Garden Retreat

 I’ll be in one of those long meetings most of the day, the kind I hate calling a “retreat,” because if I were really retreating, I’d be in my garden.

 But let’s pretend, ‘kay? I’m in my garden, and if you join me there, I’ll offer you a glass of wine or a cup of tea and we’ll sit and chat and soak up some sunshine. . .

 After the day’s long meeting, Pater and I have a French lesson, trying to limber up our tongues for next month’s travels. . .

 I expect to be completely exhausted by the time I get home at the end of the day, but these blooms are sure to refresh. . .

 And I’ll look ahead to the weekend — the daughter with the growing belly has invited us to join her and our son-in-love on a Mother’s Day hike. In deference to said belly (scheduled to deflate sometime in August), she promises the hike will be a gentle one. This recent marathoner is grateful.

 Also coming up on the weekend, last opera of the season, Don Carlo, a new opera to us.

 Lovely doings, in other words, over in Vancouver. . . .

 but my garden will be waiting for me to come back and sit

 and smell the lilacs. . . .

26 Comments

  1. Megs
    8 May 2014 / 3:49 pm

    What lovely garden scenes- so serene! I love them all, especially the tulips.
    Hope your meeting goes by quickly- I remember those meeting days.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:11 pm

      Thanks, Megs — I might love the little tulips best . . . although the fragrance of the lilacs makes them contenders as well . . .

  2. K.Line
    8 May 2014 / 4:05 pm

    OMG – this is SO gorgeous. Retreat indeed! And I too loathe it when work refers to retreats which are really time-wasting, check-mark events.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:13 pm

      Luckily, this one ended up being pretty productive, but I wish we wouldn't appropriate this word . . . I miss its more spiritual connotations. . . but that's probably my Catholic schoolgirl idealism poking through . . 😉

  3. hostess of the humble bungalow
    8 May 2014 / 4:36 pm

    These views of your garden show so much more depth than we often can see….I like how you have arranged the plantings and how the colours work together.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:14 pm

      It's definitely a cottage-y garden, not nearly as polished as your own. Thanks for noticing, with your gardener's eye, the arrangements — as you know, there's a mix of serendipity and planning involved. I'm pretty happy with some of these wee vignettes.

  4. Eleonore
    8 May 2014 / 5:37 pm

    Your garden looks so beautiful! And I agree – the colours go together so well. Have a wonderful weekend!
    Oh, and by the way, CONGRATULATIONS on your run! sorry, I'm late.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:15 pm

      Thanks, Eleonore — hope yours is a great weekend as well!

  5. Sandy aka Doris the Great
    8 May 2014 / 6:31 pm

    I'll have a glass of white while the sun shines; and a bold red for the evening please. Lovely garden!

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:15 pm

      Poured! Now put your feet up and enjoy . . .;-)

  6. Lorrie
    8 May 2014 / 9:04 pm

    Love those bright blooms against the larger backdrop of your garden. As Leslie said, your photos have a lot of depth. Your garden is beautiful on the screen and in real life.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:16 pm

      Thanks, Lorrie. It's much more lively than when you visited, although I do appreciate it in the fall as well.

  7. Tiffany
    8 May 2014 / 11:15 pm

    What a gorgeous garden …

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:16 pm

      Thanks!

  8. LPC
    9 May 2014 / 1:08 am

    SO BEAUTIFUL!

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:17 pm

      🙂

  9. Unknown
    9 May 2014 / 5:30 am

    Your garden is gorgeous!! Congratulations on your marathon. Sounds like a fun weekend in Vancouver, but retreating to that garden will be sweet.

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:18 pm

      Yes, and it's supposed to be sunny next week, so next Monday afternoon, I have a rendez-vous in the jardin with a glass of chilled rosé and a very good book. . .

  10. Madame Là-bas
    9 May 2014 / 6:21 am

    Your garden is beautiful. Blue skies and flowers are the perfect retreat!

    • materfamilias
      9 May 2014 / 2:18 pm

      and I wonder where you're retreating to today, in your travels. . .

  11. Susan B
    9 May 2014 / 7:19 pm

    Your garden photos are always such a delight. I'd LOVE to join you there for a glass of wine and what I'm sure would be some wonderful conversation.

    • materfamilias
      12 May 2014 / 2:59 pm

      I know it would be!

  12. Brenda
    10 May 2014 / 12:56 am

    Congrats on the marathon! I would love to be sitting in your garden knitting or reading – sounds delightful. Happy Mother's Day! I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with much relaxing.

    • materfamilias
      12 May 2014 / 3:00 pm

      Thanks, Brenda! Hope yours was great as well — and yes, much relaxing would be lovely.

  13. Mardel
    10 May 2014 / 2:57 pm

    So Beautiful!

    • materfamilias
      12 May 2014 / 3:00 pm

      Thanks.

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