Garden Happiness

A whole spring season passes in the garden. Magenta blossoms welcoming feathered friends back. Surprise blooms from forgotten pots. Simple pleasures of pegging out washing with an excitable toddler twirling in sheets. That outdoor smell on clean fresh bedding.

A quiet garden despite a fairly busy road and occasional holiday flight path. Every so often an army transport helicopter (a Chinook?) and funny microlights. I wish for a hot air balloon to go by. Comforting noises of people and work but not too much as we can always hear the birds and our thoughts. Enemies and friends, slimy and spotted. A whole row of beans just stalks so I plant something else and don't worry too much. It's all a bit overgrown but oh well.

My extra room, my potting area - a production line from seed to allotment or maybe flowers for the garden, cheap to grow our own. Nightly checks in the small greenhouses for those sneaky shell fiends that munch too much.
Strawberries, broad beans, tomatoes, blueberries and courgettes all line the edges of the decking alongside herbs. Snip, snip, a little extra to add to dinner. Smiling pansies as we pass. Glorious allium fireworks here and there, I'd forgot I'd planted those too.

The season has seen celebrations for Daddy Bird and family visits. Chats over the garden wall about the resident housemartins - wonderful aerial displays but much poop! Loads of bunting. Being silly. Blowing bubbles, splashing water. Dogs sunbathing and barking at cheeky cats popping over the fence. Little Bird's toy animals trotting up and down - be careful of the trucks. Zoom. Climbing, dashing, twirling. Laughing, tinkling little voice. 

Many evening chats on the bench with a cup of tea. A quick potter. The sun sets and it's time to come in little one before the fairy lights come on. Squeals and perhaps cries - No, it can't be bedtime! All quiet except for the clumsy flap of a wood pigeon's wings trying to land on the bird table - slip, slip, weeeee, flump, thud. Better luck next time. Door shuts and we say night night but......star gazing later if the clouds clear. 

Village Festivities

I know, I know yet another Jubilee post on a blog but it's been such a long time since my last blog post and I had to join in and show you our local festivities!

Our town itself did not have much happening but as we ventured into the surrounding rural areas we found a lovely village party and scarecrow trail. Happy people milling around and church garden parties with cake stalls and BBQ's.  Serious bunting heaven for me. I wish bunting could stay up all the time, it makes me so happy to see it fluttering in the breeze so prettily.

The scarecrows were wonderful too. Great community effort and such fun to see what characters lay around each cobbled corner or proudly sat in glorious cottage gardens. I wonder how each scarecrow reflected the personalities and interests of the householder?

Pink, yellow, red, large as teacup roses. Clipped hedges and peonies, blousy and bold. Wooden front doors begging to be knocked upon. Oh to look in these houses that teased me with their floral displays and treasures through leaded glass windows.

 

No. 57 cottage. Yes please. Sigh. I could be very comfortable living in this village with a front door surrounded by iris, clematis and honeysuckle. 

One day when we move house I think I will see if the area has a scarecrow festival first.  It's on my wish list :)

Secret gates to beautiful walled gardens stuffed full of herbaceous perennials. Such care taken throughout the whole village with billowing hanging baskets and door wreaths. 

Do you care to join this knitting granny? I don't think she would mind if we perched on the other end of the bench.

Living in earshot of church bells, that has to be another one for the wish list. 

Signs around the village - 'Open Gardens This Monday'. What a shame we couldn't go back this time. I have been to an open garden here before as a matter of fact and it was a wondrous garden with long rolling lawn towards a vegetable plot and views over the Cheshire Plains. 

This was my favourite scarecrow - a man after my own heart. I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend and I'm having fun now reading through all your blog posts.