A Late Sunday post. My spider plant has got a single white flower on it. I do not think i have ever seen a spider plant in flower.Its sat by the front room window, happily growing mad.It is an heirloom plant, that was my first encounter with growing a living thing many years ago.I hope it has baby plants too to make Volunteer plants :)
The Streptocarpus Happy Snappy nearly opening today. It is red flowered with a white throat and darker stripes. I will photograph it when its fully open. The Dark purple Black panther is out of focus behind it.
.JPG)
This image was taken off Ebay..The same Ornament I bought Mum for Xmas a few years ago.I think she still has the Ornament back home in Cheltenham.....JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Inspired by my Fox Picture on the sidebar to the right I thought I would blog my small Fox collection. I bought the white pot at the Harrogate Autumn Flower show.They had a pheasent on one, and this fox on the other.I had not bought anything up to that point, but the desire to buy a souvenir overcame me!
Magic Beans. The seeds from Pats Runner beans are drying on the plate.they are the most amazing pink colour fresh from the Runner bean plant. Picked and cut open along one side.
The Seeds lie entombed, like a mini Parisien Catacombs. Pink and Black/Blue Seeds at the moment. They Darken to a nice purple colour.
They are like an art work, with dark swirling colours on top of the pink outer seedcase.
The Fairytales talk of Magic Beans that grow into Bean Stalks upto the Clouds, where Jack climbs to meet the human being eating Giant. Jack had traded his cow on the way to market for some magic beans. I wander if they were like these runner bean Seeds here. Magic in the Colours within the Green beans.
In flower yesterday.I have done my extra set of three nights. I like the three flowers hovering above the variegated leaves. More posts later today after I have slept a while :)
The Geranium Flowers today.The peach colour is sort of diluted with pink, and I love the lime green eye in the centre. Morning light is great for highlighting flower petals and making colours stand out. It looks vibrant and alive.
Geranium Flower buds that look like roses, with the petals rolled up like a Havana Cigar. These will look good next to the Busy Lizzy Carousel who has two flowers now in bloom.
After five months of growing, and me checking today what it was called the Busy Lizzy F1 carousel mix is in flower. Peach coloured double bloom, just the one at the moment with a bud behind it.
I love these pink flowers with the darker mouth colour at the base of the petals. The RHS book calls them reflexed petals. They start growing hanging down then get stood up so they are like little pink light bulbs..
I bought this at the Autumn flower show from the Long tent with Plant Suppliers selling plants, bulbs, sundrys, and information for hotels or Scotland..
The Streptocarpus Black Panther. I bought this as a plug plant at Tatton Park from the Dibleys stall. The guy had to root around these trolleys laden with muslin cloth wrapped plug plants in little clear plastic bags. I loved the Darkness of the flowers on the display plant. Its almost black, or very drak purple. Its also hard to photograph a Dark flower.I took a lot of photos.I need a sunny day to illuminate the flower petals. you can get the idea of it though from the photos..
Black Panther In Profile, five petals at the end of the Tubular flower. The stems rise up from the Long, crinkly green leaves. They are easy to propogate. At the Flower show the Lady from the British Streptocarpus association showed how you can cut off a leaf, strip the middle vein, and lay the two long pieces into well drained damp compost. The Streptocarpus will grow baby plants along the cut leaves. You have an exact copy of the parent plant...
Nerys, bought from Harlow Carr in June. This plant has flowered prodigiously from June to September and is still going. The leaves are really long now, ready for some propogating...
The Unknown variety with lilac and white flowers, with the Egg Yolk centres. This has flowered for months too. The stems and leaves are hairy on this plant. The other Streps have crinkly leaves. This one is African violet like.The Flowering stems are covered in bright red, downy hair, like Red snakes. The buds are wrapped inside the brown covering which open then drop off revealing two to four flower buds. I love the colours of this unknown variety..
Saturday morning.After a few tired days I am blogging again. These beautiful pink flowers were being sold at the Autumn flower show.
I cant remember the name. Schizosanthus or something like that?
the Pink flowers were growing at the end of three foot strap like leaves. They are very peruvian lilly like in the flowers.
I am looking for a new house in earnest now.The contract here is running out.I have so many garden ideas to try out, new plants to try and grow.
My inspiration has come from trips to Harlow Carr, to Tatton Park, and to the Flower show. Other peoples gardens, and gardening blogs also keep me inspired.
My newest collection of plant is Streptocarpus.I have five types now with three in Flower, and the other two have flower buds growing on pendulous stems.
Streptocarpus Nerys, Ruby, Happy Snappy, Black Panther, and the Unknown one.I will post some photos this weekend. I am also trying to grow leaf cuttings from the New Streptocarpus Ruby....
.JPG)
From the Flower show the Fruit section looks like a buffet table. This photo reminds me of the old Dutch masters painting a still life.
I guess its the black table and fruit baskets holding the multicoloured fruit.
The poor summer meant the entrys were not as plentiful, the only exception being Apples.
The vegetables were sparse so maybe not as many people grew to the entry standard.
If people could see these vegetables and fruit, and go away from the show thinking I will have a go at growing that. Then it will have been a success.
How much sweeter is produce that you have grown yourself, free from any chemicals or additives hopefully. Picked, washed, and eaten fresh. I was inspired by the show...
.JPG)
Fuschias from the Flower show. Like beautiful pink angels..mine have all died horribly this year so it was good to see some lovely plants. Enormous hanging baskets of pendulous flowers.I like the Angel/Ballet Dancer flowers the most, ahead of the tubular flowers..JPG)
After seeing Angies toad Lillys I had to blog the one good photo I took off this one.It was nestled on the edge of a Floral Display.
Some Astrantia from the Autumn flower show.I love the pin cushion effect of these plants.They are at the top of the blog page.
Its a late post from me after a long day today. Thirteen hour day...
Im off for two days So I can blog the other photos from the Flower show.I have shown the flower competition, and some of the Vegetable competition.
It was funny to see beautiful ornate cauliflowers and cabbages displayed on the black covered tables.
These Astrantia were in a Nurserys display, with the plants on sale besides it.These were given medals too for Exhibitors Displays. Perennials, Acers, Carniverous plants, Alpine plants...
My favourite flowers that I discovered at Harlow Carr, and here again at Harrogate.More posts in the morning :)
The Dahlias were quite photogenic.I have four plants growing on the window sill but only one has flowered so far.
Some Beautiful White/yellow Dahlias from the Autumn flowers show on Friday..
Dahlias looking very Anime like, they are wanderful colours and shapes...
White Chrysanthenum with yellow centres. Love these beautiful flowers being exhibited..
Mums like Cheerleader Pom PoM's....Ra ra ra...go flowers!
Gladiolus are well loved, judging by the impressive amount of entrys into the competitions..
The Carnations Are lovely.I have grown these flowers.They are great for cut flowers for the house.
I went Yesterday to The Autumn Flowers show in Harrogate, held in the Yorkshire Show grounds.
The last flower show of the year.I took a mere 150 photos only. This was my Fifth trip with Hils since June.
There were competitions for flowers, vegetables, fruits, Exhibitors displays, Honey and Mead, Flower Arranging, and a wide selection of Arts, crafts, Jewellry, clothing, Yorkshire Foods like cheese, Meats, pork pies, cakes, sweets, drinks, and even a Massage area run by physiotherapists.
It was packed yesterday with people, and the sun was shining.I will show a selection of photos this week. I worked today so my energy levels are low...
Photographed are some of the Gladiolus Display flowers arranged in Vases, with a Selection of classes. The winners got rosettes.
The flowers were all beautiful, but strange in the way that single Stems were displayed.I like my flowers in a garden, as part of a bigger display.
There were Carnations, Chrysanthemums, Roses, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Bonsai,....
Over ninety Nurserys and plant sellers were there.The funny wheeled plastic trolleys were there like at Tatton, for wheeling around all your new plants. There was a plant Creche too....
It was Sunny to start, then it became Autumnal with cloud, and a cold wind.It was a fabulous day out, but even I have become Planted it, after taking over 1200 photos :)
The Next flower show is in April, So I have time to recover from my frequent exposure to masses of plants and flowers.
The Phalaenopsis with the new left leaf, and another smaller one growing between the top two leaves.
I repotted the Moth Orchid in a translucent Soup container from Asda, cut down in size, and with lots of holes cut into the bottom.
The orchid mix was a mixture of cut up peat pots and Moss from a hanging basket kit.
Its only watered occasionally and then it is completely soaked with tepid water. The plant food is at half strength. The tepid water runs off the Orchid through the bark/moss mix and out through the bottom of the pot.
Think Tropical rainstorm running through the tree's. The Orchid is Epiphtic, which means it grows on tree's with its roots in detritus that has lodged between the branches. Both the leaves and roots have chlorophyll in them, hence the clear pot so the light can reach the roots.
They are green and growing around the edge of the clear pot. This plant is sat on the kitchen windowsill. It has a large growth which you can see on the right hand side. I dont know if it is an aerial root or a flower spike. I could not find clear pictures of what a growing flower spike looks like..
I bought this plant at half price, and am trying to get it to reflower. It looks suprsingly healthy in this photo. Its a living, breathing project that keeps me interested in plants and trying to mimic its natural surroundings to encourage flowering.
Autumn means shorter days, cooler nights, and the approach of first frosts. The Leaves change colours gradually,like multicoloured dreamcoats on tree's and fall. I cant wait to be able to kick my way through piles of leaves and send them flying into the air as I walk through them.
My coloured floral sunshine on the windowsill, salmon coloured Geraniums. The Streptocarpus are the only other plants in flower....
The busy lizzys and Fuschias have done appallingly. I think the direct lack of sunlight hampered their flowering.
The BBC this morning reported that the people happiest with a warm april, and heavy rain were apple growers. Im going to Harrogate for a flower show on friday where there will be a display of apples there.
I have slowed down my blog posts too, due to work and lack of energy. Maybe I need more direct sunlight as well. I spent today cleaning up and sorting out the plants.The ones growing in the kitchen seem to be doing better than the rest of the flat. I wandered if the occasional window opening discourages the black mould spores that the rain brought out....
The slug population has increased exponentially with the damp wet conditions from June to August. The hot dry weather will hopefully restore the balance. I bet they have decimated a fair few plants and veg.
September is a month for reflection, for working out what worked, what failed, and what new things you might try next. The gardens I have seen look like they have a hang over from the rioting party of Summer. Spring bulbs can be bought now ready for planting when the first frosts comes.The seasons continue to turn in their annual cycle.I am waiting for the leaves to turn colour so I can photograph Autumn colours :)
Mrs Tiggy Winkle, the famous Hedgehog from Beatrix Potters book.
Beatrix was born in 1866 in South Kensington London. She kept many animals and started studying them and drawing them. She visited places of great natural beauty in Scotland and the Lake District. She enjoyed painting landscape pictures.
In 1902 with encouragement (and her own money) she published the Tale of Peter Rabbit. http://www.visitcumbria.com/bpotter.htm
One of her other books was the Hedgehog Mrs Tiggy Winkle...
I found a BBC article a few days ago about the apparent decline of Hedgehogs in Urban Britain. They were in good health when there were lots of houses with hedgerows. The spread of decking, and patios make the green spaces smaller. Busy roads are now impassable to the snuffling hedgehogs. In fact thats how they estimated population is by the amount of roadkill deaths. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6975945.stm
I looked at hedgehog images as diverse as cuddly toys, ornaments, pictures, tea towels, fridge magents, cups, and characters.. (including Mrs Tiggy Winkle), so I know hedgehogs are a loved British wild animal.
I must have a garden with a hedgerow, and some fallen leaves and logs. Some food on a plate. They are perfect houseguests coming and going unobtrusively.
The article finishes "If you want hedgehogs in your gardens or park, see that they have what they need, shelter and food. Learn about hedgehogs so you can begin to think like them. The Essence of Empathy is that level of understanding."
I wander what peoples favourite wildlife is. I love the English countryside with Foxes, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs...They have become part of the folk lore, and in storys as old as Aesops Fables, to the Beatrix Potter storys.
It would be a crime if they are allowed to die out because of the changing Urban landscape. Something that we can prevent by making our gardens wildlife friendly.
We need to keep the green corridors open for our wild visitors.
Eryngium on the black trolley by the bedroom window. I can only imagine how big this would have grown in well drained, sunny soil outside. The Flower heads and Shakespearean Ruff type leaves give it a thistley appearance.
It is a perennial so hopefully It will grow back next year.
I actually looked at the Blogger picassa album today. This will be the 902nd photo I have uploaded!
My question is how can I publish the blog in the future? I like blogger for all its drawbacks and vagaries of uploading multiple images. The Gardens blog has become animated with my photos mostly, with a few images from google searches.
I was included as a fifth member of the Blogger Garden Dream team...as the photographer.I will find the link later. Thanks!
Heres the link: http://balcony-garden.blogspot.com/2007/09/garden-bloggers-dream-team.html
The photos try to capture the beauty of the garden, or the plants or flowers. Even with the most sumptuous border the human eye picks up more of the colours, lights and darks. I dont think I do bad for an amateur gardener/photographer.
I think the Gardener part comes first, and the photographer part comes second. Photos cross countrys, language barriers, and cultures. It may be called a local name but plants can be recognised all over the world.
A photo can tell a story. Here is one side of the kitchen windowsill. The Geraniums have been repotted and watered as the hallway had dried out the soil totally.
The Salmon flowers on one plant, and the Red flowers already blogged before.
The Radio that plays classic FM was from Nans house. It used to play local radio as my Grandad sat at the back door looking out onto their yard with its alpine and succulent plants, below the Railway embankment.
Streptocarpus sit alongside Jalapeno pepper plants, Chinese moth Orchids grow next to fuschias. Mint, and a busy lizzie next to the slow growing Bletilla Striata. A lemon Scented geranium sits alongside a pair of Auriculas. Each plant has a memory of where it was bought, or grown from seeds, or as an experiment to see if it can grow..
Connecting the Plants is the radio, and the music, the biggest Showbiz news today is the Great Luciano Paverotti died on Thursday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6981032.stm
The Orchids love classical music, and I always loved Nessun Dorma from the Football world cup. It was known to make British builders weep even though they could not understand the Italian words. The Aria became entwined with the penalty shoot out that England lost to West Germany...as a memory of the famous Tenor the post shall be called None Shall Sleep..
My Tatton Park bought Seeds have so far only had three germinated plants. Two Jalapeno pepper plants on the left, and a Friars Hat which is not photographed.
The Alium seeds from Harlow Carr have germinated in my seed tray on the kitchen sideboard.
The last Edible plant growing is my mint, a pot is growing slowly on the kitchen windowsill.
I have grown hundreds of plants this year, but the Flats conditions has killed off a lot. I guess when I move only the strongest most vigerous plants will make the trip.
Its been an experimental year seeing what I could grow in a limited light environment.I would much prefer soil to dig, cultivate, and to work with the prevailing conditions. Three months of Rain followed by a few weeks of Sunshine this year. Even living in a flat I watch the weather and the rain...
Some of my plants are growing but not as well as if their roots were in contact with the earth.I have so many plants that I want to grow...
This is my week off, after feeling poorly yesterday im a bit better today.I still need to take Fran spring bulb shopping, so i can take part in planting them.I have not seen her garden since we renovated parts of it months ago. She has also planted her bog garden, a square patch with very damp soil, and poor drainage.
Here is to a good gardening week wherever you are.
A cheerfull Sunflower at the RHS Harlow Carr herb garden. I love growing these, and a sunny day sets them off.
Childhood memories are made of these plants and bright yellow flowers. The birds love the seeds they produce too.One flower can give you hundreds of seeds within the centre.
I have finished my night shifts for this set anyway.I have a week off to recharge my batterys, study my course book, and go plant shopping with Fran. Its September, the tail end of Summer. Nows the time to buy your spring bulbs and get them planted in borders and pots.
Dafffodils, Narcissus, Crocus, Tulips, Blubells, and Snowdrops...Old friends who will appear after the Cold, dark Winter days. They are the messengers of a new year, of a new cycle of Seasons.
I will help Fran make her Garden ready for Spring...I hope the new year brings me a new house and Garden.
Sweetly Scented Honeysuckle from the Scented garden at Harlow Carr. I loved the sunlight splashing through the leaves and illuminating the flowers.And the wasp to the right of the white and yellow flowers.
