Monday Meander - June 12, 2023

 RAIN!

It's been 23 days since the last significant rain in these parts. My fretting about fire danger, smokey air, and thirsty gardens washed away overnight by a glorious 50+mm (over 2 inches) of soothing showers descending from the sky. The garden rejoices with eye-popping colour dripping from every leaf and petal.

And yes, I was thrilled to get wet taking these photos this morning!

It's beautiful day in the neighbourhood. 

©2023 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - May 8, 2023

 After a weekend full of pomp, pageantry, and tradition all on display in a coronation, a horserace, and a hockey game, I'm ready for some simple joys.

Here are mine from the last 48 hours:

An English crumpet (or two!) topped with butter and local honey along with a mug of Earl Grey tea. Perfect accompaniment to my early morning viewing of the coronation.

Later in the morning a survey of our garden revealed a bounty of simple joys all highlighted by so very welcome sunshine and warmth.

Sunday came with unwelcome rain. Can we not have more than one day of sunshine? Such grumbling evaporated to the tune of  "Rain, Rain go away. Come again another day" sung out with gusto by my little ones as they splashed in the puddles...

...and a box of sidewalk chalk just waiting for an artist's hand.

Wishing you simple joys this week. 

©2023 April Hoeller

Monday Meander - May 10, 2021

Baskets and Birds

The Mother's Day weekend has always been the time when I set out six to eight hanging baskets of blooming colour around the house. At first, this year looked like it would be a fail as my perusal last Wednesday of my usual sources turned up nothing I either wanted nor was willing to pay. Two garden centres were just setting out stock and what they had was, in a word, meh. Friday's excursion proved modestly better but Saturday's drop in at a grocery store outdoor garden centre was perfect.

Hanging baskets are the best choice in my part of the world for this time of year as frost remains a distinct possibility until the first week of June (even later there can be unwelcome chilly surprises).

Every evening since Friday, I've had to bring the blooms into the garage as temperatures dropped to freezing. Tonight's forecast again is advising of frost. I might be okay with that, but unless one is up and out first thing in the morning, sunshine is also missing from too much of too many days. As I've been writing this, the clear blue skies of 9am have have once again been overtaken by clouds. It's getting as tedious as a pandemic lockdown! 

Even the hummingbirds are tentative in their return with just one showing up now and then.

And I've yet to see a Baltimore Oriole at the feeder, but I know they have been sighted in the vicinity. The orange, nectar and grape jelly are all set up for them. Goldfinches, chipping sparrows and pine warblers are the main attraction at my feeders.

Pine Warbler

Elsewhere in the yard, the first trim of the lawn  has been done and the forget-me-nots and wild strawberry blossoms are popping up...

...as are the tulips, though the cool temperatures keep them closed up to stay warm.

The rhubarb is set for first harvest by mid-week.

And that's the way it is as the second week of May kicks into gear.

Stay safe. Be well.

Enjoy the emerging colour and bird song of spring. 

©2021 April Hoeller

Thursday, or Thereabouts - April 11, 2019

It's cold, -3°C. It's grey and snow flurries are mocking Spring as they twirl outside my door. I'm sure I can hear giggling! So I'm going to stay indoors and daydream about blooms both wild and cultivated - vibrant with colour and fragrance, magnificent and without limit.

I love watching the forest come to life every Spring. Without any hand planting, or watering, or weeding, colour emerges.

Sophie loves the trilliums.

I truly have neither the diligence nor the talent to manage much beyond hanging baskets and a few planters filled with hardy blooms that tolerate sandy soil, full sun, and my frequent neglect.

I can hardly wait to get my hands dirty rooting around in the rich earth, caring for this year's gaggle of joy and wonder. Oh - and look what I found in my garden tour yesterday - fledgling rhubarb

...and a bulb daring to sprout in a planter along the south wall of the house. I'm not sure what it is yet, as I planted crocus, tulips in the pot back in the Fall.

Hope springs eternal!

©2019 April Hoeller

A to Z Challenge - G is for Garden

It's cold. It's grey. It's been snowing. It's a good day to dream about a garden - vibrant with colour and fragrance, magnificent and without limit.

I love what happens in the forest, without any hand planting, or watering, or weeding.

Sophie loves the forest Trilliums

I truly have neither the diligence nor the talent to manage much beyond hanging baskets and a few planters filled with hardy blooms that tolerate full sun and my frequent neglect.

©2018 April Hoeller