Christine Dodd
@botanicalbliss.bsky.social
Keeper of a cottage garden. My interests are plants, books and politics.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
When the nighte hath come
And the londe ys darke
And the moone ys the sole lighte that we see
Nay, Ich wil not be afrayde
Oh, Ich wil not be afrayde
Just as longe
as thou stondest
by me
And the londe ys darke
And the moone ys the sole lighte that we see
Nay, Ich wil not be afrayde
Oh, Ich wil not be afrayde
Just as longe
as thou stondest
by me
December 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
When the nighte hath come
And the londe ys darke
And the moone ys the sole lighte that we see
Nay, Ich wil not be afrayde
Oh, Ich wil not be afrayde
Just as longe
as thou stondest
by me
And the londe ys darke
And the moone ys the sole lighte that we see
Nay, Ich wil not be afrayde
Oh, Ich wil not be afrayde
Just as longe
as thou stondest
by me
I had a tooth extracted yesterday after a failed root canal. It’s been a very expensive and painful few weeks. Today however I am creating a vision board for a better year in 2026.
December 9, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I had a tooth extracted yesterday after a failed root canal. It’s been a very expensive and painful few weeks. Today however I am creating a vision board for a better year in 2026.
Yum
When I tell you that Chocolate Salame is #RecipeOfTheDay, don’t be alarmed! It’s just the Italian version of a chocolate refrigerator cake, fashioned to resemble salame. I’ve upped the ante with hazelnuts, pistachios, amaretti biscuits and Amaretto. www.nigella.com/recipes/choc...
Chocolate Salame
I’ve encountered quite a few versions of chocolate salame in Italy — coming to the conclusion that it’s really an Italian version of our chocolate refrigerator cake — and although I am not normally a ...
www.nigella.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Yum
Enjoying the Erigeron in my front pots.
July 7, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Enjoying the Erigeron in my front pots.
One of the back borders today.
May 31, 2025 at 4:58 PM
One of the back borders today.
If you could smell this wisteria!
May 22, 2025 at 2:03 PM
If you could smell this wisteria!
The geums are coming into flower.
April 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The geums are coming into flower.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
The next general election may not be until 2029.
But we could be only days or weeks away from Labour making a catastrophic mistake that will guarantee a loss.
If they reach a deal with the USA that precludes us ever getting truly close to the EU again, let alone rejoining, then it's "Game Over".
But we could be only days or weeks away from Labour making a catastrophic mistake that will guarantee a loss.
If they reach a deal with the USA that precludes us ever getting truly close to the EU again, let alone rejoining, then it's "Game Over".
April 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
The next general election may not be until 2029.
But we could be only days or weeks away from Labour making a catastrophic mistake that will guarantee a loss.
If they reach a deal with the USA that precludes us ever getting truly close to the EU again, let alone rejoining, then it's "Game Over".
But we could be only days or weeks away from Labour making a catastrophic mistake that will guarantee a loss.
If they reach a deal with the USA that precludes us ever getting truly close to the EU again, let alone rejoining, then it's "Game Over".
Rained all day so no gardening for me.
April 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Rained all day so no gardening for me.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
This is what roadside verges should look like in April. These are not weeds - they are wildflowers essential to the survival of early Spring bees.
April 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
This is what roadside verges should look like in April. These are not weeds - they are wildflowers essential to the survival of early Spring bees.
This jigsaw has taken us a month of Sundays!
April 15, 2025 at 10:22 AM
This jigsaw has taken us a month of Sundays!
Dicentra popping up through the forget me nots in the front garden.
April 12, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Dicentra popping up through the forget me nots in the front garden.
The garden is starting to green up.
April 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
The garden is starting to green up.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
As a wave of cherry blossom moves through Japan between late March and early May, the Japanese come together for 'hanami' (flower viewing) to celebrate this spectacle. The brevity and beauty of cherry blossom, known as 'sakura', is symbolic of a short life well-lived. #folklore
April 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
As a wave of cherry blossom moves through Japan between late March and early May, the Japanese come together for 'hanami' (flower viewing) to celebrate this spectacle. The brevity and beauty of cherry blossom, known as 'sakura', is symbolic of a short life well-lived. #folklore
Tulips by the back door are showing lots of promise.
April 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Tulips by the back door are showing lots of promise.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
A Wood Anemone, Anemone nemerosa, in the village woods yesterday. An early post for #woodlandplants #wildflowerhour
April 6, 2025 at 6:55 AM
A Wood Anemone, Anemone nemerosa, in the village woods yesterday. An early post for #woodlandplants #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Christine Dodd
Bafflingly there are still people out there in the world who think being passionate about nature is “kind of weird”. or “a niche interest”. These people have it all wrong. Nature isn’t some quirky sideline to the main business. It IS the main business. Nature is us.
April 3, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Bafflingly there are still people out there in the world who think being passionate about nature is “kind of weird”. or “a niche interest”. These people have it all wrong. Nature isn’t some quirky sideline to the main business. It IS the main business. Nature is us.
Reposted by Christine Dodd
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote,
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Ynspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes...
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Ynspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes...
April 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote,
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Ynspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes...
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Ynspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes...
Muscari in a bucket by the back door.
March 28, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Muscari in a bucket by the back door.
The most adorable anemone
March 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The most adorable anemone
Reposted by Christine Dodd
Another fantastic ‘Poyser’ monograph, by @robthomasbirds.bsky.social.
My favourite fact so far? Storm-petrel chicks are each weighed in their own individual cupcake holder to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Excellent!
My favourite fact so far? Storm-petrel chicks are each weighed in their own individual cupcake holder to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Excellent!
March 10, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Another fantastic ‘Poyser’ monograph, by @robthomasbirds.bsky.social.
My favourite fact so far? Storm-petrel chicks are each weighed in their own individual cupcake holder to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Excellent!
My favourite fact so far? Storm-petrel chicks are each weighed in their own individual cupcake holder to minimise the risk of disease transmission. Excellent!