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

The Flowers That Bloom In The ... Ah

Winter?????

After years of struggling with the growing seasons in Ottawa I am still surprised here when I see things in bloom in January.  Last Thursday on a sunny but cold (yes I know for my faithful reader living in Ottawa +8 is not cold but it has been getting down to -2 at night!) afternoon I took a stroll through the grounds of Villa Torlonia to see how the work on the Teatro and Moorish kiosk was progressing - slowly I might add.  As I passed one of the lawns that is studded with camellia bushes I wasn't expecting to see these lovely blossoms

Given their sunny and protected location, the amount of rain we've had this year and the fact that they are evergreens I really shouldn't have been surprised.

   
16 gennaio - Sant'Onorato di Arles

Christmasy Things - Betty Jean's Cactus

With the passing of the year things have changed - as they do - and this Christmas will be different from last year in so many ways. First we're another year older, then we're in a different apartment in a different part of the city. For the first time in over 18 years we don't have a puppy or two running around getting underfoot as the tree gets trimmed. Bundnie always loved the little felt mice that went on the tree and one year actually managed to get a hold of one and hide it. Reese was always a little afraid of the tree - he could never figure out how the hell it got there and why it was sparkling.

And this year one dear friend will be missing from Christmas celebrations. Last year we spent Christmas with our friends Betty Jean, Stephen and their off-spring Sarah and Brian. We had started off as colleagues in Warsaw but, to our good fortune, became friends. Though the reason for their stay in Rome was not the happiest it proved a happy time in many ways. We shared a lot over the past 18 months: food, drink, conversation, warm companionship and laughter - particularly laughter.

I have made passing reference to both BJ and Stephen but never went into details as I felt it was not my story to tell. Stephen was under going treatment here in a three year battle against cancer with the incredibly strong support of BJ, if ever there was a team it was them. They returned to Canada in October and the night before they left I spoke with Stephen on the phone. He was tired but he wasn't giving up - that unique recognizable laugh of his still came, though perhaps not as easily as in the past. Stephen passed away on November 11th with BJ, as always, by his side.
Many of the plants on my balcony came from BJ when she was closing up house the first year we were here. And she gave me this Christmas cactus just after we arrived. I've never had much success with Christmas cactus and last year was no different. It sent out a few weak little buds but nothing bloomed. Then suddenly this year ten or twelve buds appeared in early November and by the end of the month it began to blossom.
In a somewhat silly, sentimental way I guess I'm associating those blooms with the good times we shared: the food, the drink, the conversation, the warm companionship and the laughter - particularly the laughter. This Christmas will be difficult one for BJ, Sarah and Brian and I wish there was some way we could make it easier. The only thing I can offer is that we are holding them in our hearts and as we gather for Christmas we will remember them in our toasts and graces. And when I look at our Christmas cactus I think of them and Stephen with the joy of friendship shared and laughter - particularly the laughter.

21 dicembre - San Pietro Canisio

Ta Da!

And I still have no idea what it is.

24 giugno - Nativita San Giovanni Batiste

Un Piccolo Giardino nella Città - Gardenias

The smallest bud on the Gardenia bloomed last evening and this morning was out in all its simple glory. I've never had one before - Ottawa wasn't exactly the climate - and they really are beautiful.There are six other buds in various stages of blossoming and it appears a few more will form. I think gardenia and I see Billie Holliday. Maybe that will give me an excuse to play something by her for Mercoledi Musicale - as if one needs an excuse.

15 giugno - San Vito

Spring Has Nearly Sprung

Barring one gray, sprinkly day its been sunshine for the past two weeks. Not always warm - it went down to -2c a few days there - but warm enough to wake up sleeping plants. The mimosa and almond trees around town are in full bloom, as are Laurent's allergies, and the plants on the balcony are starting to bud.

The almond tree just below our balcony is in flower at the moment. Since our car is parked underneath it we have to clean the blossoms off every morning - well beats snow right?

Our friend Betty Jean gave us the chamomille tree when she was leaving for Damascus. Its starting to bud and already there is a hint of the lovely scent that we enjoy when its warm enough to sit out and have our dinner on the balcony.

This day lily (another gift from BJ) really didn't have much of a rest - it was still blooming at the end of October. And I noticed a tendril of ivy has hitched a ride in the pot and is doing just fine.

The sedum is starting to bloom and send off new tiny purple leaves. I forget the name of the plant in the second picture but last summer it was a mass of purple-pink bell flowers. I had worried that it was dead but new shoots reassure me it will be blooming again this summer. Sadly I'm not so sure about my lovely scarlett hibiscus.

Cyclamen is a much favoured winter plant here. These two have been blooming on the balcony all winter. It has been strange to look out on January 1st and see green leaves and bright coloured flowers.

23 febbraio - San Polycarpo

A Small Garden in the Sky

There's an enormous garden centre just behind us - on the hill between the 3rd Century Church of Santa Agnese and the Mausoleum of Constanza. Simone, who runs the place for her father-in-law, and her husband have helped us choose plants for the balcony. She and young Thomas (5 years old and already fascinated by plants) came by today to repot and train some new flowering vines. Thomas watered them all and earned 2 euros for his work - an honest day's work deserves and honest day's pay.



Between Betty Jean's contributions (including a wonderful chamomile tree) and Simone's choices the balcony is starting to look like a real Roman terrace.

08 Settembre – Nativita Beata Vergine

Hibiscus

Our friend Betty Jean donated plants from her terrrace when she was moving. I've never had much luck with hibiscus but this one seems healthy and is now on its second set of blooms in a week.

23 agosto – Santa Rose di Lima

About Bloody TIme!

First follower: And will the veil of the temple be rent in twain?
Cult Leader: Well the veil of the temple is always dodgy.
The End is Nigh - Beyond the Fringe

Laurent and I will be exchanging our wedding vows at 1545 this afternoon in our friend Joelle's garden. And despite the warnings of various religious groups we hope that the veil of the temple will remain unrent and the family unit as we know it will not dissolve. That is not our intention - our intention is to consecrate our loving relationship of the past 29 years.

We decided that at this point we probably won't find anyone else to put up with us so why not make it legal. To be honest our original thoughts behind this step were based on legal and financial reasons; however as planning progressed the event has taken on a deeper meaning. We realize now that we are making a serious, spiritual commitment in the eyes of God, our family and our friends.

Many of our friends have sent good wishes via e-mail, snail-mail, blog comments and postings, flowers and telephone calls. It has been touching and both of us have found ourselves tearing up at the odd moment. A few have asked questions about the ceremony and a few have made lewd suggestions not appropriate to such a solemn occasion. So I thought I would post answers to some of them.

• The ceremony will be held in Joelle's garden - thank god its sunny and warm. Her son, our adopted nephew Andrew, suggested a lovely, shaded area surrounded by hedges - a perfect circle.


• We are a small group - Joelle, Blake - our oldest friend in Ottawa, our best friends Rick and John - who will be our witnesses, my niece Stephanie and Elaine, the Chaplain, make up the human contingent. The rest of the animal kingdom will be represented by our Reesie and Joelle's Riley, Tugger, the cat and two ferrets.


• Yes Reese will be there but not as a ring bearer, as evilganome suggested being a daschie he would probably eat the rings.


• The service is a short Unitarian ceremony Elaine, Laurent and I created and includes much from the Book of Common Prayer. Elaine is the daughter of a former colleague at Air Canada and her father was my Director at Transport Canada - the world is small.


• Our rings are the puzzle rings we bought in the Khan in Cairo in 1989 and have worn ever since. Laurent's is gold and mine is silver. They cleaned up real nice.


• Rick is reading the traditional passage from St Paul's letter to the Corinthians however as much as I love the language of the King James version the translation of caritas as charity rather than love has always bothered me so he will be reading a modern translation.


• Though we are not having flowers as such - no bouquets etc - we are bringing a beautiful arrangement Deb and James sent us from England and exquisite roses given to us by Molly and Dave over to adorn the table for the champagne after.


• We are having a small wedding cake after the service with champagne sent to us by Deb and James, Maria and Gordon and my colleagues at Transport Canada.


• There will be a small wedding supper at a local Bistro later this evening.


• And yes I did see my intended after midnight last night and in his usual spot - pillow on the right side.

At the beginning of the ceremony Laurent and I will be lighting a candle together. That candle is meant to represent our friends, family and colleagues who cannot be with us. To all of you who have sent us wishes in one form or another - you are part of that flame and you are very much with us in our hearts as we exchange our vows and make our commitment.

Tenacity

Main Entry: te·na·cious
Pronunciation: t&-'nA-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin tenac-, tenax tending to hold fast, from tenEre to hold
1a: not easily pulled apart: COHESIVE
b: tending to adhere or cling especially to another substance
2a: persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired
b: RETENTIVE
Synonym see STRONG
Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary

Come Into the Garden, Maud - VI

The first rose of summer:

Come Into the Garden, Maud - V

The clematis at the side of the family room has always been a heavy bloomer but the one on the deck has never once had so much as a bud. I hadn't realized they could be so temperamental.


Four years ago the honeysuckle vine was a pathetic twig but this year has been its most spectacular - sort of imagine it in the next few years surrounding the door.

For the first time neither of the peonies has a single bloom; by this time they should have been loaded down with ants, a few sticky buds and gigantic pink-white blooms. Maybe I should have divided them last fall?

Come Into the Garden, Maud - IV

I have absolutely no idea what these flowers are. They are dotted throughout the garden and bloom for a week or two.


They are quite lovely and in full bloom first thing in the morning when the sun hits them, but....

... towards sunset they close up and become this little pea pods.

Just wondering if anyone knows what they are; Lynette I can normally count on you to refresh my fading memory on things floral.

Come into the garden, Maud - III

These Japanese Iris were part of Fred and Lori's purple-blue design. Again because I didn't split them last fall they are not blooming as profusely as in previous years.

This thistle sprang up early in the spring amongst the ferns and hostas by the house. I should have pulled it up then and now that it's grown I'm rather fond of it. So, like the random strawberry plants and the odd raspberry cane it will stay for now.

And speaking of strawberry plants I find this a rather attractive edging for the deck. Who knows I may even get a few berries for my cereal one morning.

Come Into the Garden, Maud - II (contd)

I'm intrigued by the cluster of tubes, the lily-pad-like leaves around the flowers and the oval-shaped leaves on the rest of the vine. I find the whole combination fascinating.

Come Into the Garden, Maud - II

I mentioned on the weekend that the honeysuckle vine would become a show of orange flowers and by Sunday afternoon it certainly had. The computer desk is beside the door and I've been blogging to a background of the buzz of honey bees and the odd bass drone of a fat bumblebee.

Come Into the Garden, Maud* - I

When we first arrived at the house there was only two stalks of columbines - now they have self-seeded and are scattered around the yard. They just seem to pop-up anywhere - which is fine with me.

*Come into the garden, Maud,
For the black bat, night, has flown,
Come into the garden, Maud, I am here at the gate alone ;
And the woodbine spices are wafted abroad,
And the musk of the rose is blown.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson - 1895

I'm Going to Chuck Some Wood Alright!

I don't remember the name of this little beauty if, indeed, I ever knew it. It starts out as a small green pine cone-like bud and then flowers into this blue star burst with feather-like petals. It is really quite lovely and I had at least twenty in one area of the yard.

You will notice the use of the past tense. I came out to do the morning inspection yesterday and found:

One single bud was left and there may be one struggling to break out. All the other stems had been sheared off. The same thing had happened to my Butterfly flower by the side of the house.

And the cause would be:

This well-fed, furry little bastard is one of two groundhogs (woodchucks) we have sharing our backyard. One lives under the shed and the other under the deck. Up to now we have all cohabited without major incident - though there has been the odd territorial squabble within the rodent community. This is the first time they have ever inflicted any sort of damage on the garden. The lawn is over-planted with clover - a great alternative to grass and grub-resistant (you're gardening tip for today)- and I thought they were happy munching that.

Now comes the question: What to do about the little buggers?