What a difference a few weeks has made? Only four weeks ago it was Friday, 13th March and it was Gold Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival. It strikes me now as mind-boggling to think that 60,000 people attended the famous National Hunt race meeting, but attend they did, visiting from far and wide. It already seems a long time ago as everybody comes to terms with living in a lockdown.
Today is Maundy Thursday and the weather is beautiful and sunny, but there will be no holiday stays at the seaside this Easter.
However, on a positive note it is always amazing at this time of year what a difference a couple of days of sunshine and warmer temperatures makes to the gardens. Overnight the aubretia is blooming . . .
The first aquilegia is flowering . . .
And, the pear I planted last year is covered in blossom.
I particularly value the pear blossom as, like many of us, I am looking for any signs of hopeful renewal during this Covid lockdown.
Compared to my old Norfolk garden I only have a small patch of outside space and it is mostly concrete slabs thanks to previous owners with their ‘low maintenance’ mindset. However, I really must not complain as I do have fresh spring greenery and some flowers too. I deeply appreciate my little backyard during these difficult Covid times when many families live in flats and don’t even have access to a balcony.
Fortunately, we are lucky in Ipswich as, so far, the beautiful parks are still open for exercise and dog-walking.
And, you can even bicycle, run or maybe simply stroll along the Waterfront for your daily exercise.
Wishing you all well this Easter and keep safe.
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Agnes Ashe 
Thanks for a delightful post, all the better to read in these troubled times. You certainly have some pleasant places to take your exercise.
I don’t know about you, but I feel a little guilty when I’m out. Am really wishing I’d overruled my father and we’d brought home one of the puppies we went to see back in January!
It seems your new address really is your home now, a place which you have made your own. I hope I’m right – like everybody, you’ll be spending a lot of time there at the moment.
Yes, I think your observation is accurate. I have been living here now over two years and I think getting something planted outside has really helped me feel like this is my home. My studio window looks out over the backyard and I can’t wait for the flowers to really get into their blooming stride as my usual local trips out and about for inspiration to churches, museums and art galleries are on hold. It’s time for ‘raiding the archive’ as I see you’ve already wisely suggested.
Two years? Two years? Gosh, I had no idea. I bet your archive has lots of treats – please share!
I agree- it is something that reminds me to hope, when I see the blooms and new buds and growth.
Yes, good ol’ Mother Nature keeps doing her thing. Thank goodness.
A safe and happy Easter to you too Agnes. As you say, things have moved quickly in the last few weeks! Lovely to see your floral photos.
Thanks – hope you had a pleasant Easter and you had a break from your ‘tasks’.
Lovely impressions from Suffolk and beyond, Agnes. This is certainly the most special April we ever have experienced. Take care.
Warm Easter greetings from Cley, North Norfolk.
Hello, thank you and I hope you’ve had as pleasant an Easter as possible up in Cley. At least most of the weekend was gloriously sunny and you do have a beautiful part of the world in which to stroll. Most of us may be living the lockdown life, but the upside is more time for reading, writing and creative activities that offer us alternative spaces for reflection.
Wishing you well and keep safe, Agnes.