The Flowers That Bloom In the Spring....

I was surprised a few days back when I noticed that Betty Jean's Christmas cactus had sprouted a few buds. It well past last Christmas and a long way until next but sprout it has and this morning one of the buds burst forth. I can only assume that in the spirit of the season I will find a large gift under the ... hmmm there's the rub!

And the orchid that our friend Lionel gave Laurent last year for his birthday has given forth three delicate and daintily coloured blooms.

And that is only inside - the real signs of spring started to appear a few weeks ago in the parks and streets around the house. So its once again time to sing that old Ottawa Valley ditty:

Spring is sprung!
The Grass is rize!
I wonder where the birdies is?

They say the birds is on the wing
But that's absurd.
I knows the wings is on the bird!

 01 aprile - San Venanzio di Delminium

Christmas Officially Begins

Or rather it officially began yesterday - December 1st - when Betty Jean's Christmas Cactus burst into bloom. It couldn't have been better timing. Its been rainy and grey here for the past few weeks and when I went into the kitchen yesterday morning there was this burst of colour - two blooms had opened and a few more followed later in the day.




I'm absolutely amazed - I've never had a Christmas Cactus this healthy before. My friend Yvette in the south of France has two in bloom and just as vibrantly. I can only think - and fondly hope - the rest of the season will be as colourful and as bountiful in so many ways.

02 decembre - Santa Bibiana