Dear Cherie, so nice of you to visit this thread! I wish more people from Cottage Gardening would have a look, some of the pictures are not bad for me! They could also have a look at three pages of recipes, which has its own forum on here! There is something for everyone, all homemade and a lot from my grandmas recipes of 1911!
I do wish I could send you the warmth and colour over to you, but unfortunately I can't! I will however keep updating this and the Cottage Gardening cubit as and when things come out, so keep looking and posting!
My Kindest Regards.
Neil.

As soon as you said think Bible, Locust hit me. I have three kinds of locust, but the bark on them is considerably more course than your photo.
What type of locust is that ? All mine are white flowered.

Dear gardengus, think more of the disciples in the Bible, and when the cock crows someone will betray me!
A Hanging tree!
Regards.
Neil.

Judas tree... so is it the same as our redbud? I cannot find a botanical name only a picture and it looks like a redbud.

Ok I just answered my own question. I should have went to DG first . According to plant files Judas tree and Redbud are the same.
Learn something new every day , It is still early so maybe I will have time to learn more today.
Off to lunch at a tea house.
Later
Cinda

Dear Cinda, a redbud is Cercis canadensis this is not one of them!
It is a Cercis sp. but not a redbud!
Regards.
Neil.

Oh Neil ,
I am easily confused, just spent twenty minutes on the cottage garden cubit looking for this thread .
I was in a hurry earlier today and should no better than to jump to conclusions without proper research. Is the plant above a Cercis Silliquastrum ?
When I typed in Judas tree all the answers but one in the DG plant files said Cercis Canadensis.
With further research I see that the Cercis silliquastrum is a native of your country.
I also discovered numerous references to eating the flowers, is this something you have done and would you recommend trying them?
Cinda

Dear Cinda, congratulations yes you are right it is Cercis Silliquastrum and yes I have eaten the flowers. It is in fact a member of the pea family Leguminosae.
Some of which are indeed toxic, like Laburnum sp. Quite beautiful but also quite deadly!
Well done, and most sorry to put everyone to the trouble!
Good fun though, as you now know what one looks like now. They are very hardy and don't mind anything I can think of, maybe they are for some reason not popular in America!
They grow in the wet soil of Holland, and at Keukenhof, which is the most famous flower garden in the world, there are indeed lots of them there!
Although not in this old picture which I took, here is Keukenhof!
Did you see the two amazing pictures my great friend sent me of Exbury; they are on British Gardens and the "Have Your Say,' forums, well worth looking at, well mind blowing more like, and a link as well!
Kindest Regards!
Neil.

In circled squares the flowers grew
Hot oranges and livid reds
But off to the edges they cooled and flowed
As other directions took hold
And purples and pinks they bled.

Sorry Neil...I couldn't stop the wretched poet in me.
It's the color that does it. Everytime.

Dear Sharon, are you in anyway related to Gertrude Jekyll?
For she was a fine painter; had an amazing eye for colour was a brilliant writer, into Architecture with Lutyens, and like your goodself was a very nice person!
Regards & Hugs.
Neil.
p.s. Mother has a recipe for peanut butter Biscuits\cookies, that does not involve you getting your hands dirty!
I will put it on with a picture, once I can find some peanut butter and made it!

Certainly no relation, Neil...I don't deserve to be on the same page with Gertrude Jekyll. It's just that when I see such vivid color, that's all I see, nothing more.

I need the peanut butter recipe!!

Dear Sharon, related or not, I got the rest right, especially the bit about you being a very nice person!
Regards.
Hugs.
Neil.

Quick before I melt away, I need morning spring pictures, more color. HELP!!!!!!

Dear Cherie, as you are a most wonderful person how about this!
If you don't cheer up, I will get Sarah to make a life size meringue, stuffed with strawberries, smothered with homemade ice cream, and then make it give you a BIG HUG!
Kindest Regards.
Neil.

yes yes that sounds wonderful good, Thank you.

Those colors are beautiful, Neil. Would love to be able to just sit and watch them grow.

Nancy

I was woke up about 5 am to the coo coo of the mourning dove. Maybe spring is finally on its way. I haven't heard the mourning bird since I don't know at least November. Although its only been 3 months it has felt like a decade.

Dear Nancy, thank you very much!
Here is another one to cheer people up from this most awful weather. I have been bread making this morning as father wants another loaf of bread! So hopefully when I go to see my parents, my mother will give me the peanut butter recipe fro biscuits or cookies as you call them.
Kindest Regards.
Neil!
p.s. I have not forgot your meringue either!

Beautiful. I want to just lay along side the water there and listen to the birds and the movement of the water. There's serenity to be found there.

I can smell the bread and hear the birds. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Thanks,

Nancy