Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Spring means...



Spring means enjoying the pansies. Hubby did a terrific job a few weeks ago.



in Dutch we call them little violets; 'viooltjes' from its Latin origin Viola.
But as every word in dutch we make this word small while we stick -je or -tje behind it.
We live in a small country so we make our world small too.



and these violets we call 'Maartse viooltjes' which means 'little violets of March'. These are my favorites, but I always wondered; why on earth do we call them 'violets of March' while they always blossom in April? Mmm someone who was ahead of time and aware of global heating must have thought that out! Btw do you see the little buds?



Aaah I love love love this; our new camelia has buds too!
Cannot wait to see its flowers.



I'm not sure about these sprouts; it's our Euphorbia flowering. I think we should have cut it back in October. Does anyone know? It's too late now anyway. Note to self: I have to check this.



He's not sure either; 'Cut it before it takes over the whole garden', he told me, much have watched 'The day of the Triffids', or 'My little shop of horror' too much.



Ok, I showed you this before; electricity in the garden often comes in handy but they (MEN!) should have consulted me first in picking the spots.
The good news is that the ivy is growing! And that plant that I really love in the background too!



Last season made this guy a little rustier.
But I don't mind, I love decay in the garden.




A lot of green here too, but it's not spring green. It definitely makes clear why the bottom of a shelf should be dark...and why most dutch people have a dark green shed. I like the green on the tiles and the tub though.



so there will be spring cleaning, in fact I have been busy all week! But not too much cleaning in the garden. I cannot remember that I ever did 'spring cleaning' but our house is being painted on the outside. So there are painters staring at their work, but I feel they are looking at me and thinking; 'What? Is that her again behind the computer? Doesn't she have a vacuum cleaner?' And so on, so I hoover at least once a day and I clean. I'm behind the computer less, unless they have a break, which they take a lot. I once had a roommate who just took the 'Pledge' and sprayed around. To have a clean feeling she used to say. I haven't tried that one yet.

Hope you have a sunny day too over there! See you around: next time some spring cleaning items over here! (Now if that's not a cliffhanger, I don't know!)

Sorry no dutch translation this time. I have to clean.
Sorry geen nederlandse vertaling dit keer, misschien kun je de vertaler in de side bar gebruiken.
Ik ben met de grote schoonmaak bezig!

44 comments:

Beth Leintz said...

I like the green on the tub and tiles too- and I love your round brick patio- I'm going to show the picture to DH and see if he thinks he can replicate something similiar in our yard- the more brick and cement, the less he has to mow.

María Elena said...

Hi Lili, that beautiful air of spring have in your home ... but there is much work ahead. Here has extended the summer and it is exhausting.
Big hugs

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Spring has sprung!

We're having some lovely sunshine in the UK at the moment.

Victoria xx

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

What is it about Spring that makes us clean? I guess I should be glad I still get that fever every spring, because I sure don't clean the rest of the year!!

Janine said...

oh dat zier er allemaal heerlijk uti daar bij jou, en de camelia die al bijna opgengaat. Mooi hoor, Hier schijnt ook het zonnetje, maar eerlijk gezegd, toch wel erg fris, dus ik ga alleen naar buiten om de hond uit te laten. De winter blijft lang hangen deze keer, dat die zon nu maar eens lekker opwarmt ;), lieve groeten van mie

Marja Rijnsburger said...

Je verhaal is weer genieten. Vooral het gedeelte van de schilders heeft me doen lachen zo in mijn eentje achter de computer. Wanneer ze nu bij mij de buitenboel aan het schilderen waren zouden ze vast denken, wat zit dat mens te gniffelen achter haar computer. Moet ze geen eten gaan koken ???? Ik ben vandaag een dagje naar de caravan geweest en heb ontzettend veel in de tuin gedaan. Sinds een half jaar heb ik mijn eigen autotje (ik noem hem mijn kooekblikje, klein maar fijn) en dat stelt me in de gelegenheid om op mijn vrije dagen richting camping (zonder campingsmoking, maar wel in werktenue) te rijden. Nu komt alles niet meer op het weekend aan en is de tuin alweer bijna op orde. Het laatste jaar word het, we hebben na lange aarzelen (vooral van mijn kant) besloten om afstand te doen van de caravan en de tuin. Maar hiervoor in de plaats komt wel weer iets nieuws waar ik ook weer heelveel zin in heb.
Succes met de voorjaarsschoonmaak en wel een beetje genieten van het heerlijke voorjaars zonnetje.

bluemuf said...

Hi Lili, I love your pansies, they are my very favourite flower. Your garden is delightful and I love seeing all the little nooks and crannies. I also like garden decay and now they are selling thing in the garden centres that look rusty. I much prefer the real thing.

Karen

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Hellooo! I love the mossy covered things! I read somewhere that you could paint a flower pot with buttermilk and put it in a damp place (such as under the house) and the moss will grow.
If I sprayed Pledge around, I'd slip and break my neck!

Anonymous said...

Hej Lili,
Ja hoor, de voorjaarskriebels komen er bij jou ook echt aan !! Zelf struin ik ook door de tuin met m'n neus bijna aan de grond en kijk alle groene puntjes eruit ! Door de violen krijgt jullie tuin al een echte voorjaarslook !!
Ach en de voorjaarsschoonmaak .... zelf ruim ik af en toe eens weer een kast op en dat geeft ook een goed gevoel. Maar ik wil je nu niet langer ophouden, ga maar gauw verder met het poetsen, hahaha !
Groetjes,
Janneke.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lili :) little violets are one of my favorites flowers ! Your garden is very lovely :) We have had a very sunny day today :) Spring is here :) Have a great day :)

Jeanette said...

deze tuinfoto`s doen me weer heel erg denken aan je tuinfoto`s in het begin van picasa wat heb ik toen vaak moeten lachen om je -moskwekerij- en ik zie dat je het mos nog steeds kweekt, haha.. maar je tuin is zo mooi geworden en het begint al weer lekker te groeien. de mooie tijd komt weer aan!

lieve groet,
jeanette

vosgesparis said...

Ik ben weer aan mijn rondje nederlandse blogs bezig ;) Je brengt me toch wel vaak aan t nadenken over dingen... is t waar dat we overal 'je' achter zetten... een zak mandarijntjes, spruites, worteltjes,knakworstjes,buxus plantjes.... mmm je zou best gelijk kunnen hebben met je vage hersenspinsel.. zouden we aardappel zeggen omdat we krieltjes hebben? dat is er en voor jou!

Maar goed de tijden vande moiskwekerij zijn voorgoed voorbij zo te zien, of rukt 'het' weer op in een donker hoekje?

Fijne rest van de week en dergelijke ;)

Anonymous said...

Oh, your outside is as pretty as the inside. We have a species here called the rusty blackbird, but I don't think it's the same as your rusty bird (I think I like yours better!) I'm exceptionally jealous of all that green and flowery stuff, but I knew as soon as you said "little violets" that a -je was coming! I'll be fluent before you know it.

Splashes of Pink and Mint said...

Ha, die van de Pledge ken ik! Natúúrlijk niet van mezelf, maar er zijn inderdaad meer mensen die dat spul gebruiken, ik ben toch meer van een echt sopje!
Je tuin begint al aardig te ontluiken! Die knoppen aan de Camelia zijn prachtig, en helemaal als ze straks open komen! Ik ben blij dat onze schuur donkergroen is! Normaal ben ik niet zo van het praktische (wel mooi niet handig zou m'n wederhelft zeggen!), maar in dit geval ben ik er wel blij mee! Ik hou het binnen al amper bij, laat staan buiten!
Veel plezier(??????) met je grote schoonmaak! Ik zag die schilders trouwens al voor me, hahaha!!! Je voelt je bijna verplicht om wat te doen, zou ik ook hebben hoor!
Vergeet ik het nog: je kan op tafel is prachtig!

Carol said...

Hi Lili what lovely pictures in this post, I love all of it, the birds, the bath, pansies, tiny tweeny violets....all of it!
The Spring weather is so good this year. I cannot remember a March so warm and bright.
Carol xx

Lori said...

LiLi, i am cracking up about what you said: re: the workers looking at you through the window and wondering why you aren't cleaning...i have to confess my house is not as clean since i discovered blogging...i would much rather be visiting here than dusting and vacuuming...your garden looks pretty!!!

Kris said...

Hi Lili,
Love your spring photos. The flowers are beautiful. I love the rusty blue bird. He/she is aging beautifully. I'm doing some spring cleaning here and trying my best to get the house in order. We have family visiting soon from out of state and I don't want them to be greeted with dust balls. LOL

HAVE A HAPPY DAY

Kris

SweetScarlett said...

Isn't it lovely in the garden this time of year?
Yours is so pretty.
I love the old looking tub with cleaning things in it and I love your humour about your workers and your idea of 'cleaning' when you could be computing!
There is a little award awaiting you on my blog.
xxx
Maggie

Stephenie said...

Your pansies are just so pretty!!! I can't wait for spring to get here in Pa. I also love your statues in your yard.
Stephenie

Miss Marple said...

Nou, mocht je nou je huis al schoon hebben en de handwerkers staan nog steeds voor je raam...ik ken een huisje in Duitsland, wat graag een sopje wil hebben en je kunt er geheel ongestoord achter de computer zitten! ;-)
Heerlijk hè, die eerste tekens van de lente in de tuin...bij ons komen de bloembollen ook al op!

LG en alvast een prettig weekend! - Irma

LW said...

I love the thought of spring…
I don’t have any thing in bloom as of yet, I did notice just a few tips of green popping out of the ground yesterday and I spotted a bluebird.

Thank you for sharing your garden with us…
I had to laugh at why you are spring-cleaning.
I am cleaning for Easter; my husband thought for sure the computer was broken…

Louise

Twa said...

Wat gezellig die kiekjes uit je tuin. We krijgen er allemaal weer zin in. Ik moet ook nodig weer wat in de tuin doen en nou ja, eigenlijk ook het hele huis kan wel een sopbeurtje gebruiken. Tijd tekort!

. said...

So So So lovely. I lived in a town called upstairs Lions or downstairs whichever. I can't spell it in Dutch. It was near Lieden? Smiles and thanks for the comment. Denise

FrenchGardenHouse said...

:) You are so funny. Een schat JE. Just close the curtains so the nosy painters can't see you laughing behind the computer.
Happy Spring, Dutch girl!
Lidy

Unknown said...

Pansies are my favorite Spring flower. Such a lovely post and your garden is gorgeous with Spring buds peeking through and your garden ornaments. Your journal page was mailed a few days ago. I don't know how long it takes to reach the Netherlands, but hopefully soon. Have a lovely day.

Karen

casa nostra said...

prachtig die violen. ik had me vanavond al voorgenomen om er morgen ook te gaan halen. geweldig je schoonmaakverhaaltje weer!hahaha. je tuin is prachtig en de komende dagen kan je er met dit mooie weer lekker van genieten.

Christine said...

The pansies are beautiful. It's warm enough here yet to plant some. But I have seen some my plants coming back from the long cold winter.

roseroomnz.com said...

I just love the freshness of spring and all the new hope it brings. I have lots of the little 'Maartse viooltjes' in my garden, they are almost like a weed! Happy Spring to you! Rachaelxo

Wanda said...

Wow...the outside looks as good as the inside. Just lovely. Hey, you've been tagged..please go to my blog. :)

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I've turned my blog off...please don't think I've blocked you, okay? I may return soon :)

cherished*vintage said...

I love seeing the starts to your spring! I'm feeling like it's just not coming fast enough here. While I was walking around our yard the other day, it was still so wintery looking... I can't wait for my camelias to bloom - one of my favorites too. I think I get the urge to clean once in spring and in fall - other then that I don't have an urge - ever! hehe
-Karoline

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

So much beautiful eye candy! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your colourful pansies! We are STILL waiting for some blossoms here... just one tiny primrose blossom to speak of in my yard today! =) I also ADORE that aqua enamel coffee pot! =) Have a lovely SPRING weekend!

Anonymous said...

Just adore your lovely garden...and the little statute. My front yard needs some serious work...so no photos yet!! I'll pretend it looks like yours!
Cleaning???..spraying Pledge is just what I need to do...now off to find that disappearing dust rag!

Stacey said...

Hi LiLi! Hope you are well- Love the little cherub statue:)

Bonjade said...

Af en toe zie ik je via via weer.
Het is hier steeds zo gezellig..... maar steeds mis ik van alles.
Kan ik je ook ergens volgen???
Hoef ik niets meer te missen.
Ik heb weer genoten.
Fijn weekend

Betzie said...

Hi Lili,
Love your photos...the rusty bird is my favorite! I love pansies too. Wish my hubby got into planting flowers...lucky girl!
Love your Dutch!

kari and kijsa said...

Love this! We just wanted to say Thank you!
blessings,
kari & kijsa

Betty said...

Your garden is so pretty LiLi! You should do what I do when there are workers around. I pretend to myself that I have an exciting online business and I just have to be here. LOL

atelierlemlem said...

Niet alleen je huis ziet er super mooi uit, ook je tuin is een plaatje!! Heel erg mooi...om een beetje bij weg te dromen...
Ik ben ook allerlei laatjes aan het uitmesten, kasten aan het ordenen e.d... het zit weer in de lucht!

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I too am torn between house and garden these days.. wanting to soak up the sun while it lasts!
I have some little violets that are in flower already.. we have quite a mild climate here in the south west U.K..
Don't forget to take time to smell those violets and beware of too much blogging!!
With love
Michèle x

Jikkes said...

Heerlijk om wat tuinfoto's te zien....

SweetAnnee said...

I love it all..gardens are heavenly!!

Deena

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Hi Lilli,

Loved your post! Spring cleaning, it is! I need to do that. Maybe you've inspired me....
Love your little boxes. All designs and used for so many things. Loved your post. Have a wonderful day,

Kitty

Boxwood Cottage said...

Oh my LiLi you make me laugh so hard with your spring cleaning story, I'm in tears here!

I have so much of that kind of green here too. You should see my 3steps that go up to my house door, they so green yuk and the cellar steps at the back side of the house are full with moss and ivy that I almost can't use them anymore.

Can't believe how fabulous your Euphorbia looks after this long and freezing winter! Wow!

The weatherforecast has promised us spring is coming back tommorrow, so Yiihaa!

I'm so happy the days are longer now and I'm looking forward to go out in the garden when I come home from work next week at 5ish pm for at leat 2 hours every day.

Happy spring day's to you dear LiLi!

xoxo Carola