As I do most mornings, I took a walk about the garden, stopping first in Penny’s Arbor House (aka Papa’s Tree House, according to grandson Ezra). A wren was searching about for her for breakfast, As my eyes took in the lush, green if weedy expanse of lawn, I could see the havoc the resident herd wreaked upon several plants.
I heard an oriole high in the canopy. I saw him yesterday, wearing his bright orange cloak. He was perched, quite regally on a pole just a few feet from the Wildlife Habitat sign – a Kodak moment if ever there was. I no sooner turned on my camera when he flitted away, resuming his melodic sonnet upon a branch on the edges of the canopy. If you look closely, you can see his silhouette.
As I looked down on the arbor plot I saw that, for the first time here, the trillium have bloomed. It was a strategic purchase at a past garden club member’s plant sale two year’s ago. They are under their own miniature canopy of Mayapples and Ladies Mantle. No “apples”, yet, but a widening spread of green umbrellas just waiting to cover any May blooms that might come.
The first of the tree peonies are in bloom. The sweetly dressed girls in magenta gowns arrived first to the garden party with the soft pink skirted lasses in the wings, waiting their turn to shine, while Laddie has just about finished his turn on the dance floor. Don’t you just love the excitement of prom season in the garden?
I wandered about, like Wee Willie Winkie, upstairs and downstairs in my nightgown (only I was still in my pajamas with a yellow rain slicker on – a fashion trendsetter if ever there was one).
A gaggle of geese, who take room and board at the neighbor’s stream, flew overhead; morning rush hour traffic on the Cutoff. Either that or they were admiring my yellow rain slicker. I fear a pair of geese have muscled their way into Mr. and Mrs. Mallard’s territory. I haven’t seen the ducks in several weeks, but, have seen a pair of geese in among the cattails and murky water. I’ve also seen a muskrat taking a bath and immediately thought of Wind in the Willows.
The bleeding hearts are beginning to fade. I made a mental note (never a wise idea) that I need to cut the faded stems in hope of another strand or two of hearts for the blossoming girls to wear to the prom. I’ll do that tomorrow, I thought to myself, only my neighbor may have heard me say it out loud, for just then I caught an intoxicating fragrance behind me, in front of me, and to the far side of the house, where the lily of the valley are at long last in bloom.
So, dear friend, you might have guessed that I took out my thumb and fingers and began to snip, snip away, fashioning a most welcome spring bouquet. This one’s for you, Sallie,
Oh, Penny! What a delightful morning walk through your garden! You have captured it all perfectly, in words and images. It felt like I was walking next to you soaking up all of the intoxicating beauty of a morning in mid May. I always look forward to your wonderful posts! Wishing you warm, sunny days in the garden! ♡
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I’m so pleased to hear you say so, Dawn. It is mid May, isn’t it? With this rain and cooler temperatures it has felt more like March. 🙂 Here’s hoping we get some sunshine soon. I’m wishing I’d picked some of the tree peonies before the rain started. Sigh.
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Such lovely photos, Penny. And I love this phrase: “prom season in the garden.” So apt! I love prom season too.
I’m sad about the geese taking over. 😦 I used to see more ducks than I currently do. The geese have taken over.
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Thank you, L. Marie.
I think you were the one who mentioned in an earlier post about the geese taking over, which has made me all-the-more observant of our resident ducks. I’m sorry to see them chased away.
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Such a peaceful tour to start the day yet still full of surprises. Your garden is truly a little slice of heaven on earth but you know that! I thank you for showing those gorgeous lily of the valley.
Our ducks have disappeared also. But a muskrat sighting—wow! We have a terrorist feline in our midst so I am monitoring that like a hawk. Phooey.
What is on your reading list these days?
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You are most welcome, Marilyn. I couldn’t help myself with all these blooms – and they are just starting. Rain and cool temperatures here right now. I think we are having the April showers we didn’t have in May. 🙂
The muskrat was pretty exciting to see here. I think the cattails will keep them well fed. Now, I’m curious about the terrorist feline there.
I’ve been thinking about doing a book post soon; starting to get me reading “groove” back. I have a few I’m chewing on, one being a lovely book of poetry a friend gave me that is poetry based on Vermeer’s paintings of women. I’ve started a new author for me, Rhys Bowen. “Tell Me, Pretty Maiden” and a memoir called “Dirt Under My Nails” by Marilee Foster. Also listening to “The Children Act” by Ian McEwan, which is a rather provocative story.
You?
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We have geese and geese babies everywhere right now. Nowhere close to this many flowers. Thank you for bringing so many non-native ones to me. I’m walking these days in Hampton Park, a few blocks from my apartment. The hydrangeas are preening, and I snapped a gardenia and posted it yesterday with you in mind. Wish I could shake free and ramble along a garden path with you. It would do my soul good. Please give my best to Tom.
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This floral display just keeps getting better and better and makes up for the long, hard winter, Andra. I was so hoping the daffodils would have been in bloom when you were here, but, weather is fickle here. I do envy you the hydrangeas and saw the gardenia, conjuring up a memory of its fragrance.
Hope you get a few moments to ramble and “smell the roses”.
I will. Thanks.
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P.S. Am looking forward to your next book posting as your selections sound like good summer reads. Did you ever get to All the Light We Cannot See? I have been on a Lee Smith kick. I heard her read at a conference, got her books and am just now getting to them years later. Finished Fair and Tender Ladies, her short stories, and am starting Saving Grace. They are honest with memorable characters and unique plots. Finished Bringing Up the Bodies and while it is lengthy, it gives a fascinating inside account of the events leading up to Anne Boleyn’s demise. Also have been dipping in to New Poems of Emily Dickinson, William Shurr, Editor, 1993. Too many books and never enough time!
The terrorist cat attacked Oscar Mayer in March and $275 later after antibiotics and steroids, he is recovering. Just in time for the villain to return and pick on gentle Punkin. He is curled up on the park bench snuggling Oscar so all is well for now. I wish that they would tolerate being “inside” cats. They would live like KINGS! Sorry I wrote too much again.
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You never write too much, Marilyn, and always leave me wanting more.
I have not, as yet, gotten to All the Light We Cannot See. It is, sadly, collecting dust on my night table. I will get to it soon, I hope.
I’ve put Lee Smith on my list. Thank you for the suggestions.
Emily Dickinson is always a good companion, though I need a quiet little corner with her, reading her poetry aloud.
Oh, poor Oscar, now Punkin – and poor you, worrying about all your feline friends, not to mention the vet bills. It seems there is always one bully in a neighborhood.
Rainy here today, Marilyn, but all the pinks and purples and mauves are out, enjoying a good drink. Have a good weekend.
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Pretty, pretty, pretty – words and pictures both. And I was so pleased to find that silhouette! Gorgeous lily of the valley too – an almost overwhelming scent that reminds me of my Granny. Thank you Penny – I enjoyed this stroll with you. Axxx
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It is always a pleasure to see you here, Annie.
Thank you – and I’m so glad you found the silhouette. It’s interesting how the fragrance brings back memories of certain people, and nice to know that such a wonderful scent reminds you of your Granny.
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I have so enjoyed this walk in your garden. For this brief moment, my computer is working so I came here. I almost feel like I am walking with you. Your bird and your flowers are such a wonderful thing to share. I envy your lilies of the valley. They are a favorite of mine and I know they are yours too. I tried planting some a few years ago, but my clay prairie soil was too much for them. I am trying again in some soil that is better. Thanks for the walk, I will check in again when I can.
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I’m so happy that you were able to come along on the walk, Janet. 🙂 As I write this, Mr. Oriole is singing away. I know where he is, just can’t see him for the sun coming on in the east where the tree is and that he is up so high. Love to hear him. We had so much more clay in Elmhurst. I know what a challenge that can be. Once you can get a few lily of the valley to take, you will soon have tons of them. I am truly enjoying their fragrance- even today.
Take care, Janet. Miss you.
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What delicious spring delights Penny. I’m soaking up the fragrance and beauty as our weather takes another turn towards chill and greyness. Thank you.
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You are most welcome.
I think it was the memory of those winter months of greyness that make the colors and scents of this spring so joyful to behold, Juliet. I’m happy to send you colorful flowers as you enter your winter season. Here’s to sunny weather for my NZ friend. 🙂
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Oh how I love my special bouquet of lilies of the valley. So beautiful. So many memories. Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed and nearly speechless (rare).
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So happy you like them, Sallie. Now, if we can figure out how to attach the fragrance to the internet . . . 🙂 I have so many that I will be picking another bouquet tonight.
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That was a lovely meander through your garden Penny! I can smell the Lily of the Valley – beautiful!
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Thanks, Janet. They have such an evocative smell that brings me back to youthful times.
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The sight and smell of Lily of the Valley fills me with nostalgia. I bought my first house, a Chicago bungalow on the city’s south side, in March of 1981 and when Spring came the entire walkway to my front (side entrance) door was lined with them! I had never seen them before and the smell was intoxicating! I didn’t even know what they were called at the time and they were a wonderful surprise for this young, new home owner!
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What an everlasting memory that must be for you, Janet. I always find it amazing that such a little flower send out such a strong fragrance. Thanks for coming back.
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I didn’t completely disappear, Penny. I actually read this on my phone days ago and luxuriated over these gorgeous photos. Your garden must be simply alive with fragrance, birds and bees! So instruct me! Are those white flowers in that beautiful vase the faded bleeding hearts? If so, how unique! Whatever they are, actually, they are very sweet! I don’t know how you ever decide to leave the Cutoff this time of year, Penny! 🙂
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I knew you were “out there”, Debra and understand how time can pass. Always glad when I see your name.
The garden has been so fragrant, especially with the lily of the valley, which are the white flowers in the vase. I’ve cut several bouquets of them as they are everywhere right now. They are the white ones in the vase on the bottom.
Just above the vase, the strings of pink flowers, are the bleeding hearts, fading on their stems. They, too, are fragrant and are quite lively in a vase, though I did not show them here in a vase, just au natural 🙂 in the garden. They are one of my favorites, Debra; such an old fashioned flower and they last for quite a long time, fading back into the ground when the real heat hits.
Life is very good on the Cutoff in May. Very good, indeed.
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I’m so glad I didn’t miss this gorgeously evocative description of your lovely garden in the full flush of spring, Penny. I could see, hear and smell what you had experienced and am very much looking forward to the lily of the valley a friend has promised me in the autumn. Next year it will hopefully be me who is intoxicated by that wonderful scent. 🙂
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I’m sure you will be intoxicated, Perpetua. It is such an evocative scent, reminding us of mothers or grandmothers, aunts. Our daughter Jennifer carried them in her bridal bouquet and the fragrance followed her all the way down the aisle.
Thank you for stopping to read this.
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