Monday Marvels: It Bloomed on the Weekend

"When at last I took the time to look into the heart of a 

flower, it opened up a whole new world; a world where

every country walk would be an adventure, where every

garden would become an enchanted one."

PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO 

It's Monday morning and here I am still trying to finish a post I worked on last week but couldn't get done. Today is too beautiful to be indoors fiddling with words on a computer screen. Setting the post aside for the moment, instead I want to show you who blossomed open this weekend.

Every season the joy rises up to catch sight of her newly forming buds. And then when the first rose blooms open, well, we're in seventh heaven. We never tire of her loveliness... I give you Miss Peace Rose.

"The woman who for the first time picks a small

flower so that she can have it near her while she

works has taken a step toward joy in life."

my feminine version of HERMAN HESSE's saying

Remembering my dear Dad this Father's Day with great affection

and gratitude. He would have loved the Peace Rose.

❦

Wishing you ease and joy this day,

Brenda

Floral Fest Friday: Butchart Gardens

"But you, oh gardener, poet that you be

Though unaware, now use your seeds like words

And make them lilt with color nicely flung."

VITA SACKVILLE-WEST

I sit here and type words to reflect the summery day outside—warm sunshine and not a cloud to mar the blue, blue sky. Perhaps it knows rain is forecast for the next few days (which we need, so there's no lament here) and is making the most of the sunny day.

We were a few short days away visiting family on the West Coast (Vancouver-Victoria areas). It was so sweet to see the faces of people we love and share times together after so long a time apart. One afternoon we visited Butchart Gardens with Rick's sisters. An overcast day with chances of rain, we were glad it held off during our visit. Lots of people wandered the gardens, all eager to enjoy the early summer beauties. As author Clare Ansberry once said, "Gardens and flowers have a way of bringing people together, drawing them from their homes."

The roses you see above were in full bloom in front of my sis-in-law's residence. I don't know their name, but the colour made me think of a sunset. We were told it's been a cool spring on the Island, so the roses at the Butchart Gardens are late this year. Shrubs in the rose garden promised a great show of blooms in a week or two but we only saw a sparse few the day we were there. 

In spite of the still green rose garden, there were flowers in abundance everywhere else in the gardens. It was such a lovely afternoon, I have to share a few photos for you. I hope you enjoy. For more about these beautiful gardens, do check out their blog HERE.

At the entrance...

 

Rick and his sister...

The two of us under the Laburnum anagyroides

Golden chain tree

The tulips were mostly done and gardeners were busy pulling them out,

getting the beds ready for summer blooms. Clouds of blue Forget-me-nots,

in the midst of the dying, drying leaves, still created a delightful display. 

"Until we can comprehend the beguiling beauty

of a single flower, we are woefully unable to grasp

the meaning and potential of life itself."

VIRGINIA WOOLF

 

"Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine,

freedom, and a little flower."

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Two siblings who share the love of gardening. 

A little bee having a dip in a blossom. There's a lilt in the heart

watching that little bum wiggle in its beesome reverie.

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have

to choose joy and keep choosing it every day."

HENRI J.M. NOUWEN

And I admit, it's so much easier to choose joy when one is amongst

such glimpses of heaven. That's me standing by the water fountain,

lost in my own reveries.

"Small pleasures must correct great tragedies,

Therefore of gardens in the midst of war

I boldly tell."

VITA SACKVILLE-WEST, The Garden

Meconopsis

Himalayan blue poppy

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."

LADY BIRD JOHNSON

Our meander through the gardens wound up at the cafe where we had tea and current scones, with a poke around the gift shop afterwards. My purchases included notecards of floral watercolour artwork by Jennifer Sammons and a bottle of French 'Champagne Peony' Eau de parfum by Mistral. The scent of summer in a bottle: "A sparkling mix of pink grapefruit, effervescent prosecco, raspberry, French cassis, violet leaves, peony, crisp mint, and grape leaf."  We all made our way home with hearts refreshed and filled with that certain lift to the spirits that only nature's bounty in a flower garden can bring. 

During the few days we were away, our own garden grew leaps and bounds—alas, so did the weeds. So I'm off to tackle them on this sunny afternoon. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

❦

Heart hugs,

Brenda

All photos are mine, except the one where I'm standing

by the fountain, which was taken by my sis-in-law, Wendy.

Clematis, The Charm of Summer Stars

" Oh, I could dance and sing for joy that the spring is here!

What a resurrection of beauty there is in my garden,

and of brightest hope in my heart. "

attributed to ELIZABETH VON ARNIM, 1866 - 1941

And here it is the month of June—at last! Although we had two nights of near freezing temperatures earlier this week, the thermometer predictions promise warmer days and nights ahead. The tulips have given us a delightful display this spring, our perennials are greening beautifully, and now the lilacs and peonies are busy setting their blooms.

Then there is the 'Ernest Markham' clematis which I want to showcase today. We overwintered it in a patio container in our garage and it's now much farther along than the clematis plants in the garden. We are marveling at its many blooms so early in the season. With hand size magenta-red blossoms, ruffled edges, and buttery yellow centres, it makes me want to dance and sing for joy. And I agree with Elizabeth von Arnim when she declares the resurrection of beauty in her garden brightens the hope in her heart. Oh, yes, I find it so! For you today, here are five pretty poses for our Five on Friday segment:

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" It isn't the big pleasures that count the most;

it's making a big deal out of the little ones. "

JEAN WEBSTER, 1876 - 1916

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" What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer,

the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet

no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade. "

GERTRUDE JEKYLL, 1843-1932

❦

" It is the month of June,

the month of leaves and roses,

when pleasant sights salute the eyes,

and pleasant scents the noses. "

NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS, 1806 - 1867

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" 'Cause a little bit of summer is

what the whole year is about. "

JOHN MAYER, American singer/songwriter

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" June is bustin' out all over. "

OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, 1945

There you have it—summer stars on a vine, my little touch of heaven. Hope you felt the sparkle in your heart today.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend ahead.

And if you're marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

in some special way, happy celebrations!

Brenda

    

Photos: Brenda

Guest Blogging Elsewhere: Book Talk (The Accidental Memoir)

" When you've finished all the assignments, pull the

printed part of the book away and you'll be left with

a well-structured, evocative memoir. "

ALEXANDER MASTERS, Foreword, The Accidental Memoir

Today I am delighted to be a Guest Blogger on InScribe, where I share my thoughts about a great little writing tool entitled The Accidental Memoir by Eve Makis and Anthony Cropper. You can read all about it on my post HERE. Will you stop in and say hello?

Wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

One May Morning

When I first open my eyes...and look out

upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive. 

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

 

It's the start of a new week and still in my jammies, I pop out to the garden for a quick peek around. With the sun shining and the birds singing, it's hard to keep a huge smile from my face. These beauties greet me on this gorgeous May morning. Had to share them with you.

I have a busy day ahead so I won't stop to chat. Except I have to tell you one thing not flower related. Yesterday afternoon I went with friends to the new Downton Abbey movie. It just came out here on May 20th. If you are a fan, you do not want to miss this latest episode of the Crawley family where Julian Fellowes once again keeps us in our seats with lots of twists and turns, both funny and poignant, happy and, yes, sad. I laughed. I had tears down my cheeks. I was deliciously satisfied as the credits rolled by.

" Now and then, in this workaday world,

things do happen in the delightful storybook fashion,

and what a comfort that is. "

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT

" Flowers seem intended for the solace

of ordinary humanity. "

JOHN RUSKIN

Yes, this is a tulip, double petalled in red,

and it's wowing us these days.

" In all things of nature there is

something of the marvelous. "

ARISTOTLE

The Clematis is about to bloom. Can't wait. Rick overwintered her in a pot

in our garage and so she's ahead of the game—the clematis plants out

in the garden are just now coming up.  

 

" In every moment, everywhere, we are not

even inches away from the divine presence. "

JOHN O'DONOHUE, Beauty, p.227

❦

I must dash - wishing you a beautiful week ahead.

Heart hugs,

Brenda