Red, pink and white blossom are exploding right now. This clematis montana, growing through the honeysuckle, is just beginning to open. The scent of vanilla is delicious.
It’s been a strange old winter this year, I’ve lost several clematis and even a potato vine, all of which have previously been indestructible. It hasn’t even been that cold, just constantly unpredictable weather, like endless rain, then endless drought.
The big blousy rhodos are coming out,
along with the shocking pink azalea.
The little ballerina cherry tree is finally beginning to grow, along with the fruiting cherry on the left.
My final flowering cherry is out, once that’s finished it’ll be the end of confetti season for another year, so I’ll have to make the most of it. Heavy rain and high winds are forecast tomorrow, which will no doubt see off most of the blossom in this post.
Red robin is throwing up bright red leaves…
and the mock orange is about to join the party.
It’s looking like a good year for the soft fruit.
Now…
we live on the corner of this street, those green beech leaves, top right, are from one of our enormous beech trees. On this side, all the flowering cherry trees are pink. On the other side, they all flowered white a few weeks ago. Quite the spectacle.
And Finally…
we’ve had the first BBQ of the year, all vegan. Daughter was shocked at how good the burgers tasted. Vegan produce has certainly upped it’s game!
Little chimmy earned her keep during the BBQ, she cooked the mushrooms beautifully.
And…
yesterday, hubs and I met up with his brother and partner for three hours, three hours, in a beer garden. Us gals, were completely swaddled in blankets, as it was freezing, but oh, how lovely to be able to get together again.
Until next time, keep safe guys.xxx
Oh, what a shame you never got to write your pink post. xxx
I was swamped at the time your lovely Pink post came out. Right about the time I was mentally writing up a pink post of my own (obviously nothing bloggy happened). So so lovely. Thank you for sharing of your abundance!
Thanks Jan. Yes the spring blossom is always such a treat, especially after a long, dreary winter. It’s worth braving the weather to get together with family and friends, hopefully covid is on the run now and we can resume normal lives. xxx
Lovely photographs, I always enjoy seeing blossom and blooms, lovely colours.
How lovely (although cold) to sit and enjoy being with and seeing family again.
All the best Jan
Oh, gorgeous! I love flowers and I love pink, together they are wonderful.
Amalia
xo
Thanks Amalia. Spring is so pink and yellow isn’t it, I do love the drama of it all.xxx
How strange – our choisya – Mexican orange blossom had been filly open for a couple of weeks, maybe because it is in a sheltered spot.
Yes, it certainly likes a sheltered spot. Ours is late this year, maybe due to the cold spring. Thanks Sue.xxx
Fantastic images.
Thanks Peter.xxx
Your ballerina cherry looks remarkably like another childhood favorite: flowering almond. It also had doubled white and pink flowers, and was just beautiful. I see that both cherry and the flowering ‘almond’ are in the Prunus genus, so the similarity makes some sense. The flowering almond doesn’t produce nuts — it’s quite a different shrub.
I’ll confess that vegan BBQ sounds like a contradiction in terms to me. BBQ means slow-smoked brisket and venison sausage — with the occasional ribs thrown in. Your meal may have tasted good, but there’s nothing like pastured pork and good beef. Barbeque’s a treat rather than a weekday meal, so when I have it, I want the real thing!
I wish I could grow an almond tree, they don’t do well here at all sadly. But at least my ballerina cherry looks like an almond tree as you say. My vegan BBQ certainly wouldn’t float your boat! Thanks Linda.xxx
I love all your pinks, those street cherries are amazing.
It is wonderful to meet friends and family again in pub gardens even if it is freezing. We have even booked a couple of nights away in Norfolk soon; the thought of so much freedom makes me feel quite giddy.
Thanks Chloris. The street cherries are a delight each year and having two roads full to enjoy is just wonderful. Yes, meeting up is just fabulous isn’t it? Have a wonderful time in Norfolk, it will be great getting away, I’d feel giddy too.xxx
It’s always wonderful to see the spring blossoms. When my children were growing up we had several large cherry trees on our property and I loved it when they showed off during the spring. Even in our freezing cold weather this spring, it is still a beautiful thing to see.
I must try some vegan meats….I haven’t done so for a while and wasn’t too impressed when I first tried it. I hardly eat any meat at all…and so it would be nice to occasionally have a healthy substitute.
Last night we had a wild wind storm..and today it is definitely more autumn like than spring…however, having said that it is all beautiful and I will enjoy it…
Sending love to you and the family Janet xxxxx
I grew up with cherry blossom every spring, I always thought it was absolutely magical, I still love it, it’s so delicate. The vegan ranges have really upped their game, there are so many new ranges, more seem to come out each week. The vegan ice-creams are wonderful too and things like mayo. It’s just the cheese that’s awful. This spring has been freezing for sure but as you say there’s plenty to enjoy. Love and hugs to you.xxx
Wow! Lovely to see all your blossoms and spring colour…..we have been travelling in the central west of NSW and everything is yellow and brown now, at the end of autumn.
I haven’t tried vegan sausages, but I think vegan meals in general are getting really tasty these days!
Thanks Gerrie. Your travels sound wonderful! Vegan food has come on in leaps and bounds, there are so many options now too which makes life easier.xxx
Love that Clematis!
Thanks Jason. It grows to be enormous and climbs everything in sight.xxx
It’s always when the delicate stuff blooms, usually pink as you say, the naughty winds blow and blow till the thrill on the trees is denuded and it carpets the ground. It is short-lived but very lovely.
Your BBQ looked interesting. There has been a lot of work done on developing flavours into veggie and vegan foods, often closely mimicking the flavours of some meat or other. Texture will be another development.
We have had a light lunch and an elevenses inside, though coats could not be completely discarded. Scarves could. Either a door was open or a window to keep the air flow. I don’t think I could sit al fresco dining in our temperatures.
Lovely bloomin’ pictures.
xxxxx
Oh yes, the blossom certainly is short lived, the spring winds and rain put paid to it pretty quickly. I must say the improvement in vegan food is astonishing. If only they could get cheese right, I haven’t found a single vegan cheese that is edible. It’s certainly been a cold spring, not ideal for eating out! Hopefully we’ll get a decent summer. Thanks Menhir. xxxx
Oh, how beautiful, my friend! The clematis is so dreamy. It is sad to lose plants; we’ve lost quite a few over the past few years, with freezes and droughts, too. It’s tricky. I’m buying grasses and prairie plants, but it’s nice when a few old flowering friends make it through as well.
Your yard and street look like a dreamland. The fruits and ornamentals look beautiful! I would love an azalea, if I could find the right spot. Yours is terrifically eye-catching and spirit-lifting!
How wonderful to celebrate with a cookout and then with family, at the beer garden, too! For hours. Hooray for you! xoxoxo
I think we all have to rethink how we garden now, the seasons have changed so drastically, each year is now totally different. Oh being able to meet up again and talk without masks is so liberating. Cooking outdoors is an absolute joy too. Thanks SO much Kitty. Love and hugs to you all.xxxxx
What a beautiful, colourful and joyous post!
Thanks Gill, you can’t beat a bit of blossom.xxx
Oh wow, Bloom is busting out all over!! Ohh the bbq and lush mushrooms I am drooling 🤤
Haha, I was drooling too. It’s so good being able to cook outdoors, it seems ages since we had the BBQ out. Thanks AnneMarie.xxx
Love all your blossom, everything looks so pretty! I really hope the wind today doesn’t spoil it all. Meeting up with family again is wonderful, hopefully this is the beginning of the end of this lockdown business. Stay safe.
Thanks Pauline, the wind and rain seems to finish the blossom off pretty quickly each year. Yes let’s hope this pandemic ends soon, it’s been a strange time for us all.xxx
So much blossom, beautiful. I hope the wind which is forecast today doesn’t spoil it all. Glad you’ve managed to meet up with family, it makes such a difference being able to see loved ones again after all this time.
Thanks Jo, it’s always a joy seeing all the spring blossom, it’s a shame when it’s ruined by wind and rain though. Oh, it’s just wonderful being able to see people isn’t it. Long may it last. Fingers crossed that the pandemic ends soon.xxx
I love blossom time. Ours seemed a bit late this year and, with the forecast wind and rain today, will probably be short lived. You have so many glorious shrubs in your garden. I really want a red robin but I feel the deer would eat it in no time! Well done on the BBQ. Vegan burgers and sausages have improved no end, although some are very expensive! Here’s to many more get togethers! xx
I thought the cherries were late this year along with everything else. That was our one and only BBQ, the rain has seen to that. Oh yes, the vegan ranges have certainly improved. I wish we had deer, it must be lovely having them around, not so good seeing plants eaten though. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx