Sun and Rain

Saturday (May 31) offered sunnier weather than Friday; which I assume was probably good for business on the second day of our spring market. Personally I did not feel inclined to join the market crowd a second time, though, so did not extend my walk that day further than to the southern end of the city park, to check on some of the purple rhododendrons there - which are seriously impressive when in bloom:

Closer to home, there is a Golden Rain tree (Laburnum) in bloom. These always bring back childhood memories for me, as my grandparents had a whole hedge of them in their garden.

 On Sunday it was raining; but there was a break in the downpour in the afternoon, and I managed a short walk (snapping a few raindrop photos without getting too wet myself):

Rhododendron (left) and azaleas (right), and a glimps of the chapel in the background.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

 

 
Google image search tells me that these green leaves are hostas (also known as funkia) - a name I tend to forget from one summer to the next...   

 

I also noticed some "wild" roses (dog rose) in bloom. 
(Like with many other flowers this spring, it seems a bit early?)

 

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet..."

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II 

Golden Rain (Laburnum)

 

Only a minute or two away from where I live there's also this big old Golden Rain tree (Laburnum). Also called Golden Chain in English, Wikipedia tells me - but I prefer calling them Golden Rain, as that corresponds to the Swedish name for them that I've known all my life. My paternal grandparents had a whole hedge full of them in their garden in my childhood (and throughout the rest of my life until we sold that house after the death of my parents, only ten years ago). As its seed pods (and indeed all parts of the plant) are poisonous, that must have caused a bit of concern back in my childhood (and my brother's) - but I can't remember ever having feel tempted to eat or play with them. I also seem to have known "all my life" that they are poisonous (without any actual drama attached); so no doubt I was taught that very early on. Seeing golden rain in bloom now just brings a certain whiff of nostalgia for me, making me remember that garden from back in the days when it looked its best. 

I just searched my own blog and found two earlier posts about Golden Rain (one of them saying pretty much the same things that I just wrote)... I note, though, that those posts are dated 28th vs 18th June (2015/2021). While the golden rain photos this year are from 24th May. Summer really has sprung early this year!

Just now (~11 am) it's around 24'C outside, and thundershowers predicted for the afternoon. I'd probably better get out for a walk now rather than wait until later...

Golden Rain & Memories

 

Laburnum - 'Golden Rain' or 'Golden Chain' trees

Yesterday evening, and again this morning, I went for walks around the old cemetery, and noticed that it's "golden rain" time... The first two photos taken with my mobile yesterday; today I brought my camera and took some more.

We used to have a whole hedge of these at 'the House', i.e. where my grandparents lived when I was little, and later my parents in their retirement years. The current owners have removed them all, I noticed when passing by there a year or two after we sold the place... I've known 'all my life' that these trees are poisonous - I was probably told so very early on in childhood, but I can't remember any incidents (like actually trying to eat the seeds). But they are really beautiful when in bloom, and seeing them elsewhere now (like in this cemetery) always brings out a bit of nostalgia (or memories).

This week, seeing the Golden Rain trees in bloom also helped to remind me that it's 10 years today since my dad died - 18 June 2011. He and mum are buried in the village where they lived. As I don't have a car, and with the corona situation and all, it's been a couple of years now since I last visited the churchyard there. But we have their grave tended to, and that of my grandparents' as well. My personal memories of family and friends who have passed on are not primarily connected to their final resting place, though; but more to all those little things that trigger memories of them alive - like for example now a tree reminding of where they used to live.