....were gentle in this corner of the world with many pleasant blue sky days, and happily, as far as I am concerned, neither ice nor snow was seen.
During mid-February, we had a frightening red alert, courtesy Storm Eunice, but fortunately no damage was caused here. By the beginning of February Spring was firmly established in both our gardens and the landscape. The early Spring has helped to ease some of the pain caused by sad events, beyond our control, happening in the world today. Getting out into nature, being in a beautiful landscape, surrounded by blue skies and sunshine, is a great tonic.
The snowdrops have completely vanished for this year. The Prunus spinosa - black thorn blossom is almost finished, and in the blink of an eye the daffodils will soon be nodding their farewells too.The Magnolia blossom has been spectacular, and achieved its full beauty. The absence of any early morning frosts has prevented their glorious blooms turning brown.We
packed ourselves a picnic, and set off to a favourite walking spot
- The Weir Garden in Herefordshire. A spectacular riverside garden bordering the R. Wye as it travels on its long journey from Wales. Eventually it meets up with the might R. Severn, and ultimately, the North Atlantic
Ocean.
"All at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Wordsworth
As we sat in the sunshine enjoying our lunch a couple of paddle boarders suddenly came into view, and just as quickly vanished along the swiftly flowing river. The journey homewards beckons.
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It is beautiful everywhere, Rosemary, and so enchantingly portrayed in your pictures. March is being its unpredictable self here and we have gone from delicious hints of spring, to renewed snow yesterday, with cold winds from the north. How the people of Ukraine would love to be able to walk freely in the snow. Sometimes, it's all a matter of perspective.
ReplyDeleteYour perspective is one I share.
DeleteYour photos of Spring are so gorgeous!
ReplyDelete💙
Deletetoo beautiful for wores. Thank you Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteDeaar Gina - you are in my thougts.
DeleteWonderful photos all! I thought how I am scrambling through mine to find one worthy of being a header (which I change with my moods)...all of these are scrumptuous!
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara - if you happen to fancy one of them, then do please help yourself.
DeleteWhat glorious spring vistas! All those lovely greens and then the bright daffodils and stunning pink magnolia blooms. Sigh-worthy.
ReplyDeleteSpring is glorious this year Lorrie, but I notice that spring is also sharing her beauty with you too.
DeleteLovely gardens. Had a week long run of fantastic weather which made everything sparkle and it reached 19 degrees up here at its peak- almost unheard of for late March so climate change is not all bad. Back to 3 degrees and snow by this Thursday though. Seeing the paddle boarders make me want to do the same.
ReplyDeleteThe weather has helped us all to weather so many trials and tribulations during this past few months.
DeleteBeautiful! By contrast, today here felt like a January kind of cold.
ReplyDeleteI do know that when the weather does eventually change for you William it arrives very quickly.
DeleteA mild winter it seems but spring has sprung with beauty. The landscape is amazing in that area. I've enjoyed looking at the photos..
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate here in that we have so many lovely locations right on our doorstep.
DeleteLush colourful blossoms welcome the coming of spring. Peoples happiness goes up, the gardens become more beautiful and family activities are happier!
ReplyDeleteVery true Hels - a swift winter and an early spring certainly helps to lift the spirits.
DeleteGlorious photos of a beautiful time of year, though it looks rather dank and chill out there this morning. I thought the storms had caused little damage here, but yesterday I visited a semi-official path through a rather neglected strip of woodland and found that the path has been wrecked and blocked by fallen trees - I doubt anyone will tidy it up either.
ReplyDeleteSame here John - yesterday the washing dried in no time outside, but not today.
DeleteIt was a great sadness when Storm Eunice destroyed so many trees across so much of the country, especially in Scotland and the North.
Your blossom photos are stunning, and one can only imagine how beautiful they are to behold. And the daffodils, such a big swathe of them, I have never seen the like of it. They are one of my favourites, and I just bought more bulbs to try yet again to entice 2 or 3 blooms to come up for me here in Brisbane. As a gardener, one likes to try. Nature is indeed a tonic in these strange and uncertain times.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the bulbs Patricia - over the years I have tried to grow many flowers that are not really suitable to either our soil or climate - sometimes I have luck othertimes total failure.
DeleteDear Rosemary - After much colder winter, spring has come abruptly here in my part of the world. At this time of year, I’m always restless thinking where to go for“hanami", Sakura viewing. Such exuberance of blooming flowers one after another! I remember “Daffodils” which I chanted by heart the whole stanzas as an assignment at school. Japanese Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis) bloom from late December through February.
ReplyDeleteYoko
I know just how you feel Yoko - I too want to be out and about seeing what nature is bringing us right now - I don't want to miss any of her gifts.
DeleteThank you for sharing that wonderful walk, Rosemary. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that you enjoy accompanying me Susan.
DeleteGlory be!! That's a beautiful spring flower album, Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteDelighted that you enjoyed Pip. Hope all is well with you.
DeleteHello Rosemary, Your photos are such a welcome dose of color and magnificent weather. This has been Taiwan's rainiest and grayest winter ever--virtually without let-up. I'm starting to think that you have an effect kind of like Browning's Pippa--causing beautiful weather and flowers to appear wherever you go.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Hello Jim - Pippa's song is new to me, but the truth is that this has been a fantastic spring so far. I say so far, because who knows what next week might bring. I never imagine Taiwan to be rainy and grey, but I suspect that you too are also experiencing more unusual weather than normal.
DeleteIt must be a long time since you were last in the USA, will you have the opportunity to travel back home soon?
Wow! Some beautiful pictures of Springtime. When the weather is the best and many flowers are in bloom - lovely!!
ReplyDeleteTitti
I love it when Spring arrives.
DeleteWow . I have never seen these flowers . Good to know via this blog
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that you enjoyed seeing our Daffodils.
DeleteWhat a wonderful show of Spring in full bloom, love this time of the year , nature can be so healing . Thanks for passing by my blog, I don't post much here lately as I have moved on to Facebook .
ReplyDeleteYou will be sadly missed.
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