In the previous post, Mistress Maddie waxed lyrical about Magnolia trees and was surprised to learn that we have them here across the pond. Well, after I'd finished replying to the comments, I went out for a quick walk around the village (also inspired by a Maddie comment from the last post in March) to get a snap of the Main Road's Magnificent Magnolia.
Unfortunately, the poor thing doesn't look half as magnificent as last year, as - in its exposed position - almost all of the flowers have been frost and wind-burned.
This is just a quick follow-on from my previous garden-related post. Mainly because I haven't got anything else to publish, as all I've been doing lately is rebuilding the bloody paysho.
And going to the garden centre this morni-
Which was a waste of time as they didn't have what I wanted. And there were far too many people!
All wearing face masks and
keeping their distance. Mostly...
The end of today's efforts having relaid the slabs
and cemented the pond-edge
Anyway, that's enough from the SubC, let's get on with the post.
Rude!
As you can see from the leading photo, my early Morning Glory has put forth its second flower. Although, despite flowering very early in the season, this bloom didn't open until this afternoon (because I had it tucked away in the depths of the red greenhouse and only remembered to pop it on the shelf in the sun at lunch time).
You'd better turn your lights off to best view the photos in this post (except for the final two)...
Yes, it's back to snaps of the stars courtesy of my paparazzi telephoto lens "Starry Night" setting on Camera. I can tell that you're all just thrilled! After all, we haven't had one of these since mid-February's Blogorati Stars post. And this post features brand new photos taken from Hexenhäusli Device's backgarden on 7th April! How we spoil you.
Actually, I don't really know what I'm doing with these photos. I started off with an attempt to get the constellation of Camelopardalis looking more like a giraffe (for that it what it's supposed to be) rather than a clothes horse (which is what it looks like in my Universe book - and pretty much everywhere else). I think I was relatively successful? Then I had a go at Cassiopeia and Perseus, but gave up with Auriga as I couldn't stop giving him (although I think he looks like a her in the book) a fat bottom.
Above, the oft neglected front of Hexenhäusli Device looking quite colourful, for a change. I put the daff bulbs in back in the autumn, and the skimmias that went in last spring are just starting to flower. On the left is the most recent addition - a flowering cherry, which I planted last month (out of shot to the right is a hawthorn, yet to burst into leaf/flower).
And below, preparations for a circular paysho and adjoining pond are not hindered by the snow (I mean, it's April, for Christ's sake! We're not supposed to get snow in April!).
I note from the comments in the previous post that a few of you have been watching Gardener's World, which reminded me: We need to organise who's going to host the
How and when it takes place is up to you (although it must be some time this year - preferably later in the year so we all have time to tend to our unruly bushes and the like), and you must remember the cardinal rule: The Garden Photos Event is NOT a competition!
Right. That's the first quarter of the year done. To aid in the preparation of the end-of-year review/Coven Awards, I thought I'd continue on from January's book post and Happy with a round up of what I've read, watched and listened to so far in 2021.
Read
∘ Lords and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett- A Discworld novel starring the Ramtops witches (Granny Weatherwax, Gytha Ogg, and Magrat Garlick - who is now a queen rather than a witch), in which they thwart an invasion of Elves.
∘ The Sea and Little Fishes, by Terry Pratchett- A short story I read online also featuring the Ramtops witches.
∘ Star Trek: The Lost Era: Well of Souls, by Ilsa J Bick- This is a rather grim, but engrossing story set during the time of the Ambassador-class USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C (2336). It largely concerns Captain Rachel Garrett's strained relationship with her archeologist ex-husband and son, and her new first officer who has found himself embroiled with a notorious crime syndicate.
∘ Star Trek: The Lost Era: The Art of the Impossible, by Keith R A DeCandido- Another Lost Era story, this one concerning the Betreka Nebula Incident - a dispute between the Klingons and Cardassians, mediated by Federation Ambassador Curzon Dax, spanning the years 2328 to 2346.
∘ Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock, by Christopher L Bennett- A fascinating tale set mainly in The Next Generation era (2360s-80s) that weaves together various of the televised Star Trek universe's instances of time-travel, along with several original temporal trips. As always, Christopher L Bennett serves up a precise and characterful story that's difficult to put down.
∘ The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, by Martha Wells - The first novella of The Murderbot Diaries series which I only read because of this wonderful animatic set to Tegan & Sara's "I'm Not Your Hero" that I discovered at Tor.com (and last featured here). I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next in the series.
∘ The Galaxy and the Ground Within (Wayfarers 4), by Becky Chambers- Another delightful story from the Wayfarer's series (and possibly the last). This one is about how five very different aliens form a friendship during a disaster, and is just a lovely, warm, character-driven piece with one or two stomach-lurching emotional moments near the end. Just wonderful!
