bloom in the park

Late May, and my birthday sailed around again. My mum offered to look after the little ones for the day, so we made the most of it, deciding to visit Bloom in the Park in Dublin.

Bloom is a four day gardening festival, which showcases the best Irish garden design alongside innovative Irish food producers. We spent the day gaining inspiration from the impressive show gardens, admiring the beautiful blooms around every corner and savouring the delicious food on offer.

Unsurprisingly one of my favourite areas was the craft village. There were so many lovely products to covet. I couldn't resist a beautiful plant pot from KaroArt, a very talented ceramic artist based in Dublin. Her Etsy shop is a delight.

As the day drew to a close we decided to leave before the traffic jams inevitably swallowed us up. It was a good decision. We escaped the bedlam, stopping off for dinner on the way home.

A lovely day, well spent. I think we may already have a plan for my next birthday. 

simple pleasures

Just a few simple pleasures bringing happiness lately.

: :     Blue skies and wispy clouds.

: :     Playing with clay.

: :     Gorse blossom and it's coconut scent.

: :     Freshly baked scones. With jam and cream.

: :     Tiny little blooms. The garden awakening from its winter slumber.

I really enjoy taking the time to stop and acknowledge some of the little things which bring happiness to my day. So what's making you smile? Do tell.

goodbye may

A snapshot of the beautiful blossom in our garden this month.  The trees are awash with tiny pale blooms.  Our apple trees have never had so many flowers, the elderflower blossoms are just appearing from their tiny green buds and pretty blossom weighs down the branches of the hawthorn. 

May, you have been especially beautiful this year.

goodbye march

March was a good month.  The weather has been changeable but there have been some beautiful skies and welcome sunshine. Spring may well have sprung.

Our garden is wakening up, beginning to unfurl in the warming temperatures.  We are planning our vegetable plot for the year ahead.  Growing things we will definitely eat seems to be the emerging strategy.  We had a bumper crop of Red Mustard last summer.  And absolutely no idea what to do with.  It did produce a lovely yellow flower though.  I am more enlightened now and tempted to grow a small amount this year.  Have you grown it before?

Today was especially mild and the sun shone.  I wandered around the garden after lunch enjoying the warmth.  Green buds are everywhere.  I am looking forward to perfect new green leaves covering the trees and shrubs.  A leaf covered tree. There is real beauty in nature.

Joining in with Annie's 'how does your garden grow?'

the enormous beetroot

The sun came out to play today.  After hanging the washing on the line, I wandered around the garden.  It felt really lovely, if a little alien to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.  

The sunlight, bright and stark illuminated the garden.  Spring is definitely in the air and signs of new growth are appearing all around.  The ivy weaving its way up the ash tree has sprouted delicate new leaves, small but perfectly formed.  The viburnum continues to bud and flower and the thyme has beautiful coloured new growth, like tiny red flowers.  

The last picture is of an enormous beetroot.  It reminded me of the story of The Enormous Turnip.  I hope this beetroot doesn't need to be pulled and pulled and pulled like the enormous turnip.  

So are you enjoying the new season and the welcome sunshine?

Joining in with Annie's 'how does your garden grow?'

signs of spring

Today the sun shone bright. I wandered around the garden hoping to spot signs that spring is on the way.  I'm tired of winter. So it was with much delight, that I found nature awakening from its long winter sleep.

Daffodil buds poked out of the soil surrounding our silver birches. The soil, in part was covered in a carpet of tender stemmed clover.  Catkins danced wildly in the sudden sharp gusts of bitterly cold wind.  And there were clusters of tiny white blooms on the viburnum.  

In the vegetable beds, curly kale, the vegetable that keeps on giving.  It is the sole survivor from last years planting and still provides leafy greens for dinner.  It seemed luminous in the cool sunlight.

Spring is coming.  Of that I am sure.  Are there signs of the changing seasons with you?

Joining in with Annie's 'how does your garden grow?'