Ilkeston - Flowers In The Rain
w/e 01 June 2014
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
We can appreciate the recent fine weather that is
too easily forgotten all the more when we compare it to the week
we have just experienced that was more reminiscent of February
or November than the late days of May. It was unfortunate that
much of the week that not only featured a Bank Holiday but also
was the half term break for many schoolchildren, was marred by
overcast skies and cold rainy days. So much so in fact, that
when I looked out of the window, I recalled a song which has
been buzzing around in my head ever since,. The song in question
is the first record played on Radio 1 in 1967 by Tony Blackburn
- The Move's hit "Flowers In The Rain".
(Radio 1 Launch Day link)
The near persistent precipitation has done the peony in our front
garden no favours whatsoever dashing the flowers to the ground
long before we could enjoy the deep red blooms.
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Rose bushes have fared better but even here some petals from
the flowers have been washed off long before we could dead head
them to encourage more growth.
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Bush geraniums also in a corner of the front garden are flowering
well but are still been dashed by the rain despite their sheltered
position.
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Self seeding campanulas at the front of the house have started
to flower and are standing up better to the conditions although
still drenched by the rain.
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Bush geraniums and campanulas are also flowering at the back
of the house but the azalea is already past its best and looking
quite bedraggled in parts.
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Cornflowers however are looking skywards and appear to be welcoming
the rain with open arms. This picture was taken from directly
above one flower.
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By contrast the aquilegias have their heads bowed and their petals
are acting as mini umbrellas. This shot was taken from underneath
and looking skywards. We only planted a few aquilegias some years
ago but they have multiplied and spread and can now be found
all over the garden. Some of them will have to come out!
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Foxgloves are just beginning to flower too and there are plenty
more to come but this is the only one in flower at the moment.
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We used to have bleeding hearts in our garden but they disappeared
a couple of years ago. This solitary flower was peeping through
the fence from our neighbour's garden.
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Also peeping through from next door was this shrub and I didn't
know what it was until I asked our neighbour. It turns out to
be a weigela but Google search reveals there are alternative
spellings for it including weigella and weigelia. I supppose
I should investigate further but it's actually stopped raining
and cleared up now so perhaps I'd better leave that for a rainy
day!
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