May Is Over

May is over, a month that I have been waiting for all winter.  But it disappointed me, because until May 10th the nights were cold and the daytime temperature did not exceed +12 C. All plants seem to have stopped waiting for heat.

Later it turned out that some tulips froze and died, but after May 20, the rest of them bloomed in different places. My favorite muscarI (grape hyacinth) bloomed well.

 

 

Waiting warmth, plants began to gradually show leaves and flowers on May 24. Temperatures went up to +15 C. Therefore, there were more blooming plants in the garden as Primula, Bergenia, Dicentra, Bellis, Trollius.

 

 

Fruit trees were just beginning to open their flowers up to May 26. Here are cherry, plum tree and crab apple tree, currant bush.

This rose pleases me. It's a floribunda that wintered in a greenhouse and now feels good. New leaves sprout under the sun rays.  At the end of May we had +21 C !

 

 

Temperatures at night became +9 +10 C and I decided to hang flowerpots on the terrace. Petunias and carnation are blooming here. 

This mahonia bush is in bloom right now. Yellow flowers become dark-blue berries. I'm glad it is OK because it was completely covered with snow.

Hopefully June will be warmer, veggies and flowers will grow fast. All the best to you!

My Small Collection

Today I want to tell you about the art of painting in cobalt blue on white ceramics. I like this ceramic art and I would like to have a collection of these pieces. 

Some facts from the history of cobalt blue design. The cobalt blue patterned and white pottery dates back centuries. The Chinese, Japanese, Persians and Turks managed to get their hands on this fantastic way of painting porcelain and ceramics. In Europe, around the 17th and 18th centuries, craftsmen began to paint patterns in cobalt blue on white pottery.

So, when I was in the Netherlands, I really wanted to come to the city of Delft and visit the ceramic manufacture. I was happy to buy a bus tour and go there. I was able to look at the whole process of making such beautiful pieces.

 

Ceramic wares prepared for kiln firing

Modern automatic firing kiln

Products prepared for drawing patterns

In the 18th century the Dutch  depicted windmills, seascapes, and tulips in their drawings. The Spanish masters preferred birds and pomegranates, while the French depicted textile patterns. In Russia, craftsmen made ceramic figurines of people, animals, birds and painted them with cobalt blue patterns.

 

 

The artist manually applies a pattern to a plate

 

 Exposition in the factory museum

 

 

I saw a tea cup painted cobalt blue in Delft. It was so elegant, made of fine porcelain and with a beautiful dark blue handle. Of course I bought it and that's how my collection began.

 

 

The cup was followed by two tiles of a floral pattern and a view of Amsterdam, a plate with a charming cobalt blue rose pattern and a miniature figurine of a kissing couple.
Amazing figurines of a rooster and chicken were bought in St. Petersburg.

 

 

 

 

The two cobalt blue tiles are hanged above the fireplace in the dining room, and a tulip vase sits on a small table. They remind me of my visit to the Netherlands, Delft.

 

 

 

a special vase for tulips

   

 

I really hope that my collection will grow when we can travel. 

Do you have a collection of favorite items like cobalt blue ceramics? 

Or maybe figurines, books, postcards, postage stamps, badges, dolls, etc.? If not, would you like to have one?

 

 

The Coast Of The Baltic Sea. May

 

 

 

 

 

Despite the weather surprises, I love walking along the Baltic Sea.  

There were first days of May, 

It was sunny and warm, although there was still ice on the water near the shore. I love the combination of a sunny day and ice.

People rested, fished, sunbathed, played with children. Adults and children fed the seagulls. Birds with a cry caught slices of bread.  

Now all the ice has melted. Although belatedly, I decided to show you these photos. 

It was a quiet sunny day.

Here is my video: