Yes, this is the same "first" rose - and it smells beautiful too.

Every year I am surprised by these roses, they start off looking orange, but as they open they fade to a beautiful pink. I love the way that they look sun-lit even when there's no sun because of their shading.

It is a parfums de provence Regatta van Meinimo by Meilland.

Here you see three of them, the "first" one is the shy one right at the back.

Peonies for Mother's Day !

 

Lucky me! 

Peonies inside and out !

Bluebells

The bottom of the garden is shadier and there are still some bluebells there - set off nicely by the Weigela "rumba" and the peonies, which will be blooming soon.

First rose of the year

Hiding right at the back behind other plants I spotted this:

If you peel back the leaves you see more of its splendid glow!

There are many other buds, but this is the first rose to bloom this year.

Royal wedding knitting

I had planned to knit with this "Truly, Madly, Deeply" yarn, as a tribute to the royal couple on their big day:

But I needed something I didn't have to look at or think about, so in the end I went with this (at least it's the right colour with bits of royal blue).

ravlery link for royal wedding hitchhiker

No-fuss shade-loving shawl

This is another version of the pattern which is being tested.

It works particularly well with shaded yarns with long runs

and will be available before the end of May.

no-fuss-shade-loving-shawl on ravelry