Garden Quotes 2019

The Song of the Crocus Fairies

Crocus of yellow, new and gay;

Mauve and purple, in brave array;

Crocus white

Like a cup of light,-

Hundreds of them are smiling up,

Each with a flame in its shining cup,

By the touch of the warm and welcome sun

Opened suddenly. Spring's begun!

Dance then, fairies, for joy, and sing

The song of the coming again of Spring.

from The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies

by Cicely Mary Barker

I love seeing the crocus as a welcome to Spring,

such a sign of hope.

Tea from Assam - A Special Treat

When I saw a picture of a tea on Facebook I had admired it's beauty.
It was a handmade black tea made by Heritage Tea Company.

Then the day before my birthday a package arrived at my door
that had this very beautiful tea inside.

What a very special treat from Rajen and June Baruah in the Assam region of India.

Now this is a very special treat partly because it was handmade,
very little was made, and the thought behind sending it to me was so kind.

I have totally enjoyed it.

When you pour the hot water over the tea and can smell a beautiful scent in the steam,

you know it is going to be good.

It is very smooth and even though it really doesn't taste like apricots

that is what is brought to mind when I sip.

It starts out just a bit tart and is backed up with sweetness,

just what I like a bit of dimension in my cup and then in my throat.

From Rajen:

"These handmade long leaf teas were custom made for select buyers who value the artisan method  of tea making. We kept the batches small in quantity and high in style. The leaves carry the flavors of the late autumn harvest from mid September to late November. We made a total of 3 kilos of which most of it sold out till mid January . 

Meanwhile the same style is being replicated with the Spring Harvest 2019  and if any one is interested they can contact Tealet.  They will also be able to lend you additional information having tasted the last batch on this recent visit to us."

So if anyone is interested in some special black tea contact Elyse at Tealet.com.

Right now she is traveling in India, but after she returns she will have some special teas

to savor and sip from Heritage Tea Company.

In photographing the tea I thought it deserved a bouquet of flowers from my garden.
Congratulations! Rajen and June

Sipping as I write to you!
Isn't the tea pretty in the cup?
Happy Weekend, dear friends!

Tea Bowl Style and A New Cup

  With my occasional posts on different ways of having or making tea

I thought you might enjoy my friend Stephanie's post on making matcha in a bowl.

Here is the link: http://stephcupoftea.blogspot.com/
 

Please visit her blog as she does such a lovely explanation. 

I haven't gotten into matcha or making tea in a bowl,

but I enjoy seeing others do it.

The bowls remind me of cereal bowls

and when they wrap both hands around the bowl to sip,

it is a beautiful thing.

I have had the opportunity a couple times to sip this way,

but I usually enjoy sipping English style or just in an Asian small cup.

It is another way of celebrating with tea.

My most recent teacup find is English style transferware,

Spode, Mayflower, made in England.

As I was leaving Lovejoy's Tearoom recently I saw it on the shelf,

after thinking about it until the next day I went back and bought it.

A perfect addition to my transferware collection,

as I didn't have this particular color.

Now off to do a bit of sipping.

 Happy Wednesday, dear friends.

Garden Quotes 2019

More than half a century has passed,

and yet each spring,

when I wander in the primrose wood

and see pale yellow blooms,

and smell their sweetest of scents...

for a moment I am seven years old again

and wandering in the fragrant wood.

~Gertrude Jekyll

All pictures are from my garden this week. 

Have a delightful week, dear friends!

Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens

 Each time I have been on Whidbey Island, WA. I have seen a sign for Meerkerk Rhododendron
 Gardens, but never stopped.
This past Sunday was different, we went to the island just to explore.

I love exploring, do you?

So there was a stop at this beautiful garden.

 I knew we were a little early to find rhododendron's, but we did find a few.

What delighted my hearts was this avenue of daffodils.

They weren't all in bloom either, but oh so beautiful.

Looking down I also found the primrose lane all in purple.

The pink blossoms throughout the garden just added that touch of fantasy and softness.

Any little fairy would be delighted to live here along the avenue of flowers.

It is a 10 acre garden with an amazing array of rhododendrons, daffodils, and blossoms.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Hope you have time to go exploring!

A Fashion Show

Well I do like a fashion show and this one was extra special.

Even the host at the microphone sharing stories of each garment

was in a beautiful Victorian dress.

Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the

Port Townsend, Washington's Victorian Festival Fashion Show.

Just when I would get ready to snap a picture the model would move;

so some of my pictures are a blur.

I did want you to see this one as it seemed so different from what I normally

see for this era. The commentator said this dress was probably worn in her home

to greet her guests for tea.  What a fun thought.

This dress had so many facets to it.

See the picture above with the elbow length sleeves and below

with short sleeves. The top and bottom were separate.

Even the back of the skirt could be changed.

It amazed me at all the thought and details of each and every garment.

I think this model was having a great time.

It was fun to see the guys in the show too.

A new couple in town each strutting along the runway.

How fun to see them stroll by.

What a beautiful young woman modeling the fur and deep green dress.

Sorry I cut off the long train.

I loved being able to sit in the front row and see these beautiful dresses up close.

Here is my friend, Val. She is the reason I came to the show.

She coordinated the show this year and I loved that each model walked

right through the middle of the audience.  Good job, Val!!

The color in her dress was stunning.

Even her hat had such flair.

I know you can't see the front, but the skirt had bows up the center front

with the largest at the bottom of the skirt and getting smaller as they went up.

I couldn't even guess at how much fabric must go into each of these dresses.

This dress just sparkled.

Several models carried fans.

Some flirtation behind the fans was fun.

Beautiful models, gorgeous outfits, and a very lovely show.

Garden Quotes 2019

We might think we are nurturing our garden,

but of course it's our garden that is nurturing us.

~Jenny Uglow

Whether there are dried hydrangeas still in the garden
or new signs of daffodils and hellebore beginning to bloom,
my heart is happy and delighted!
m.miller

Pictures taken in the garden at Deepwood Estates and Museum in Salem, Oregon.
I was away for a few days; so comments were slow at posting
and this post slow at getting up.
Have a totally wonderful week!!!