(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

 The weather continues to be a mixture of sunshine and rain.I have seen the first foraging Bees hanging upside down under the black geranium flowers.The flowers are like umbrellas blown inside out by the rain.These little Bees love the nectar in the flowers.
 This is the insects eyed view looking up at the dark Geranium flowers.I have forgotten what their name is.The leaves are variegated like camouflage trousers in green and brown.The solar light and fence panel seem to tower over the plant.The sky is heavy with grey rain clouds.
 We went to Hampson's today to buy a squirrel proof feeder to hold the Sunflower hearts.The hexagonal feeder was too easily opened by the wily squirrels.They will have to eat off the bird table or gnaw on the fat balls.The only birds who have ventured into the cage so far are the Goldfinches.They easily fitted through the gap.I think we have five Squirrels around the garden who keep venturing in to steal the birds food.This will keep them guessing.
The perennial Geranium has flowered with this beautiful violet flower.It was dormant underground but has exploded into life with the sunny weather this spring time.
 I bought two Polygonatum today for £1 from Hampsons.They are commonly called Solomons Seal.I need to grow the roots on in the greenhouse.They have variegated leaves and the pendulous white seals when they flower.I think they will compliment the Hostas.
  In the greenhouse my first Chili Jalapeno have finally germinated.The Tomato Premio have also started to appear from the soil.The Grape Vine appears to have bounced back from Snail damage and has flower buds arranged in a bunch of grapes type structure.
  The Black Cherry Tomatoes,French Marigold,Calendulas, and Basil have done nothing at all.The French Beans and Sweetcorn are also lagging behind in the germination stakes.
 There is only six days untill press day at the RHS Chelsea flower show.The gardeners there will be agonising about what plants,shrubs,trees, and flowers are of sufficent standard to appear in a show garden where every leaf,stem,and flower has to be perfect for judging day (Monday I think).
 Inperfections here are part of a real garden.Slugs and Snails exist and attack our plants.We are still forecast frost overnight ready to damage tender plants!Rain and wind tear holes in leaves.
  The Bee photo and the vibrant colour of the Geranium flower make me smile and realise the cup is always half full.Gardening is an exercise in working with nature.She always suprises and cant be predicted.We have to work with her and deak with all the ups and downs.Thats life and gardening. Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-15, 11:07:00

(Via grow this)


Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-15, 09:07:00

(Via Gardening and Gardens)

It's Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Here's what's growing and blooming in my new garden this month:


The Iris are in full bloom. I planted some Impatiens in the foreground and now I'm just waiting to see how the rest will fill in.


So many Hostas - some of them quite beautiful! These are backed by Astilbe against the wall. The Astilbe have lots of buds on them. I'm curious to see what color they are!


The ferns look fantastic in these containers. The two on the left are Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and the one on the right is Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) which emerges later than the others.



Curb appeal! This garden is in the lower corner of the front yard, right along the sidewalk. Behind the Hostas are Coral Bells, Barberry and purple Iris.

In the front sidewalk garden, I just recently planted Butterfly Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri 'Whirling Butterflies'), Salvia nemorosa 'May Night' and Coreopsis.

Many thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for hosting the monthly Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day.  

Reblogged by Kate @ Gardening and Gardens to Uncategorized on 2012-05-15, 04:00:00

(Via Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas)

For those spacially-challenged gardeners who find living in their apartment borders on claustrophobic tendencies this may be the answer. Gizmodo have just posted How to Grow Your Own Little Hanging Garden Of Babylon using merely the window opening.

The idea allows gardeners to hoist their plants outside into the sunshine for maximum growth but easily reels back in so that the gardener can engage with the plants again. The three planters can be accessed to provide nutrients, allow the gardener to perform some pruning tasks and even pick produce if required.

For more information check out Treehugger’s article.

This post came from Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas - Gardening tips and advice.

Reblogged by admin to Growing Plants on 2012-05-13, 15:00:04

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

 As it is the Olympic year and the queens Diamond Jubilee I have ordered some patriotic red,white,and blue Petunias to decorate the hanging baskets.I ordered the plug plants from Sutton's and as part of the offer they sent me this free bare root Rose Bush, Rose Queen Elizabeth.It arrived in a cardboard box.I planted it in an old David Austin Rose pot which is nice and deep.It has a few leaf buds on the stem so I hope it grows.
 This Rose was hybridized in 1954 by an American Walter Lammerts.It has a tea rose shaped flower with an old rose scent.It has been grown for the past 58 years.I googled the Rose to find a picture of it in bloom.I hope mine looks as nice as this after a few years growth.I am nearly out of space to plant any more Roses.The garden path is lined with sumptuous David Austin Roses and a few old Roses that have travelled with me.
The King of the pond was basking on the Horse Tail grass in the sunshine.I have seen three Frogs in our pond,but generally at different times.The Water Lily is growing well and slowly shading out the algae bloom.I maybe removed too many plants in the winter which tipped the balance out.I saw a Water Beetle swimming through the pond which thrilled me as much as growing a beautiful scented Rose.Only Water Fleas have been in the pond so far.It means other wildlife has moved into the second year pond. Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-13, 12:20:00

(Via hort.net top stories)

Some Alabama farmers say they are planting less produce rather than risk having crops rot in the fields a second straight year because of labor shortages linked to the state's crackdown on illegal immigration. Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-12, 22:32:51

(Via Organic Gardening - a beginner's guide)

You probably already know that a lower pH number represents more acidic soil while a higher number means more alkaline soil.  That is a great start towards making sure your growing environment is...

Healthy and fun organic garden information is only a click away!

Reblogged by admin to acidity,alkaline,pH on 2012-05-12, 10:22:00

(Via Gardens of the Wild Wild West)

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers and they open — pools of lace, white and pink — … Continue reading →

Peonies and Mary Oliver is a post from: Gardens of the Wild Wild West

Reblogged by admin to Journal entries on 2012-05-12, 00:14:36

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

 I have been watching two wildlife programmes recently.the BBC's Plant Earth Live reporting from all over the world.They are following Black Bears in Minnesota, Elephants and Lions from Africa,Macaques in a temple in Sri Lanka,Meerkats in the Kalahari,Giant River Otters,and Grey Whales migrating from Mexico to the Artic waters.I love the beautiful camera work that the BBC is famous for.As I watched them on the laptop I can see the gardens wildlife feeding and grooming outside the conservatory window.From animals far far away to ones who live in close proximity to us.I love how plump this Goldfinch is eating sunflower hearts.
The other program I watched was channel 4's Foxes Wild In The City.I am watching it on catch up as I missed it.I love Foxes and I think it was good that they were doing research into the numbers of Foxes and what the public felt about them.It was broadcast from Battersea power station.
 Today in the garden there have been three Squirrels.A young one, and an older pair.
  A magpie has been in the garden today showing off his beautiful iridescent blue feathers on his back.I have just seen two Frogs sunbathing in the pond under the cover of Horsetail Grass and some Clover.
 I love gardening,and one of the benefits is that wildlife is drawn into the garden.You can have a close encounter with another species. Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-11, 08:22:00

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

 I have finished my night shifts and can now concentrate on the garden,and the allotment.The weather has been fluctuating between wet and windy,and sunny.The Mallus Braeburn has been mostly pollinated now.It will be interesting to see how many Apples form,and how many are left after the June drop.The Ceanothus behind the Apple Tree is covered in hundreds of flower buds.These are opening up slowly and soon will scent the garden with honey.
 The other day I thought I saw a Squirrel run across the grass.I looked again and it was a brazen brown Rat.Sat calmly eating the birds suet.The food has now moved off the ground and the Rat has not been back.Because the birds are messy eaters its funny to see the Mice and Rats move in to eat the spoils.The neighbourhood Cats patrol through our garden and will predate these.There are Tawny Owls that also hunt at night.It is natural selection pressure.I always thought Rats were nocturnal.He does remind me of Ratatouille (from the Disney Pixar film).It reminded me to regularly clean up bird food and move the feeding stations around.
 The changeable weather has made the Rhododendrons start to flower in the back garden.This Pink and White flower with a red wine splash is called Sappho.
 In the pot behind the Sappho there is the Red flowering Wilgens Ruby.It is a lovely blood red colour.The flower buds actually contain many flower buds tucked in together.When they break out they flower en mass to make a ball of colour.
 They are lovely flowers.They will look spectacular together.I planted them in new pots with Ericaceous compost.I look forward to many Mays with these flowering.
 The Rhododendron at the front is called Purple Splendour.It has not flowered yet but the buds have begun to unfurl.This one sits under the front room window shaded by the neighbours Japanese Maple.
 The Betula Utilis continues to grow strongly.the main stem is thickening and the colour of the bark is changing at the base from a dark brown colour to this grey/tan colour.This changing colour will hopefully spread up the main trunk and the side branch.I love Silver Birch Trees.They are tall.slim,and have lovely leaves that rustle in the wind.The white bark will glow ghostlike near our window.
 The David Austin Moliniux Roses are all growing on well.This one Rosebush has the first Rose bud of the year.One Rose bush looks sickly and has droopy leaves.I do not know if a lawn mower or strimmer has damaged the main stem below.It is like the plants water has stopped going up.That means there are four Rose bushes still growing strongly.I may need to buy a replacement to keep the Rose hedge going.
The view from the Conservatory window shows the newly cut grass, and hop a long the Pigeon walking along the grass.My female figurine is glowing white.The rain filled clouds are visible in the horizon.
 The sun is shining now as I write this.Its amazing how green it all looks.Their are Aquilegias nearly flowering under the window.The Strawberries and Pineberrys are flowering in the rain/sunshine.Its a pleasure now to go out every day to see whats growing and whats flowering. Reblogged by admin to Uncategorized on 2012-05-11, 07:34:00