Showing posts with label magnolia. Show all posts

The Blustery Month of April

Daffodils are the darlings of the season.
Lots of walks in my neighbourhood lately to see what is happening
in all the local gardens.

These were captured on an early evening walk

I love this wild garden with all the blossoms, pink and yellow
blowing in the gusty winds we've been having  and showing a lovely mixture of colours. 
The pale grasses in the background were blowing in all directions.

The blackbird was singing so beautifully in the late afternoon
on one of the still bare branches of a tree.

Some trees are more advanced and are showing tiny green leaves
just starting to unfurl and hints of pink blossom here and there.
I do like the birdhouse perched up high waiting
for feathered visitors to choose to rear their young.

The Aubrietia is so dainty and hangs down in rock gardens.
I even planted some on my balcony this spring.

The cherry blossom has been eye-catchingly beautiful this year.
Some are finishing and others are just starting up.

We have been having deep blue skies, but always accompanied
by strong north easterly winds.

These contrast so nicely against the rustic tiled roof.

Young, fresh green leaves are growing on the hedges and bushes.

These last two images are of Hazel leaves.

These are Purple Hazel with matching catkins!

There was a very special event at the beginning of April!
My grandson celebrated his 18th birthday!
I made a collage to show him as an adorable baby with just two little teeth on the bottom,
and then as the young man he is today.

I wanted to give him something meaningful for this special 
coming of age birthday and chose a key
with a short text  concerning the symbolic meaning.

When I turned 21 in England, my father gave me a gold key
on a bracelet, representing 'the key of the house' to show that I had now become
a responsable adult!

It has been a privilege watching my grandson grow up
and to have had him stay with me ever since he was little.
We have many shared memories together which I shall never ever forget
and hopefully he will remember them too!

One of the most beautiful trees during this month of April
have been the Magnolia trees.
There is a whole row of them in front of lovely buildings when walking down to the lake.

The flowering has been amazingly abundant.

Beautiful in bud form

Gently opening up in filtered sunlight

Revealing their beautiful centres.
They have resisted remarkably well during these windy days and a brief return to night frosts.

It's the simple things 
which speak to our hearts the most
and give life meaning.

Here is the little crocheted square doily under the geranium pot.
I chose the colours which remind me of Apple Blossom.

I hope that your are enjoying the month of April too.
 

Easter Day

A recent spring bouquet,
the prettiest I have ever received,
contained three beautiful red Anemone

Five tulips

Yellow Ranunculus

and soft pink ones

Soft salmon pink
on a rainbow of my latest crocheted Mandala

A whisper of petals.

On my daily walks
I have encountered beautiful Magnolia

Such lovely lines

Both these trees are in my neighbourhood.

The Lilac is just starting to bloom
early this year.

I've so enjoyed crocheting a new
Waterlily Mandala.
I have changed the edging a little from the original pattern.

Primula from my balcony
in the traditional crown-shaped vase I use for small flowers every spring.

It wouldn't be Easter without some good dark Swiss chocolate!
Don't you love the gold sprinkles between his ears?


***

The Spring Equinox - 2017

Equinox
meaning "equal night".
It happens when the sun shines directly on the Earth's equator,
providing equal amounts of day and night time 
to both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

From March onward, the days will get longer until the summer soltice in June.

At this time of the year, there are many beautiful flowers which could represent
the first day of spring.
Down by the lake recently, I saw the first Magnolia tree starting to bloom.

These particular flowers are particularly vibrant in colour
they quite take my breath away!

As the petals open to reveal the stamens, the petals become paler
and have this wonderful transparency about them.

These opening buds were on the lakeside and got more sun.
On the other side, the buds were still quite closed.

I hope you are enjoying spring wherever you are.

Happy first day of spring to everyone who comes my way!


I just learned, from a fellow photographer, that the lovely yellow blossom above
is called Spiked Winterhazel or Corylopsis spicata!

***
I have been very busy with a new project during this last half of March
which meant that I didn't do a new blog entry.
I will be posting again at the beginning of April!

Spring Unfolds

Golden daffodils with orange trumpets
unfold their sunshine petals
for all to see

Wild anemone raise their heads above last year's fallen leaves

Primroses, tender violets and a single daisy
draw our attention to the shady spots

and fluffy blossom trees line the streets

Down by the lake,
the early magnolia bloom

framed by nurturing branches and a perfect clear March sky

Closer to home,
Easter is being celebrated
with traditional hot cross buns

and the yellow duckling guards the baskets of tiny truffle filled eggs...
but not for too long, methinks!