Come into the garden. . . . . . . .

pril:  late afternoon in a North Carolina garden. . . . . . . . . .

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were

 voices instead of colors, there would be an

 unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night. 

~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke~

The leaves reach out like bright green hands and already tiny figs are
 appearing on the Celeste fig - the main harvest will come in the heat of late Summer.

Afternoon shadows are cast across the garden - this view below is looking
westward - the setting sun is sometimes just visible through the trees. 
It is now so green everywhere, almost hurts your eyes - photos definitely 
don't require any color tweaks!

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.

~ Virgil A. Kraft ~

The arbor needs painting - the entire cottage actually - all will have to wait

 until Autumn because I haven't the heart to cut back shrubs and 

 vining jasmines both here on the arbor and climbing the front porch.

We had a little work done this past week. The gazebo needed a few new screws,

 the deck steps some new wood, and if you look to the mid-left in the above photo,

 the new low stone wall will hopefully divert water runoff from the sloping land

 behind us. This is becoming a problem in heavy rain storms as our grass and topsoil 

are being eroded and the water pools around the gazebo and under the deck.

Always something requiring attention it seems.

Variegated Solomon's Seal already blooming - I love this perennial.

Acer palmatum 'Dissectum' - the bright green Japanese maple. 

Purchased several years ago, it was a very small version in its little pot.

These are expensive trees! No idea it would do this well, although I have given

it a lot of TLC over the years. I've lightly pruned it a couple of times but think

it will require more work come late Autumn when the leaves have fallen and

 the central wood can be seen more easily. Overcrowding there can cause poor

air circulation making the tree prone to fungal diseases. Pruning these trees 

is almost like an art - many rules to follow in order to keep it healthy, shapely,

and looking beautiful.

Visitors are nesting in the birdhouse.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch family now includes squeaking babies. 

(Click below for more on this cute bird)

http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2016/03/after-rain-comes-spring.html

The mom and dad, sitting on the roof or a nearby fence, squawk at me if I get close.

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would

 always greet it in a garden.

 ~Ruth Stout~

I have to agree, I feel exactly the same way!

Just wish I still had the stamina and strong back to spend an entire day

 working in the garden - these days it's a little at a time.
Speaking of which, we are heading out in our gardening gear this morning.
After picking up supplies such as mulch, a few plants, and packets of seeds
yesterday, there is work to be done. Most of the pollen is over hopefully so
 lots of washing down of outdoor furniture, cushions also.

I must away - hope your weekend is wonderful.

Cottage Life - and the garden. . . . . . . . .

Life continues to remain hectic around the cottage. 
Daily dramas seem omnipresent.
Worrisome news of health problems from across the pond, and me so far away.
Local news revolves around loved ones, family and friends,
also with health issues, and Monday a serious accident where my
 neighbor's son fell 30' from a ladder whilst working. He's already had
three surgeries, and will require more, to repair his shattered leg and ankle.
 We were all sharing Birthday cake and laughter the previous afternoon,
 even warned him to be careful on his ladders in the windy conditions.
Please send good thoughts to Nelson and his family, all of whom
are very kind to us, their elderly neighbors.

Ladders can be monsters!  I never allow Bob on a ladder now unless I am right 
there to steady it and watch where he steps. I don't know if I would ever be able to
 save him in a fall but at least I'd try - and I don't let him climb very high! 

After the rains of Tuesday, the azalea blooms have seen the last of their

 best days - they were really lovely this year. This weekend I will start pruning

them back and fertilizing - this should always be done shortly after blooming

is over as the plant sets buds for next Spring during the Summer.

I do not prune hard or into shaped balls as some people do, and I never

  give the shrub a 'crewcut' with electric clippers. I like my azaleas loose and

natural looking, just keeping the really long branches clipped and tidy.

Daffodils and tulips are finished - bluebells almost over.

I loved all my Spring flowering bulbs.

Sad news - we lost a sweet Mourning dove this week - this one might just be

 its mate as it shows up alone now, whereas our doves are always in pairs as

 they mate for life, usually seven to ten years.

We saw a large hawk zoom downward past the living room window early

 one evening. Rushing to the back door I then saw it fly off with something

 in its talons. Outside on the ground and deck there were a lot of feathers

 which were definitely from a dove.

Another normal occurrence in nature of course, but always so upsetting 

as we really love our garden birds.

Note my fiery red maple tree!  

This remains colorful for a couple of weeks when it first leafs out, as it

is doing now, then it changes, and all Summer it will remain green.

  Come Autumn it will change again, gradually back to a rusty red before the leaves fall.  

I planted this maple several years ago when it just a tiny, very inexpensive,

sapling, never expecting it to grow so tall and full, becoming a lovely 
addition to the front garden.

We're off to the garden center this morning - long list in hand.
Pine straw mulch, fertilzer, seeds for colorful annuals including morning glories
and moon flowers, and herbs such as basil, parsley and chives. . . . . . 
and several other must haves to keep the garden growing.
Weather is perfect for outside work - dry, sunny and still a lovely 
coolness in the air, and for me the most important thing. . . . . . no darned
 biting mosquitoes YET!
See you later, and you know I'll have more to share from the garden.

What's happening in your April garden?

Veggies and Vegetariansim. . . . . . . . .

Some acquaintances lump me in that group called 'vegetarians'. 

Family members, and some friends, often say, "I never know what to cook for

 you because you're a vegetarian."

Planning to eat out in a restaurant with me often brings such comments as,  "But what

 about Mary, what will/can she eat?"

Hey out there - are there any restaurants not serving vegetables and salads?

OK, in all honesty I'm really just a pescatarian.

Definition: A word used to describe those who abstain from eating all meat

 and animal flesh, with the exception of fish. In other words a pescatarian maintains

 a vegetarian diet with the addition of fish. . . .and often dairy, which I also eat.

A true vegetarian does not consume any type of meat, poultry, fish, seafood, or

 dairy products, or wear leather etc.

I haven't eaten any meat or poultry in almost 39 years!

I stopped just after moving to North Carolina and learning more about

the way many animals were being raised for human consumption, and

wanting to eat perhaps a healthier diet.

I am not a tree hugger, PETA member, or environmental crazy lady. . . . . I am

a Christian, an animal lover, a concerned person when it comes to farming

practices, animal husbandry, and the way our food is processed.

I am, I think, a kind person.

This was a typical dinner being prepared in my kitchen this week.

The center bowl contains a grain, rice and bean mix - quinoa, chia, brown rice, 

white beans and pine nuts.  French green beans await a light steaming so

 they still have a crunch. Mixed mushrooms, white and baby bella, to be sautéed with

 a knob of unsalted butter and splash of good olive oil. A mountain of 'power greens',

 kale, chard and spinach, to steam in a cup of water with the addition of a 

vegetarian bouillon cube, and the resulting broth will be saved to add to

a vegetarian soup which I make several times a week - we are huge soup lovers.

All this on a plate will look appetizing and be healthy.

Bob, a sometimes meat eater, is good about eating the food I prepare at home.

Of course two people will not devour all this in one meal - leftovers can

be eaten with another meal, perhaps adding salmon or other fish. . . . . . 

speaking of which I must here just say how sad my recent restaurant 

meals have been, especially in regard to the fish offerings and the way they are

cooked and presented. 

I will not give names, but some of the national chain restaurants I used to enjoy,

 especially their salmon offerings (I usually order salmon), have been disappointing.

It seems as the prices increase, the quality of the food, and the way it is cooked,

 go down. Why do so many restaurants try to add so many oils, spices, sauces etc.

 to what could be a good piece of fish if served naked!  I can add any salt and pepper

 I might want. . . . . I like to taste the fish and have it remain my healthy protein addition,

 not be swimming in a plate of often 'secret sauces.'

You are now saying, and you are quite right, "Why doesn't she speak up and tell them

 how she wants her fish cooked!"  From now on I will when eating out. . . . . but 

quite honestly, I have grown to love the food I prepare at home and feel it far

 surpasses much of what is being served to me in overpriced restaurants!

What are your feelings about restaurant meals?

Do you like to cook and eat at home rather than in restaurants?