Cherry Blossom Announces Summer

The cherry tree is adorned in virginal white blossom tinged with palest pink near the stem. This richly symbolic tree has inspired artists through the ages to try & capture its transient beauty. Prunus serrulata,; the Japanese flowering cherry tree is indiginous to many East Asian countries. In Japan this elegant,ephemeral flower is used to symbolise in clouds in recognition of the billowing effect when it flowers en masse & it is also used as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. A lesson in capturing the beauty of the precious moment - this tree is stunningly beautiful for an instant & then it disappears.

Too Beautiful to Miss!

Graceful snowflakes by the babbling brook & paper-pale daffodils under the Ghost Tree!

Magnificent Magnolias

We've reached the Spring Equinox & now the days are longer than the nights. It's been the week of the full Chaste Moon, high evening tides (perfect for fishing) & buds bursting open all over! This morning the magnolias are glorious, shyly offering a glimpse of their unfurling flowers - a treat not to be missed.

The Tapestry Hedge

A Tapestry Hedge is planted along the top of our Shabby Chic planting. The different shades of green are interspersed with splashes of warm raspberry pink provided by the Japonica. Often referred to as 'flowering quince', the latin name for this deciduous, spiney shrub is Chaenomeles.

This plant is beautiful in its simplicity, the sparse knobbled branches are graced with individual flower-heads which are randomly spaced. It's understated elegance harks back to it's origins in China & Asia. In early spring the contrast of the sugar-shrimp coloured flowers against the cool bark & shades of green is stunning. It injects warmth into a Spring garden of pale lemon primroses and baby-pink blossom. For me it offers promise of the stronger colours to come as the season progresses - when its' bolder cousins in the Rosaceae family will flaunt their blooms in the summer sun.

The Currants are in Full Bloom

The Bees are delighted, they love this pendulous pre-cursor of Spring, the flowering currant. The garden emits a blissful hum as the bees gorge themselves on the early nectar. Hopefully a promise of the Honey to come!

Hellebores

Robin Red-Breast

This delightful little chap is a regular visitor to our garden. He was thrilled by the camera & couldn't wait to pose as I walked through the garden; in fact I can honestly say that he followed me. I have to admit that I absolutely adore him!

This morning, the decorater confided that he was having a nap in his car at lunchtime when this cheeky little chap roused him by sitting on his head!!