Lilacs & English Garden China

The English Garden referred to here is this ironstone china pattern on the table. It seemed the best compliment to my somewhat weather beaten lilacs that I wanted to feature today.

Our New Mexico garden resembles the English version very little. Our lilac bushes are in the shade of large trees on adjacent property that have overpowered them in recent years. We are in a drought, had a recent windy freeze, and our bushes are no doubt in need of a good pruning.

What this all adds up to is disappointment. We have only a few sad blooms. I kept mentally reaching for lines from my favorite Keats poem which don't really apply at all, but which match my attitude about the whole affair:

The weariness, the fever, and the fret . . .

Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies; (Ode to a Nightingale).

It's the blooms that have met too early an end in this case. And though spindly and sparse they're getting their day in the sun anyway (which you can see an awful lot of here!).

A little tea and coffee on the veranda anyone?

There are just a few more coming on, but this small creamer and pitcher are the whole of the blooms from three small bushes.

A few layered linens remind me of an English cottage too!

We always get our market umbrellas up early in spring, and it's really the best time of year on the patios before the hot weather sets in.

I hope you have a wonderful spring weekend ahead!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Between Naps on the Porch~Tablescape Thursday

Common Ground~Be Inspired

Rosegarden in Malevik~Saturday Show Off

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home