Saturday 21 May 2022

Spring Turning to Early Summer

 It's been a mixed week of this and that, but Nature keeps getting greener, as we're passing from spring to early summer now.

The red tree is a kind of maple, I think

▲From the old cemetery, where I walk most days.▼

Narcissus flowerbed

The cherry blossom trees in the big park downtown are of a later kind than some in other parks around town, but they too are beginning to fade away now (Tuesday).

Colourful flowerbeds along the river in the town centre

People enjoying the green lawns and the flowers in the park




▲Azaleas in the cemetery about to bloom▼



Some kinds of rhododendron in sunny places already in their prime
 
 
They're still at work on the roof of the building where I live, and we're still surrounded by scaffolding and not really able to use our balconies much. But this week I saw they had strawberry and tomato plants at my supermarket, and I decided to buy some, because if I wait, maybe I can't get any (or at least not at walking distance from home). 
 
The strawberries at the back in the photo are my old ones, which have survived several winters under the bench on my balcony. I replanted them in new earth a year or two ago and they still seem content with that. But I decided to go for more strawberries (I knew I had an identical empty window box in my storage room), precisely because they have proved themselves to accept the strange and varied climate on my balcony (hot and sunny vs chilly, went and windy, and freezing cold in winter). I'll hang them on the balcony rail later; for now I've put both boxes close to wall, out of the way for workers who might occasionally have to access the balconies as well (they're also exchanging drainpipes). I also bought one cherry tomato plant. That needs a more protected place than the strawberries but I had room for one pot next to my clematis (my other winter hibernator).


Clematis, photo from last month


12 comments:

  1. It is so gorgeous there this time of year. You must have a green thumb! We have little wild strawberries that grow in our yard, never tasted them though.

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    1. Ginny, I think the 'green thumb' is mostly about working out by trial and error what works, and what does not... ;) Why haven't you tasted the wild strawberries? Over here, I think wild strawberries are the best - in my childhood there were places in the woods behind our house where we could find them.

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  2. Everything is so pretty, so much colour.

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    Replies
    1. Amy, spring is certainly the prettiest time of year here, with nature looking fresh and renewed.

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  3. How neat and tidy everywhere looks - not even fallen blossoms in the park. The strawberry plants looks so healthy - I hope you have a good crop.
    My Honeysuckle is a mass of flowers and the perfume is wonderful - especially on these warm evenings.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks CG. It's a beautiful time of year and I think we've had a good mix of sun vs rain the last couple of weeks to bring out the greens and blossoms

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  4. Those flowerbeds along the river are gorgeous, as are of course the cherry trees! Here, everything looks like the middle of summer already, and in spite of two thunderstorms with rain (and hail, in some places) this week, we've had nowhere near enough rain to keep it all going.
    You are doing so well with your balcony plants!

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    Replies
    1. Meike, we had a dry and sunny early spring here, followed by a bit more rain lately to hurry things along. From general water supply point of view I think we'd really need more rain here too, though - even if just now, it's looking rather fresh and green 'on the surface' :) As for my balcony plants, I'm trying to keep things simple... I know the strawberries are 'low maintenance' so decided to go with more of those. When they've taken down the scaffolding I'll also put out a couple of geraniums that have survived the winter indoors.

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  5. love that last photo and the red tree is gorgeous. I think my favorite today is the view of the buildings with all the flowers in front. so much beauty out there means spring is visiting you now. you have a small edible garden on your balcony, always amazes me

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    1. Sandra, I love my little strawberry plants, they don't need much care but keep producing berries all through summer and into the autumn. How well it goes with the tomato plant remains to be seen.

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  6. Always love the colours of your springtime and how perfectly your capture them. Well done with nourishing those strawberries even when conditions are a bit trying.

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