More snow

There has been more snow since I took this photograph on 19 January. It seems we are stuck with it until the weekend when a thaw is expected. 

This is Hydrangea quercifolia. It is one of my favourite shrubs. It has usually lost its leaves by now but the weather has been so mild that they have stayed on. They do contrast nicely with the snow.

Jasminum nudiflorum is very tough. A good plant to have near the house so that it can be admired from the window.

I made this heart from the red stems of Cornus 'Elegantissima' which grows in my garden. It has been on my shed for several months so it has now faded. I will make another in the spring.

Looking back

2012 has been a strange year for a gardener.  Spring was very dry, summer was the second wettest on record. The wet weather has continued throughout the year. This view through my kitchen window has been a common one.

I managed to lose my bag of seeds so only had my new purchases to sow. I kept hoping I would find it but It still hasn't turned up. I really missed the sweet peas. 

Calendula 'Sherbet Fizz'

Ageratum 'Red Sea'

 I grew the Calendula and Ageratum pictured above. They were for cutting but I was disappointed with both of them. 

Scabious 'Black Night'

Scabious 'Black Night' was different. Larger flower than the other Scabious I have grown. Lasted well in a vase. I loved it and I will grow lots in 2013.

Flowers in the Holiday House

I'm visiting Jane at smallbutcharming for Flowers in the  Holiday House.

Except I don't have any flowers. But I do have these.

This pot contains the glycerined rowan leaves and berries I did in September; dried poppy heads and rose hips (also preserved in glycerine), all from my garden. I have also added cones I've collected elsewhere. The berries, hips and cones have all been wired.

Both the charity shop bottles below contain grasses from my garden.

 This is Calamagrostis brachytricha

 This is Molinia caerulea subsp. arundincea 'Transparent'.

Christmas tree and decorations not up yet, I'll be putting them up on Wednesday. 

The garden in November

The weather has been several degrees higher than it should be at this time of year, making the plants in the garden a bit confused.

I planted this Rowan in 1995, 4 months after we moved in. The leaves normally go a nasty grey-brown colour and fall off. This year they have turned this lovely golden colour. A result of the weather? The blackbird has been finishing the last of the berries.

I love the shape and colours of this Hydrangea quercifolia.

Schizostylis coccinea, a plant given to me several years ago. It always flowers in November. 

Euporatium rugosa 'Chocolate' loves its new home although its going over now.

Verbena boniarensis is still flowering.

Flowers in the House

Jane is kindly hosting Flowers in the House.

Euporatium rugosa  'Chocolate'

I moved this dark leaved Euporatium in the Spring. I had planted it close to the house and it did not seem happy. It has only been moved a few feet but it has made a huge difference as it's new home is damper. I haven't been able to pick it for a vase before as there have only been one or two flowers.

Scented leaf Pelargoniums

These Pelargoniums have been in the garden all summer. They are not hardy so I have moved them to the sunny warm porch. I lost the ones I had last year which I kept in the garage.

Three weeks ago I wrote about preserving leaves in glycerine. The leaves are now a lovely chocolate colour and I am especially pleased with the berries.

 I'm not sure how to display them yet although I am thinking about a terracotta pot.

A new purchase from a charity shop. I think summery alchemilla and roses will look good in it next year.

October in the garden

Lots of good things going on in the garden.

Abelia grandiflora

Euporatium rugosa 'Chocolate'

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Aster latiflorus 'Black Prince'

Calamagrostis

Gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride'

Gaura lindheimeri 'The Bride'

Geranium

Anaphalis triplinervis

Self seeded Verbena

I took these photographs at the weekend when the weather was still warm. Temperatures have now dropped with the first frost of the season forecast for tomorrow.

Flowers in the House

Jane is kindly hosting Flowers in the House today.

This the jug of flowers from last weeks blog. My north facing kitchen no longer gets any sun; the flowers are lasting much longer. My kitchen only gets early morning sun for about three months a year but I didn't think it would make so much difference.

Also on the windowsill are these leaves, berries and hips. They are in a glycerine solution to preserve them. The oak leaves are some I found after the wind last week. A lot of the leaves were too dry but these are taking up the solution. The Rowan leaves are from the tree in my garden. I have no idea how the berries and rose hips will turn out.

This is a hoop I made from oak leaves preserved in glycerine last year. It has lasted really well, I shall be hanging it again this year.

More from the cutting garden

More plants have flowered since my last blog.

This vase was bought for 50p from a charity shop and contains hardy annuals from the garden'

One of the flowers in the vase above is this fab Sweet Pea called 'Midnight'. It has a strong scent and long stems. I highly recommend it.

 Another favourite is 'Nelly Viner'. This is also scented (I cannot see the point of unscented Sweet Peas) and long stems.

I am having trouble keeping Larkspur going. I am wondering if I don't water them enough.

This is a new one for this year, Godetia amoena Memoria. I really like, and it seems to last well in the vase.

I am still waiting for Cosmos 'Dazzler' to flower, as well as the Nigellas.

Rain at last

Since I last blogged we have had rain, for a couple of nights it was very heavy so the garden has had a good drink. It has also been slightly cooler, more like May should be.

The garden is still showing the effects of the mad weather over the past few weeks. The rose 'Gertrude Jekyll' is already in flower and the foxgloves are starting to open but they are half the height they should be. The Lupin 'Gallery Rose' is also starting to flower.


On my kitchen windowsill is a small jug bought yesterday from a charity shop. I've put in some 'Gertrude Jekyll' roses and Aquilegias with some foliage.

'Gertrude Jekyll' Roses with Aquilegias

I've also treated myself to some 'Sarah Bernhardt' peonies. I have recently planted some of these lovely flowers but I think it will be a year or two before I see any blooms.

'Sarah Bernhardt' Peonies

Another plant that has required patience is Ilex aquifolium  'J C van Tol'. This is a holly that is almost spine free. I planted it two years ago and it is in flower for the first time. Hopefully, there will be berries later in the year.

Ilex aquifolium  'J C van Tol'

I have been planting more seedlings for cut flowers. This is a wigwam made from the straight pieces that also grow amongst the contorted stems of Corylus contorta, the Corkscrew Hazel. These straight stems used to really annoy me but now I am happy to have them as they are so useful. I've wrapped string around the poles and planted sweet peas. 

Wigwam made from Hazel

Spring

Everything in the garden has responded to the warm sunshine and rain. My partner took this photograph of our Rowan on 31 March.....

.... I took this photograph today, 3 April.

Acer Palmatum 'Suminagashi' buds

My next door neighbour has a beautiful plum tree in her garden. I can see it from my bedroom window and it's one of the highlights of Spring.

The birds are gathering nesting material from the garden. This cheeky pigeon has finally worked out how to get the fat out of the coconut shell on the Viburnum. His beak is covered in fat.