Tuesday 16 March 2010

Spring flowers and special thanks.......

It was good to be walking the gardens..........sunshine and 14C (59F). A virus for the last few weeks has left me tired and lacking enthusiasm. Hopefully I am now on the mend and can get out in the garden, I have much to do.
The first daffodil is always a joy...........the smaller varieties always a favourite of mine.

The one hellebore the rabbits did not eat is now in full bloom. I am hoping the others will come back in time, I have a feeling they will.
Primroses bring sweet memories. They take me back to Nannie and Gramps......their lovely orchard was covered in these pretty flowers.
I was pleasantly surprised to see many of the snowdrops still in bloom.......the hard winter appears to have extended their season.
Catkins are tossed in the breeze and always make a pretty scene.
And finally a thank you to Beckie and Rose. The birthday gifts are so appreciated, especially the bee pin and the purple prairie clover seeds. You are both kindness itself.

Also a thank you to Sherry. What can I say, such beautiful gifts. I am inspired by 'In a Unicorn's garden' (recreating the mystery and magic of medieval gardens.) I have many thoughts going around in my head and once better intend to make many changes in the garden. I can almost feel the sap rising.

I hope that you are all well and in the next few days will try and catch up with you and your lovely blogs........

33 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What lovely treasures in the garden and out. I am glad to hear you are feeling better. These springy pictures are beautiful. A belated Happy Birthday.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Hi Cherly, Yay, you're back! I don't know what to comment on, everything yu show is so nice and special. Sorry I missed your bday, but hope you had a happy one. Megabus started in the UK and runs there as well (as well as megatrain). If I ever visit England, I can't wait to ride it htere!

Q said...

Happy Birthday dear friend.
Sunshine helps so very much to restore energy. I am happy you are feeling better. I was a wee bit worried. Lots of hot tea!
Your flowers are beautiful. A few days with sunshine and my daffodiles should be in bloom too. I think we are to have some sun tomorrow!
I am happy you are enjoying the idea of planting for the time period of your house. The gardens from the Middle Ages seem like you and your Olde Apple Tree. Very magical and healing.
Enjoy your special day.
Sherry

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Oops! Pardon my typing. of course I meant Cheryl!

Marigold Jam said...

a lovely post - that banner is beautiful and I do so love the spring flowers. I think we all feel we are finally surfacing after a long hibernation don't we?

Cheryl said...

Hi Lisa....thank you. It has been a lovely day.

Cheryl said...

Hi Monica, tku. Now you are putting me to shame. I had never even heard of megabus until you mentioned it on your post.

Cheryl said...

Thank you Sherry for your kindness and caring.
The sunshine did indeed make such a lot of difference. It should be warm again tomorrow. I need warmth at the moment.

I am so fascinated with the book. I just cannot put it down. It truly has inspired me and I am just so excited to start this new project. I will take it slowly for a while though.....

Have a lovely warm Wendesday.

Cheryl said...

Hi Marigold jam.....the hibernation period was way too long this winter. Hopefully a distant memory now......

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

Dear Cheryl, I am so sorry you have been ill. You were very missed in your absence, but I was thinking you were having a wonderful vacation--and here you were sick! I love what you said about feeling the sap rising! So true--I have felt that same feeling. I am sorry I didn't realize it was your birthday--Happy Birthday, and aren't Rose, Beckie, and Sherry sweet to remember you with such lovely gifts! All of them so appropriate and thoughtful.

Loved the photo of your first daff. They always make me smile. Glad you are feeling up to getting out to take pictures once again. I hope you are feeling like yourself soon.

Hugs,
Jenny

Cheryl said...

Thank you Jenny for your sweet words and kindness. It has been a long few weeks but I am feeling so much better. I have missed my blogging friends but have been too ill to sit and concentrate. It was a particularly aggressive virus......

I always feel the sap rising.....I think I must have been a tree in a previous life!!

Liz said...

Hi Cheryl,

Sorry to hear you haven't been well, although I am glad to hear you're feeling better now and are able to get out into the garden to enjoy the wonderful spring flowers.

Happy belated Birthday... So sorry I missed it :(

Have fun in the garden, today especially has been very mild, truly was a pleasure to potter around when I got home this evening.

beckie said...

Cheryl, so glad you liked the presents. They were such fun to look for. You are very easy to pleas. :)

Happy that you are finally feeling better. Just don't try to do too much to soon. You don't want to get down again.

Your spring flowers are lovely. I'm so glad the one hellebore bloomed, Maybe it wil encourage the others. Daffodils are one of my favorites. May grandmother called the 'March' flowers. Mine are up as well as tulips and I am hoping for some for Easter. Warmer weather again this week is making them grow quickly.

Take care dear friend. I'm glad you are back!

PS. Do you realize we have been writing each other for 2 years now?!

Cheryl said...

Thanks Liz....it has been a horrible couple of weeks...lost too much weight due to not being able to eat properly. I am sure I will soon put it back on.....

It is good to be back in the garden and enjoying the spring blooms.....

Did you receive the wildflower seeds??

Cheryl said...

Hi Beckie.....it is good to be back. I must confess everything is a bit of an effort at the moment. Do not worry I shall not start digging etc too soon. Shall wait until I feel my old self again....

Daffodils are always a welcome sight. After the dreary days of winter the bright yellow blooms brighten the garden.

I know, two years, itsn't that amazing. A little scary though, doesn't time go quickly??

Liz said...

Hi Cheryl,

Oh dear, it sounds like you were really hit hard! Dare I ask whether it was the dreaded swine flu??

I hope to see butterflies soon – with any luck the trefoil will attract the blues and orange-tips…

Yes I did receive your seeds, thank you very much! I need to really get moving with sowing seeds now, I think I’ll have a go at sowing direct into the ground soon too… I’ve never had much luck with that approach before :(

ShySongbird said...

Poor Cheryl! I imagined you still away having a wonderful, well deserved break when in fact you were not feeling at all well. I do hope your energy and enthusiasm returns before too long, some of these viruses can be very depleting, make sure you don't try to do too much too soon!

However, just looking at and walking in your beautiful garden must be very restorative and a sure way of lifting your spirits. All your lovely photos bear testament to that and seeing both my favourite garden flower, the Daffodil and favourite wild flower, the Primrose as well as Catkins which I love, have given me much pleasure so thank you for that, I wonder if you have any Pussy Willow, another of my favourites, to show us. Everything does seem much more advanced where you are and I am sure that after the particularly bad Winter you are glad of that.

Many belated Happy Birthday Wishes to you and I do hope you felt well enough to enjoy your special day :) What pretty and thoughtful gifts you received from blogland, I loved the bee pin!

Roses and Lilacs said...

You have so much blooming. It can't help but cheer you up. Glad you are feeling better.

Wonderful gifts from your friends. Happy birthday, better late then never, as they say.
Marnie

Rose said...

Cheryl, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better. Viruses that last awhile can leave you tired for even longer, so I hope you don't try to do too much too soon. Just sit back and enjoy these lovely spring blooms.

I don't know if anything is blooming in my garden at the moment, but I doubt it. Hubby and I are in AZ visiting Daughter..she and I are going to look at wedding dresses today!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Susan said...

You have so many lovely spring flowers blooming. Hopefully, you'll be back out in your garden soon.

Cheryl said...

Hi Liz....no it wasn't swine flu, in fact, I rather wish it had been as it appears to be easier to shake off.
I had this dreadful winter vomiting virus.....I just could not eat properly and became weaker and weaker......now I just want to forget it and get on with all my projects....

The orange tip is a delightful butterfly...we get a lot here due to ladies smock.....the verges are usually covered with these lovely wildflowers. Everything is so much later this year.

I have found scattering seeds to be very successful considering. Preparing the ground is the most important thing and adding some sand to the soil. It is worth a try Liz as it does save a lot of time......

Cheryl said...

Hi Jan....thank you for your kindness and caring.

It was good to see the flowers in the garden. Wild primroses are lovely and I think they hold sweet memories for many people.
Yes I do have pussy willow in the garden but it is just a little bit early. As soon as it arrives I shall post some photographs for you.

I to love the bee pin and have already worn it on several occasions.....

Hope you are keeping well and that your op is not too far away......

Cheryl said...

Hi Rose.....how wonderful. I expect the sun is shining on you all. Do enjoy, this is such a special time. I can feel the excitement and warmth in your comment.....shall think of you.

I am indeed feeling better but am taking things easy, as I am not quite 'me' at the moment.

Tku again for my beatufiul gifts. X

Wendy said...

Dear Cheryl, I am sooooo sorry to hear that you were ill. I too thought you were having a lovely vacation. Not much fun being sick! I'm glad that's behind you and now you can enjoy spring and your garden to the fullest.

I'm glad your camera didn't catch your bug. LOL! You pics are splendid! I so enjoy seeing spring arrive in your garden. I too have a feeling the rest of the helebores will bloom and this year will be a wonderful one for gardening.

Happy Birthday (they creep up on us, don't they?)

Cheryl said...

Thank you Wendy....in one way it was rewarding being unwell. It gave me time to think about many things. Life's problems sweep you up sometimes don't they? We rush here, rush there, never taking time to breath properly......

At last spring is here.....it has been a long hibernation period in UK. I am ready to go explore.......

They most certainly do creep up. Each year opens new doors though and it is our attitude to life that is far more important than the number we carry......

Have a lovely spring Wendy.....

Libby said...

It definately has warmed up and the urge is upon us to unwrap and get outside, now the sun has some warmth in it!!
Hope you are fully better soon, don't do too much till you are!!

NCmountainwoman said...

Ever so glad you are on the mend. I can't wait to see your garden unfolding this spring.

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

I'm glad you're starting to see spring and that you're on the mend. I love your header photo - so very spring-like.

Miranda Bell said...

Dear Cheryl -do hope this finds you feeling 100% restored from your virus - they can really leave you feeling zapped. Sorry not to have visited for ages... a busy time of year :-) and at last some drier and warmer weather too - your photos are so pretty and capture the essence of this time of year in the garden - saw my first Brimstone a few days ago and yesterday a Tortoishell and Peacock! Spring really must be here! Take care and a very happy belated Birthday by the way Miranda xx

Unknown said...

Glad you're feeling better. Your garden is good medicine for you.

Happy birthday. You have some beautiful gifts.

Naturegirl said...

Cheryl happy to hear that you are on the mend. I too got that darn flu bug as well tendonitis of the wrist..we must be fit and well for our busy digging season ahead!
Love all your Spring blossoms and those lovely gifts!Enjoy the weekend..

A wildlife gardener said...

I am glad you are feeling well after your virus, dear Cheryl...and a belated happy birthday to you :)

I can see from all the glorious bulbs, catkins and Spring flowers that Winter has gone and Spring has arrived in your beautiful sanctuary garden :)

I loved seeing all the wonderful photos of the bees and bumblies in your previous posting, as I, too, await Spring :)

Your new header with the beautiful miniature hyacinths and snowdrops is a Spring stunner :)

Happy gardening days ahead, dear Friend :)

LG said...

Beautiful photos and flowers. Glad to hear you've recovered, and may you have a wonderful year ahead...apologies for not being around, just lots of work kept me busy

regards