Lilacs (Syringa)
Lilacs for me are connected with the end of the school year, more than any other flower, ever since my childhood. (Because they usually bloom around this time.)
Today was a perfect summer day for all students celebrating the end of the school year and the start of their summer holidays: The sun shining all day from a clear blue sky, and still not too hot – just over 20°C, and with a nice fresh summer breeze.
Before noon I walked into town to get some groceries. When I got home (by bus, because of then having things to carry) I made a salad for lunch and was able to eat it sitting outside on the balcony. In fact I spent most of the afternoon on the balcony, reading, doing a soduko and listening to mp3/radio (using earphones).
I did not need to use my mp3-player all the time to shut out noise though. It was a quiet kind of day in the neighbourhood. I was also able in between to just listen to the gulls in the sky above, and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees nearby… Relaxing summery sounds.
My clematis plant (photo taken a couple a weeks ago; the flowers are withering now)
Later on I went for short walk just “around the block” (well, a few blocks). Spring was late this year, and we’re still really only just on the verge of entering into summer. There is still a freshness about all the greenery; and a lot of trees still in bloom.
(Aesculus Hippocastanum)
In July it will be two years since I moved to where I live now (this apartment/ building/ part of town). Last spring and early summer was somewhat chaotic, connected to the death of my mother at the end of May last year. But this spring, I’ve been able to pay a bit more attention to my surroundings. Like how many different kinds of flowering trees are actually planted in the park-like area around these apartment buildings.
Crab apple tree (Malus)
From my kitchen window, I can see a horse-chestnut tree, a rowan tree, Swedish whitebeam, and lilacs, all blossoming right now. (Plus a number of “anonymous” trees in the background.) When I go outside, there are also Japanese cherry blossom and crab apple trees, as well as tall birches and lime trees (linden) and maples; and probably several other kinds of trees that I’m not able to identify.
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
~Martin Luther~
3 comments:
I love the way you caught the sun through your umbrella! The Horse Chestnuts are very interesting, at first glance they kind of looked like the Yucca, but the blooms look lots fancier. Why are the Clematis wilting, I thought they lasted through the summer??
Ginny, this kind of Clematis (Alpina)blooms in the spring. Sometimes it may have a second blossoming period in the late summer as well. Remains to be seen if it feels up to that, after such a grand performance to start with this year. Anyway I've been enjoying it for weeks, and soon it will be getting white fluffy silky clusters of seeds instead.
Sounds like a very nice and peaceful day. Love it when those come along.
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