latter as being better known by consumers.
Which put a stop to one well known local practice…plonking oak chips and blackcurrant twigs in the vats to imitate the cabernet sauvignon taste…
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How fascinating Helen. I knew about oak chips but blackcurrant twigs! Well, well. I do like a nice glass of … is it six o’clock yet? Ah, two minutes to go! Have a good weekend.
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Nothing is as nice as a bright blue sky and a tree reaching into it or shaking it’s “hair” welcoming the breeze.
Right now, it’s better for me to be outside rather than inside reading/hearing all the noise.
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Me too – I keep leaving my desk to get away from the encroaching gloom thank goodness for some timely spring weather here – I guess you have more reliable access to the power of sunshine, though maybe not such green trees! Thanks for popping by.
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I rather like your garden and WLBF! Beautiful shots. Happy spring!
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Thank you – and happy spring to you too!
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Thanks for the stroll around your garden. It’s bloomin beautiful!
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You’re welcome! Not quite on the scale of Big Bend though,eh?
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Big Bend is vastly towering and majestic. By the way we took a canoe trip down the Rio Grande River where there we were alone with nature in parts and greeted by one Mexican rancher. Very friendly, the way it still is on this part of the border. No wall needed here! It would be insignificant in these vast mountain ranges and the Chihuahuan Desert.
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Sounds fab – one day maybe…I mean the trip, not the stupid wall.
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I am so glad I dropped by! This was just what I needed! I think, from your intro comments, however, you need a bit of what Doc Gronda ordered for me … a glass of wine or two, then bed. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your garden, Mary … beautiful!
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Glad it helped, Jill – there comes a time when ‘work’ has to take a back step. I hope you had a good sleep – though what with the latest Trumpian manoeuvres you’d be forgiven for thinking you daren’t shut an eyelid for a moment lest someone key be deported, fired, sacked, terminated… …
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I actually had a really good sleep Monday night, but still woke up tired. I think it’s a cumulative effect thing. But then last night, after the announcement that Trump had fired Comey, I was back to pounding the keys until after 4:00 a.m. I am probably too darn old for this, but it’s what keeps me going. 🙂 Yes, I wake up every morning and check the news on my Kindle just to make sure there is still a world to get up to! 😀
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You must be worn out – I get worn out just reading them! Which is not to say don’t write them – you do a wonderful job, a public service almost! Keep up the good work but keep up your health first! Hugs.
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Yes, I admit that there are days it takes a toll. But I seem to thrive on it, and I truly believe that this is a crucial time when we all owe it to our fellow humans to stay informed. That said, I do realize I’m not making any great world changes … but I keep on keeping on because there are people like you who encourage me and find value in my work. Thank you, my dear friend. 🙂
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I know what you mean – it gets to the stage you just have to write. Also, even if no-one reads them (they do, plainly!) and nothing changes as a result, you can at least say you have doe your bit. I tried direct involvement in politics and it was not a good experience. Sigh. Pass the red wine! (Well, not now as it’s mid-morning but you get the idea!)
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Yes, sometimes just the writing is cathartic, even if nobody ever sees it. I think it is a way of organizing thoughts, and perhaps venting frustrations. I don’t think I would do well with being directly involved in politics, as I am an impatient person. Yes … the red wine sounds like an excellent idea!!! 🙂
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Words and pictures carry the day. I love flower gardens. I keep thinking that’s my favourite, no that one… oh and that…You would lose and find me again in yours… it’s so pretty. I have made mental notes for my next imaginary garden design… maybe for a real-life one should anyone ever ask, and for my own garden. What can I say… I’d rather you wander your garden camera in hand that get upset by political thingies that too shall pass.
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Sigh, you;re so right. I made the mistake last year and the year before of thinking I could change things… Very frustrating and stressful.
You really couldn’t lose yourself in my garden it is so small we have packed a lot in! And I should mention it’s not just looks, it has 2 espaliered pear trees that are busy un-espaliering themselves!
Look forward to your designs being realised one of these days for a client, well, if you have the time free after creating all that work – and joy – in your own!! 😉
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