Stroll Around the Gardens

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud

was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

Anais Nin

Cloudy skies make for saturated colours.

I have a hard time yanking out forget-me-nots. They take me back to a time 60 years ago when I walked hand-in-hand with my grandma through her extensive gardens. I doubt that it happened often; we rarely visited her. But, that one stroll still gives me warm feelings.

Chums and plums are in full bloom at the back of the perennial garden today.

All kinds of little bugs are interested in them.

Below we have shrub cherry blossoms. Last year, one of them produced cherries. SO tasty! That's what the birds thought too. We got to eat around a dozen of them. Maybe I will get my act together and put netting over them this summer. It surely will be worth the effort.

I love how their stamens stretch out to be pollinated.

A couple of these interesting tulips showed up in a plain pink patch.

If half of our currents get pollinated, we will have a bumper crop this year.

White Baneberry. Some bird must have thought it appropriate to poop out baneberry seeds near the fence. Easy to identify once you know what to look for: huge pistils. Note to self: highly poisonous.

Jack-in-the-pulpits are everywhere now. I need to paint one of these again. It is so satisfying to paint. Like finishing a puzzle.

Once we received a "free" bulb in our tulip bulb order. Isn't it gorgeous?

I'll end our stroll with another quote:

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Marcel Proust