August 25th Bake Off. Three generations of my family have entered various classes of the village show over the years. From the website “The Village Show has been running since August 1862, when the first Hanley Castle Horticultural and Flower Show was organised by the gentry of Hanley Castle Parish. The aim was “to encourage … Continue reading Journal. From Bake Off to Tulips.
We have two raised beds that edge the patio. I have removed the dahlias to their winter quarters ready to plant the tulips, wallflower and for-get-me-nots I recognize it is an old-fashioned traditional planting Scheme here in the UK, but it works. The raised beds are not much to look at just now. Hopefully they … Continue reading Traditional UK Planting: Tulips and Wallflowers
The self-sown cherry tree at the rear of the garden was in full flower. I could hear the bees working on it from the potting shed. Yesterday was a lovely sunny day to carry out some spring work in the garden. A new rope swag for clematis and roses to clamber over. A small area … Continue reading A good spring day in the garden.
This year there is a new planting plan for the raised beds bordering the patio. This will be the first year I have not planted tulips here instead there are Wallflowers Persian Carpet, Digitalis Suttons Apricot and Forget-me-nots’. These have all been grown from seed a considerable saving on plants along with not buying tulip … Continue reading Autumn planting, Spring colour.
This bank holiday we joined in with 16 others in the village for the Open Gardens and Flower Festival. Some of the tulips had gone over however the Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Heaven’ were just beginning to open. Their true beauty can be really appreciated when photographed up close. I created a short video of the … Continue reading Open Gardens and Flower Festival.
I have begun an experiment with tulips this year, following an article I read by Fergus Garrett from Great Dixter regarding which tulips they found to be perennial. The most reliable ones being the Darwin Hybrids, I planted three varieties in November, two in pots and one in the borders.The real test will be next … Continue reading Tulips and Blossom.
With all the terrible weather, gales and floods that the UK has recently experienced, Â Â Â I hope some spring colour will help to bring some relief. (Fortunately whilst we live close to Upton upon Severn, currently Upton in Severn, we are away from the floods). Here's wishing for a sunny, dry spring.
The beginning of November saw the planting of pots with, crocus, iris, narcissus and species rock tulips. Old hanging baskets used to keep the squirrels away.Two large pots either side of the banana bench were planted with Tulip 'Abu Hassan', Siberian Wallflowers and Forget-me-Nots. When the rain finally eased I managed to complete planting my … Continue reading Tulips, Pots and Saucers.
A quick tour around Our Garden@19 to capture my Top Ten, joining Chloris at The Blooming Garden. The Lego inspired Bug Hotel with Roof Garden. You can see more April Top Ten by visiting The Blooming Garden Do you have a favourite or a top ten of your own?
Welcome to Our Garden@19. All we need now is some Spring weather!
Weather lore says: "March, in like a lion out like a lamb." March is a month of transition, a much used word of late. In a gardening context I think emergence is a more suitable label. The garden and plants are emerging from winter into spring. It was traditionally the month for planting spring crops, mainly … Continue reading Top Ten for March.
Today (Friday) was the first day of sunshine here and after too many days of rain, it does bring a song into your heart. I ventured out into the garden to finish pruning the climbing roses, before I began, I decided to do a tour with the camera. The gardener's friend, was as usual, keeping … Continue reading The Birds and the Bees…
I am, sadly, old enough to remember Max Bygraves singing the cheerful song 'Tulips from Amsterdam'. Tulips along with Dahlias are a vital element to providing year round cheer and colour here in Our Garden@19 The dahlias are all now lifted and safely stored in the small greenhouse, this one is kept frost free. There … Continue reading Tulips. (From Hanley Swan).
Growing  Dahlias has become popular again within the last 15 years or so, some credit the late Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter with their revival. I grew up next door to my maternal grand parents and there was a large garden producing almost all of our food. A vegetable garden and orchard with chickens, pigs … Continue reading Dahlias.
We have just returned from an enjoyable holiday in Cornwall. Staying at Tregrill Farm Cottages, owned by Peter and Diane Bellamy, who previously  lived near to us in Worcestershire. My holiday reading (along with my blog list), I was attracted by the title, it perfectly describes my gardening philosophy. We visited gardens (More of these … Continue reading Holiday Time.
Our village of Hanley Swan has for the last few years held an open gardens during the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. I usually plant tulips in the garden and pots to provide colour and interest during the weekend. This year it looks as if my plans are in jeopardy due to the early spring weather. … Continue reading Tulip Time Plans 2017
brimfields.com 