Our Week

The weather here is cold.  Some days there have been showers.  One day last week I picked some of the daffodils in the garden as the wind had bent the long stems over.  I arranged them in a vase.

We're thankful for the covered yard where we can grow plants, cuttings and propagate seedlings over the colder months of Winter.  Some of the permanent plants have come back to life such as the Christmas cactus and camellias.

The weekend has been quite busy with a visit from our daughter and great granddaughter and zoom phone calls from our Berkshire daughter and last week was also fairly busy with shopping and other domestic tasks.  I'm trying to do some decluttering even though it takes time and energy.  Mr P has been doing some indoor gardening.  The covered yard and garage are handy for that.  

Last week I went to the nearest local hospital for my ECG appointment.  I've never had one before, but it didn't take long.  The printout will be sent to the general practitioner and I have an appointment with my regular GP early next month.  

I enjoy seeing the pot plants in the kitchen, especially the hyacinth bulbs as they begin to flower.  Life has become slower, but noticing these small happenings is delightful.

Thank you for coming by.  Have a good week in your corner of the world. :)

Comments are back on again.  Thank you for your comment in advance - if you wish to do so.  I'm grateful for your interest.

A Local Walk

The sun was out today and although there was a nip in the air it was just the weather to go for a walk up the hill to the Common.  

Clumps of miniature daffodils and a bank of crocuses planted by local residents were in bloom, dog walkers were making the most of the dry weather to take their dogs for a run.  Some of them were managing several dogs on leads and it was an opportunity to say a friendly "hello".

Nature notes and talks for different groups had been posted on the notice board.  The tree for the month of March is the hazel.

The bracken is dry and brown at this time of the year.  The white trunks of the birch trees stand out against the blue sky as does a distant village.

It was good to get out in the fresh air again.  It's not far to walk back home downhill passed houses large and small and the parish church.

These are the flowers in bloom in our garden today.  Various varieties of daffodil, miniature irises, snowdrops and scillas.

I heard the distinctive song of the robin and then saw it perched high up in the hawthorn tree where there are berries still clinging on to the branches.

I picked the snowdrops from the garden as they were in danger of being nibbled at by some small bug.  They look pretty arranged with sage leaves in a small vase.

 Thank you for your visit.  Have a good day!

The Walled Garden in March 2022

The walled garden in the park was open when I went to the library the other day.  It was one of the days that the volunteers work there so I went in to buy some plants that are grown by the gardeners and are on offer on the plant stand. A stroll around is always inspiring.

Daisies had been planted underneath the cordyline-type palm.

The hazel catkins on the tree with the twisty branches were dazzling in the sunshine.

One of the buds on the magnolia was just beginning to open.  It won't be long before the whole tree will be full of beautiful flowers.

The yellow flowers particularly stood out.  The mahonia or Oregon grape (above) is a hardy shrub with holly-like leaves.

There were still many Spring flowers to choose from on the plant table.  One of the ladies working in the greenhouses took my £1 coin and bagged up the two primula plants which I put in my empty shopping bag.

The days since then have continued to be slightly milder, dry and bright with sunny periods.  The daffodils and other varieties of narcissi are beginning to flower in the covered yard.   Even a few in the outside garden areas are flowering now.  The primulas will also add a pretty touch.  I shall enjoy them transferred into pots and keep them indoors for now.

Thank you very much for your visit.  I hope to be back again soon. 

Our week

Despite the stormy weather we've been out and about this week with some opportunities for me to do some short walks.  We've been thankful to have the car running smoothly as we've decided to start doing our own shopping and get out more when the weather is suitable.

I've also done some of the cooking of our evening meal and tried a new recipe of chicken and vegetable noodle soup. A cake was made last weekend for when our daughter came to visit and it's served well with some extra topping for Valentine's Day and for the rest of the week. :)

Yesterday I noticed that the daffodils in the garden are in bud.  Many are in a sheltered spot by the wall so they're behind with flowering compared with other sites in the neighbourhood.

daffodils by the churchyard wall

After doing the food shopping yesterday Mr P drove me up to the parish church as I was sure that the snowdrops would be out in the churchyard.

It was uplifting to see the cross of snowdrops in the grass had flowered once again this season and I had caught the snowdrops at their best. 

In a few weeks time the snowdrops will be replaced by the daffodils that were planted some years ago.

The rhododendron tree is flowering again too.  In the distance you can see the vicarage.

 New lamps have been installed along the path leading to the church door.

The style is in keeping with the Victorian age of the church.

There was evidence of the strong winds that we've been experiencing lately, but thankfully so far there doesn't seem to be reports of any damage here in the immediate neighbourhood.

Thank you once more for your visit to my blog.  Take care and I wish you a peaceful weekend.