A purely lovely early spring day, with sunshine, blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and, at intervals, the industrious little growl of Graham’s garden shredder. A great stretch of the back garden is now reduced to a chippy mulch, rotting down in the compost bin. Working from left to right the ground is being cleared down to the earth and the remnants of old stone paths. One more session and it’ll all be open. Then the garden planning process can begin. You can’t plan a garden, no matter how small or oddly shaped, until you can actually see the soil.
I popped out periodically with tea and sympathy, not that he needed any sympathy.
The cut daffodils I bought on Saturday are now in full bloom on the kitchen windowsill. I ought to have taken a photo of them but waited too long, until the sun had gone. Now, too late for a shot today, they are blooming merrily in the dark. If there were a breeze in the kitchen they’d be fluttering and dancing, and laughing, too.
Singularly appropriate to have daffodils in full bloom for St David’s day. He’d not object, I’m sure of it. Dear old Dewi Sant.
John, you have a wonderful way with words.
There’s definitely something therapeutic about preparing a garden for planting. Especially after a dark winter.
When I turned the calendar this morning and saw that it was St. David’s Day, I thought of you and the daffodils, John.
Next time you will remember the picture.
Graham works quickly doesn’t he?
“Now that spring has come to warm my tropic blood, I begin again to hope.” My favorite line from a long ago play called “Alien Corn” That has long been my feeling about spring, tropic blood, or not. Just bring it back and with it that same old hope of new things!
Does my heart good to ‘hear’ you sounding so chipper!
March came in like a Lamb here, John. No daffodils yet – still 30 some odd inches of snow on the ground…ugh.
So glad to hear you’re planning your garden. I can almost see and smell the fresh earth.
April Fool’s is still one month away, John … that’s what all this “taking up smoking again” business was about, wasn’t it? You got confused about dates?
Oh I love the vision of dancing daffys!
What a happy post! Uplifting and bringing a smile into our days!
Bless your heart, John!!! You are sounding more like yourself every day. Do what you need to do to keep the mending going. Have a jolly good trudge when you feel like it, too. That garden project is a dandy one for you and Graham to work on together. I wish you all the best! Hugs, ~ Sil
You still have the gift of ways with words….
But then, you’re the one and truly authentic poet and writer…!!!!
About gardening….; I am SO tired that I can hardly lift my fingers to the keyboard to write to you but your words were so lovely and touching that I had to. Shall now close my little shop (I call any work to be finished ‘closing shop’, fermer la boutique, s’Laedeli zue mache…) and then I’ll get my beauty sleep! Night, night
Kiki
xoxoxo