Back to Blogging!

Sometimes, I get these ideas in my head that will not go away.

Then I realise how much work they are going to be!

Do I think "No! Don't do it!!!!" Nope. I mull it over, sometime for a little longer than other times, then I go and do it anyway.

This is one of those times. I have decided to get back to blogging.

There have been so many changes over the last few years, some good, some bad and some downright ugly. The plan is to start now and work backwards to fill in the gaps. Here is a synopsis of life since the last sporadic posts in 2017/2018 Good: I acquired a Fluffy Puppy in August 2017 Good: I opened a shop in September 2018

Ugly: Covid meant I had to shut the shop in March 2020 Ugly: I had a bit of a melt down from the stress. Good: I took up Gardening Good: I had more time for designing

Good: I discovered that I have green fingers. Good: I grew lots of tomatoes

Good: I have made a lot of friends because of the shop. Bad: Shop not doing as well as hoped so had to move to a new, smaller shop. Good: At least the shop is still open and only working part time in it means more time for designing, gardening and, of course, blogging!

Everything is coming up...

Violets!

I do love these little white ones. They are not so prolific as the common blues ones which took over my trough and choked everything else in there.

Here are some pretty little blues ones. Again, not the common ones. I think they may be cultivated ones but have no idea really as I was given them. I hope they are not going to spread too much otherwise they will have go. I only have my planter with limited space so can't have them taking over.

And this is a Black Viola which I bought at the end of last summer. It was in flower when I bought it so I am hoping that flowering this early means it will carry on all summer. It does look a bit darker than in the photo.

Finally, just a little something I planted this morning! These are some crocuses I crocheted for a Spring Challenge on one of my craft groups. I thought the garden was the best place to take photos of them!

March Calendar

I know, I was really bad last month and didn't do one.

So I hope this months makes up for it - especially as I waited all day for the sun to come out long enough to make the crocuses open. But it didn't. And it was my birthday! I have decided to be 27. I figured that nobody believes 21 any more so I might as well pick a number I like and stick to it.

I had some snowdrops from Benjamin, which was why I was out in the "garden". I also had some cash so bought some bulbs while I was out shopping. I planted them all yesterday afternoon.

I had some flowers from Mark. He found a bunch with bright purple ones in. He knows its my favourite colour. When I opened them to put them on the vase, all the stems were purple as well, which led to a discussion about dyed flowers and the way it was done.

Of course, then we had to experiment and have put one of the white flowers in a glass of water with blue ink in it. The ink keeps disappearing though so I don't think it is the best thing for the job.

I might just have to splash out on some food colouring.

Chasing Bumble Bees

Yes, that is what I spent most of yesterday afternoon doing! Just as you get set up for the perfect shot, they fly away!!!!! But, here are some of the results.

I have also been working on some Baby scrapping stuff. What do you think? And for all you "pinkaholics", the Girl set is in progress!

Bloomin' Lovely!

Rain doesn't stop play when it comes to flowers! After being very dismayed about that cat having my poppies, I am please to announce I have more! I took this first picture last Thursday and, as you can see, more buds with one about to open.

This picture was taken Friday. And, this morning, there are four nice strong buds. Lets hope they stay that way as this looks ever so pretty when there are a few open in different colours.

This is the Mimulus in "Highland Orange". It hasn't had a lot of flowers but they are a very striking colour.

The "Highland Yellow" has loads more flowers on it. They are the same colour as Primroses. They are not as bright as the orange ones but they certainly cheer the place up.

And the Thyme is out in full bloom. Its delicate tiny pink flowers stand out against the green beautifully! I did take loads more but that is all I have time to edit for now!

Bloomin Lovely!

Well, after the "Pattern Fiasco" I decided I had had enough on the puter and went out into the garden.

My trough is looking beautiful! It is full of flowers and loads of buds. I was especially pleased to see some buds on the Icelandic Poppy. It is delicate like the Field poppies but comes up in a variety of colours. Monday, one of the buds opened and another looked as if it was about to.

But Monday tea time I looked out to find that all of the buds, except the original one, had disappeared. There was also hollows in the gravel on the top and stones all over the floor. Cats had been in my trough!!!!! There will be more buds later so it isn't a total disaster. Just really disappointing.

This is Sisyrinchium "Californian Skies". Most of the plants in the trough are Alpines because it is in full sun at the hottest part of the day. And now it has been moved, its in the sun for even longer.

This was only very small last year. Mam was after a cutting but I wouldn't let her. This year it is about 10 times the original size with loads of flowers. Unfortunately, she still cant have a cutting as she is having work done on the house. At least next year it will be loads bigger for one!

I also have this in yellow but it isn't as big yet and not as delicate as the blue.

It also flowers later so I have only had two flowers on it so far. But there are loads of buds just waiting to come out!

And I have a few things just coming into bud.

This is Lemon Thyme and it smells gorgeous!

Lavender

And Mimulus in both "Highland Yellow" and "Highland Orange". Also known as "Monkey Flower" because the flowers are supposed to look like monkey faces. You are supposed to plant them a certain distance apart but I put them close together in the hope that the two colours would mingle.

And finally, my Clematis. It is "The Vagabond". It is a lovely colour and already has has a few flowers. There are loads more buds and it is supposed to flower all through summer.

More Flowers!!!!

I have always insisted that I am not a gardener and I don't want a garden. However, I LOVE flowers. And, I figured the easiest way to get them was to grow them.

The "garden" started off with a couple of pots.

Then a couple more pots.

Then I insisted that we really need something to cover that horrible fence. I wanted Jasmine and Honeysuckle but we ended up with Clematis. I didn't realise there were so many colours. There is just a little bit of ground down beside the path that is behind the pond. Perfect for planting climbers in. And, covered with weed membrane and slate, provides a perfect environment for Clematis.

I have tried to find ones that have different colours and flower at different times of the year. This lovely purple one is coming up strong and has loads of buds on it already. Unfortunately, the white one isn't so strong and the winds which whistle along the fence continually damage it. I might end up cutting my losses on that one and replacing it. I am sure I can find a new home for it.

But my pride and joy is my trough. It is an old animal trough and is about 30 years old. And it looks it! I really love the natural look to it and have tried to plant it with flowers that will enhance it.

White Violets! I didn't know you could get these until a friend gave me some.

And the traditional Violets. Which are spreading all over the trough. But I don't mind, they are so pretty.

These are Daisy type flowers. I think they are a Chrysanthemum. The first year I had them they flowers for ages then died in January. That was when I found out that they were supposed to! It took me ages to find them again! This year I took cuttings and kept them on the kitchen window sill. I cut it back when it started dying off but now it is sprouting again!

This is Felicia. Also known as Blue Marguerite. It was supposed to have died over winter as well but is flowering again. I also have a load of other little flowers in there, hopefully for colour all through the summer. The pea gravel helps stop the compost drying out and provides a lovely background to the flowers.

I am sure you noticed the big Mushrooms in the first one. These are the small ones. I have lots of little ones in the pots, mostly made from Laburnam. That big one in the earlier picture is 22 inches in diameter and big enough to use as a stool!

Look what is growing in my garden!

I love winter bulbs! They really brighten up the place. I planted them for last year but they didn't do so well. I think some of them were a bit deep and the snowdrops were really late. I was a bit disappointed. But Mark said that by this year they would be established and come up better. And they have! I have crocuses, irises and snowdrops in all my pots. I don't think Mark realised I had planted so many! But I did plant them all at different times as I got them, even during the summer. Some came up straight away and died quickly as they are not meant for warmer weather.

Hopefully, I am going to have bulbs all spring. And what's more, with my new macro lens I can take great pictures of them. Apart from cropping and resizing, these haven't been edited. The detail is fascinating, I can't wait to get out and use it more. Also, as a 60mm lens (efl=96mm) I can use it as a portrait lens. Need to practise a bit more on that.

The other thing that is growing in my garden is mushrooms! Mark smuggled home a large log last time he went shooting and made me this new one. It measures 22inches across and is big enough to sit on. So, with all these bulbs and mushrooms, guess what the calender is? You can download it as usual from the link on the left.