Thursday, August 3, 2023

Johnny Jump Ups On My Patio and "Mapp and Lucia" Fun to Read

Do you have favorite flowers associated with childhood? One of my favorites is Johnny Jump Ups which my mom always had in her gardens. Now I grow them every year in mine.


These are growing in a big pot on our patio. I think they have cute faces. Lilacs and bleeding hearts were also grown in our gardens when I was growing up Do you grow flowers that remind me of favorite people?


 

Have you seen the two TV series of Mapp and Lucia? I enjoyed them and recently read "Miss Mapp" and "Lucia in London", both by E.F. Benson. I think the TV series were BBC productions. The author has a great knack for gentle humor, a comedy of manners and I like all the characters in the two small towns they are set in. Plus London in the second title. Miss Mapp and Lucia have some annoying competitive habits which add to the plots. I think there are six novels in this series, plus other authors have written more in the style of E.F. Benson, I read one titled Mapp at Fifty by Hugh Ashton and it was also excellent. A fun series to read any time, and especially if you need a pick me up diversion from worry or events.


20 comments:

Debbie Nolan said...

Oh I so enjoyed my visit to your blog. Bounce looks like he is the dearest of companions. Johnny Jump ups are a favorite of mine. Sometimes if winter is not too harsh they will reseed. Fortunately had one plant do so this year and it looks lovely with my pansies. Often think what a wonderful God we have who created such a vast beauty of flowers. I must look into growing Rose Campion...it is truly a lovely plant.
I enjoy walking too...my two German Shepherds and I walk three miles a day...so like you I love those benefits of walking. Glad to read it helps the brain too! I know some serious thinking can happen on those walks :)! Glad to meet you. Have a blessed day. Hugs!

Christine said...

Lovely pansies

Frugally challenged said...

My special flower is Clematis. My father's name was Clem and my parents were given many "for Clem and his mate"

Boud said...

My mom grew lupins first chance she had at a garden. So they remind me. There were two productions of Mapp and Lucia, the better one in the 90s with Geraldine McEwan, prunella Scales, Nigel Hawthorne, wonderful cast. I saw the later one, okay but not to my mind as good.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Johnny Jump Ups are favourite flowers from my childhood too! I remember the first time I ever saw them, in a neighbour's garden -- I was entranced! She very kindly dug up some so I could take them home to be transplanted in my Mom's garden. She was a nice old lady who lived all by herself in a little house by the railroad tracks.

Kathy G said...

In my area, the summers are way too hot for Johnny Jump Ups, but I think they're lovely flowers.

DawnTreader said...

Never heard neither of the TV series nor of the books or author. And never heard the name "Johnny Jump Up" for that flower either ;-) I don't have room to grow a lot of flowers on my balcony but there are some flowers and plants that make me think of certain people or places, yes. My p. grandmother used to have both lilacs and bleeding hearts in her garden :)

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I've never seen a Johnny Jump Up, but I would love to.

The books sounds delightful.

Granny Marigold said...

I love the way Johnny-jump-ups self-seed but never become invasive. They look so cheerful and ask for so little attention.
I looked and I can watch Mapp and Lucia on YouTube. Thanks for mentioning the series. I'm always looking for pleasant things to watch ( with no violence). GM

Debby said...

I love Johnny jump-ups!

Mari said...

I haven't heard of the series or the books. But we love things on BBC so I'll have to look it up!

Betsy said...

I love lavender and lilacs. In fact I love most flowers, but from my childhood it was lilacs and peonies.
Blessings,
Betsy

Margaret D said...

The flowers are very pretty and give a lovely show of colour.

Annie said...

Oh I just love Johnny Jump Ups!! Lovely.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Pretty flowers.
Violets. Mother, (me as an adult), would ask me to pick her some violets. She had a massive amount growing beside her house. As kids, we always brought her violets.

Wanda said...

Lovely post. My mother had a rose garden, red, white and pink. When I was growing up in the 50's it was a tradition on Mother's Day to wear a rose to church. If you mother was alive you wore a red rose, if she had passed, you wore a white. It was a nice tradition to see all the roses that Sunday Mother's Day morning.

I have not heard of the TV series. Will check it out.

37paddington said...

Thanks for the recommendation! I am always looking for a new series to get lost in. I recently watched The Law According to Lidia Poet on Netflix and loved it. It's originally in Italian, but I didn't mind the English dubbing at all. The sets and costumes are lush and lovely, and it's based on the story of the first woman admitted to the bar in Italy, a scrappy one, given what she had to face. I hope you are well!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I know I would love these books and the flowers are beautiful! Enjoy your week my friend!

Debbie said...

i have lots of lilacs growing in my garden. they have been a favorite since childhood!! i love your favorite too, great colors and such a funny name that i have never heard. i will have to check my garden center in the spring!!!

Back2OurSmallCorner said...


Johnny Jump Ups are very pretty and they flower for such a long time. We call them Violas over here.
Beverley (formally meandmysmallcorner)