I remember celebrating May Day when I was a little girl...beautiful ribbons streaming from a pole on the playground at school...weaving in and out...all of the children marching around.... such fun!
I found the lovely picture above, entitled "The Children's May Pole," in the antiquated book "Happy England" by Helen Allingham. My dear friend Diane at Corgncombe Courant, had the most beautiful post featuring this book and its quaint scenes of country life in England. I have enjoyed having my own copy, now, and am ever thankful to Diane for introducing us to this treasure!
We awoke this morning to thunderstorms and left for church as the rain continued to drizzle....
When we arrived home, pulling into the drive, we looked towards the pond and exclaimed with much delight..."Look! Canada Geese!!"
Xavier was beside himself with excitement, for we had not had them visit....we had only seen them as they flew across our property on infrequent occasions. We approached very carefully, trying not to disturb them, but as we drove up beside the pond, they suddenly honked and took flight!
The pond was full to overflowing...but at least we enjoyed a few minutes without rain, to capture a few more photos, updating the progress of our flowers at 'Morning, Glory' cottage....
The hollyhocks are filled with buds, now, and we are so anxious to see them bloom this year. The peonies are ready, as well...
This is the most spectacular sight, to the gardener who thought a sweet plant had ended its will to produce...
As we move further up the drive and park our car, I come to the hydrangea bed for a glimpse at their progress. The climbing hydrangea is in bloom, and I spy little buds on the other lovelies at her side.
Once inside our home, we look to a very special book to retrieve more information about the geese..
Again, we thank our dear Diane for sharing this most beautiful and informative book, on a recent post describing the fascinating call of the red-winged blackbird. Xavier, along with anyone who chooses to peruse this book, is intrigued, and anxious to tap the little button and hear the famous call of the Canada Goose.
We dig further into our ever-growing library, and find photographs of the beautiful peonies that grew in Tasha Tudor's cottage garden...
The English Cottage Gardening Book is such a feast for the gardener's eyes...a wish book, of sorts...each page provoking dreams of flowing, trailing, blossoming, borderless beds ...a must-have for cottage gardeners...
Someday, I will find these particular fragrant beauties...
Thank you to dear Natalie at Rookery Ramblings, Office Manager of Tasha Tudor and Family, for posting the availability of this exquisite, hard to find, book.
So on this rainiest of days on the first of May, we gaze through the bay window, over the fresh green grass, saturated by these rains, and ponder the beauty to come...as these showers will bring our flowers! Happy May Day!
