Tag: Geranium

What a Difference a Week Makes

Published on by Catherine35 Comments

Seven days on and the garden is blooming. It felt like a long wait, but finally, several of the roses and other plants decided it was time to greet 2024. Since last Saturday and until mid-week we were enjoying a calmer period of weather that was a few degrees higher than it has been for many weeks. Our last warm spell was in May so this was welcome, but typically, it didn’t last. I photographed on Wednesday because one glance at the forecast told me it would be the last calm day and strong winds, plus rain, would make photography impossible on Thursday and beyond. So here it is, my selection of photos for this weekend’s Six on Saturday.

Six on Saturday

Continue reading “What a Difference a Week Makes” →

Summer Go-Slow

Published on by Catherine23 Comments

The garden’s growth has been a bit sluggish lately. The recent weather has been cold and lacking sunlight, which is quite different from what I captured in my photos at this time last year. Back then, many plants, including the roses, were in full bloom. At that time, everyone here was basking (melting!) in the heat. This year has been different and I’ve been impatient for the garden to burst into glorious colour.

But I have to ask myself – why am I in such a hurry? The roses have plenty of buds, and perennials and annuals will flower soon. When they do, temperatures will have risen enough to be able to sit out and simply enjoy the garden, its colour, its perfume and the warmth of summer. Perhaps the plants are wiser than me. They’re patiently waiting for the right moment.

My apologies for missing all your blogs last week, I’ve been a bit under the weather for a couple of weeks, but on the mend and back working (gently) in the garden. My other half is the real workhorse in our garden now, and I’m mostly the one who points and says, ‘Dig this out’ or ‘plant this here’. It’s a pity he doesn’t love the garden, but I’m working on that! 😉

However, I’ve been around the garden with the camera and found plenty of prettiness to capture for this week’s Six on Saturday.

Continue reading “Summer Go-Slow” →

Chelsea Week

Published on by Catherine38 Comments

Six on Saturday

Hands up if you are following the Chelsea Flower Show on tv this week! Or perhaps some of you were lucky enough to be at the show in person? Did you enjoy it, what do you think about this year’s gardens – did any give you inspiration, make you want to rush out and dig up your garden and start all over, or maybe you weren’t enthused about the show gardens? Whatever your feelings about the creations there’s no doubt that a huge amount of talent and hard work (not to mention expense) went into creating them.

I spotted some little cameos in the gardens that I thought were lovely. The floral marquee, was as always, full of magnificent displays of floral magic. My favourite gardens have always been those created by Chris Beardshaw who sadly wasn’t exhibiting this year. I’m sure we all managed to find something that had us reaching for Google to find out what online nursery stocked it!

Continue reading “Chelsea Week” →

Purple, White and a Splash of Orange

Published on by Catherine27 Comments

This will be my last Six on Saturday for a few weeks. Next week I’ll be busy doing final preparations and starting to pack for a trip to the US to visit one of our daughters and her family.

The biggest job will be in the garden – trying to get the remaining plants into the ground, moving potted plants from their sunny areas into more shady areas, and leaving loads of instructions for various family members on how to look after everything.

Here’s my Six for this week.

Continue reading “Purple, White and a Splash of Orange” →

Weekend Jobs

Published on by Catherine7 Comments

It was cold last Saturday, 4C, but calm with occasional spells of sunshine that made the garden more enjoyable to work in. The garden is undergoing a bit of a change, through necessity, and at the moment it’s not the prettiest of places. However, the winter gloom has given way to signs of spring as the borders turn green with emerging perennials and a few little splashes of cheerful colour here and there courtesy of spring bulbs and hellebores.

I’m longing for the day when the sun streams in my bedroom window early in the morning and I can hear the birds chirping outside. It’s always motivation to get up and get started with whatever happens to be on the agenda.

But back to the jobs that husband & I managed to tick off the list last Saturday. Two hydrangeas were lifted and replanted elsewhere. Six Hellebores were also dug up and moved to a shadier bed. Various perennials were replanted or moved from one area to another, and a new Exochorda ‘Niagara’ was planted. I’d love to think it would be covered in masses of flowers this spring, but I think it’s too young for that, so I’ll appreciate whatever flowers it offers up.

Continue reading “Weekend Jobs” →