Royal Celebrations

The celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee are proving to be a dazzling display of pageantry as the world joins in the festivities.

Queen Elizabeth II has delicately married the needs of modern times and tradition to bring the Monarchy into the twenty-first century. HRH is now 86 years old and has served 'her loyal subjects' for sixty years. And while many people are long retired by 86, the Queen doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

 

Can you imagine how many hands Queen Elizabeth shook {always with her white gloves on}, how many speeches she has listened too, the number of bouquets she has accepted................ the list of repetitive duties is never ending.

I have over recent months viewed many films and documentaries of Queen Elizabeth, I am amazed that she manages to smile through all of the events {although to me much of the presentations seemed boring}.

Princess Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth makes the first long distance phone call without the assistance of an operator {1958}

Leading up to the Jubilee celebrations and now a the height of the festivities the streets of London are filled with every possible representation of the Union Jack.
Miles of bunting has been strung up, mini Union Jack flags wave continually from the hands of happy revellers, there are cakes decorating with red, white and British navy, lingerie designed specifically for the occasion {albeit that I doubt HRH will be wearing any of the scanty styles} and there doesn't seem to be a surface untouched by the patriotic colours.

 

The festivities continue with a 'pop concert' featuring Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Jesse J. And from the roof of Buckingham Palace, Ska band Madness will sign the 80's hit 'Our House'; another first in royal history. 

Where does your garden grow

 

I went past a garden last week that I have seen hundreds of times. We used to live only a few blocks away from this beautiful spot. 

The garden is a part of St. Hilary's Anglican Church {Mississauga}. The corner of the the church property boasts a rambling garden that provides a welcome mat to the hundreds of people who pass by each day. 

When I was stopped in traffic last week and promised myself that I'd come back one afternoon to take some pictures of the garden. 

The garden is thriving in a very busy spot. The property and the lush English style garden is surrounded by roads..... on every side. A cloverleaf of one of the busiest main highways {the Queen Elizabeth Way or QEW as we refer to it} spills traffic into the area beside the church. 

It's not a pretty view looking back at the highway from the church, but the beauty of this well tended garden makes the vista around it a blur.

When I stopped by to take pictures of the garden I noticed just how busy the roads are around the area. 

The other interesting thing that I discovered is that many of the tree's and rose bushes in the garden at St. Hilary's are devoted to people who have passed.

The chain link fence that separates the roadway from the church property is lined with various roses. All of the rose bushes have pegs identifying the name of the rose and many include plaques with dedications. There are park benches with dedications, albeit that I wondered how anyone could sit quietly with the volume of noise from the highway and surrounding roads.

 

I came to realize that the members of St. Hilary's who lovingly tend the garden are oblivious to the sound around them. Serious gardeners know that once the soil touches your hands it is like hearing a symphony. 

And it is obvious that the flowers in this garden thrive on the volume of a full orchestra.

From my potting bench

A little inspiration from my potting bench................... which of course would not be complete without a Cardinal.