I have three Wigelia bushes (almost trees) in my back yard and this one is always the first to bloom.
The other two have to be kept well trimmed as they overhang the pool, but this one is allowed to grow unfettered and has long cascading branches always covered with blooms.
I was very relieved when I woke this morning that the blossoms had survived the night as we had very low temperatures. Yesterday, which started out nicely enough, saw the temperature plummet accompanied by a bitter wind. The forecaster said it was a north-westerly but, to me, it seemed to come right from the North Pole. We started the day at 22C; by 2:30 it was 17C; by 4:30 13C, and when I got home at 9:00 last night it was a meagre 7C. This morning it had fallen another 2 degrees and the plants I had moved outside just a few days ago were looking mighty miserable. I have brought the ones in pots back inside as tonight there is talk of frost, but the ones transferred to the garden will have to "tough it out". Luckily they are mostly on the south side of the house which is somewhat protected.
Today has continued cold but the sun is shining and we did manage to reach 15C this afternoon. James and I didn't venture to the park but managed to put in the day indoors. In winter we would have been outside well bundled up but not at this time of year!
I have started a new book which I think will be most enjoyable. It's "The Purchase" by Linda Spalding and is set in the late 18th century. It combines the travails of a Quaker family with slavery in Virginia, not unlike another book I read recently (I will try to remember the title) which dealt with the same themes.
Set off for the tennis courts to take the snacks over for the social. There were a couple of people there already and more arrived while I was there. Next stop was Q-ssis for the RTO AGM and coffee to keep us awake. This ran over slightly so I indulged in a glass of white wine until lunch arrived around 12:30. - a nice salad, roast chicken (again!) with r oast potatoes and veggies. Fruit and ice cream for dessert and more coffee. The entertainment was a Barber Shop choir - pretty nice singing and quite moving. The best part was that attendance at the meeting qualified one for a free lunch. Stopped off at Walmart on my way home for a new ink cartridge for my printer.
Home for a nap, woke at 4:15 and out of the house by 4:20 to drive across the city to the location of the ETT AGM - no more coffee but the meeting was pretty entertaining with lots of Union and contract talk. The entertainment was a Barbara Shop choir ( a different one but much more professional and easy on the ear). This was followed by a lovely meal shortly after 7:00 p.m. - a delicious ginger salad, salmon and rice with roasted peppers, asparagus and pea pods. Thank goodness for something different. Petits fours for dessert and strawberries dipped in chocolate - again a welcome change! Also a glass of red wine was served - all for $10.
Now I feel like not eating for a couple of days and have done enough socializing to last me a week. It has been a very busy few days.
A wild night last night with thunder, lightning, rain and wind. I'm glad I got the photo of the lilac yesterday as it is looking very sad and droopy this morning. More rain forecast for later today which may completely put paid to the blossoms. Everything else seems to have survived the storm and the grass is nice and green. I have finally got all my indoor plants outside - or at least those that are easy to move . Makes watering much easier, but I have to keep an eye on them as they are not used to direct sun.
Got in some tennis this morning although the courts were still a trifle wet - played two sets back to back, had a coffee and some cake, then called it a day. Back home for a quick shower then off to "do lunch" with the RWTO ladies. Believe it or not, my luck is holding as I won $21 on the 50-50 draw! Almost enough to pay for lunch (spring salad, chicken breast, veggies and roast potatoes, and fruit and ice cream for dessert).
We had an interesting talk about a munitions factory which was located in Scarborough during WWII, mostly manned by young girls - out in the country in those days. It seemingly was huge, covering the equivalent of a whole city block. The girls were paid $22 a week which was a very good wage at that time. But it was dangerous work, assembling ignition fuses for bombs. The actual bombs were assembled in Ajax before being shipped overseas.
It is getting very dark so I think we are in for another storm. The trees are beginning to blow around quite alarmingly and I can hear thunder rumbling in the distance. A good evening to stay indoors.
There's been some talk about renaming this holiday but, for now, it's still Victoria Day, commemorating (I think) Queen Victoria's birthday. Tennis this morning at the Don Mills Club and, wonders of wonders, I lucked out in the lucky draw and won a tennis racquet, unstrung, but, nevertheless, a huge prize! This is the first time I've won anything anywhere more substantial than a can of tennis balls or a bottle of wine. We also had a very nice lunch, all for $2. Can't complain about that.
I finished planting this afternoon and, in the process of hanging baskets and pulling weeds I walked by the lilac bush. What a perfume! Too bad the blossoms only last for a few days but, soon the lilies will be up and they have an even more powerful perfume.
It was an afternoon for sitting in the shade reading and I came across an anecdote that really made me chuckle. It was in Francis Mayes book, "Every Day in Tuscany" which I am rereading and goes like this: she is talking about "carpe diem" (seize the day) and relates how her Aunt Hazel "seized my grandmother's furs and jewelry during the funeral she was "too upset" to attend, By the time we trailed in, her Lincoln was packed." What gall!
After a substantial lunch (breaded chicken, green salad and potato salad, cake and trifle), I plan to go light and have an avocado and grapefruit salad for dinner. Tomorrow is another meal out for the RWTO luncheon, Wednesday is the last night for the Petronella group, with snacks and treats after, then Thursday I have two meals out: lunch following the RTO AGM (free if you attend the meeting) and dinner after the AGM of ETFO ( $10 for a quite substantial meal - I chose salmon) . This week will go down in history as one of overeating. Time to start that diet!
I was very relieved when I woke this morning that the blossoms had survived the night as we had very low temperatures. Yesterday, which started out nicely enough, saw the temperature plummet accompanied by a bitter wind. The forecaster said it was a north-westerly but, to me, it seemed to come right from the North Pole. We started the day at 22C; by 2:30 it was 17C; by 4:30 13C, and when I got home at 9:00 last night it was a meagre 7C. This morning it had fallen another 2 degrees and the plants I had moved outside just a few days ago were looking mighty miserable. I have brought the ones in pots back inside as tonight there is talk of frost, but the ones transferred to the garden will have to "tough it out". Luckily they are mostly on the south side of the house which is somewhat protected.
