how do you know spring has arrived?

Two pics that sum up the arrival of Spring for me:- a gorgeous beaming forsythia in its golden prime.  I walk past this every day on the way to school and it cheers me up so much.  This garden doesn't get much direct sunlight but this plant gives a real ray of sunshine.

And just the previous week we had had hail and really cold temperatures but here's the Jardins du Luxembourg hoaching with people catching some sun at lunchtime.  Today I even had to queue to get into the gate I use normally.  It was lovely sitting on a Luxembourg Chair (see Fermob website) and overhearing passionate debates amongst students from the Sorbonne and Ecole des Mines whilst eating my sandwiches.

And the last clue is the smell, the smell of the ground warming up, the leaves opening, the fresh air and a certain change in the atmosphere.  Spring is sprung!

Ps Reason # 4 - the first blossom has arrived on our cherry tree, hurray!

Arley Hall, Cheshire, UK

Someone very special to me has just got a job here.  I know that they are really going to love working in such an amazing place, being surrounded by all this green beauty and history.  I wanted to show you the glorious gardens, just some lovely pictures....go on, have a look at the website!  A real slice of England.  Visit if you can of course. 

 http://www.arleyhallandgardens.com/gardens.html

Le Magicien de l'éphémere

Which, roughly translated means 'the Wizard of ephemeral'.  I noticed this this stunning little shop front in Rue Royale.  Lachavme, master florist since 1845, whose motto is 'excellence'.   I was stopped in my tracks by the smell of the jasmine in this display around the entrance - I literally walked past and back tracked when I smelled it, only to be met with these sumptous blooms in the colourful shop window.  If only my blog could do smell-o-vision!

I imagined sophisticated gentlemen ordering extravagant bouquets for their amour, beautifully decorated banqueting tables or society weddings overflowing with creamy roses......such decadance!

Have a look at the website and get yourself a floral screensaver from the 'goodies'.

http://lachaume-fleurs.com/home_en.html

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Sick!

Sitting at home feeling miserable with a gastro, it was hard not to be slightly uplifted by the sight of these trees bursting with blossom next door.

Monoprix does it again!

More cute cache pots from Monoprix to add class to your garden or balcony or staircase.  Ranging from 5 - 7 Euros a pot.

So darn tasteful in those muted greys, greens and off whites......

Garden Furniture

I've noticed that the shops are waking up to spring and are starting to display their new garden furniture ranges.  Passing through BHV on rue Rivoli, I glanced at their selection which seemed frankly uninteresting and rather expensive.  Bricorama have some cute coloured chairs and tables at the budget end of the market.  Here's some pics of part of their range

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I'm sure this will be the first of many garden ranges I'll be bringing you, can't wait to explore the shops!

Squares of Paris: It's not really a Square!

I tracked down the other green space in 2nd arr, Square Pierre Lazareff, deep in the heart of the garment production/fashion wholesalers area.  The Square is named after a journalist on a French newspaper, France Soir.  And guess what?  It's not really a square! It's an enclosed small planted area with a high wooden structure and alongside is a strip of fenced in plants and trees.  This is not a Square!  I cannot eat my sandwiches in there!

However, there is a little story nevertheless.  The high wooden structure turns out to be a pigeon loft and there's a sign explaining why it's there which explains that this contraceptive 'pigeonnier' was installed by the Town Hall of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris to deal with the pigeon population of the area and improve the conditions of cohabitation between the birds and the residents.

Inside the loft, the pigeons can find water and food and are able to make their nests on small balconies.  Births of baby birds are regulated by the sterilisation of the eggs.

Wounded pigeons are put in the hands of the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (near Paris).

The loft is responsible for a significant reduction of pigeon related nuisance in the area.  The pigeons group together in the loft and the cleaning of mess is also easier to handle.

Actually I was pretty speechless at that!  Here's some pics of the non-square, the loft and the Marché de Montorgueil.

So, even in the most meagre green spaces, there's still something interesting to learn.  And the 'square' is right next to the Marché de Montorgueil, a really vibrant street filled with cafés and bakers and some pretty trendy little shops.  So my walk wasn't for nothing......

Didn't find any pics of pigeons, they must all have been inside:-)