Friday, April 04, 2025

A Friday in Spring

 


I awake to the sound of exuberant singing outside my window - birds singing their morning hymn to welcome the day. 
In the woods where I walk the Fawn Lilies (erythronium montanum) brighten the green with their shy stars. 


Native to North America, they bloom for a short while in spring, along paths and in tree-shaded meadows, no more than 8-12 inches above the ground. Another blogger, in Cornwall, found the pink version in Trelissick Gardens



Out of the woods, there is at least one cherry tree (prunus) frothy with blossom, on every street. Some streets are lined with them, an avenue of pink. Even on a dull day they glow. 


Rain threatened, but none fell. Soon the Garry Oaks will be covered in a faint cloud of acid green that quickly turns to full leaf. I am filled with immense delight at the sight of the earth springing up from her winter sleep. 


In my own garden colour appears in the flower beds. I picked a sample yesterday and had a fun few minutes arranging them for a photo. Later, I realized I had missed a few. 

I plan to spend this morning in the garden, trimming, potting up a few vegetables for the potager, and generally enjoying the day that promises to be sunny. There was a bit of frost on the roofs last night, but that bodes well for a clear day. 


I baked a batch of Hob Nobs this week, a delicious British cookie (biscuit), redolent with butter and oats. The secret ingredient is Golden Syrup, and I had a can of Lyle's Golden Syrup in my cupboard. I confess to licking the spoon after pouring out what I needed. So delicious. These are a bit thinner than I usually make, but the man who eats most of my baking says that improves the chocolate to cookie ratio. 

This week I also made Potsticker Soup from Brenda's blog, and Endives au Jambon. An Asian-inspired dish and a French one. What a long way from the meat, potatoes, and vegetables of my childhood. Those are still cooked here and are delicious, but how I enjoy a variety of food. 

Currently reading The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl, and The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry. 

Wishing you a weekend of sunshine and beauty. 

40 comments:

  1. Your arrangement of flowers could almost be a fabric design! So pretty.
    I was thrilled to see the pink Fawn lilies when I was at Trelissick Gardens, and have never noticed them before. I must look again and see if they have white ones too.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. The white ones are most common here.

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  2. Your Spring flowers are so pretty. It just makes you smile to see something new bloom each day. And those cookies look amazing! I love oats...and chocolate! Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thanks, Diane. The cookies have now disappeared so I think our friends enjoyed them.

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  3. That's a nice way of displaying the various flowers that bloom in your garden. I see you included a dandelion :)
    I must agree about the chocolate to cookie ratio although I do like those kind and should make them again soon.

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    1. Yes, the dandelion was growing in the garden so I thought I should include it. And by picking it, it wouldn't go to seed and spread!

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  4. I could almost hear the birds and see those sweet Fawn Lilies. Your garden sounds like a little slice of spring magic, and now I’m craving Hob Nobs with golden syrup! Love the mix of recipes and books—so cozy. Wishing you a beautiful weekend too! 🌸

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    1. Thank you, Veronica. The weekend was a mix of sun (Saturday) and rain (Sunday). But very cozy.

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  5. Beautiful spring flowers, Lorrie!
    Your cookies look delicious!
    Be well and enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Katerina. I hope you had a lovely weekend.

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  6. The thought of those hobnobs is making my mouth water. I’ll have to look out a recipe. How pretty those Fawn Lilies are, nothing like them on our small island. Still lots of daffodils in the hedgerows and the horse chestnuts are beginning to green up. Always the first in leaf. Have a loverly weekend hopefully sunny. B x

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    1. We had friends over and the hobnobs have now disappeared. Better for my waistline - they are so tempting.

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  7. I love the Erythronium. I tried to grow one in a dampish, shady spot in my garden but it didn’t come back the following year. A lovely blog post…have a happy weekend! 😁

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    1. They grow wild here and I haven't tried putting them into the garden. I know that gardeners in the UK have successfully grown them.

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  8. I am always amazed by how moderate your climate! All those flowers!

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    1. I grew up in the north and it's always a wonder how early spring appears here.

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  9. Birdsong is such a treat. I've never made hob nobs but they look like a great treat. I'll have to click over to the potsticker soup to check it out. Happy Saturday!

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    1. Today was rainy, but still springlike and lovely.

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  10. Last photo is mouthwatering, yummy! I also love the flower arrangement (installation).
    You are very good at describing what is happening in nature 🌷 I enjoy reading it all.
    I particularly liked the word "exuberant" here 💕 Happy Sunday!

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    1. Thank you, Rita. I hope you had a Happy Sunday, too.

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  11. It's a cheery sight to see how Spring is in full bloom!

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  12. Your spring is early and lovely. We are having snow again. Sigh…

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    1. It's always surprising to me how the Atlantic winds are so different from the Pacific ones. You have much harsher weather than we do. Soon, though, Spring will be upon you.

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  13. The cherry blossoms are already blooming... wow :-))) The wood anemones are blooming in our forest now... it looks wonderful.
    And your cookies look wonderful too... I'm going to buy some chocolate and bake some too... I have some golden syrup :-))
    Best wishes.
    Viola

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    1. Hob Nobs are delicious cookies! Wood anemones are so beautiful - enjoy them.

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  14. Your flower photograph reminds me of the photographs in 'The Wild Remedy' by Emma Mitchell. So pretty. It never occurred to ne to make my own hobnobs. I shall look for a recipe 😋

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    1. Thank you for pointing me to "The Wild Remedy" - it sounds like a book I would enjoy and I've added it to my ever-growing list.

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  15. Hi Lorrie! The Fawn Lilies are exquisite as are your garden flowers. We are still getting snow showers in my area, from time to time, so flowers have yet to blossom.

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    1. Hi Pat. Our climate is very much tempered by the Pacific Ocean and so spring arrives early. Soon it will come to your mountain country and the flowers will pop!

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  16. I really enjoyed the flowers on your blog, Lorrie, (including the ones you picked and arranged so beautifully). So lovely — you should draw them sometime, in watercolor, you know? It was just nice to spend a moment reading your words.
    It was a bright day here too, and I was also busy with the flower pots outside and planting some seeds.

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    1. Thank you, Aritha. I'd like to do more watercolour painting to develop my confidence.

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  17. MarilynM7:41 PM

    Your pictures are beautiful! I love finding Fawn Lilies. Your biscuit/cookies look yummy too.

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    1. Thanks, Marilyn. Fawn Lilies are such a beautiful woodland flower.

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  18. I like all the seasons and Spring is definitely a beautiful one. It's lovely to see nature awaken in all its glory.

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    1. Thank you, Nicole. Spring can be very beautiful!

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  19. The Fawn lilies are so beautiful and delicate and your Hobnobs look very good. I remember a Pamela Terry who used to comment on my blog many years ago, she had a dog called Edward. I wonder if it is the same one? She wrote beautifully on her blog so I can imagine her writing a book:)

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    1. Yes, that is the same Pamela Terry. I think she has two books published now. She writes very well.

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  20. The Fawn lilies are so delicate beautiful flowers! Your biscuits look SO good! I like endives au jambon and cook a lot of them it’s a tasty dish with cheese!

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  21. My sweet tooth also approves of the Hob Nobs' chocolate to cookie ratio!

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