I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter. Here in England's Lake Country I'm happy to say we were blessed with blue skies and wall to wall sunshine.The garden beckoned and was a peaceful haven to spend time unwinding and make plans for the growing season ahead.
The blooms on the large magnolia tree always look wonderful against a blue April sky.
The delicate blossom on the blackthorn hides the sharp thorns on the twigs beneath. I don't like to tangle with this bush but small birds love the protection it gives them.
We currently have carpets of wood anemones at the edge of the garden. They are also known as windflowers and sometimes 'woodland ghosts' which I think is a wonderful name. We feel very honoured to have them as they indicate that our garden was once ancient woodland.
Another delicate little flower that we treasure is the snake's head fritillary with its chequered bell shaped blooms. We have them in purple and white. This native British wild flower was once found in abundance but due to modern farming methods it is now quite rare. It likes damp places so must feel at home in our garden!
It pleases me greatly to see my daughter enjoying gardening. She has a splendid little plot of her own in the house where she lives and her plants always look healthy and well cared for. She loves to grow things from seed so when she came to spend a few days with us over Easter she brought all her trays of seedlings with her as they wouldn't have survived 'home alone'. They spent Easter on the bench in our greenhouse.
Plant pots neatly stacked are always a tell-tale sign that my daughter has spent time here. She loves to arrange things in an orderly fashion.
Floor swept and tools in a row, she's been a 'willing little helper' since being very young.
Whilst moving some old wooden boxes she found this little creature nervously hiding out of sight.
Its a baby newt that probably over-wintered in the greenhouse. He was the length of a little finger.
My daughter hurriedly fetched her camera and managed to captured the little fellow as he uncurled and set off to look for pastures new. At this point he was given a helping hand by my husband who placed him beside our garden pond near a heap of stones where he no doubt found shelter and hopefully some friends.
Sadly today the Easter skies that were the colour of these little forget-me-nots are no longer with us. The wind is chill and there's rain in the air and so I'm back indoors finishing a project I've been working on for a few weeks. Hopefully I will have something to show you next time but meanwhile I will leave you with this picture that might give you a little clue.
!!!
Until next time,
Eli
Oh I am sooo glad you got some sun, we have had a few days of sun, which I was desperate for. Enjoy Clarice
Posted by: Clarice | 17 April 2009 at 09:34 PM
Hi Eli, lovely post as always, your garden looks lovely I love fritillary but I am never successful with it unfortunately. How wondrful that your daughter has your love of gardening I love the fact that she brought her seedlings with her now that is a true gardener.
How wonderful to find the little newt they were so plentiful when I ws a child but are certainly not seen as much now, we get them from time to time and I get childishly excited about it.
Your greenhouse puts ours to shame, very tidy.
Look forward to seeing your project using those very pretty fabrics.
Hope the weather is good with you it is lovely here so the garden is calling or maybe the greenhouse will get a tidy.....
Jan
Posted by: Redwood House | 19 April 2009 at 12:02 PM
Hi Eli - what a wonderful post and pics about your garden! Sounds like your daughter has inherited your green thumb. I love that she brought her seedlings along on her visit to your house! Hope your Spring continues to be lovely.
Posted by: Sharon (Come for Tea) | 20 April 2009 at 04:43 AM
Dear Eli,
I am so glad you had a lovely Easter with wonderful sunshine and blue skies!!! All the blooming things are just beautiful, and I am especially admiring the lovely fritiallary. I love that the anemones other name indicates your garden was once an ancient woodland!
How wonderful that your daughter loves and enjoys gardening as you do. I loved that she brought her seedlings with her and took such good care of your greenhouse. The newt is just adorable. We have been seeing baby skinks here.
The forget me nots ares so beautiful and I do so wish you were still having skies that color, but the good thing about the rain is you can work on your project, which I look forward to seeing!
Love, Paula
Posted by: Paula | 20 April 2009 at 10:17 PM
The weather has been gorgeous these days, hasn't it?
I love your garden photographs - especially the forget-me-nots!
Posted by: Maggie | 23 April 2009 at 12:05 AM