June Serenity by the river

An image of riverside serenity to welcome-in sunny June... Taken on the towpath, between Hampton Court and Kingston, it looks out onto the house I admire most, from a distance, each time I wander that way.

May in the Rose Garden

Now is the time to visit Hampton Court Palace's glorious Rose Garden. 

A joy - for the exquisite scents permeating the air, combined with the sumptuous sights - abundant in every flower bed.  Colours range from palest cream to deepest burgundy; this gorgeous mid-pink variety has the deepest fragrance and fullest bloom...

Visit soon - entry to the garden, situated close to the West Gate entrance, is free - to experience the sensory delights, at their seasonal best.

Happiness on West Wittering Beach

Apologies for the slightly blurred (phone camera) pic but I couldn't resist capturing the contentment of the charming English Sheepdog, basking blissfully in the warm sand, on beautiful West Wittering beach, yesterday.  Is she contemplating a surf or just enjoying the scenery?

I had a brilliant time exploring, dreaming of living nearby; wandering for miles along the scenic stretch of white sands, colourful beach huts and verdant South Downs backdrop - wonderfully friendly locals, too!

Signs of Spring

When do you know that spring is on the way?  Not, for me, a specific calendar date but a subtly transformative sensation in the air  - alerting and enlivening all the senses.  Gradually lengthening days with (hooray!) brighter skies; happy bursts of colour burgeoning all around; blossom precociously composing itself for star status, smiles more prevalent on friendly faces.

Yesterday afternoon, in royal Richmond Park, the temperature remained chilly but the sun shone abundantly - encouraging spring shoots to nudge their way above ground.  I was captivated by the open-faced charm of the early-flowering white clematis, strewn beguilingly with deep-pink freckles.

Strange the contrast  - a mere few yards up the hill - where a faintly forlorn coterie of snowdrops are close to their annual curtain call, making way for new life.

Feel-good Friday

There's some brightness on the horizon, today.  It may be close to freezing-point but the sunshine has helped to make my heart sing (a little)... along with the deliciously scented panoply of pink roses, enjoying pride-of-place in my living room.  What has made you smile this Friday?