Yesterday's walk took us down through the local recreation ground at the bottom of which is the fairly new, colourful building belonging to the Clarice Cliff Primary School - which is now an Academy sponsored by the Co-op. The recreation ground which is maintaianed by the City Council houses a football pitch, a netball court and a children's play area with the usual swings, slides and bouncy chickens. It is also very popular with local dog walkers. In the centre with paths either side is an area of trees mostly pear and crab apple.
The pear trees were in blossom and looking wonderful.
I need to find a suitable twig from the garden to hang them on.
Yesterday it rained for most of the day. There was frost this morning and although the sun is bright at the moment it is bitterly cold with a harsh wind. I think the day needs to warm up a little before we venture out for today's walk.
We put the wildlife camera out a couple of times this week. It has captured visits to the food bowl from three different foxes one with a limp - holding up it's front left leg - three different badgers including the pale, female one, crows, magpies, blackbirds and of course a few of the local cats, some of them in the collage below.
Well, Rosie let me kick off the comments. The cat with no name will, of course, have a name only he knows, if Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is telling the truth (debate?) and as for the Simnel Cake, the only ingredients are don’t have are a lemon and currants. The blossom looks lovely. Only a fence separates our Magnolia Tree from the garden next door, yet Jane’s is always several weeks ahead of ours. How I love avenues of blossom (perhaps there is a story in there somewhere waiting to be told?). Take care and see you soon I hope. Love Robert xx
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I wonder what mystical feline names they will all have? I'll probably make the Simnel Cake on Wednesday. There is a lovely Magnolia tree just down the road from here. It reminds me of the huge one in front of Ayscoughfee Hall which flowered each Spring for the Tulip Festival, when I worked there. Perhaps I'll resurect Tilly Findlow and write a story around her and blossom time. See you soon via Zoom and then perhaps later this year we can meet properly:)
DeleteIt sounds as if your recreation ground has lots to offer. Sadly, ours was taken over when a new school was built and has become part of the school grounds. I drive to my daughter's house twice a week and over the last fortnight the blackthorns have been putting on a beautiful, delicate, blossomy show, they really do cheer me up, and I noticed the first leaves on my hawthorn unfurling yesterday. I've tried to grow sweet peas because I love them and my father always grew a wall of them but they don't like my soil. Eight out of ten is a good germination rate, I reckon. Take care. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Mrs T. We usually walk along the canal towpath where there is lovely Blackthorn blossom along the way. The new school replaced an old Victorian one around the corner which was demolished and a new residential care centre built. They did leave the recreation ground as it was, thank goodness, as the paths are a short cut when you walk into town and less hilly than the walk along the main road. It's a shame you can't grow sweet peas, I love their colour and fragrance in the summer. Take care:)
DeleteWhat a joy to see the blossom especially in the park where everyone can enjoy the display. Your sweet peas have come on a treat and are climbing well already. Fancy it being Easter already, I've still got the Christmas tree outside! We're using it as a screen as it's still looking as good as it did in November despite it not being watered. What a lot of cats! I think the black and white one should be called Sooty. Have a great weekend. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThe blossom really does bring cheer doesn't it? I think the black and white cat comes from across the gardens at the back whereas the others live either next door or scross the road which is why we know their names. I hope your tree lasts until this Christmas so you can decorate it again:)
DeleteThe blossoms seemed to appear very suddenly this year, and by the sound of the weather forecast everything should be hurried on a little more next week. I have enough trouble remembering the names of the neighbours' children, let alone the cats!
ReplyDeleteYes, the blossoms are eager this year. I expect plum blossom will be next in our garden. It is hard to remember names especially if there ae several in the same family. Not many smaller children in our corner even though there is a primary school behind the houses, they are all secondary school or young adults:)
DeleteOh I wish I could smell those blossoms!!!! -smile- Enjoy them, _for_ me.
ReplyDeleteNo leaves or buds have started to break out here, yet. But all of a sudden... They willllllllllllllllllll....
Love your Sweet Peas.
And what you capture on your outdoor camera. -smile-
"Miss BB"
🌷🌸🎀🌸🌷
I hope your blossom and leaves appear soon, BB they will all unfurl overnight very soon. I also hope the sweet peas grow strong and flower, I will share a photo if they do - fingers crossed:)
DeleteYou have a selection of beautiful cats in your neighbourhood.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
I love them to visit and enjoy the garden. We miss having our own cats so it's great to see them:)
DeleteThose cats are sweethearts.
ReplyDeleteThey are all lovely and welcome visitors:)
DeleteThe blossom trees are gorgeous & to think ours are all losing their leaves hear in Oz. We are supposed to plant our sweet peas seeds by St.Patrick's day, but I've still not done any. Cute kitties, but we mustn't let cats roam free here in most parts of the country, due to them preying on our native fauna.
ReplyDeleteNo pics of the foxes etc? Take care, stay safe & hugs.
The foxes and badgers are on film so I have to ask Paul to prepare them if I want to show them on here, most this week have been a bit blurry/misty due to cold and rain so not great to show. I will share some film clips when I can especially if the cubs visit. the foxes we had a few years ago used to visit in daytime so they were far more easy to photograph but not thiese latest ones. Take care and stay safe:)
DeleteIt is so lovely to see the blossom - I have seen cherry plum and blackthorn but not up close. Your sweet pea seedlings are doing well :) Lovely idea to hang the Easter decorations from a twig and I shall be making simnel cake too. Take care Rosie.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the sweet peas have come along so well, they will go outside as soon as it gets warmer, probably after Easter. I usually find a twig to put in water with a few daffs and then hang the little eggs and chicks etc from it. Didn't do it last year. It's ages since I made a Simnel cake so I'm looking forward to it. Take care and stay safe:)
DeleteThat really is quite a collection of cat visitors. Wow! And I love the pear blossom. X
ReplyDeleteThere are three or four more cats who visit as well as those, I think most people around us have a cat. The blossom is very pretty:)
DeleteWell done on the sweet peas, some of my favourite flowers. Pear blossom is so pretty everywhere is looking beautiful. Well done on the Easter decorations, I need to paint some eggs this week; I’ve never tried before. B x
ReplyDeleteI just hope the sweetpeas keep going, I want to see what colours they are. The pear blossom is very pretty, I guess it will be plum blossom next or perhaps cherry. Enjoy painting your eggs:)
DeleteThe photos of the blossom are lovely, it's so good to see!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, yes the blossom is very cheering:)
DeleteIt's lovely to see the blossom. We're growing sweet peas too around the nectarine tree in the covered yard area. Only three have germinated so we'll be trying again to get some more to germinate. Easter has crept up on me and I haven't got out any small decorations yet.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, I hope you find some sweetpea seeds that will germinate. How wonderful to have a nectarine tree. I like them better than peaches and am always glad when they come into season:)
DeleteThe pear and crab apple blossoms are lovely white flowers. Nice to see entire trees in blossom, we seldom get this here as the flowers are mostly hidden by the many leaves. Have not seen sweet pea flowers so looking forward to seeing yours in bloom, soon i hope.
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping my fingers crossed that the sweet peas will survive, they are still quite thin and leggy at the moment. I love blossom time as long as the strong winds don't blow it all away quickly:)
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