Thursday 4 April 2019

The promise of Springtime

Ah, the first flowers of Spring! Those bashfully nodding snowdrops, the trees and shrubs clad in delicate blossoms and the daffodils with their frilly petticoats! Nothing bashful about them, that's for sure!

Nothing bashful about Dove Cottage's first Spring flowers either. 

Many years ago, in a moment of madness, we planted a climber to grow through our lilac tree.

The climber in question is Clematis armandii, also known as evergreen or winter flowering Clematis. In our garden, the first flowers usually start appearing in March. It is a vigorous evergreen climber with long, leathery and glossy dark green leaves and clusters of creamy white flowers.



For the first couple of years, the plant presented us with only a handful of flowers. But ever since Jos started pruning it back rigorously after flowering, as the poor lilac tree was buckling under the climber's weight, more and more flowers appeared each Spring.

Now, there are literally hundreds, and their sweet almond scent, which carries far and remains trapped inside our garden walls, is quite intoxicating, especially on a warm, still day.



Trying to compete with this profusion of flowers may seem like a daunting task, but it's nothing my flower power wardrobe can't handle.

I dug out this lightweight skirt suit which was charity shopped back in 2015, its dense floral print not one for shrinking violets. There's no label so I suspect that it was handmade, and it's fully lined, producing a satisfying swish-swish sound while prancing around in the garden.



A caramel belt was added to define my waist, and I added chocolate beads and a brooch with cream leaves and chocolate berries.

Although not a patch on the Clematis flowers, this coy little Anemone managed to grab my attention by peeking out from the rampant ivy leaves it is surrounded by.


It was the Saturday before last and, after a couple of gorgeous Spring days, the sun had decided to play hooky once more.

After a quick dash to the charity shops, we made an equally quick tour of the park, which seems to be getting greener by the minute, the weeping willows sporting hazy curtains of golden green.



Tired of my Winter coats and jackets, I tempted fate by wearing my lilac tweed jacket which I picked up at Think Twice in the Autumn of 2017, pinning a celluloid cameo brooch to its collar.

My raspberry beret and fluffy pink scarf, which were flea market and charity shop finds respectively, complimented the flowering currant bush with its drooping clusters of pink hued flowers.




A bright blue sky greeted us on Sunday, and the sun was out in full force, as if she had to make up for her absence on Saturday.

Although it was still a bit windy, the day was definitely too good to be wasted inside, so we ventured out for a short walk in one of our favourite parks, Middelheim. Those of you who have been following by blog for a while might remember that this is not just an ordinary park, but includes an open-air museum of sculpture.


We entered the park through its east entrance, passing through this simultaneously futuristic and retro looking structure. Its three slender pillars rise up into a three-fold, mushroom-shaped canopy, which seems to be inspired by those iconic 1950s petrol stations. The names of some of the artists whose work is represented in the museum are incorporated in the canopy. 

This is, in fact, one of the museum's works of art, which is called Artiesteningang (Artists' Entrance), by John Körmeling, a Dutch artist who occupies the no man’s land between architecture and art.  


I was wearing a long-sleeved frock I bought during Think Twice's latest sales days, at the same time as the green dresses I've shown you in one of my previous posts, but which I didn't tell you about as I knew I would be wearing it very soon.

Here's a close-up of its psychedelic print, which includes red, orange, lilac, turquoise and burgundy, the latter of which I repeated in my cardigan, belt, opaques and boots. The multi-coloured beads were a flea market find many years ago, while the cream and tortoiseshell flower brooch was charity shopped.



We meandered through the park, our itinerary decided by our mood and the fact that some parts of the park were closed off as a result of the recent storms, which had made quite a few hapless victims among the park's ancient trees.



We met several fellow walkers, like these Walking Sisters (1960-61) by Italian artist Elia Ajolfi (1916-2001).

The red container you can see behind them is also part of a work of art, by Belgian artist Luc Deleu. 



Hats off to this joyful girl, by Belgian sculptor Mark Macken (1913-1977). The sculpture is called April and dates from 1957.

My own hat was a last minute addition to my outfit, as I'd left the house hat-less, and this one happened to be in the car. 

You've seen it, and the teal jacket, before. I've been wearing that jacket a lot lately. Teal really is a surprisingly versatile colour.



I briefly joined the Professor (1969), a creation of Hungarian sculptor Imre Varga. After talking about poetry and the meaning of life, we shook hands, and I left him to his peace and quiet, blowing out the candles which had been burning rather pointlessly on this sunny Sunday afternoon.


Then we pulled up some chairs made of silver and gold, and sat in a sunny spot watching the world go by until it was time to go home.

Linking my pink and lilac outfit to Nancy's Fancy Friday linkup!

42 comments:

  1. I got a whiff of the lilac as I was reading the words Ann. Your weather seems milder than ours at the moment, which is lovely for your outings. You certainly get to some interesting and beautiful places.
    Have a lovely weekend. Looks like we are in for a cold one
    Lynn xxxx

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    1. Thank you Lynn! Our weather is a bit up and down, and we're in for some colder weather in the next days, it seems. xxx

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  2. What a lovely spring walk you took us on--from your own gorgeous garden (complete with floral aromas of almond) to your adventures in the sculpture park! I enjoyed every moment and felt as if I could feel the sun when it poked out. And, of course, the journey was made all the cheerier because of your delightful, colorful outfits! What a joy!

    - Sherry

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    1. Thank you Sherry, it was my pleasure to take you along! xxx

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  3. You look so fabulous in your flower dresses. Wonderful pictures of lilac, I can't wait till all flowers are back in our garden. At the moment the cherry blossom are amazing. Thank you for this wonderful pictures of spring :)
    with a very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! I love cherry blossom, it's a pity it doesn't last longer, isn't it? xxx

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  4. I love that sculpture park Have you ever been to the Kroller Moller museum in the Netherlands? They have a fabulous sculpting garden. I ordered a lilac skirt yesterday. And I was thinking of what colors to wear with it Now I know! You look fantastic in those pink lilac colors!

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    1. Thank you Nancy! I've heard of the Kröller Müller museum but have never been. Must put it on my list of places to visit! xxx

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  5. I love all the flower power going on in this post, Ann! You look fab in your floral suit surrounded by flowers! I adore your psychedelic print dress. The cardi, the hat and those beads complement the dress so well! Very boho chic! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Ann! XXX

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  6. Thank you for taking us along on your walks - I just love seeing all the flowers and greenery, and oh, those sculptures! I would love walking there.

    Your dress is marvelous, and that suit is lined? Wow, they don't make 'em like that anymore! I used to have a lilac jacket like that - fab colour on you, Ann! Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Thank you Sheila! It's always a plus when a suit is lined, isn't it? I never anticipated I'd get so much use out of that lilac jacket, but it seems to pop up on the blog regularly! xxx

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  7. your clematis is so gorgeous!!!
    but you do steal the show in your flowery frock :-D
    lovely pics from your stroll in the park - love how you interacted with the sculptures!!!
    big hugs! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! It was nice chatting with the professor ;-) xxx

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  8. What a joyful walk you shared along with those spring blooms! Your Think Twice dress is lovely, so elegantly constructed and looking wonderful on you!
    It sounds like you're enjoying much better weather than us, which took a turn for the worst last Sunday, it's back to sheepskin hats and gloves here! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! We're expecting colder weather this weekend, and this morning I was sorry I wasn't wearing gloves ... xxx

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  9. Nice colors in the first outfit. I love Spring.

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  10. Spring looks like it has properly arrived! Lucky you! We are expecting freezing rain here this morning. I'll take snow any day over freezing rain.

    The lilac and the pink are so lovely for spring and really pop against the green backdrop.

    That park is so interesting. You seem to discover something new each time you visit.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. I do hope Spring hurries up in your part of the world. And you're right, we do discover something new each time we visit Middelheim. xxx

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  11. What a lovely park. Fantastic sculptures; my favourite being (of course) 'The Walking Sisters'!

    Your outfits were so spring like and colourful and I loved your cameo brooch. The teal jacket is very versatile and it seems to go with a lot of your outfits. Your accessories are always so interesting; I love to see what hat/beret/tights/jewellery/bags you'll be wearing!

    So glad Spring has arrived in your part of the world and I hope it continues through to the weekend.
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you Vronni! I had to explain to Jos why your favourite was The Walking Sisters :-; Hope you're having a great time (and decent weather) in Ireland! xxx

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  12. I love the Clematis, even if the poor old Lilac tree feels under siege! You go very well with it! That skirt suit is really great. How amazing the Artist's/Artists' entrance is! What a great place to visit.
    By the way, there MAY be the possibility we might go to Antwerp some time this week (not certain, it is a silly idea connected to some cycling race my husband wants to see but wondered if that was near you at all? I could pass on those tights!! Not sure if it will happen yet, but if it does...x

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    1. Ooh, how exciting, Kezzie! I work in the centre of Antwerp, so I'm there Monday to Friday, and it would be no problem to meet you any time during the day. If you contact me at dovecottage@skynet.be, we could exchange phone numbers and arrange to meet up if you do decide to come! xxx

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  13. Spring is arriving for you-hooray! That clemantis is impressive. That sculpture park must be such a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. Love the new dress.

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    1. Thank you, Goody! We love visiting that sculpture park! xxx

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  14. What lovely spring outfits! I love the first floral one the most, pink and purple is a combination I like wearing together often too! :)

    Hope you are having a great weekend :) Another busy one here!

    Away From The Blue

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  15. Such gorgeous photography Ann. I love the sculptures and your nature photography is beautiful, as are you in the raspberry beret, lilac jacket combo. It's absolutely knockout you look amazing in it :)
    Loving your Clematis, it's a real beauty. xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, Sally! That Clematis really is our pride and joy! xxx

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  16. Ann,
    What beautiful and poetic writing about the beginning of spring. I am pleased for you that you not only get to see the flowers but you also get to smell them. And yes, I certainly agree, that your “flower power” wardrobe competes quite well.
    That both of her friend is stunning and I adore your flower branches as that both of her friend is stunning and I adore your flower brooches as well .
    There’s a photo in one of your collages and it looks almost like the background is stained glass- the windows each take on a different hue. It’s very beautiful .
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

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    1. Thank you so much, Elle! I know what you mean about the stained glass. It's a wonderful backdrop, isn't it? xxx

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  17. So much colour and life, both in the garden and the wardrobe! I do love a clematis, you are lucky to have such a mass of flowers. That skirt suit was a good find, always better with a swish! Xx

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    1. Thank you Sarah! We never had so many flowers before. It's a pity they do not last longer ... xxx

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  18. If anyone can compete with all those lovely flowers, it's you! That psychedelic tile-print dress is really nice, and I bet it works with all sorts of accessories.

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    1. Thank you Mim! My first thought was to accessorize with turquoise, but I've been wearing a lot of turquoise lately, and wanted a change! xxx

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  19. Lovely garden and lovely flowers (both in the garden and on your dress!). You look gorgeous in those violet and purple shades, fabulous colours!
    Love the pictures of your walk through the park, the sculptures, the landscapes and your beautiful dress and that teal jacket (totally agree on teal being very versatile, it's amazing!)
    besos

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    1. Thank you, Monica! I certainly do love my flowers, I'm glad you do too! xxx

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  20. What a beautiful Clematis, it sounds rather enchanting with it's clusters of creamy white flowers and sweet almond scent.
    The park looks fascinating, a place to lose yourself in.
    xx

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    1. Thank you Hazel! That Clematis is particularly enchanting because it's one of the first things to flower in our garden! xxx

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