Spring flowers in Oban

Hiya again
Some lovely flowers have made a home nearby. These lovelies are blossoming at the foot of the house. First off, a true wildflower, a blue geranium:
Next, a plant I put in only a few weeks ago. I hope this weeping heart will thrive and grow bigger and give me pleasure for many years to come.
The wallflowers I planted last year are doing extremely well. There was some blossom on it almost all the winter through and it's come back splendidly, don't you think?
I had been wondering what would happen with my aquilegia seeds. Well, last year there was just a small growth of leaves but now look at this:
And finally, the great surprise this year, a yellow poppy that flowers in among the mombretia that will flower later:
I'm dead chuffed with these. They provide nectar and give colour and -- the wallflowers -- a wonderful aroma to the garden.

A kind of anniversary

Hiya again
It's been exactly four years to the day that I met someone who was to change my life in unexpected ways. One of them was being introduced to the joys of blogging. I resisted for a while but, as you can see, I have since become quite seriously addicted (I'd like to say "developed to a fine art", but there are so many blogs out there that are much better organised, much more aesthetically pleasing, much more like what I'd have if only I really focused on this -- but there you go: I'm me, a bit chaotic, a bit obsessive, but basically quite harmless).
Even if comments to my musings and photos etc are sparse, I do know that there are quite a few people out there who click into this blog from time to time.
I thank you for your interest, and I thank R.A.E. for having inspired me to take up this hobby, for helping me stretch my wings as a photographer further, and for being a great friend since those chance encounters on our way by CalMac ferry and bus across Mull to and a week later the same way back from Iona.
To you all I dedicate this photo showing my favourite flower, ever, the elusive fritillary, which I first encountered on Iona in April 2004, two years before I took this photo.

Last Day of Winter, First Day of Spring -- yaaaaay!

Hiya

Spring is here in earnest -- mind you, as I type these lines on Monday, 22nd March, the air outside is filled with the swishing of the wind and the rushing of rain and water in the burn, punctuated by the high-pitched screams of seagulls that sometimes sound so like a tiny baby's cry. No matter, we celebrated spring and I want to share some of the colours I captured on the last day of winter and first day of spring.

Particularly chuffed to see these primroses spring up again -- they were rescue plants last year, bought very, very cheaply from one of the garden centres in Oban.

Wee daffies -- asphodels? -- that have come back at the foot of our house. Lovely splash of yellow.

One periwinkle blossom -- a stray plant that seeded off a tangle that has grown rather wild across the path. It lives right above the spray of daffies shown above.

The humble daisy, but oh so perfect.

Another clump of rescue primroses bought very, very cheaply last year from one of the garden centres in Oban. So pleased they've come back.

A white tulip from a bouquet in a vase at my friend's house.

A Swedish-style Easter tree. Only one more week to go!

Daffy spectacular -- these are store-bought ones in a vase at my friend's house.

Red red flower

Hiya again

Some time ago, on a wee drive up the country, I found an artificial flower that had blown off a cemetery and onto a patch of grass. It's been accompanying me here and there and I've taken a few photos of it in situ and elsewhere. A wee bit of fun.
And finally...

New Year Flowers

The Solstice/Xmas/New Year's decorations have come down. Thank you so much, everyone, for your beautiful cards and welcome greetings and wishes.
I spent a good while reading them all again and enjoying the images and colours. Now, some of the cards await a second lease of life in the guise of collages. The rest will go into a special greeting-card recycling scheme.
I'm blessed with friends who have given me flowers to brighten up my home with their colours.

Lovely, lovely things -- much thanks to you both, MB and RAE!

This one is for my ex-sister-in-law, RP, and for my "old" friend in Holland, RR:
Cheerioh! and may your days be blessed with good health, prosperity and peace.

Flowers and Vegetables -- 'tis the season of shows

Hiya!

Today I went to the Oban & Lorne Horticultural Society's annual flower and vegetable show. Some amazing exhibits indeed:
Everything has to come in threes, you see. The cauliflowers were set in a ring of the most delicate, dense parsley I've ever seen. The huge cooking onions were simply perfect, as were the carrots and beautiful variegated potatoes. One could wax lyrical about vegies, seeing this!

And at the end I took home a fantastic bouquet that cost me a donation. Smashing!
And, finally (imagine a drum roll that goes on and on and on) -- with huge thanks to a new friend, M.K., who gave me this beautiful nursing chair:I know, I know, the wee IKEA folding thingy looks rather out of place.

PS: The local photographic club also had a show. Some great photos. I submitted one of mine but didn't make the grade ... :/ -- never mind, taking part was the main thing. :)