Motto, "Do an act of kindness. Help one person”.
‘Smile a while and give your face a rest!
Then shake hands with the ones you like the best
Now turn round to those near by
And greet them with a smile’
Adaptation
This sunflower started as one little seed of four that I planted in small biodegradable pots. Not bothering to pot them on as they grew, I chose to put them in our raised beds. As they grew, I took out three that I spotted, the fourth must have been too small at that point. Sometime later I noticed it had suddenly grown like it was competing with the Tower of Babel!
There are now more than ten flower heads, six already in bloom, which reminds me of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflower painting.
Thinking ahead …
World Smile day takes place on the first Friday of October. This year it will be on 2nd October 2026 with the theme, "Do an act of kindness. Help one person”. You needn’t wait till then. At the very least, if possible, smile a while and give your face a rest!
I wonder how the Sedum floral clusters will get on in these pots!
I harvested the Bullace plums on 29th August 2026 and to my surprise the quantity was two and half times as much as last year, (see part 2)!
Edith mentions not finding any when she looked in 6th October 1905 and wondered whether it was ‘due to the late frosts we had in May’. Well we had a heatwave late in May 2026!
I have included a Victoria plum, Cherry, Honeycombe and Alicante tomatoes for size comparisons. With the recent rainfall, the grass is turning green again too.
Bullace 1, Bullace 2, Bullace 3, Bullace 4
The bullace fruit are well into the ripening stage and the tree planted 80 degrees east in our garden, is overall in a better condition than our Pyracantha. The Pyracantha has had it’s upper leaves scored by the sun although the London Pride sheltered in a pot beneath the Pyracantha, is happily continuing to grow. They are situated in our back garden 272 degrees west and have endured concentrated warming in the last few heatwaves.
The background frames are based on e-processed yellow and orange brolly fabric respectively.
After the concerns of April, I’m very happy to see some fruit on the Bullace tree. Not as much relative to the amount of blossoms that was showing in March but thankful that the fruits are progressing well.
With the successful Sarehole / Middle Earth / Tolkien Festival held only last weekend, it seemed a happy co-incidence to find a plethora of oak saplings behind our shed, (some from our neighbour’s too). The bags may look small here, but there actually over 500 saplings! Aided by a Facebook friend, I was able to locate a conservationist group that was willing to have them.
Edith Holden mentions various stages of growth of the oak tree in her Nature Notes of 1906 too.
Another happy co-incidence is that it is 5th June 2026, World Environmental Day.
The background frames are based on e-processed yellow and blue brolly fabric respectively.
‘To the medieval mind those fluttery petals were akin to bird’s wings – the association stuck. Columbine from the Latin columba meaning dove gives us the link to the Holy Spirit while aquila gives us the eagle – and Christ in the form of an eagle soaring heavenwards ’
Source: The History Jar
Interestingly one of the birds I heard today was the Collared Dove, (for the first time since using the Merlin Bird Id). The Collared Dove is shown first on the list below.
I have seen numerous Orange Tip butterflies this month of April 2026, both in our garden and elsewhere such as Elmdon Park and Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.
The back story to seeing them in our garden is partly due to the outcome of mud being dispersed from a flooded area to other parts of the garden, (I've coined the term Archaeoplanting for this). Later on the Garlic Mustard plant appeared and Orange Tip butterflies have been visiting our garden since!
Health Benefits
of Garlic Mustard
'Garlic
mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is very good for you, acting as a
highly nutritious and safe wild edible. It is packed with vitamins A, C, E, and
minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium, alongside omega-3 fatty acids. It
has a peppery garlic flavor, is excellent for boosting immunity and reducing
inflammation, and can be used in salads, pesto, or cooked like spinach.
AI overview 6th May 2026'
Edith Holden, ‘gathered some sprays of Bullace in blossom’ on 9th April 1905.
Having experienced Storm David and a number of other windy days recently, I can confirm that there is not enough blossom for gathering on our bullace tree (09Apr26) !
I did not see or hear much in the way of bees – especially on the windy days. Nonetheless, here’s hoping that some pollination did occur so that the fruit will form in due time.
Happy Easter Season
A Resurrection Bible reading
You do not need to wait for a designated day to show kindness.
The Bullace fruit tree is currently in bloom in our garden. Last year’s sweet fruit is also shown, (harvested in August 2025). Hoping for more of the same this year. The cherry and honeycomb tomatoes shows size comparison.
Note to self, will it still be in bloom on 9th April as per Edith’s 1905 notes ?
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
Genesis c1 v11-12 KJV
The squirrel sketch is by Edith Holden. The frame is from an e-processed green brolly fabric.
In addition to saving some acorns and putting these out for the squirrels, they also seem to enjoy munching our camellia buds.
These buds ‘…serve as a nutritious, edible supplement during lean times, such as late winter or early spring when other food is scarce.’ AI
I have seen camellia plants in the area fully bloom earlier e.g December 2025 and January 2026. Ours started blooming January – just two flowers for now though so hopefully it is being cautious and will wait for the frost season to pass before releasing it's plethora of flowers.
The Madonna of the Yarnwinder
Early wooden yarn winders have been found in Arabia dating around 5000 BC. In that era, people used their hands mainly for building, planting and harvesting food and clothing. Clothes would be made from nature such as sheep’s wool or linen from the flax plant. The main method for yarn winding would include a ‘distaff and spindle’.
How many words can make from the Mona Lisa. I recently found Lana, meaning wool or yarn in Italian. How many words can you find? Try using other languages such as French, Italian and Latin.
There is a Biblical reference to the distaff and spindle in the book of Proverbs too.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs c31 v10-31 KJV
Thinking ahead too. Both this year and the next.
If you are part of a local community group, consider marking the occasion with:
* Having a wildflower patch in your own / community garden.
* An Edwardian Tea Party
* An Edwardian Fancy Dress
* An Art Exhibition (invite members of the community to bring and show their flora / fauna art work) - perhaps venues can include pubs having tea / coffee morning sessions
* A Talk / Discussion with members within your group.
Happy Christmas
'So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.'
Matthew c1 v17 – 25 KJV
The background frame is based on an e-processed red brolly fabric.
