Rain today

When I look out of the upstairs window I can see the pond and get an idea how heavily the rain is falling. 

Its too wet to be outside, I just make a quick dash to pick some parsley for my kedgeree.

The apple trees are full of blossom.

This rain is most welcome as my plants are growing quickly. The delphiniums that I grew from seed are now in their third year and clumping up nicely.

And the citrus blossom in the greenhouse smells wonderful!

Easter

Well, what glorious weather we have had over the Easter break. Much of the country went to the coast to fry on the beach while we collected a daughter from the London train and enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the country. We drove to the outskirts of Bruton for Sunday lunch at  the Roth bar in the Hauser and Worth art complex. I wanted to see what the garden, designed by Piet Oudolf, looked like in the spring.

I was disappointed.

I last visited in the autumn amid waving grasses and partial views. This time everything was flat and, to my mind, extremely dull.

At the top of the Oudolf field is the pavilion designed by the Chilean, Smiljan Radić. 

And I don't like that either.

Perhaps you think I sound grumpy, however I did enjoy my lunch very much. (I'm not going to mention the art!) We sat out in the sun and had a tasty and leisurely time. Then in Bruton we looked around the former almshouse buildings

where the small chapel was decorated for Easter.

It is a lovely, tranquil corner of the town.

Easter Monday, more eating out in the sunshine, more leisurely talking. 

Instead of an Easter egg this year a tasty panettone. No, I didn't roll it down a hill, the tin is far too pretty!

We walked into the woods to enjoy the bluebells.

I know I keep on saying it, but it really is

a lovely time of year.

                            

Good Friday skywatch

A flat blue sky may not mean much to many skywatchers, but for me it is a delight after a long, grey winter, especially when, like today, the air is still and warm. Now the horse chestnut tree is covered in fresh green leaves,

but the walnut tree is still bare-leaved, it is always slow to waken after the winter months. We, however are wide awake and getting ready for the summer months ahead! We brought the garden furniture out of store and gave it a coat of teak oil. A blue deck chair is in action while the oil dries and  here is my blue sky photo for Friday Skywatch.

At last I'm able to put some of the plants from the greenhouse outside. 

At this time of year the sun comes round to the west side of the house and today it was warm enough to have the door open. The sunlight flooded in and lit corners that are usually in shadow.

Lighting up the carvings of Christine Kowal-Post.

It was a warm and peaceful day, a good start to the Easter weekend. I hope that your Easter holiday will be equally enjoyable. A large orange-coloured moon appeared in the early evening but my camera couldn't capture the unusual colour.

Changing weather

It is misty, damp weather today, but warmth and sunshine is promised for the end of the week. Hurrah, I'll finally be able to get some seedlings into the ground. The wind has eased and everything feels far more promising. The cold weather has meant that the daffodils have flowered for far longer than usual.

Blossom on the pear and plum trees is also looking good.

It is too damp to work outside but, whatever the weather, I can't resist wandering about the garden to see what changes are taking place.

The new ladder has made clipping the bay tree a far easier job. I'm trying to get it as spherical as possible.

The large shrub that covered the pergola has been cut down. It died of either old age or the drought, most probably a combination of the two. I thought I would miss it, but am actually enjoying the open view.

I've got a repeating theme of rounded forms throughout the garden. These box balls sit in an untidy herbaceous border. The idea is to give some formal structure to the chaos that grows up around them!

The veg garden is ready to spring into action.

and in the greenhouse the auricles are coming into flower.

It's a lovely time of year!

A walk and talk

Our local hotel has a food miles policy and they grow much of their own produce within their walled kitchen garden.  The growing season is well advanced within the shelter of the walls which keep out the bitter winds that are currently raking through my garden. Any interested people from the village were invited to come for a walk and talk with the gardeners. 

It turned into a walk and a nibble as there were many unusual, and spicy, plants to sample.

Heated poly-tunnels get everything off to a good start.

We walked across this area of grass looking rather downcast. It is where the open air swimming pool once was. It was a popular village meeting place throughout the warm summer months and is much missed!

We had a peep inside the mushroom house

to admire the crop.

and than back to the hotel

for tea and cake.

Just my kind of event!