hortensia

Pinks on the table

 
Sometimes a view through a door just captures a moment.

P x

Flowers from May

 
It has been a strange few weeks; lots happening in the garden, but a serious lack of activity in the workroom.

 
It's not that I'm unhappy about that - the garden is a fantastic place to be just now - but I'm starting to feel the pull of fabrics waiting to be made into satchels, shoppers and knitting bags.

 
The only indoor activity has been some knitting, and it has been .... not straight forward.  I found the perfect pattern for a small person's cardigan, only it was in French. We'll judge the outcome of the quality of my French translation in a couple of days.

 
But today there is some shredding to do, some planting and some digging.  A perfect way to start the month of June.

P x

Boboli gardens

Surely one of the best views in Florence? Although we'd gone to the gardens for other reasons, this view as we climbed the stairs was a very nice bonus.

Lots of green, hedges, lawns, trees.

And statues, lots of statues.
 

And hidden away down one of the many winding paths at the Boboli gardens - a perfect balcony with roses tumbling down.

Pretty much a perfect day.

P x

Somewhere to sit

Yesterday I went to see my sister, who has the gardening bug just like me, and she also loves tulips, again, just like me.  I suppose the biggest difference is that her garden is somewhat smaller than mine, and yet she has more places to sit and just enjoy the view. Aside from the regular table and chairs on her patio, she has a small bistro table and two chairs sitting on a gravel area, enclosed by a large tree and lots of beautiful climbers - clematis and honeysuckle - so it ends up being secluded even though it's very much a suburban garden.  In another corner she has a wonderful arbour that she has painted a deep blue, and either side of that she has planted climbers - a climbing rose on one side and to the other side is a beautiful ceanothus - the blue matches the colour of the wood brilliantly.  But that planting is for later in the summer.  (Unlike in the lower photograph from Alnwick Garden, she does not have the luxury of a warm south facing wall to bring them on, though that is where she originally saw the combination and liked it so much, decided to replicate it.)

 

For earlier in the season she has loads of pots which are planted up with many different types of tulips.
Now, just to be clear - these tulips in the photo aren't hers; I foolishly forgot to take my camera - these ones are in the walled garden at Alnwick, but she does have a great display of tulips at the very back of her garden, along with somewhere to enjoy them, and keep her sheltered at the same time. And of course, now I want an arbour too.  There's no way I'm going to have mine where the majority of my tulips are though - that's at the front of the house and I'm a little too shy to sit out there in full view, but perhaps in the new Spring area I've been creating these past few weeks?  I'm imagining sitting there, with a cup of tea, piece of cake and a rug to keep me warm in the early sun of Spring. Maybe some soft cushions too?  I also want to get some climbers, preferably with smell, to grow either side of it.  I've been looking at a clematis that is evergreen and has wonderful almond-smelling flowers early in the Spring.

 

Having found the seat I want, best beloved then suggested it wasn't a good idea, mainly because he didn't want to lay (more) paving slabs.  Not sure why he has a problem with that - he's done it so often for me in the past...But there you have it.  If he won't, he won't. Unless - we go for something totally different?  How about decking - we don't have any of that in our garden, and it would look ideal in the new Spring area, because behind it would be the soft planting of the little shady area I'm planting up with all those shade loving plants.  I have a plan and now I'm on a mission to persuade him to go with it.  Wish me luck!

Tulips close up

These are some tulips that I've picked from my own garden. It's hard to do that, but I'm glad I did - there's no better way to really get close up to them.

 

 

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 P x

Close up of tree blossom

But not what you were expecting maybe?

 
This rowan tree is in my back garden - just opposite the back door, ready to keep the witches away - and isn't a great showy tree.  Normally there's a little bit of blossom, which very quickly turns brown, drops off and makes some beautiful berries.  Lovely, but not showy.

Until this year, when the blossom has sung out each and every day for a fortnight.  Definitely its showy year.

P x

Garden visit - De Jager tulip festival at Alnwick Garden

 
 





 

 
 
A lovely day out with some gorgeous plants to look at. 

P x

The sewing room and the garden - all done

 
Both the sewing room and the garden have seen lots of action this week - all orders up to date, everything I wanted done in the garden got done.  Though please don't take that to imply the garden is 'done'.  There are still lots of areas I want to work on and a couple of borders that need really sorting out.  I just mean that everything on my to-do list for the garden this week was accomplished. And that is very satisfying!

The sewing orders are all up to date, but I do have a couple of crochet projects on the go; they're both for other people so it doesn't seem right to show photo's just yet. I've even managed to finish off a beach bag and purse combo for myself - a lovely holiday looms very soon.

Of course all this activity is a little bit of displacement therapy. But still good.  Off to do some more gardening in this glorious sunshine - perfect with a slightly cooler breeze.

P x

A snapshot of the garden.......

..... on Easter Sunday:

 
When I put this collage together I couldn't believe just how many plants were in flower, and how much earlier than in the past couple of years.  And if you look at the hosta leaves in the lower central part of the collage, you'll see that they are whole - not one eaten leaf amongst them. Haven't seen that in a good long while.

Now, I feel as though I'm on a bit of a roll with the garden; some borders have been totally tidied, others are in the process of being revamped and renovated. Of course this brings the pleasure of plant shopping and searching out those plants I really want to have in the garden rather than those that are just available locally. So, a trip to Edrom nursery is being planned.  I've been once before - a long time ago - and I'm very much looking forward to seeing it again.  I think I'll combine it with a visit to St Abbs which is so very pretty.

The sewing room has not seen much action lately (see above for why) but I am up to date with all orders - including a bag for the lovely Rachel - and all the orders from the new Big Cartel shop.  Thank you to everyone who has bought from the new shop front; the orders are in the post and I'm hoping they'll be delivered this week.  Though with all these (lovely) Bank Holidays it's a case of crossing fingers in hope.  It really wasn't a certainty about the new shop - thank you for making it such an instant success.

Off to enjoy a little more gardening - though definitely not more digging - in the sunshine, followed by tea and cake for mid-morning snack.

P x

ps Take a look here for some great downloads for paper goods.  I got some wonderful Easter printables for a great price and made the cupcakes etc look just the thing!  I'll take some photo's and show them later. x

Perfect blues

 

Camassias - the most perfect shade of blue in the most perfect star shape.

Geranium phaeum Mourning Widow - terrible name, but a great colour, especially when growing in shade.

Forget-me-nots - now scattered throughout the garden.

A spirea - not blue but because it's behind the camassias, sets them off beautifully.
 
And definitely not blue, I know, but in flower right here, right now and very much appreciated.

A pretty good start to the Easter weekend.

P x