The weather has been beautiful here on the Cutoff and life on it a tad hectic. I thought you might like to see a few pictures until I have a have a chance to compose my thoughts.
Click on the pictures for better views.
We’ve seen quite a few equestrians trotting up and down our little road from the stable around the bend. When we first moved here, they would ride past, then seem to disappear. It took months for us to realize there was a narrow path into the forest preserves that they slipped into. I suspect that once into the deep, dark woods, they turn into unicorns.
Upon at late afternoon at the end of the week, I sat in the arbor, sipping on an iced tea, and finishing a my book. Sarah’s Key was a troubling read, though I couldn’t seem to put it down. When I finished, I sighed, looked up, and, as if to catch my mood, shadows crept upon the lawn. I needed to go for a walk.
It felt good to stretch my legs and shake the cobwebs out of my mind. Camera in hand, I walked to the front yard to see what nature had in store for me.
There are always surprises in a garden, don’t you agree? Tight buds in the morning can burst into flower by mid afternoon. Where blossoms once held court with their sweet bouquet on a gnarled branch, apples appear. In the blink of an afternoon, chives wear purple hats and start spreading their seeds and baby robins are suddenly fledglings while a swallowtail butterfly flutters by.
I walked about, taking pictures, oohing and exclaiming “aha”, pulling weeds, there are always weeds, and enjoying the warmth of the sun and the blooms of the peonies, starting to open . . .
. . . and anticipating what will soon “pop” open on this nodding stem.
What’s blooming these days near you?
unicorns….yes, they are undoubtedly, just around the corner. A lovely post Penny, I enjoyed it so much. J.
I’m feeling a song coming on . . . Thank you Janice.
The honeysuckle just started, and the hydrangeas are putting on quite a show.
I loved the book “Sarah’s Key” though I agree with you that it was a disturbing read. The movie is also well done and worth a watch.
I can just imagine the scent of the honeysuckle, Andra. Our hydrangeas have a way to go, but there the promise with buds just forming.
I balked a bit at reading it when it was compared to Sophie’s Choice, which still haunts me. Still, we learn from novels as much as we are entertained at times. I will check out the movie, Andra. Thanks.
Gorgeous, Penny. Your summer is obviously arriving much faster than ours. It’s been so cold that everything is late here and we still have primroses in full flower. Still, we’re forecast some sun and warmth this week.
Thank you. It is coming in fits and starts, not sure if the weather wants to be spring or summer. We had record temperatures of 95° F yesterday, and it barely made it to 60° today, though the sun was shining the whole day long. That is a good long time for the primroses I should think. Here’s to sunny and warm soon, Perpetua.
Oooooo I would just have to walk down that path a little way to just try to get a peek at the unicorns. Our peonies have come and gone, but I am still plugging away at getting flowers planted. Enjoy your peaceful day.
Wouldn’t that be exciting, Janet? The unicorn song keeps bouncing around in my head. I’m so impressionable. I remember you saying the were blooming some time ago. Of course, just after they bloomed, it rained. One always knows when it will here – right after the peonies bloom to weigh them down. A nice bouquet sits in the dining room while I dream of unicorns.
It’s wonderful how your garden helps you to live in the moment! Great photos and for someone “composing their thoughts” you managed a very nice post!
That is so nice of you to say, Janet. Thank you. Wasn’t it a gorgeous day, in spite of it being a bit cool?
Penny, you live in a beautiful part of the world. Today I loved all of the pictures, but the first is so gloriously green; and those alliums! Beautiful! You remind me of my sister, who bought alliums as they flowered – just two beloved blooms – and transferred them lovingly to a new garden. But who was it that let Al out into the garden with a pair of playschool scissors?
Thank you, Kate. I think this the greenest spring we have had in a very long time. Oh dear. Al must have really worked hard to cut those alium with those scissors. They barely cut paper. What a shame and a long time to wait until next year’s blooms.
It was last yea, mercifully…they’re back this year and the scissors banned from the garden….
So glad to hear that, Kate. I love allium, leave them on the stalk for as long as possible, and have even brought them in for dried arrangements. Ahhh, another Big Al story.
Delightful words and pictures, thank you Penny. It’s a treat to enjoy your flowering season while winter starts to chill our bones.
I thank you very kindly, Juliet, and enjoy reading about your seasons changing the opposite of ours here. I never gave our seasonal differences much thought before reading your blogs from New Zealand. What a wonderful happening.
My knockout roses are tall and full of blooms. The iris’s are just ending and the peonies are just opening. They soon will be spreading their wonderful fragrance throughout my house. I too, couldn’t put down Sarah’s Key, but yes quite troubling.
Hi, Roz. Nice to hear from you today. I can just imagine your garden, each plant taking its turn. The roses have been spectacular this year, haven’t they? I picked some of the peonies tonight and put them in a vase as you will surely do any day now. We should have an interesting discussion on the book I think. Andra, above, mentioned there is a movie based on it.
Hi Penny: You are just the best and so was this post. So lovingly written about this beautiful spring that is upon us. So many wonderful flowers are opening and the joy is all ours as we view every morning the fruits of our labor. My Clematis was a story to behold this year and just loaded with the most beautiful lavender blossoms we have ever had. We just planted Gracie’s Garden over the weekend (impatiens) and I swear those little plants have doubled in two days. Keep writing. . . . you do it so well and I love every word!!!
Mary Anne ox
Thank you so much, Mary Anne. You are too kind to me. Hasn’t it been beautiful lately? We did a few Open Days gardens on Sunday and the gardens were so lush and green and so many clematis blooming. I’m so glad yours performed so well. I have a funny overheard conversation that I’ll post later today that Tom heard about clematis.
I’m sure Gracie’s Garden will prosper beyond measure and glad to hear you put in the impatiens. I’m way behind on my bedding plants and hope to get some in today.
Well, I’m afraid among a few treasures I sure do have a healthy weed patch growing, Penny. But one of these days we’ll get to that! I really enjoyed seeing how beautiful your garden is–sooo inviting! And tt must be great fun to watch the horses saunter on by…that’s a funny story about just watching them disappear into the forest. I’m just in awe that you have a forest. LOL! I, like you, just want to soak in as much of this spring beauty as we can…summer heat is still to come, isn’t it. Any time you want to share your photos, I love to see them! Debra
My weeds have reached Biblical proportions, Debra. I keep saying it is easier to find them that way. As you say, “one of these days we’ll get to that!”. Thank you. I”m only showing the good parts of the garden. It was the strangest thing watching those horses simply disappear. Tom, ever the sleuth in these things, watched carefully on day, then walked over and there was the path, overgrown, but in plain view. Yes, the heat of summer will be here before we know it and best to enjoy these spring days while we can. Today – I plan to put some annuals in pots and get my fingers dirty.
Thank you, Debra. I’m sure I will.
Dear Penny, when I lived in Stillwater, MN, all those years, I had four gardens: two extensive rock gardens and a large garden by the drive and by the back of the house. Weeding was an almost daily exercise. But all of us who garden want those who see the blooms to see flowers and not weeds. We do our best for the annuals and perennials.
Now, I’ve given up gardening, at least for awhile, and all I have is a small shrub garden I planted after moving here three years ago. This spring, it, too, needed weeding. After getting it pretty near pristine, I put down a thick layer of mulch and that seems to be doing the trick!
Peace.
Your Stillwater gardens sound idyllic, in spite of the hard work, Dee, and I can only imagine the work in the soil there as it is so hilly. As you may recall, I have enjoyed visiting Stillwater over time.
I’m sure that thick layer of mulch will cut down on the weeds, Dee, and you can perhaps just sit with a good book on your lap and enjoy.
What a lovely magical forest you have near you.
I read Sarah’s Key a while ago and it was troubling book, but one I can still well remember, it stays with you. And that’s good.
I agree, Sallie. We need to be reminded, or learn of, these horrific evens, no matter how uncomfortable they make us, to honor those memories and in hope of not repeating them. That is a good thing. I am glad our book group picked this one and know we will have an interesting discussion of it on Thursday.
It is a bit magical, especially when horses disappear into it!