Last Weekend and again this weekend I have been bowled over by the Wild Roses.
Branches are laden with blooms.
The Roses are blooming in all of the parks and blooming heavily. The bushes are covered in open blooms and there are still a great many buds just waiting to open. Their scent lays heavy in the air and wafts around in the eddies created by the lazy breezes.
The drone of the bees is a constant background sound around the bushes right now. I have seen more honey bee’s heavily laden with pollen this year than in any past year.
Sweat Bee.
Have you ever seen or heard of a “sweat bee”?! I hadn’t! Well not until last weekend – when I saw this gorgeous, iridescent green bee in the bowl of the rose! I took a picture and did some research! These bees are called sweat bees because they are also attracted to salt!
Do you know what kind of flower this is?
There have been some other wonderful sights as well. Other wild flowers, the lowly daisy, a wild tiger lily and a gorgeous purple flower – name unknown, but not a Camas lily; The Indian Plums are ripening, small purple and red shots of colour amongst the green trees and bushes that line some of the paths; Beach Inukshuks at Piper’s – a circle of eleven carefully balanced rock figures; gulls at lunch and fresh green leaves highlighted by the Spring sunshine.
Beach InuckshuksIndian plums are ripening on the bushes – adding rich colour to our surroundings.
On all of the walks there were birds singing their hearts out – song sparrows, red winged blackbirds, and robins everywhere!
I hope that you get a chance to get out and walk through a park or two in the next week, before the Wild Rose blooms are finished!
The Mystery Class was a great hit on Thursday. The weather co-operated and was sunny but not burning hot!
We all had a great time – everyone got the techniques and left happy with their individual progress. I love the Summer Classes in the Courtyard – such a pleasant place to teach and learn in.
What was the Mystery? The project was unknown to the students until the class started – the students just knew what yarn, beads and needles to bring – and you know – no one was disappointed! At least I think that no one was disappointed! LOL!
Merry Mantle – knit with Sweet Georgia Glitterati!Gracefully draping folds accented with a bright pop of lace edging.
Meet Merry Mantle – a short-rowed capelet/poncho with lace and bead accents! Our versions were knit with the Graduated yarn kits put together by Sweet Georgia – the Party of Five kits in Glitterati Sock or Cashlux fine or Frabjous Fibers Cheshire Cat mini skien packs. This versatile pattern could be knit with any combination of 4-ply sock or fingering yarns.
A mantle is a small shoulder covering – just enough to cover the shoulders and the arms to the elbow.
The Merry Mantle is knit from side to side in garter stitch and the shaping is constructed with short-rows. The colours are striped through the short-row pattern.
The view straight on
The bottom section has an open lace beaded pattern and the edge is finished with a contrasting beaded lace edging. The beads are always optional. The mantle is closed with a heavy cord lacing that is simply pushed through the weave of the knitting.
Until June 15th – this pattern will be available on Ravelry at 25% off of the purchase price of $5.00 – just type in the code Merry Making! And the pattern will be yours for only $3.75!
I hope that you like it!
Happy Knitting
Lynette
The students colour options
Random Thoughts and Minor Musing of another Knitter – compulsively addicted to the craft!
