In flower at last

Three years ago, armed with loads of enthusiasm and some seed packets, I sowed several varieties of perennials.  Some, like the corepsis, obligingly flowered the first season; others put on lots of leafy growth then flowered the following year and have continued to do.  The aquilegia, however, was a bit of a disappointment.  Off all the seedlings that germinated, all but two died.  They were rather weak and ended up at the back of the greenhouse until I found them again last year and planted them in the garden in the hopes of future success.  And this year they have finally come into their own.

Two pretty lilac and yellow flowers.  They are often referred to as 'Granny's Bonnets' and indeed the flowers do look a little like old-fashioned hats.

I am so delighted that at long last these plants have produced flowers.  There is something so satisfying in planting a tiny seed and watching it grow to maturity.

We are loving our blue and white tea-pot.  It holds just the right amount for two mugs of tea.  And I have learned to take my time over pouring the tea to avoid dribbles from the lid!  Some things need to be taken slowly.


After watching with wonder the bluetit chicks venturing into the open yesterday, this evening we saw with some horror one of the neighbourhood cats sitting on the fence trying to swipe at the nestbox with it's paw.  It obviously knows there are chicks in the box.  We can only hope that our little bluetit family is safe.