Touchdown at the Newest Bluestocking Inn. Pudding, cups of tea, the vegetable garden coming into its own, and gerbils beautiful gerbils all furry.

[DeanElderberry]

All females welcome for intelligent discourse and non-harmful comestibles.

I have felt that idyllic feeling a few times but two in particular stand out to me -

Once I was taking the train across to Dundee on on one of the old style trains where you could pull the windows down (I call them slam door trains) and I was leaning against the door, looking out when I spotted several seals sunning themselves on half submerged rocks. They looked so utterly content that I felt totally at peace.

Last year we went to Alnwick Gardens to see the Cherry Orchard in full blossom. And as I stood in the massive orchard, filled with blossom and blue skies with all the wooden swings filled with people giggling and enjoying the scene, it felt like the most beautiful place on earth.

Like HH's garden - I can imagine going through that arch to sit at the beautiful white table and chairs.

I suspect many of us on here are fans of The Secret Garden.

A pest controller parked his van in front of mine on Friday - but checked with me whether it was okay. "I'll only being doing a quick job up the path at number 87. [No road access there - they're at 90 degrees to the street.] I'll just be 10 minutes."

I made a show of checking the time and telling him that would be fine, since I didn't need to leave until 6.

Now.... Should I ask the wifie at number 87 how she got on with her pest control? Probably not.

I was tempted to put up a cardboard sign that said "Not my house - he's at 87."

Oh that cherry orchard is on my list of Must See at the Right Time - we went to the gardens a couple of years ago when the blossom was just gone over so the hanami was a work of imagination. We’ve probably missed of this year - but April in Paris is also a Right Time and we can’t have everything all at once!

One of my sublime days was back when we lived in North Yorkshire between mid 80s-90s, working hard with long commutes. We went for a weekend up to Northumberland. We reached the Holy Island causeway at just the time where we could make it over but would then have to stay for some hours - and it was wonderful, we had no choice but to slow right down. Walked all over the island, seeing lovely flowers in the dunes and, yes, seals. One of those golden days.

Dad's not doing well. His surgery site won't stop bleeding. He's just had his third transfusion in 30 hours.

Mr Pasta's gout has eased (that's what happens when you eat my birthday blue cheese) so we're driving over tomorrow.

I'm sitting on this swing listening to birdsong and next door's kids playing to regain my equilibrium.

This is the far end of the garden where we let it go wild. I find it very calming.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad, Pasta. I hope things improve for him.

Sorry to hear your news, Pasta. Sending strength. x

Sorry to hear that. Good that you’ll be able to go tomorrow and that meanwhile you have such a tranquil spot - the bluebells and willow are perfect.

So far this year I've had 22 species of bird in the garden that I've seen or heard. It's a magical spot.

Right, balance regained, off to finish converting a drawer with a torn skirt into a top

Sorry to hear that your dad's recovery has stalled Pasta.

I hope you're able to find the strength you need in nature

I'm hoping we'll visit Bodnant this year when the laburnum arch is flowering. I went to Harlow Carr by train a few years ago with the sprogs when they were young. I don't know if they have a national collection of meconopsis but they had a lot. I'm also hoping to revisit that this year with fella. He wasn't with us and he loves the blue poppies. Life has been in the way and for various reason we've been stopped from visiting at the right time of year.

Walking along the chalk cliffs near Flamborough Head one evening. No other people around, warm but not hot, low golden light, the sound of the sea...just lovely.

i just did a search for National collection of meconopsis, looks like there’s one at Holehird in the Lake District, which I’ve often seen the signs to but never visited.
https://www.holehirdgardens.org.uk/plants/national-collection-meconopsis

there are a lot at another Lakes garden, Dalemain iirc.

I'm not familiar with that garden so thank you. Fella's also a big fan of astilbes. I'll have to tell him about it. I wonder if we were at Harlow Carr when they were running the trial, or possibly shortly after.

I hope your father's just stalled and will be better soon Pasta ❤️

Bodnant is one of my favourite gardens @lcakethereforeIam and I've found several moments of quiet perfection there over the years.

I've been there many times, but only once managed to time it when the laburnum arch was at it's best. It really is spectacular. I love the path down to the Dell too, especially when the rhododendrons and azaleas are out.

@PastaAllaNorma sorry to hear that x

Damson, I've got a lovely photo somewhere of my Dad under the laburnum arch at Bodnant.

Thanks, all, for the kind wishes

We have the windows open and…
The bells! The bells!

(one of those quotes that isn’t a quote, I think)

Spring is in the midst of arriving. I saw my first daffodils yesterday and the temperature was in the 60s F - about 18C I think - but today it is pissing down with rain and the radar shows snow in upstate NY and moving into Quebec, but it will miss us by the look of it. Normal for April in other words.

Sorry about your dad pasta, gardens should be sanctuary’s that is what they are for.

Very sorry to hear about your Dad, Pasta, I hope he's being well cared for and is as comfortable as possible.

Pasta, Here's hoping your Dad recovers quickly and has a better day tomorrow.

Hedgie, what a lovely garden! Mine is quite a bit wilder (some because it encourages wildlife, and some because I just can't keep on top of the work).

Just wondering, is that bamboo I see? And, if so, how do you keep it from spreading, or is it the clumping type? I love bamboo have a few different kinds, but keep them all in giant pots.

Thinking of you and your dad, Pasta.

In other matters, do I really have to go to school tomorrow? Two weeks off and I'm finally feeling relaxed.

Sorry about your dad Pasta, do take care.

One thing I really miss about not having a garden is the birds. Sometimes I see a seagull by my window, and there's a wee male sparrow I see on the patio - I'm sure it's the same one every day, he's very vocal. But this is thin pickings if you like to watch birds.

I have to call my sister to get my birdwatching fix. She's had a peregrine in her garden. She also has crows roosting in her chimney, but that's another story.

The bamboo to the left are rhizomes and are capable of sending shoots all over the place so are in big pots sunk into the ground.

i split them every few years.

the ones at the back are black bamboos that are clump forming but they do spread out, but can be controlled by cutting off unwanted shoots.

they were put there to screen the house at the back.

We visited the Elan Valley while we were in Wales. Never been there before. There's a small village of arts and craft houses, a feckin' enormous dam, a river (obviously) and a visitor's centre with a café. Lots of walks around the area. We did an easy one. Saw lots of the usual but also pied flycatchers and redstarts.

It's odd to think the land could arguably be described as post industrial. There were 5,000 navvies accommodated there to quarry the rock, build the dam and the reservoir. They were housed in essentially a shanty town. I don't know if there's anything left of it. Were they all sober, industrious, church or Chapel going men? Or would there have been an equivalent of camp followers, bars and brothels?