The blackthorn hedge may be spiky and vicious but isn't this blossom beautiful? Another reason I am happy to see the blossom is the thought of all those wonderful sloes in autumn and the delights of making sloe gin ready for Christmas gifts.
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| Blackthorn Blossom (become Sloes, in autumn) |
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| A Surprise Flower in the Garden, pink, blue and lilac all on one tiny stem I don't mind surprises like this one! |
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| Honeysuckle Leaves Drenched with Moisture |
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| Can you see the spider? |
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| I love the collection of droplets clinging to this plant |
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| Drenched, but beautiful, these flowers were found in a forgotten flowerpot they survived the winter and are doing their own thing. |
The delays? George is suffering from a trapped sciatic nerve, so the polytunnel won't be completed for a while. He has had this before; he suffered badly for a few days and then it cleared up and he was mobile again...
... otherwise he'll be off to the chiropractor whether he likes it or not.
Lovely pictures and I know that one about the chiropractor.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Elna
Hello Elna, Thank you. I really enjoy using my son's camera, it is much better than mine!
DeleteSorry to hear about George-how much of the polytunnel did you manage to get done? Love the photos BTW-epecially the colours on the last one.
ReplyDeleteHello Green-Dragonette, So far the base has been done, the pits dug (14 of them) for the poles, I have managed to do a bit of the 'meccano' style construction (supervised, of course!!) and I have also worked on levelling the pathways to either side. I am just taking a tea-break.
DeleteHasn't the sunshine brought everything on. The blossom and spring flowers are lovely. sorry to hear George is not too well. Hope his back improves soon. Getting the polythene sheet on the tunnel is the worst bit, but worth all the effort once its in place.
ReplyDeleteHello Molly, It is hot, hot, hot here today. I am continuing to work, levelling the exterior pathways and doing the 'unskilled' bits, under supervision from a grumpy George!
DeleteYou really had a lot of lovely surprises on your morning photo-shoot. Finding blooms in a forgotten pot is like finding cash forgotten in the pocket of an old coat!
ReplyDeleteHaving suffered with sciatica myself, my sympathies to George. I hope he recovers quickly!
(I'm so glad you got a kick out of the picture in the corner.)
Hello Ms Sparrow, It is such fun taking time to slow down and really look at what is growing, I am often guilty of rushing at top speed and not really seeing things. Perhaps that's part of why I enjoy playing with the macro lens. You put it beautifully about the forgotten flowers, it was that feeling exactly.
DeleteAs I whizz around the garden I carry that lovely image of myself now, much more fun. Thank you.
What is the pretty flower that survived in the pot? All the plants look extra lovely with the raindrops on the. Sorry that George is injured. Hope his recovery is speedy.
ReplyDeleteHello Jenny, The flowers are a variety of primula - I wish I knew which. They were probably bought some years ago and seem to have enjoyed their (unintentional) neglect. George is still suffering but seems to enjoy supervising my efforts!
DeleteAll the flowers are so beautiful with dew. And I didn't even know about blackthorn, let alone sloe. So that's how they do it. You can see I don't read the liquor labels. Best wishes for George. I blew out my back this week and have spent every available moment lying flat on my back in bed. Day 8 and it is marginally improved. Don't let George take so long.
ReplyDeleteHello Joanne, Sorry to hear that you have been suffering so much with your back - but I am glad to hear that you are beginning to improve. We make sloe gin each year, it works best if you pick the sloe berries when the frost has been on them but the farmers around here like to cut back the hedges almost as soon as harvest is in which means we lose the berries. So now we pick them as soon as they are ripe and pop them in the freezer to mimic frost, then we make the brew. Ways and means, I hate to be beaten! Take care.
Deletethose flowers are breathtaking... just stunning!
ReplyDeleteHello Little Home in the Country, I had a look at them all today, which is hot and sunny and they don't look half as spectacular. The water droplets really worked a little magic on them. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing them.
DeleteOUCH!! Hope the pain doesn't last too long...the polytunnel will wait.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Hello Jane, The work on the polytunnel is continuing at my snail's pace. George finds that the pain comes and goes, the danger there being that he will try to do too much too quickly. Luckily my nickname is "Bossy Boots".
DeleteIf there happens to be a sloe gin giveaway on your blog at Christmas time, put my name on the list...haha. I sympathized with George...I've suffered with that problem a couple times in my life. Try getting into a big Dodge Pickup. It is not a pretty sight. Give my best to him for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteHello Meggie, I would be delighted to do a sloe gin giveaway, I think you would enjoy it on a cold winter's night. Even when he is fit George struggles to get into some cars, he doesn't bend too well! He is getting tetchy - probably from a combination of the pain, inactivity, and frustration at not being able to get on with the polytunnel. We'll get there, it may just take a week or two longer.
DeleteI know exactly how he feels. I have suffered on and off for years with back problems. A fall from a horse years ago and then the birth of my third child. I can go a few years without it going out and then whammy!!! I'm out for the count for weeks. Hope he is better soon. Your photos are lovely and very springy.
ReplyDeleteHello From Beyond My Kitchen Window, We are hoping that he will be as lucky as he was the last time - it was agony for several days and then by the end of the week he was practically back to normal. Fingers crossed. The sounds and sights of spring are all about at the moment, although I have been told that some parts of the country may see snow later in the week.
DeleteOoh eck, is George hanging from the beams again until the pain goes away? Let me know if I can do 'owt (maybe organise an Amish polytunnel-raising or something).
ReplyDeleteHello Ian, Now that could be a really good solution, although we'd need a hoist to get him to the beam in the first place. I am plodding on with the bits I can do and George is learning to be more patient...
DeletePoor George, Got that myself and it ain't good. Travels around too. Had it on the left side last week, now it's on the right. What's that all about? Hope the chiro sorts it for him.
ReplyDeleteI love sloe gin but it knocks me for six. Have you ever made it Elaine?
Hello Chris, Sorry to hear that you have been having problems too, I hope it disappears pdq. George's pain disappeared completely for a while yesterday, so fingers crossed that it goes completely soon. He gets very grouchy when he can't get outside and work!
DeleteIn late summer I buy so many bottles of gin (to make sloe gin) that the local Co-op have me down as an old soak. They are very astute!!
Elaine
ReplyDeletea beautifully illustrated post... lovely
Hello John, Little did Jonny know the fun I would have with his old camera! I suppose it is like the child and the cardboard box thing.... give your old mum one of your unloved toys and she will play for hours, days, months... It has made me really look at the things around me, which can't be a bad thing.
DeleteAmazing photos Elaine. Sorry to hear that George isn't so good and that progress has slowed on the polytunnel. J's hurt his back a couple of times - I discovered then that he's not very good at being patient!
ReplyDeleteHello Scarlet, George is a grumpy old man when he can't get outside to work on his projects! He will get it all done eventually, but he wants it done now. He has improved a lot already so he hopes to be back in harness at the end of the week. We'll see!
DeleteHow is your eye these days?
Your pictures of the flowers are a treat for the eyes. How wonderful to find surprise plants - nature is terrific for supplying such things once in a while.
ReplyDeleteHello Evlyn, Thank you, I really appreciate that. I love playing about with the macro lens so that tiny blossoms become amazing visual delights. My eyesight is not so great at picking up details these days so it is like having a really good pair of spectacles and seeing the world anew.
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