Cybergarden: Spring into Summer

[Upwardandonward]

Here's a new thread for us.

Oh Merivel, so sorry you've had disturbing news. Glad you had such a lovely trip out today. And I hope the calm, still of our C17th contemplative cloister will be another peaceful place to go when you need a break from the bustle of your emotions. In a quiet whitewashed cell, with clean white bed, there's a tiny tangle of violets peeping over the top of a jamjar, and some pink and white flowers and a pawprint on the pillow.

Wonderful shodatin and yourself have kept the garden and all it's demesne cheery and beautiful today.

Do you think your huge hawk was a kite? They're quite daring and acrobatic.

shodatin, you drew that dragon?! Wow! Knew you were talented, but we don't usually get to see you in action, so to speak. Easter Tree looks reyther elegant, too, although can't see too well.

Thank you for the evening supply of , too. Had to juggle spoons today, and DP's been a bit short-changed.

Upward hope you've been well enough to have visitors over Easter, or listen to a little music.

And I've suddenly remembered the most beautiful violets I ever saw were in your town - in the shade below shrubbery, their colour unnaturally bright in the dusk. I can only imagine a weird selection of the spectrum was disproportionately visible in those conditions - like listening to an orchestra through a wall.

Hope all sleep well tonight. And wake refreshed the morn.

Thanks for posting yesterday evening Nilgiri,when I'd a sudden spoon loss, and for kind comments about dragon, which you're welcome to use (round cushion for Far East fanatic?), although had not got full use of printer/sizing knowledge.
Know very little about birds, but did see huge sparrowhawk once in Norfolk, and strange climactic conditions means wildlife straying from habitats.
Love the picture of little C17 refuge, must remember.
Off now to make espresso, and usual extras.
Hope everyone has good day, despite clouds.

< cautiously turns over pillow & tucks up forlovely day in our blissful retreat > Thank you for [bubrew]s , shodatin and for very kind offer
Thank you so much Nilgiri, for absolutely joyous & comforting post , undeseserved ... mind sorting the nasty issues, and will hear more later, & it will sort a bit more

Back when more awake - hope a few spoons more for all

A sparrowhawk is indeed the only other bird of comparable size I've seen , shodatin - I found the one I saw very scary , as was attacking garden hedge & showing human-flapping -arms that it might go for it next[bushock]You've reminded me to watch that food programme again-hope you enjoy next in series

< festive baked goods >

Hope you have a few people to pass the time of day with , upward < and maybe chat more to ,and that you're not suffering too many sideeffects

< rubber ducks from charity race bob up to summerhouse doors as rain-filled stream bursts its banks >

Was vaguely wondering what had become of ducks, as can't remember hanging around to see end of these games, and regret had forgotten about this one earlier.
Had also forgotten about our C17th location - do we approach it via a large tree in cybergarden, or at back of summerhouse or wait for HF to arrive with time-machine and trusty assistant ndt?
Sparrowhawk was indeed scary Merivel, and would not want to be close to one. Is there a local Twitching Club nearby, as they'd no doubt be interested and knowledgeable.
Back soon, but would like to finish current project while I have daylight.

< puts out safety mats for Nilgiri and other wading cybergardeners >

< warms rugs , & hopes upward is able to sit with us >

Ooooh shodatin , I think you've found the way to our retreat , with HF only occasionally needing to bring supplies by time machine , or visitors who lack the knack of finding our sanctuary

Hope you managed to complete your project - am still blown away by dragon < inspired >

s

< spring cleans Nilgiri's ark , with rope tied round waist & secured to mast so as not to blow away in gales >

< wonders whether arks possess masts >

Hope we're all wrapped up warm , preferabaly watching Kung Fu Panda

Not taken much notice of weather, so was surprised to see reference to an ark, and am guessing there's a lot of rain in other places. Can't remember any references to masts/sails on arks, and guess they just bob about, driven by winds and tide, but definitely remember wanting one as a child, complete with pairs of animals.

Hope people enjoyed Kung Fu Panda, remember laughing at this not long ago when previously on TV.
Did anyone win anything in duck race, I wonder?

This has been healthiest day for weeks, so hope other people have had similar experience, and that there will be more relaxed days to come.

[pairs of animals - me too, shodatin < sets up toy table in summerhouse - if it doesn't get in the way , may I leave it up , lovely gardeners? >

Yes , absolute deluge with gales here all day & , neighbourhood very quiet - hope disappointed people with days off had a good rest anyway

Ah Nilgiri , empathy on energy - shortchanged DPs - but it's millioon times easier when you can see each other in the week . Really hope you've had some peaceful time , & that if it rushed by , that you can soon have a little oasis of time to yourselves soon

Can't begin to tell you how comforting I've found my flower -bedecked cell today , with crisp sheets and no beagle under the covers . Further news more displeasing than expected , but mind sorting it very well[busmile] - to you & shodatin . Have lots of constructive activities planned , and more fun ones than could dream of attempting

Ah , good ideas on hawk- identification , thank you

Sweet dreams to osu all , especiallyupward with all healing wishes

Oh no ,sahodatin , didn't see your health news- so pleased to hear it, & thank you for sharing < goaty toes > ( now a well-worn phr
ase in this house )

Thank you for the AAaaa...r...k!

Definitely needed round here too, so your generous thought much appreciated, Merivel.

Sorry today has brought more difficult news. It's impressive you're making such good progress sorting it. Glad you've managed to spend some of it in our peaceful retreat with a hairy friend.

And I think you must be right about all those ways of approaching our C17th town, shodatin. Like one of Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities, which can be approached in many different ways. Very good news that you've felt better today: long may that be maintained.

Hopelessly uncrafty here, so alas cannot put elegant dragon to use. She/he is a particularly fine specimen. And rather more domesticated than scary sparrowhawk in hedge.

Upward hope you didn't get caught in a deluge today. Thinking of you, and wishing you strengthening vibes every day.

Sleep well all. Here's to good days tomorrow.

Oh good lord, I am beyond hopeless with posting names! Apologies.

Missed ark-weather here, so hope gardeners have recovered, also that Merivel is coping well with negative news - anything we can do, apart from remind you of some lovely hideouts for difficult times?
Remember having medical hypnotism, which always started with me "going" to beautiful, peaceful place with only good memories - sad that it's now been demolished, apart from my mental retreat.
Excellent idea to have animals displayed en route to ark, as DH was very unenthusiastic when I suggested these.
Lovely espresso here, with more available, along with usual s, and hope we can all have a good day with long-lasting sunshine.
Best wishes to upward too, who's consultant could be back from Easter break, possibly with good news.

Hi all ,with , many apologies for being so behind today .Thank you for, shodatin< glad HF was able to fly time machine up to whence poor whirled *Nilgiri had become lodged stuck >

Thank you so very much for immeasurably helpful kind wishes - unresolved business from past which need lots more work , as is having bad affect on my self-esteem ( knocks to one's pride are very distressing , as any feline will tell you )
Thank you Nilgiri , but my smugness belies my tangled - upnesess , & my definition of good progress on sorting it mentally involves about 15 years < passes in a flash >

Thinking of one to whom self-absorption is foreign - Hope you are not having too horrible a time , upward ... I got the impression from your saying your doctor was away for Easter that they wouldn't be back by now ?- hope you feel a sense of progress very , very soon

Ah shodatin , I do try to mentally retreat to dearly-loved places when very stressed , thank you . Such a pity your joyous, peaceful retreat was demolished ...( I am great believer in places existing in infinity , enjoyed by those who loved them )
Am glad you were able to take advantage of some medical hypnotism - did you find any benefit , if only in improvement in calmness / energy ? I had an amazing taster session once when I needed help with anxiety , but knew GP wouldn't send me off to farflung hospital for any on nhs . I was astounded at hoe easily I went "under"

Trying not to giggle at scarf-clad Nilgiri Very taken with this Invisible Cities idea you & shodatin have brought to us , & will read the book when I can < looks up , pondering possibilities >

Aha shodatin , high time then that you had your ark & beasts < retreats to play happily >

Yum, ! Thank you, shodatin.

Ooh I missed Merivel's two-by-two on the toy table! Except there seems to be only one giraffe, lying on it's side. Wonder where the other's got to?

Sad to hear your beautiful place has been demolished, s.

Must have a look at Invisible Cities, Nilgiri, and thanks for photo of cat, but don't know any of the names/references, so rest is lost on me.
Friend has taken your envelope to post, only two tiny bits of (pre-soaked) mint inside, but have just noticed that my third mint, golden variegated from a friend, is not dead as I thought but spreading well in front garden, so will send you another envelope soon; it's pretty, and looked good last year with a stray blue lobelia entwined accidentally.
Had some good medical news today, but feeling a bit fragile right now, so will look in later.

shodatin you are incredibly kind to have spent spoons sorting out mint when you're feeling so fragile.

Glad the medical news is good.

No dr til next week. In the meantime some more

Oh upward, so glad you managed to post, and so sorry there's such a long wait until Dr returns. I just assumed that when Easter was over he'd be back with possibly some good news after all this time. Thanks for the , never had so much in my life, and you're so kind
to post when you must be fed up with being in the hospital. Hope there were some nice visitors over the holiday, and you were able to listen to some music.

Shame the doctor isn't here this week , upward- hope as shodatin says you have some distractions to try to hep your mood .< platinum cybermedal for courage & patience >

You know how to make me laugh VERY loudly , Nilgiri - thank you so much for kitty-giraffe , cheered me up massively < ... wonders how one happens upon such an image >

So sorry you've felt fragile today , shodatin - incredibly sorry didn't see PM < head in clouds >, and I'll need a rest before replying- but so pleased some good health news , just what we want to hear . Hope you enjoyed seeing your friend

Thank you for warm rug, Nilgiri- I had a lovely rest , & hope none of us is extra tired

Very heartening to hear plants often survive posting- am hoping my misbegotten violet plantlets live & thrive , perhaps to colonise cybergardeners' plots . I had no idea they have a long root (tap root? ) & took many minutes digging in churchyard

Amazing short storm earlier , interrupting sunshine- thunder & giant hailstones

Glad you managed to get some violets from churchyard, Merivel, and love the idea of us sharing same at some time in future, but would just remind you that easiest way of posting is a pinch of seeds; it's just happened that the eryngiums I sent Nilgiri needed pre-chilling, which I'd managed successfully, being lucky with them, otherwise would have sent seeds, and I don't think I've ever seen any mint seeds, cuttings are so easy to propagate.
Hope you're soon feeling better Merivel, and that we're all able to have relaxing, refreshing sleep.

How wonderful to see you, Upward! Thank you for the lifeblood . Hope things have been stabilising and getting a little less oppressive.

So true, M: felines do not take well to injuries to their pride. Some disdainful washing of whiskers may be required. And a pretence to the world that nothing has happened. Darn it, you're too self-honest to make a good cat you know...

Gardening preparations here, so the mint should have a temporary but safe home the moment it arrives. Lemon balm needs a more suitable container too, so it's going to be musical pots soon. And eryngiums now growing! I'm on tenterhooks to see them. If the Slugs of Doom scale their protective battlements I shall cry...

And I don't know if anyone will like Invisible Cities. It's very meditative, and in chapters of sometimes a single page. But for a traveller of both the world and the mind, it's perfect short Thought for the Day material.

Sleep well, everyone. Wishing for sunshine and spoons for us all tomorrow.

Morning all, please help yourselves to usual tray of espressos and magic mixes of whatever you'd like today.

It is indeed musical pots time again, Nilgiri, and every year I vow to have fewer, as they usually need watering at some point. Eryngiums should now be big enough and tough enough to be unattractive to SoD; that silver-blue colour has almost metallic strength when mature, and don't recall seeing any nibbles on these plants. For this season, mine are altogether in largest terracotta pot, interspersed with cream-pink Roman hyacinths, but most will go into border for next year, when full-size.

For I have potted the mint!

Which is now basking in the drizzle. Thank you very much indeed shodatin - and I'll refer to your note again as they emerge further, to tell which is which.

Fewer pots? How? No no, this isn't achievable!

< fights way through extra layers of moss , apologising >

< negotiates felines requiring admiration of their flipping abilities >
Thank you for reviving, shodatin, & do hope you're feeling a bit better today

Ooh, well potted , Nilgiiri
Oh yes, forgot ending plants as seeds can work < holds saucer under teeny violets >
Hmm ,so many munched primroses, yet no SoDs to be seen

< treasures medal forever > a disdainful attitude is being cultivated , helped by realisation of miraculous happenings strange to relate, even from me with my certainties about "mystical" things - my great good fortune and no doubt disappointing to more rational people

Sunny here now atm, good for further propagating < admires shodatin's enviable seedlings >

I remember looking at Invisible Cities in the library years ago - did look a most contemplative book , rather dificult , & I added it it to my long , long listbut am excited to see the themes now . How thoughtful , we cybergardeners are travellers of the mind when not able to traverse the world... wishing upward a sense of refreshment during this difficult time