Lots and lots of rain yesterday – at times, torrential – culminating in severe thunderstorms during the evening. I know there were tornado warnings in some parts of New York and New Jersey, if we had one, I was unaware of it. And it looks like we’ve got more rain coming today and tomorrow and, again, on the weekend.
Ummm, Mother Nature? We’ve had more than enough rain this spring, thank you very much. I’m beginning to lose hope that the Secret Garden will ever be dry enough for us to sit there. Right now, that particular scenario looks impossible.
I’m hoping there’s a small window today where I can attempt to mow part of the front lawn. Doubtful, but you never know!
We have a beautiful tree up in the back forty. I’ve always loved its shape. One of our older, dead trees fell this year and this tree is now the star of the clearing. For years, I assumed it was some sort of ash. But the other day, I was up there to take some pictures and I saw blossoms everywhere! Have I never looked up at the tree at this particular time in the spring? Am I always looking downward as I mow the grass? Anyways, I was dumbfounded and realized it’s a chokecherry tree! And it’s gorgeous.
As I looked up chokecherries, the descriptions were always ‘modest in height’ ‘at the most 20 feet tall, rarely taller.’ Well, this guy is at least 30 feet tall. And he’s beautiful. Most of the trees up in the woods and the back forty are maples, oaks, catalpas, black walnuts, and elms. I love them all, but this chokecherry has more than a little of my heart. It has oval leaves that move gracefully in the breeze.
We’ve been here nearly 14 years and, once again, I have noticed something new which isn’t really new at all. Just to me.
Speaking of the back forty, we have some lovely wild honeysuckle there, actually we have it all over the property, but this pink honeysuckle is only found just under the chokecherry. It’s such a soft pink.
The lavender that’s in a pot on the Funky Patio.
I’m in the midst of a Beverley Nichols reading binge. I finished his first trilogy and have now started on his second. It centers on a house he bought after WWII called Merry Hall. In fact, this first book in the trilogy is called Merry Hall.
For someone who reads fiction predominately, I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction lately. Although, Beverley Nichols’ gardening books are non-fiction mixed with fictional characters based on real people. He reminds me a bit of P.G.Wodehouse, my husband’s favorite. I find them very relaxing and amusing, often chuckling out loud over some turn of phrase. Right now, they are the perfect read! I’m so glad I grabbed the first three books (that I already owned) off my bookshelf and finally read them. I was hooked. That started me off on a quest to gather the next 5 books from used booksellers, as they’re out of print. I have 4 out of the 5 and the 5th will be arriving today or tomorrow.
Happy Wednesday.
Chokecherry blossoms are one of my favourite fragrances of spring. There are quite a few trees in the neighbourhood and the air is always marvellous this time of yea.
A fiction lover like you, I have a new challenge for myself and that is to alternate fiction and non-fiction book after book. It’s been a challenge that has allowed me to read great materials that aren’t usually on my radar.
We have them around our neighborhood, too, though I wasn’t always sure what those pretty trees I kept seeing were! Thrilled to have one of our own.
Yes! I find I’m enjoying non-fiction right now and I’m delighted!
I adore Beverley Nichols, and am starting A Thatched Roof! (I read the Merry Hall trilogy last year.) Also, if you still have BritBox, did you get a chance to watch the Chelsea Flower Show last week? I didn’t, but they have highlights from all 5 days, so I’ll be binging those this weekend!
Sorry about your rain. We could do with some here in Orlando. It’s currently fire season, but will soon be the rainy season, to be followed by hurricane season. Lord, I can’t wait to move back North, lol.
Hope all is well!!
Yes, I watched it every day! Such fun! The only reason I subscribe to BritBox is Gardener’s World and the Chelsea Flower Show. Have fun watching, Wendy.
When do you move back up north, Wendy? (My sister lives in Florida and my nephew goes to college in Orlando – I understand!)
Grandma used to make choke cherry jelly. That’s all I know about choke cherries. I think she gathered them in the wild, because I never knew of a choke cherry tree in her yard.
The weather has been so grey and cold and rainy around here that reading is about all I’m getting done. Just fiction—can’t deal with anything “real” right now. In recent weeks I’ve devoured about sixteen books, most of them by James Lee Burke, but a few by Louise Penny and others. Thanks for your recommendations!
Beverley Nichols isn’t of the ‘real’ variety of non-fiction, thank goodness! It’s like chatting with an amazing raconteur. When I say non-fiction, I’m not talking history or current events. Heaven forbid!
hooray for happy surprises, even after – especially after – fourteen years! i am happy for you to have that discovery and that beautiful tree!
as i looked just now at more of your beautiful photos, especially the lavender on your porch, i freely admit to having jealousy over your talent with plants. i just don’t have it at all and most of the time i’m okay with that. then i see photos like yours and think maybe i need to take a class in order to keep my little pathos and philodendrons well and happy.
when i read (not often enough), i read almost exclusively non-fiction. maybe i read one fiction book every couple of years … and i’d like to change that, try for a mix like brenda is doing (thanks for the idea, brenda). anyway, glad you found another author and books you love!
hope everyone has a great day!
kathy in iowa
I have problems with my pothos at times. They get leggy and the leaves yellow. Not sure why that happens!
If your pathos get leggy, you can cut off that shoot, right above a leaf. Put the cutting in water, and in a couple weeks, you should have roots. Then you can plant the new pathos in the old pot, alongside the original plant, or start a new pot. Meanwhile, new leaves should be sprouting where you made the original cut. They also like bright light I’ve found.
Hope this helps. ;)
Yes, I do all of that. But then the new cutting does well for a while and then it gets leggy. Sort of drives me crazy. Thanks, Donnamae!
Good Morning Claudia,
I am always learning something new from you. I have not ever heard of choke cherry trees before. And I went online to see if our library has any books by Beverley Nichols. They did. I have just put a hold on the first book “Merry Hall”. I read a little of the excerpt and it caught my interest right away. Thank you for mentioning it. Right now I am reading a book by James Rollins “Warhawk”. It is interesting that even in fiction there can be some element of Nonfiction. It is hot here. Our heat index suppose to be 100 degrees. My husband loves the heat. Me, I am useless when it gets hot.
Enjoy Merry Hall! I feel for you, I, too, am useless when it gets too hot!
I too had never heard of Beverley Nichols and will for sure check out his books now. Isn’t this rainy weather the pits? I always love your photos from around your property. Lately I enjoy them even more because any photographing I do of our own gardens has been rare these days since it has to happen between storms. Our sump pump is working this week, that’s how saturated the ground here is now. But what really gets me is the relentless gloom. We hardly see the sun any more. Guess we should consider ourselves lucky that so far there hasn’t been a tornado.
Same here. So much rain! I understand!
What a wonderful discovery. Guess it helps to have a back forty, though. I was checking out the chokecherry trees for sale. Always looking for new and interesting species. I’ve seen some in my neighborhood…but never knew what they were. Enjoy your day…and your books! ;)
I worked outside all day and I’m beat!
That honeysuckle is gorgeous! And now I must add Beverley Nichols to my list. The ever-growing list!
I think you’d enjoy his books, Jeanie.
We had a few thunderstorms last night. I heard on the television that Sussex county in New Jersey had a tornado. The high school was damaged. Glad you were able to get the other books. Enjoy them.
Marilyn
We just had another big thunderstorm!
I hear you on the non-stop rain and storms. That’s been the entire month of May here. I saw a post from a Chicago weatherman that this spring has had 170% more than normal rain. The poor farmers here can’t even plant – their fields have ponds in them. The Fox River is overflowing its banks. Yesterday, Brian and I went for a walk in the State Park and got caught in a downpour. We have a break in the rain this afternoon – the sun even peeks out for a few seconds at a time – but more storms coming in tonight. So far, the tornado warnings have all been in southern IL. You can put the Red Cross Tornado app on your phone where an alarm will sound (even if you have the sounds turned off on your phone) if there’s a tornado warning in your area – if you’re interested.
I’m going to have to look up more about Beverly Nichols and his books. Now I’m intrigued!
We just went through another huge thunderstorm, with thunder that shook the house. We don’t usually get tornado warnings here. We get them, but they’re pretty rare, so I probably won’t download the app. Though with climate change, that may change!