It's apple blossom time in Saint-Aignan. We lost two apple trees because of bad weather conditions a couple of years ago, but we have two left. They are in flower right now. By the way, I went out back and took a good look at my plum tree. Despite last weeks freezing weather, it is still covered with tiny red plums. Here's a series of photos going from widest to closest up.
I'm getting up an hour later since we put our clocks on heure d'été a few days back. That means I'm posting later in the morning. For those in the U.S. who look at the blog late in the evening this might be significant. For you who read it in the morning, it won't matter.
I get used to new blog posts appearing at certain times, and then your daylight saving starts or ends, which doesn't coincide with the start and end of ours. It can be confusing. I've learnt not to care.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers look like they are on what we call a crab apple. Very nice.
It's not a crab apple, at least not in U.S. terms. Maybe crab apple means one thing in you dialect and a different thing in my dialect.
DeleteYour house and garden look so stunning this time of year. If you ever do decide to move, springtime would be a good time to show it off for sale. Your close proximity to the zoo should be a strong selling point.
ReplyDeleteI just read your blog from yesterday too. You and Walt are very accomplished, and have contributed much to others over the years. It was nice to see the bits and pieces we have gleaned from your posts about your working lives all brought together chronologically.. Perhaps this year or next will see you both ready for a new adventure. If so, as others have requested, do please take us along. Your fine photos and text are always a treat. Would be great fun to travel around virtually with you two if you went househunting - perhaps for a longere with some land, but within walking distance of a lively town or village?
I love the look of your yard, and I'm glad you have the two flowering apple blossom trees -- they are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI saw your comments about people having trouble commenting. I bet that a number of people who used to comment here, have had that problem. I've had comments of mine disappear, or just never take, I should say, but mostly when on my iPad. Firefox wasn't letting me comment, at one point, but I don't use it much, anyway. I pretty much never have problems using Chrome, though (and I'm on a Mac desktop computer).
Looks like the artichoke enjoyed all your winter rains.
ReplyDeleteYes. We have four artichoke plants — one big and thurr small. I have to transplant the small ones and see if I can get them to grow bigger.
DeleteNice to see the lovely apples in blossom. The crabapple trees I know look more like this: https://www.gardenia.net/plant/malus-adams
ReplyDeleteThey have deep pink blossoms. I've never seen one on the West Coast, but I'm sure they exist. We have northern Magnolias here, but they don't seem to fare too well.
Spring surprises me every year. I love seeing your place through the apple tree branches. I love that greenhouse. We had one in KY when I was growing up and it was used a lot. I will snail mail you some photos of my yard which is featuring azaleas right now.
ReplyDeleteNice viewing of the apple blossoms today, Ken. Springtime is a good time for showing off homes with lovely blooms like yours. I even took photos this morning after my dental appointment because the apple trees were in blossom - just like yours! I did almost a similar series of photos, but up close, away, further away, then really up close to a bloom! 'Tis the season!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't live in a retirement community, I believe, after hearing my Mother make the comment and then explaining that she liked being amongst all age groups and seeing children once in a while - not just old seniors!
Maybe there is some family near you in Saint-Aignan that lives in a one-story home that would be willing to be carers for Tasha for a while until she has more fully recovered? That might be a short-term solution to Walt carrying her up and down the stairs so frequently. Maybe your Mayor might have some ideas of a family or a couple or even a single person that might enjoy a short-term pet-sitting without the responsibility of a lifetime for such a darling dog as Tasha? Or perhaps the Vet?