Garden on Tuesday
Post Forward:
I’ve come to believe that the greatest joy in gardening is the first blush of new growth. Even now, as spring firmly asserts her presence among us, the intense pleasure of seeing that which was dormant bloom again is beyond words.
That pleasure was intensified during our time in Ireland when the bleak winter days would be intermittently punctuated by the promise of spring to come. The first harbingers of that promise were certainly the snowdrops found in abundance in the Dublin mountains. I’ve added a second photo of these lovely beauties…
Hope Springs Eternal (originally published 15 January 2008)
Or in this case, the ‘eternal hope of spring’…
It certainly won’t surprise you to hear me say that I truly love living in Ireland.
Yes, it is very green most of the year.
Yes, it is a mystically ancient land.
Yes, it is seaside and mountain and valley and wood.
It perhaps might surprise you to hear me say that there are drawbacks to living in Ireland.
Yes, it is perpetually damp, driving the chill to the deepest marrow of the bone.
Yes, it is dark in the winter for more hours than I care to count.
Yes, it is windy with a substantial portion of drizzle thrown in for good measure.
But, it all balances out when in mid-January this sight meets my winter-worn eyes…
true about the drawbacks – but aren’t there drawbacks in any country? if you have too much sun and not enough rain, it’s no fun either. and at least it’s not usually rainy for endless times – island weather means that it usually changes pretty quickly again. usually, not always:)) of course, if you plan a BBQ that might be a drawback in itself!:)) I think in the end the pros and cons balance out….. nothing is perfect! and it shouldn’t be, because if it was, we would most likely not even recognize it!
have a nice spring!
Bettina (from the west of ireland, where we are well past the snowdrops, my delphiniums are showing the first tiny buds!)
21 Apr 2009 at 8:12 am
Such pretty pictures.
The Irish blood in my veins surges when I see images if Ireland. I feel a longing for a place I’ve never been. Is that strange?
The weather sounds similar to western Washington state. It took some getting used to that first winter, but after that, it was love.
21 Apr 2009 at 9:20 am
happy budding and approach to summer!
21 Apr 2009 at 11:47 pm
Alright Cheryl, I am here to ask you if you would like to help the “Irish” team at my husband’s place of employment by directing me to some or one really great irish recipe that can be shared. I was thinking of some kind of great dessert? Thanks.
22 Apr 2009 at 1:26 pm