The Month of June

Even though the month of June has arrived, I still have some spring flowers

that I meant to share here in the month of May,

but I never found the right moment to do a new blog entry,

for that, you need the time and the right mood,

especially the latter!

The above scene is taken from the big tulip park in the town of Morges.

The aptly named Tulip Trees were coming into leaf.

I just love the fresh green of spring, don't you?

The fresh green leaves of the Tulip Trees against the blue of the sky.

We got to the park nice and early to enjoy the park with a minimum of visitors.

It had rained in the night, leaving big puddles behind.

In the heat of the summer, these big overhanging trees create very welcome shade.

The late blooming tulips were still on show and was sheer joy to walk among them

and see all of their beautiful colour combinations.

A walk along the lake in the same town of Morges shows the lovely plantations, 

like this beautifully shaped yellow tulip.

Pretty in pink with pink Forget-me-nots

A closer shot without the lake in view to see the opening petals even better.

Elegant red and white stand tall and proud.

Deep pink against the dark water.

A sailing boat with the Mont Blanc Mountain in the background.

Sunshine yellow flowers growing against the railings of a lakeside home.

The beautiful Irises were just coming into bloom.

Something a little different!

After a beautiful and long morning walk, we stopped for lunch on an outside terrace.

I just loved the reflection of my glass of red wine shining on the white tablecloth.

In the base of the actual glass, you can see the reflection of the blue sky!

This was my first trip of the year out into the country to walk alongside the fields

and in the woods above the town.

I can get there by taking a bus, the metro and another bus.

It sounds like a lot of travel, but when connections are good, 

this lovely area can be reached in about thirty minutes.

I love visiting when the dandelions are in bloom.

Here is a wider angled view showing the blue of the sky mixed with soft clouds.

I chose this photo as my header today.

I just love being in the country, the peace of it all and being so close to nature.

Aren't Dogwood flowers beautiful, both in shape, style and colour?

These grow in front of a school in the neighbourhood above mine. 

I love to visit them each year when they're in bloom.

Another point of view against a dappled background of sky and trees.

Walking through the small park to go back home through the quiet streets.

I used to take my grandson here often when he was younger,

there are such good climbing frames at the other end.

These are the pansies from my balcony-garden this year. They have been doing so well.

Now I'm back into the swing of doing a new blog entry,

I've decided to do them regularly during the month of June.

I have so many photos to share taken during the sunnier days.

We have had such mixed weather during May and now in June too!

I hope that you are enjoying sunny days

 and doing all the things you love to do at this time of the year!

My latest crochet work:

Four crocheted coasters for a friend's June birthday.

I love making coasters and mandalas in the form of doilies.

When they're for gifts, I choose the colours I think will suit the person who will receive them.

These chosen colours make me think of sunshine and blue skies.

Here is a link to the site where I found the lovely pattern:

Color 'n Cream

Fields of Green

Fluffy clouds in blue skies

Overhanging boughs

Country paths 

and fields of green.

I should get into the country much more often

and it isn't so very far away from where I live.

So lovely here to see the yellow dandelions in full bloom.

Beautiful buttercups everywhere too!

To get up here, I need to walk up the hill from where I live to the nearest metro station,

only three stops away 

and then I need to take a country bus which leaves every fifteen minutes from the metro.

One bus goes all around small villages and it takes about fifteen minutes,

the other one is more direct and it takes only seven minutes to get to this beautiful area.

When I had a car, I came here several times a week in all weathers,

even with my snow-shoes in the winter!

I even saw butterflies!

A wooden cabin in the woods.

I love how we can see the forest and trees through the windows.

This place is called Chalet-à-Gobet

and not too far from the town of Lausanne.

Another lovely place in the country to visit is Apples.

This is further away and I need another country train to get here.

It's also great for walks, especially in the autumn when the trees change colour.

On a clear day, there is an excellent view on the mountains from the top of the hill.

It was a little misty on this particular day.

I do love shutters, especially the old ones.

With roses growing on the wall against a trellis.

The village had colourful pots of flowers

The rapeseed fields were past their most colourful, but still looked pretty in contrast to all the green.

Waiting at the station of Apples

to catch the country town back down to the nearest town of Morges.

Only one train per hour, so it's best not to miss it!

Five Things I Love about April

1. The meeting of the seasons:

I love how lingering winter and spring mingle together to create their contrasting beauty.

The last snowfalls and flowering magnolia are a lovely example here.

2. The lakeside

 Dreamy walks along the lake at times of the day when there are as few people as possible!

Don't you love this amazing metal sculpture of a wave of little fish?

Here is a close-up.

3. Nature waking up

The spring flowers which start to bloom just everywhere. I love them all,

but there's nothing like daffodils to represent spring awakening!

Deep pink Hellebore

sometimes known as 'Lenten Rose' or 'Winter Rose'

Grapes of tiny flower buds which hang so gracefully on the branches.

4. Getting out into nature

From where I live above the centre of the town, I can easily get public transport

by bus and metro, up to the fields and the woods to enjoy the wide expanses,

the green fields and wooded areas

with just the sound of birdsong and the breeze rustling in the trees.

5. The longer days

When I can enjoy early morning walks before breakfast 

when all is still quiet and then again in the evenings after supper to hear the blackbird singing

in the trees in my neighbourhood.

There are many other things to appreciate during the month of April

and I'm sure you have your favourites too!