The Changing Seasons – April 2020

This challenge is hosted by Su from Zimmerbitch. You can find out how to participate at the end of this post!

I was not going to blog about COVID-19 or the lockdown. I am healthy, safe, and still employed – so am a lot better off than some.

But. I am sleeping badly and struggling to focus. Dark thoughts never far away. ‘Working from Home’ means my main stressor has invaded my space and I have no means of escape. I am not going to write more as I just get even more upset.

Sunrise, Morecambe West End

Flying Sprog, Morecambe.

As you can see. I was allowed out for a bit of an early morning stroll. Morecambe promenade is long and wide and ideal for social-distanced outings. The above sculpture is correctly called ‘Venus and Cupid’ and commemorates the 24 Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in an incident nearby in 2004. Given the location in windy Morecambe Bay I think it depicts a woman trying to prevent her child being blown away, in which case it faces the wrong way – into the prevailing wind.

Another form of exercise this month was cutting up all this wood for burning next winter, mostly the frame of my old greenhouse.

I have not sown a lot of seeds this year but this success shows youngsters of a North American Milkweed (Asclepias) from seed sent by my friend Lisa of Lismore Paper. They need a cold spell before germination so had spent 3 months sown on damp kitchen paper in a box in the fridge, before being sown properly and moved to a warm propagator. This is just a week later.

Easter happened this month of course. Appropriately the Pasque flowers in various colours were at their peak.

Elsewhere in the garden, the tulips relished the very sunny month. These tulips stay planted all year round as our dry silty soil allows them the summer rest they need. In much of the UK most tulips have to be lifted for the summer.

Two species of Turbinicarpus and Pediocactus knowltonii

The earliest of the Cacti flower in April here.

My favourite plant in the garden – this unidentified Tree Peony has dinner-plate sized flowers with the most amazing strong scent that fills the garden.

Artistic endeavours were restricted to experimenting with coloured pencil on black backgrounds.

The weather changed in the last few days of April, with incoming clouds and some spectacular sunsets from the west side of our house.

If you would like to join in, here are the challenge guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

• Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
• Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

• Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
• Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
• Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to Su’s original post, she can update hers with links to all of yours.