Sunshine and Spring flowers

We've had more days of sunshine and blue skies.  Despite a bit of a chill in the air many of the daffodils have opened up. The ones in the front garden were planted by the previous owner and although they're in a sheltered spot the long stems tend to snap when it's breezy.  Mr P picked a bunch for me so I put them in a vase together with the primulas I bought when I visited the walled garden last week, other plants and a pot of hyacinths from our daughter M.

Spring flowers in the garden - yellow primulas Marmalade, long stemmed narcissi,

  miniature daffodils Tete-a-tete, miniature irises Harmony, miniature daffs Rip Van Winkle 

Mr P brought the nectarine tree back into the covered yard as we're still getting some frost during the night.  The pink blossom is pretty.  I often grow hyacinths for the Christmas period and after they've flowered Mr P plants them outside and they usually produce flowers.  The flower heads are smaller in  following years, but still add a sense of Springtime.  The primulas that were planted out in the flower beds also flower year after year and for a small price are worth buying.

Thank you for visiting.  Have a good day whatever you're doing.

Five on Friday

It's Friday again!  I'm joining Amy's Five on Friday and thank you Amy for continuing to organise the link-up.

It's been another busy week with different activities and family commitments.  Grandchildren have been coming in and out of the house or staying over as usual.  Our granddaughter has a few hours off from college lectures once a week.  I meet her and usually walk through the park and go to the library at the same time before we have lunch and an afternoon together.

Thank goodness for the better weather and a few days of sunshine, although writing this today the weather has changed again and it's dull and cloudy!  Anyway, it's good to get out walking, which this week has been mainly in our neighbourhood and around different areas of the city. Yesterday I went for a walk in Sheffield's Botanical Gardens and I'll write about that next time. We're fortunate to have so many green spaces, parks and gardens here and everywhere masses of crocuses and daffodils are beginning to bloom. Here are some photos (plus collages) showing some of the sights I've seen on my times out-and-about this week.

    

 

Crocuses and daffodils in the local park

                                                      Planters in Tudor Square

On one corner of Tudor Square is a small monument in memory of Thomas Boulsover (1705-1788), Sheffield cutler and the inventor of Sheffield Plate.  Boulsover completed his apprenticeship as a cutler in 1726 and around 1740 set up his own workshop on the corner of Tudor Street and Surrey Street.  It was at these premises that he discovered that silver could be fused with copper and that by hammering and rolling these two materials in a layered "sandwich" the finished product would become one material yet maintain the appearance of silver. This material became to be known as Sheffield Plate. Boulsover began to make buttons, buckles, spurs and small boxes of the material and later his apprentice craftsmen continued making artistic other items such as dishes, trays and coffee pots.

I've been taking photos of other places around the city where Sheffield's heritage in the metal working industry is remembered and celebrated and I'll continue to write about this from time-time.

Wishing you a good day and weekend.