Wednesday, May 3, 2017

The beginning of May

Thanks, everyone, for the supportive comments about my fall on Monday. Yesterday I was pretty sore all along my left side, from my neck down to my knee. I felt like I had pulled some muscles, and I may very well have. I hit the ground hard! But today I feel much better. I'm still a little bit sore, and the bruise on my arm is pretty sensitive to the touch, but overall things are much improved.

Gregg is at the dermatologist's office having the small basal cell carcinoma on his forehead removed. I tried to get him to let me drive him, or at least go with him, but he insisted that it wasn't necessary. The nurses said it should be pretty quick and straightforward and he'll only be getting a small area of skin numbed. There were no restrictions on driving or anything else, so he told me to stay home and enjoy the day off. He suggested I might want to ride my bike, since the weather is so nice...ha ha ha! I think I'll let my bruises, scrapes, and pulled muscles finish healing first, thank you very much!

It is a beautiful day outside, though. Blue sky, cooler temperatures, and the magnolias and jasmine have burst into bloom. I knew the jasmine was starting to flower before I actually saw it, because of the sweet smell. We were returning from our nightly walk with the dogs and I caught the barest hint of jasmine in the air. Sure enough, the next morning when I went outside to check, the first tiny white flowers were beginning to open. I knew the magnolia trees in the neighborhood were about to bloom, too, because even after dark all the huge white flower buds are easy to see. It's amazing what all you can notice even after dark if you pay attention!

Here's one of the first blooms on a young magnolia tree in our yard. I went out just now (at midday) to take the picture. This is the only one within reach so far. It's about 2 feet above my head.



I pulled the branch down to get that second picture for you. These blooms are enormous--roughly the size of dinner plates. And oh! The smell is heavenly. It's a very soft lemon scent without a hint of the usual zest of citrus. It's reminds me of lemon mixed with cream and sugar. Lovely.



The perfume of a whole fence covered in Confederate Jasmine, on the other hand, is anything but subtle. It's strong and sweet and unmistakable. Every year this vine takes up more and more space on the fence around the backyard. It's a monster--but a very pretty one.

These are the kind of pictures I meant to share here on May Day (before my fall).  The month is off to a beautiful start here in my little part of the world.

16 comments:

  1. I had the same thing as Gregg. Just a small spot, but it took five rounds of Mohs procedures to get it. Hopefully, his will go quicker. You can call him numbskull now and be clinically correct!

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    1. Oh my gosh, I hope they got it all. They took a much bigger "chunk" (shudder) of skin and flesh than we had anticipated. Gregg came home with a headache, which he never has, and has been napping for hours now (which he never does). And his bandage is huge.

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    1. Some, but much better than yesterday. Thank you. xx

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  3. Magnolias are very special; I hope you are soon fully mended.

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    1. The magnolias around here often grow to be majestic. They look like something from Jurassic Park to me.

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  4. I don't know your conferate jasmine but I certainly know white magnolia. Magnolias make me think of southern United States. I guess that came from a movie or something. Good to hear you are healing and not dying.

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    1. Magnolias are very, very common here. They're grand trees!

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  5. Same here exactly! The scent of the confederate jasmine is almost overpowering. And the magnolias- my favorite of all flowers. I'm glad you're healing.

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    1. The magnolias smell wonderful, don't they? They just invite you to stick your whole face down into the flower and inhale!

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  6. It'a pity that blogs can't be appropriately scented - like Smellyvision. I hope the fall from the bike doesn't put you off riding it. When you next go riding please don't take either dog. Let them whine for mummy at home.

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    1. I confess to being slightly put off riding it, but I'll force myself to overcome that in the next day or two.

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  7. Our Jasmine hasn't flowered yet, but it may be a different variety. Your Magnolia is magnificent.

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  8. Your magnolias must be a different species from ours, since the ones over here have long been gone (the blossoms - not the trees). They all flowered already at the end of March and beginning of April, when it was so unseasonably warm and dry.
    Like YP, I hope you'll get back on your bike as soon as your soreness is gone. Also, I hope Gregg's headache was gone after his nap, and he feels much better now.

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  9. I love the smell of magnolias and jasmine. We used to have a magnolia tree in our yard in Florida and it was pretty wonderful. I'm glad your wounds are healing! And let me just say I'm impressed that Greg is already getting his basal cell carcinoma removed. I'm still waiting for the referral letter from my doctor -- for an appointment that will no doubt be WEEKS in the future. :(

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  10. Magnolias and jasmine are wonderful; I planted a star jasmine this week which technically may not be a jasmine, and I have my first magnolia tree in my yard, a red Star Magnolia. Hey, lots of stars here.

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