first snowdrop

This is a photo taken today. The first promise of spring.

Easter time

Happy Easter, dear friends!

nesting

Last March I put up three bird houses on the trees around our house. It was probably too late for the birds, and so they remained uninhabited for the rest of the year. This morning I spotted this from my bedroom window...

protests and solidarity

In spite of the freezing weather, hundreds of people have been meeting throughout the Czech Republic to protest against the controversial ACTA agreement that poses a serious threat to the freedom of the Internet.

DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOM sign
Brno, Freedom Square, February 11, 2012

Taking advantage of the large gathering of people, a couple of individuals including the gardenless gardener have organized a collection of warm clothes, blankets and sleeping bags for the homeless people in Brno. A huge pile of things was distributed right after the protest in a park where the civic initiative called Food not Bombs regularly gives warm food to the needy.

When local authorities fail to act, a lot can be done with little resources by common citizens. The solidarity of people felt as warm to us as hopefully do the collected items to their new owners.

European Tree of the Year 2012

You can choose and vote for your favorite candidate here

The Wish Tree (elm, Ulmus sp.) from Bulgaria

my hometown in winter

A walk in Brno, yesterday, before sunset

winter bloom

I have had this Helleborus for at least three seasons and now is the first time it is about to bloom. 

This was Josefínka's favorite path around the house, she used to love to come here to enjoy the sun-heated pavement.

I like to think that this plant is putting forth its blossom for her.

In this unusually warm winter, another Helleborus, Senecio, Heuchera and Hebe are holding strong on our baclony.