Vernal Dispatch: Home

It is undeniably Spring as I write from the work table in our bedroom cottage, nestled in the middle of the back garden at our home in Berkeley. The day is glorious, and I’m a little taken aback by how far into the season we suddenly are. New culms of the timber bamboo, Bambusa oldhamii, now in its 24th year, some over four inches in diameter are coated in a glaucous powder and reach skyward for almost 35 feet. The Tree Dandelion, Sonchus canariensis, has bloomed already, producing plumes of what will be, woefully little viable seed. The branches of the Japanese Maple, Kinran, bend as they adjust to the new weight of new leaves woven with golden thread.

Seeds from the Canary Island Tree Dandelion

Acer palmatum “Kinran” transl.- ”Woven with Golden Thread”

New foliage of Lions Head Maple with Salvia Buccananni in the backround.

Sprays of pink blooms from Salvia buchananii dapple the background of the almost key lime emergence of the Lions Head maple, a specimen of unknown providence but which is certainly older than we are. Lilies- Calla, Canna, and Crinum alike unfurl, and flower, and foliate. Everywhere, Spring consumes the available space, and one has to look to see the last vestiges of winter’s husk sloughing off.

Calla Lilly “Green Goodess”

Canna Lilly

Canna Lilly Seeds

The vegetable garden, in late again, is beginning to take shape and holds some promise in the season's warmer and longer days. We may have a proper showing if we can get some growth in before the summer turns cold and foggy.

The Dogs, now solidly in their fifth year, laze about in the sun, then shade, then again in the shade, then sun- they patrol the paths, vigilantly stand sentry for squirrels, hope, pray, beg for a brief ball interlude-

or they unsettle the ducks.

Sadie

Shio

The ducks, all four of them, two in their second year and two in their sixth, can be heard at this moment furiously flapping in their small pond just around the corner from where I sit and write. After a winter of freeloading, they have all begun laying again- So they may stay.

(from left to right) Ophelia, Frances, Iris, Josephine.

A few days of duck eggs

At The Shop, now entering its 28th year, the era of Rice and Pickles has reigned on for eight years. But here, at home in a 100 year old house and in the gardens 24th year, these years will surley be known as the Dog & Duck years.

Talansias and Finials

I suppose it is in the nature of schedules to be a zero-sum game. Mine certainly is. Spring consumes not just space but time- Energy, to be sure.  It is Spring!  The Blog is on Spring Break.

Back soon,

Kevin