flowers

Spring Has Sprung

Published on October 18, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

To think that over a year ago this was bare earth! — To think that less than two years ago this was bare earth!

The crabapple - a late but sensational bloomer, with the sensational Popcorn! — The crabapple – a late but sensational bloomer, with the sensational Popcorn!

It’s that magical time of year for gardeners where everything is growing and flowers burst forth. It’s particularly exciting in such a new garden where many of the plants haven’t flowered before and any growth seems so dramatic. You also start to see how the plants blend in with each other and their individual growth patterns.

I’m thrilled to see so many plants responding, not just in terms of growth and flowering, but also the abundance of self sewn plants from letting the plants go to seed.

It’s a treat now to go outside and pick bunches of flowers and enjoy them inside as well. One of changes I need to adjust to is that when I let the dogs out in the morning, it’s often over an hour before I make my way back inside for breakfast as I wander through the garden inspecting changes and doing some never-ending weeding!

The centre front bed is looking as pretty as a picture!

Published on March 14, 2014 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Dahlias - a box of bulbs was anonymously left at my bad gate — Dahlias – a box of bulbs was anonymously left at my back gate

One of the great pleasures of having a flourishing garden is being able to regularly pick bunches of flowers for inside. It means I can enjoy aspects of the garden just as much when I am in the Convent – but without the guilt of feeling I’ve stripped the garden of its beauty.

Fresh flowers are such a treat and every few days I freshen up a few vases. I’m not quite at the picking baskets of flowers stage, and some of my vases are small, but it still seems a luxury and pleasure.

There are always some roses to pick. These are my signature Good Samaritans

Once the roses are established, they should contribute generously, although I haven’t planted specific cut rose varieties. The dahlia’s are a delight and picking them just encourages more flowers.

The Lisianthas have been a surprise and delight as a change

It also highlights the garden changes during the seasons as I’ve moved from the agapanthas to the Tansy in one bed, now roses and dahlias, with the bulbs providing a totally different opportunity.

One of the side benefits is the excuse to collect some lovely vases for displaying the arrangements (not that I can “arrange”)!

Serendipity

Published on January 1, 2014 by conventandchapel2 Comments

Whilst tidying up the end of various flowers, I decided to make the most of the seeds they had produced. It seems a good approach to harvest seeds of flowers and plants that have done so well in this area. It should come in handy next time around instead of buying new seeds and may be useful as gifts or giveaways.

So far I have cornflowers, love in a mist, parsley, coriander, hyssop, cosmos, hollyhocks, mustard lettuce, Queen Anne’s Lace and, of course, one of my favourites with their glossy black seeds – aquilegias.

Of course, they may not grow, but it’s been fun and rewarding getting a little more value out of the plants and planning their next generation.

In a touch of serendipity, during this process my Christmas present arrived from my daughter overseas – a timber planting box for seedlings with lovely little seed envelopes. Much nicer than my cliplock plastic bags.