“May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, Welcome be thou, fair fresshe May.” – Chaucer Back in the depths of winter I was asked, probably rhetorically, why we live here. I will answer the question anyway. We live here because spring is so glorious. Dr Johnson said that a… Continue reading
“The drama of spring is not always very well staged…. too often it proceeds jerkily, with the halts and repetitions of a rehearsal instead of the sustained rhythm of a finished performance.” Jason Hill The vast expanse of ice and snow has started to retreat for the second time this… Continue reading
Tossing his mane of snows in wildest eddies and tangles, Lion-like March cometh in, hoarse, with tempestuous breath William Dean Howells The tops of the first bulbs of the year, species crocus and Iris reticulata, were just visible on Valentine’s Day. The bed beside the warm west side of the… Continue reading
“Ah, shall winter mend your case Set your teeth the wind to face Beat the snow down, tread the frost All is gained when all is lost.” William Morris The days are finally getting noticeably longer and both garlic and onions have green shoots inside. Potatoes in the pantry are… Continue reading
“So when some dear joy loses Its beauteous summer glow Think how the roots of roses Are kept alive in the snow” Alice Cary Snow we certainly did have in a freak snowstorm towards the end of November. The grey skies and bleak landscape are bad enough without early deep… Continue reading
“November glooms are barren.” William Ernest Henley It turns out that I spoke too soon about the ladybug swarming. Here in the valley we had at least four days of it. It was moderate level ladybug swarming this year. In past years there was usually one day of overwhelming prisoner… Continue reading
“Obstacles don’t block the path. They are the path.” Buddhist proverb The rituals of fall are well under way here in the valley. The chimney has been cleaned and the kitchen wood stove taken apart and cleaned. And my least favourite part of that process, putting the cleaned pipes back… Continue reading
“I am His Highness’ dog at Kew; Pray tell me sir, whose dog are you?” (Engraved on the Collar of a dog which I gave to His Royal Highness) Alexander Pope I was thinking about Kew recently when I read that those amazing wonders of nature, Amazonian water lilies, have… Continue reading
“…summer comes with flower and bee.” Mrs Hemans The heavy rains in May have resulted in the best and easiest vegetable garden I have had in many years. I have done almost no watering and everything I planted seems to be not only growing but doing exceptionally well. How often… Continue reading
