“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
“Nihil volentibus arduum.” (To the willing nothing is difficult.) Old sundial motto. It was probably unwise for a gardener to travel in the middle of May but travel I did. I was away for a week in Palm Springs and finally got to see the desert. It was hard to… Continue reading
“At Christmas I no more desire a rose Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth…” Shakespeare It took many decades for me to have snow on my April birthday. And it was not just a light dusting of snow but two inches of heavy wet snow. Dead trees fell… Continue reading
“We are tired of Winter’s cold leftovers. Given a taste of spring in April, we want a full meal of it.” Hal Borland, Sundial of the Seasons The snow and ice still hanging around at the end of March certainly looked like winter’s leftovers. And I’m sure that we’ll get… Continue reading
I’d rather have the flowers Our simple fathers knew Than these new-fangled blossoms Of every shape and hue I’d rather have a skylark Than a parrot at the Zoo. ~ Reginald Arkell – Green Fingers ~ February, the supposedly short month, felt endless this year. A Wuthering Heights weekend of… Continue reading
“….here I stand, not only with the sense Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts That in this moment there is life and food For future years.” Wordsworth Tintern Abbey It’s easy to think of February as the lowest point in the winter or even the whole year. It is… Continue reading
“Sit by the fireside with Sorrow” Shelley There was no frost here in the valley until late October. I can’t remember another year when the morning glories and other frost tender flowers were still going while the leaves were turning colour. Some of the usual fall garden jobs have been… Continue reading
