
There is a warming illumination from this September light.
Ornamental gourds, grown from seed, looking so very colourful in my glass pot.
Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
18 Friday Sep 2020
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inThere is a warming illumination from this September light.
Ornamental gourds, grown from seed, looking so very colourful in my glass pot.
Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are and thanks for reading. D.
28 Friday Aug 2020
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inTags
artichoke thistle, Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus, Ornamental Artichoke, Thank goodness it's Friday
24 Friday Jul 2020
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inTags
10 Friday Jul 2020
The garden here is really beginning to mature and fill in, now that it is some five years old. Walking round this morning, after so much rain last night, these were my favourite sights.
The Aeoniums were looking fabulous with raindrops this morning. This is Aeonium velour. I have to overwinter them in the house and by the time it is safe, frost free from about mid-May the Aeoniums tend to look rather puny and pale. They like the heat but in particular they need good sunlight. That is perhaps why they do so well in coastal locations. By July they are really looking as they should, sumptuous, richly coloured and succulent. I really love them.
This near black Aeonium is Aeonium cyclops so named I guess because its central ‘eye’ keeps green. This is one of my favourites as I appreciate the contrast in colour and think it is even more interesting than the black Aeonium zwartkop.
Strong colour in the garden is growing on me and this combination is not for everyone perhaps but I really like it.
These are the unopened petals of Crocosmia Lucifer dripping in rainwater against a pink backdrop of Penstemon Garnet.
Right it is time for a glass of something delicious. Cheers. D.
05 Friday Jun 2020
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inTags
bottom, flowers for the house, from the garden where I work, garden flowers, garden ornaments, peonies, roses, the boys
A little something to make you smile. Have a lovely weekend everyone, wherever you are. D.
10 Friday Apr 2020
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inTags
Easter, mixed tulips collection, sarah Raven, Thank goodness it's Friday, Tulip Ballerina, tulip Brown Sugar, tulips
A queer kind of Easter weekend for all of us under lockdown. For those without an outdoor space I really hope you are able to get outside for a walk.
As most people who are kind enough to look at this blog are garden lovers I guess you may have a garden of your own to enjoy. Tend your garden but do try not to spend all day working in it! (That is what I shall try to do, but well there is just so much to be done at this time of year).
Sharing tulip joy. Happy Easter. D.
06 Friday Sep 2019
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
inTags
faffing with flowers, florist ring, harvesting flowers, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', lavender, wreath
Yesterday I picked some of the blue lavender flowers before trimming the rest. The smell was heavenly but slightly nose tickling, it’s a very dusty sort of job if done when it should, when the lavender is bone dry.
This is Lavandula angustifolia Hidcote
I then bundled the flower heads into groups of 20-30 flowers, holding them together with florists wire.
The bundles were then wound onto a florists metal ring, using more of the wire.
Here is the end result attached to Ali’s door.
Have a great day. D.
16 Friday Aug 2019
Tags
Brother Dorris and his family visited from New Zealand for a few days. Yesterday, before they left for the airport they helped me do a few jobs in the garden.
The best little helper, helped me plant some seeds: Red Pak Choi, French breakfast radish and Calendula.
The best kind of help.
In the run up to my Open Garden at the end of September, in aid of The National Garden Scheme I have got a phenomenal amount to get done. This little bit of help has got me started on the task ahead.
Thanks. Have a safe trip back. D.
19 Friday Jul 2019
Tags
a butterfly book for the pocket, bigbutterflycount.org, butterflies, Edmund Sandars, Oxford University Press 1939
Today is the start of the Big Butterfly count in the UK. 19 July to 11 August 2019.
You can download an identification chart from Big Butterfly Count, there is a free App and you can also read about how to count them. Yes I know we can all count but we need to be sure we do not count the same Butterfly more than once.
Counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature: butterflies react very quickly to changes in their environment which makes them great biodiversity indicators. The count will help scientists identify trends in species.
Choosing the right weather ( bright and sunny ) is important.
I think today’s weather will not be suitable (rain) but there’s plenty of time to take part.
Celebrity endorsers, if you’re interested in such stuff, include Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, and Joanna Lumley OBE.
I shall take part armed with one of my favourite little books: A Butterfly Book for the pocket by Edmund Sandars. ( Oxford University Press London: Humphrey Milford 1939). I found it on a market in Old Amersham many years ago.
The pictures above were taken by me in 2012. Time to get counting and to take some new pictures! I hope you will take part.
Thanks for reading. D.
07 Friday Sep 2018
Posted Thank goodness it's Friday
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