April-in-the-Parsonage-garden

 

Rough winter melts beneath the breeze of spring…
No man nor beasts to folds or firesides cling,
Nor hoar frosts whiten over field and tree;…
Now let us, cheerful, crown our heads with flowers,
Spring’s first fruits, offered to the newborn year,…

Extracts from To Sestius, Patrick Branwell Bronte

 

April in the garden has centred around Charlotte’s 200th birthday on the 21st of the month. Getting the garden ready for such a joyous occasion was a particular pleasure and it was also pleasing that the day was a fine, bright and sunny day.

One small event that excited Jenny and I most from the garden point of view was the planting ceremony in the rear garden of the gift of a standard rose generously donated by David Austin Roses in memory of Charlotte. It is actually a rose called ‘Crocus’ which we were able to choose ourselves. We thought this most apt for Charlotte with it being slightly understated, but a very pretty creamy white colour. We were thinking of her likeness to the ‘Little Snowdrop’ as she was described on her wedding day. Read all: bronte./april-in-the-parsonage-garden