forest magic

 

Last weekend we spend with family in a cabin in the woods. On saturday we made a walk and saw the most beautiful forest treasures. When you take a closer look you can see all the tiny details, what makes it even more special, almost magic. I always loved fairy tales and fantasy, but lately I'm even more drawn to everything magic (maybe it's because of the tv series that I'm watching at the moment, Once upon a time, do you know it? are you also a fan?)

Fairy tales and the forest, they got me under a spell.

secret pathway

Near our home is a hidden pathway. It is enclosed by trees and garden on one side and a canal and the highway on the other side, what makes it withdrawn from the eye of people passing by. Every time I go for a run, or W and I take a walk in the neighborhood, this is the route we take. It is such a lovely and quiet place in the middle of the city. I like to think that it is our secret path :)

Because of all the rain last month, and the loads of sun the last weeks, everything has started to grow. The banks of the canal are overgrown with cow parsley, and the hogweeds have made a small jungle. I picked some cow parsley to take home with me, and it is now standig in a vase on my dining table. Strange names do these plants have in English, I like the Dutch names fluitenkruid and berenklauwen more, they sound almost fairylike.

A couple of days after I made these photos, all the hogweeds was cut down. So happy I was just in time to make the photos.

mini garden

 

Today I made a small garden in front of our house. Many neighbours have one as well, what makes the streets look really cheerful and pretty. I planted hollyhocks and sunflowers. If all goes well, they will reach 2 to 2,5 meters, what means that we will even be able to see them from our bedroom window. I can't wait to be greeted by sunflowers in the morning.

spring blossoms

 

Just around the corner of our street, you can find the most beautiful spring blossoms. One of them is a gorgeous magnolia, the other one is a more modest blossoms, of which I don't know the name, but do find very pretty. The brownstone walls of one of the houses remind me a bit of the brownstone houses in New York City, but maybe that's because the dream of New York is always on my mind.
One day, if I have a home with a garden, I hope to have my own beautiful magnolia tree. And maybe this dream home will even have brownstones.

urban panther

My urban panther enjoying the sun and the city jungle.

a walk in the park

   

This week we took a walk at the Kralingse Plas. There are piers at the lake, so you can walk on the water, which is beautiful. You get to see all the different waterbirds that live there, and in spring you even get to meet the young ducklings and goslings.
Now that the sun starts to shine, and the temperature is rising, the whole forest comes back to life. Trees are slowly turning green, and hidden flowers are showing their colours. We even saw a storks couple building their nest.

ps Did you spot the city's skyline in the background? You almost feel like you're at Central Park, don't you think? :)

window garden

 

For the first time in my life I have my own garden, or roof garden. I bought lots of seeds and sowed them in little greenhouses on my window sill. It is lovely to see them grow. I've got little tomato plants, red chili pepper plants, hollyhocks, sunflowers, coriander and Thai basil. Love my little window garden and soon to (hopefully) be green paradise garden.