Garden Additions

The Polyanthus Blue Shades is growing lovely now, even with todays wind and rain.
I am back on nights for three so the posts will slow down untill Monday.I was very productive yesterday with Cat helping me out. I bought three large 75 litre bags of compost, two bags of Pea gravel stones, and a few more plants to go with the four from Harlow Carr. I wanted to make the African bag gardens with Cats assistance.
http://www.sendacow.org.uk/schools.asp?active_page_id=271
The Charity Send A Cow started me thinking about vegetable growing in a container (or Sack) in December. I ordered two kits and they sat waiting for the stones, soil, bottle, and nice weather to be made up.

Take one hessian sack. Line the bottom with stones for drainage. Use a two litre bottle cut at both ends to leave a hollow tube. Fill the bottle with stones in the centre of the sack in a column. Fill around the bottle with soil and cow manure..I used some of the garden compost as no cows were available.
In Lesotho where these bag gardens are used they have a plentiful supply of stones from the mountains, and cow manure.

A bag garden in construction. Each bag took one hundred litres of compost and I found after halfway they are very heavy. They were placed in situ on the pavers. I put some long canes on edges to keep the sides of the sack taut and out of the way of the soil filling. The sticks can be used as stakes to hold the bag in place.

The Snappy Gardener in Action with the Second Bag Garden. Each kit came with seeds to grow vegetables. With names like Purple Power and Rocket Fuel. The finishing touch will be to decorate them with paint and coloured material. A job for when im off from work..

The central stone column is used for watering the Bag garden plants.It runs down the middle of the Sack. I need to cut some V's into the sides of the Bag to grow plants from the side as well as on top. It is heavy too and not movable by me on my own.

After the bag gardens were done I turned my Attention to planting the new additions from Harlow Carr and Hampsons. Two Teasel, One Valerian, one Catnip, two Photinia's, one Thuja Occidentalis Rheinegold, and a Picea Glauca Conica. I moved a few of the plants about to accomodate the newcomers. The garden is in a state of change. I moved the other green bird bowl to by the corner by the Blackberry bush. There are two pools of water now for the garden birds to drink and splash about in.

After Le Tigre et Le Crocodile in Paris here is my version. Two stone statues by the Holly. I watched a video of a healing garden that did Art Therapy in California. It had a collection of Art work around the Garden. This is part one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz3_CyZ8WkA
and the second part is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJub3-ul5lQ
I saw plenty at Harlow Carr and on this video. I realised I had the plants, and the hard structures but not the fun things like Statues, gnomes, pink lawn flamingoes, or fairys etc. It is the fun twist that puts your personality on your garden. Whatever you like, if you like it...

The Bag Gardens just need a splash of rainbow colour to brighten them up. I have seed potatoes from Marshalls sat in an egg box developing shoots ready to be planted in the two grow bags.I went halfs on Wednesday with Cats dad to buy a patio Herb Planter. A round polythene bag with eight pockets rather like the Victorian strawberry planter. Thats what mine will be used for too :)
Strawberrys and Potatoes will join the African Bag gardens on the Pavers. The Container kitchen garden is growing slowly. I ordered another two Veg planters but they have not arrived yet. I think there is a movement in the UK to grow Organic Vegetables and Fruit, and the experts mention how container gardening can be done on any sized plot.
The benefit for me is that the two borders can grow flowers and soft fruit, and the Vegetables will grow on the pavers. It will be interesting to see how it all grows. The seed packets have been organised into envelopes with coloured names of the bag gardens.

The Mystery red spear growing. I saw some plants at Hampsons that looked like this. I will leave it for a while before saying what I think it is. Blackswamp girl you have already guessed correctly.
Its Febuary 29th too, a leap year! March starts tomorrow and I imagine the growing plants will speed up. So much is going on in the small urban plot of mine that its hard to know what to blog about. I have plenty of topics to write about and photograph.
Hope you all have good weekends and that your gardens keep growing on :)

Febuary Colours Third

Just down from the Main Entrance Path was a viewing Area. Two benches and this gorgeously ornate Sundial. I like the weathered look, and the design on it. Another coffee was made her.It had views of the Woods, the Main Borders, The Entrance, and Bettys Tea rooms.

The Main Borders were sparse as the Summer planting was a lot of Grasses and Perennials. Old friends like Giant Aliums, Verbena Bonarensis, Rudbeckia. The post painting with flowers show how brilliant they looked. The grasses and perennials had been cut to the ground. They are asleep under the soil. A few clipped topiary box and carex grasses were all that were visible. New plant labels were stuck in the ground, and their tulips were developing leaves. I will see in a month what has grown here. It was very wind swept and bare. Greens and Browns abound.

Some plants were left to overwinter. They have interesting shapes, textures, and colours. I know some people leave plants to decay so frosts and snows can make architectural elements in an otherwise barren garden. Something to remind you the sun did shine once, and that Spring is approaching. This was a Silver leaved Sage plant I think.

Birds flew around Harlow Carr singing away. This Robin must be related to my cheeky garden one. He sat on the Russet leaved hedge singing away oblivious to me walking around to get his photo. His feathers are ruffled a bit trying to keep warm.I seem to attract birds when I go anywhere, even walking to work.

A Mahonia in Flower. I had only sen Mums poorly specimin in Cheltenham.I never realised they flowered :)

These were in a display between the Outside Cafe and the Scented garden. They are a funny version of a Bluebell, a Scilla of somekind? The white/blue flowers are lovely against the bright green leaves.

The Sky and the Tree's took it in turn to dominate the view. The Light and Dark are almost Paris like.

A Cherry Blossom tree, some kind of Prunus. I love thes Flowers against the backdrop of other bare tree's. I would like one of these in a container in my garden. A visit to someone elses garden can inspire you, and make your wish list of plants/trees/statues grow longer.I always find something that excites me. Cat looked through my photos and commented you have a unique view of things, meaning what I had chosen to photograph.I have never analysed it much my subject matters for blog posts.

More Febuary Colour in the Foliage garden, a Yellow and Green tree glowing in the Sunlight.I think these colours remind us of Spring and Summer Sunshine. They stand out in a day of black, muted greens, and browns.
The Little Boy and the Duckling. I saw a black outline looking down the main borders to the left side. It is bipassed as people head for the terraced beds or to the Rose revolution borders. Quiet planting with a small stream running towards the Beck. Its quite Symbolic of how much we hold nature in our hands. I had not seen it before either..

Winter Colours illuminate the Winding Path. I love paths in gardens, especially twisty ones that lead to new scenes and plants. The Dogwoods are spectacular when planted en masse. There was colour in Febuary but you had to look for it. When you found it it was Iris like, many colours of the rainbow. The Thirty Sixth and Final image from yesterday. Cats Mum bought these spectacular Primulas for their front window border. The Rainbow colours of HC must have inspired them to buy these ten plants.
I actually had a garden to buy for yesterday :)
Snappy went home with a Catnip Six Giant Hills, two Teasel plants to hopefully entice the Goldfinches down, a Valerian plant for the butterfly/cottage garden, and three bunches of Daffodils for the Front room. Hil's bought me a milk chocolate mouse too.My usual purchase from Bettys Tea room.
My garden was a busy place today. Tomorrows post will be about today!

Febuary Colours Second

From the Queen Mothers lake its a short walk into the Woods. The tree's have been here for years and some from when it was first made into an RHS garden. Hidden amongst the Tree's were the Jewel Like Rhodadendrons. I need to go back in a month to see the woods ablaze with them in flower. I spotted three early flowering Rhodies. The flower buds are like jewels and open up many cupped flowers. These were high in the air though. To smell the flower you needed to lower the branch a little. There are lots of different varieties here in their collection..

Some Narcissus were in Flower above the leaf covered floor of the woods. There were tens of thousands of Daffodils planted, not in Flower. Another reason to go back in a month..

Gods Fingers..Sun Rays came through the trees canopy and illuminated the floor. Making snowdrops start to flower, soon to be followed by Bluebells, and Daffodils.
You can appreciate the size difference between a Tree and the Snowdrop nestled under its barked trunk.

I wanted a Woods floor view of the Snowdrops.The floor was wet from previous rain so I crouched down.

Another Rhodadendron Flower, in soft petaled pink with the red centres. I had to go into the Trees away from the Path. The eyes were alert to flashes of colours that were not green or brown. Hil's thought there were not any in flower as we were too early.

I walked past this once on the way to make a coffee from a flask of hot water.I took the coffee, sugar,milk, and hot water. The red Rhodie from Earlier..

By the Study centre was this beautiful yellow Fir Tree. I think Yellow is a Winter/Spring colour of Daffodils, Narcissus, Forsythia..
Who said there'd be no colour at HC in Febuary?

Crocuses. All more advanced than my garden ones. These were planted under tree's, in this display by the study centre, and along the pathways. You had to watch your feet to make sure you were not trampling on any plants. Tread Lightly like the Birds I kept thinking..They come and go leaving where they have been unchanged. A Native American saying?

Snowdrops. These were planted along the Path that ran parallell to the Streamside. The Lake had a waterfall that Fed into the Stream. Harlow Beck.

Just one Photo of the Streamside. HC has the Longest streamside Garden of any public garden in the UK. I love flowing water, and the light reflecting off it.

Some unknown white flowers. The Heavy winds had reaked havoc the day before felling tree's, knocking birdboxes off, and benches blown over. Some parts were cordoned off. I wanted to see if the pigs were at the top of the Valley, the 3000 new trees planted for trees for life, and the new Bird hide. Maybe next time..

The Last image of this second post is the Metal Flower, like a daisy. It reflects the Light and Sky. Throughout HC there was metal sculptures, Mesh figures filled with leaves (like the Bear hugging the tree, and the Teapot.) Giant Flys, Butterflys, and Birds stand in borders and by pathways.
I liked the Giant spade with the Bird sat on top of it overlooking the streamside. I saw a sundial by a bench, and a black statue of a little boy holding a duckling..
One more post to go about HC! Hope its okay for you all!

Febuary Colours

After a day in my own garden I thought I would try to capture the essence of Harlow Carr. The RHS's most northerly garden. A beautiful silver Birch sits opposite the main entrance. The blue sky and clouds are behind it. The woods of Harlow Carr are in the foreground.

Rose Revolution border in Febuary. They pretty much look like mine, planted bare root, and only a few leaves appearing now. The Robin was about two foot from the gardener inspecting the ground for bugs. The Perennials were all cut down to the ground. That left some lone grasses between the bare rose stems. Good for birds to eat though soil...

The Vegetable Garden. I loved their raised beds here. The only thing growing were some leeks and some parsley. I liked the arched frames with the willow between the metal. The sun was shining for a while.

A lovely combination of a Holly hedge under planted with Pink Flowering Cyclamen. It led to the Gardens Through Time display, and the Queen Mothers Lake.

A little Greenhouse had masses of Plants and I loved this Iris. Cool Blue with the White, yellow, and black colours. There were masses of Irises, Crocuses, Narcissus. Its like a plant holding bay before they get moved out. The view of the lake was perfect too.

How to get Winter colour.. Plant Dogwoods, and grasses. They were brightly coloured in the sunlight when it peeked from behind the clouds. I need to buy a few more dogwoods as I have one in the garden.

Some leaves glowing in the Sunlight, part of the gardens through time. I loved the architectural quality of the plants and the stone mulch below.

Some fluffy grass heads. These were so soft, and billowy in the gentle breeze. The curator of HC is a big fan I think of grasses. They are in use in the main borders, pathside borders, around the Queen Mothers Lake, and Streamside.

Still Waters echoing the Sky with the Trees, grasses, and plants around the Queen Mothers lake. Reflections where the Sky and Earth touch in the middle.



The First Dozen pictures of Harlow Carr. Colours, Light, and Water. There are two more posts to come tonight. I had a hard time choosing a few photos to blog, and ended up selecting thirty six images from yesterday. I loved the visit again. The weather and light have been different on every visit as has whats been in flower. It is a truly spectacular Garden. The garden of a thousand photos and views..
( I actually have taken now 1100 photos of Harlow Carr gardens.My camera button is a bit wobbly now from usage.)

Harlow Carr Prelude

Two opening images from Harlow Carr. I think its one of my most popular tags on the blog. The photo album is marked Harlow Carr 4.
I have been dying to go back, and today Hil's drove me there with Cat, and we met her parents at Harlow. The BBC forecast sunshine, light westerly winds, and sunshine. It was cloudy and rained a bit, but the sun occasionally shone through.
I went on ahead of the others to get walking around my Favourite RHS garden.
I love the Valley, the exposed site, the boggy ground and chilly temperatures, the Beck that runs through the centre of the Valley into the lake, and the woodlands that run across half of it. There is so much to see. Many paths lead around corners to new areas and plants not seen before, or newly added. Not as many flowers as in the height of summer but enough for me to take 235 photos!
The First shows the Wuthering heights type weather, sunshine, then dark rain clouds. This illuminated the plants and tree's.
The Second shows the terraced bed by the main entrance, masses of brightly coloured Heathers and my favourite metal bird sculpture. I found a lot of Art today surrounded by the Gardens plants, shrubs, grasses, and tree's.
I want to go back in a month or so to catch the full Springtime flower show of masses of bulbs, Rhodadendrons, and Magnolias.
I found a suprising amount of colour today. Hils took five photos. I took over two hundred.I had dirty knees from kneeling down to get a plants eyed view.
Every visit is like a new painting, with the strong structures being the Frame.The Winter garden is still as beautiful, but in a different way from the fireworks of Summer.
More posts tomorrow after a good nights sleep. I need to choose which photos to blog...

Tuesday Photo Mix

The two robins in the garden by the newly trimmed viburnum tinus. The red asparagus spears are growing on. Hope they grow so I can identify what they are.

The Head Gardener inspecting the newly light soil beneath the Viburnum.He flew down a few minutes after I went indoors. He likes the newly exposed branches where he can survey the garden in protective cover of the Viburnum leaves.

Crocus, Hellebore Niger, and Some white Heather are some of my late winter colour in the garden.

The Sparkly Cape Primrose flower inside the kitchen cabinet with the overhead lights to illuminate your wine glasses.

the Split plant in situ. I never noticed the flower spike for ages. I did not expect it to flower this early in the year. The glass front must maintain the temperature and the lights give the plant its energy needs.

The Late Winter flowering Polyanthus Blue shades. It looks more Purple to me, but the weather has been unkind to the developing flower buds. Lilac or Lavender coloured now.
I am off to Harlow Carr again tomorrow. I hope the weather holds. The camera batterys are charging now ready to photograph the plants, tree's, and flowers. It should be great!

Bathing Bird Yesterday

I wandered what was bathing in the sunken green bowl by the Viburnum. The Third photo shows the bathing Bird sat in the water. He seems to be jumping in and out of the water.The Viburnum had a trim today to make it smaller for the small garden. The birds were out in force afterwards exploring my handywork, where bare branches are now visible at the base. Its so windy again that the fence has been rattling. I repaired the back fence and then a gust of wind ripped the side fence apart again.Sigh :)
I think the fencing is as old as the Ghostly gardener who originally planted the Viburnum, Geraniums, and the mystery bulbs.
My seed potatoes came yesterday from Marshalls with the rectangular grow bags. Fran will have one bag and the three baby seed potatoes. I have six sat in an egg box chitting now. They can be started off in the kitchen then moved outside when it warms up. They are early growing pot's so should have them in ten weeks from planting...
Todays photos are still to come of Robins, Polyanthus, and Cape Primroses...

Collared Doves And Crocus Buds

Today was the first time I have seen these birds in my garden. The Collared Doves of the title.

The Collared Bandits were quick to spot a free meal, dont believe their collars that made them look like Ministers.

The Brown and Orange Crocus flower buds have grown over past few days.

The clock towards spring has been made to go faster. I love the dark and light colouring on the outside of the rocket like, flower buds. I will watch them for opening over the next few days.
Apart from the Collared doves the birds were very active today. The Robin was back again, and the Braver house sparrows running along the fence to get to the new feeder, blackbirds, Blue tits, coal tits (little grey Exocet missles. Take under two seconds to fly in grab a seed and fly into privet hedge), and a Bathing Great Tit which should be tomorrows post.
The Estate agent lady came to inspect the house. I might do her garden yet :) She lives close to me too..
It was a mildly cold day, slightly windy.I need to repair the back fence which was damaged by the high winds a few days ago. They took the empty houses back gate clean off and pulled my panels apart so the fence is leaning out towards the alleyway.
I think I will go shopping soon ready to make the African bag gardens up. No sign of the polythene vegetable bags yet..
Spring is coming soon.

Dawn Chorus

Three Garden bird photos for a Sunday morning before work. The Robin is in all three.The last one shows a coal tit flying off at speed with the Robin flying in.
The robin hops along the fence to take some seeds from the feeder. He was photographed with his beak full of seed.
Hope to photograph my first Crocuses tomorrow. The flower buds looked like rockets last night under the glow of the security light. Yellow and black rolled flower buds.
Enjoy your weekends wherever you are :)

Lilac Tree Buds

I am working all weekend, two long days. Here is the Lilac Tree buds yesterday thinking about opening. The strong gusts of wind stopped by last night, as though someone had switched them off.
The birds will keep an eye on my garden, and the bird seed when I'm out today and tomorrow. Enjoy your weekends wherver you are.

Early Spring Signs

Febuary is a funny month. Its been windy today but mild temperature. It blew the neighbours gate off its hinges and was rocking my fence and bird table.
Cat asked me on the phone how the crocuses were doing. I went to have a look and was amazed to see the rolled up flower buds growing up through the fine leaves.
They were not there yesterday but have grown overnight. Febuary is a slow month where the plants grow imperceptibly. The Early Spring Crocuses are starting their warm up before flowering. You have to look closely at the garden to see any signs of renewal between the fog, frost, and snow.
Not photographed yet either is the Blue Shades Polyanthus.I have been tracking their slow progress to the bud stage. One flower was almost opening but the poor light made it quite difficult to photograph.I hope for some Sunshine and blue skys to illuminate the plants.
Crocus are a genus of eighty species of perennial flowers grown in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus
Crocus takes its name from the Greek Krokos, which means Saffron or Egg Yolk. An autumn flowering crocus (Crocus Sativus) is used for the Saffron used in cooking.
They have been cultivated since the 16th Century in Holland. One of the first Art representations was the Spring Bouquet by Ambrosius Bosschaert.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AmbrosiusBosschaertbouquet.jpg
My Crocus are unnamed Dutch Crocus, and are the first of the Spring bulbs to show signs of flowering. They are the harbingers of Spring here.
Expect more photos when they actually do flower.

Parisian Roses

The Parisian Roses posing by the front window blind with the sunlight streaming through.The white rose has lasted and is sat in a glass of water with sugar in it. The red roses has faded a bit with the central heating.
Its like a still life the photo. I read that on Valentines Day the price of Red Roses went sky high from £10 to £60 for ten!
I have six Roses growing outside in the Garden. Two Tea Bushes, two floribunda, and two climbing roses. Red, orange, peach, yellow, white, and pink. They all have new leaves growing on the bare stems. Spring is getting closer :)

The Birds Pea Plant

Taken three days ago after the coldest Febuary night since 1979. There was frost on the ground and ice on the tree's and plants. The cold air blew the ice particles onto everything that was exposed from tree's to hedges to cars to the soil.
There was a little flurry of snow too just to whiten up my borders.
It has warmed up since then.I worked yesterday, chilled today.
The Seedlings I started are struggling with the cold then heat of the house. I was maybe too impatient to get busy planting seeds. We will see what survives the winter sowing.
I am going back to Harlow Carr next Wednesday with my camera. I looked through some photos from the August visit. I was amazed by the photos and had forgotten half of them.
I got some books today which I need to read then review on here. The blog has started off new things I would not have even imagined when I begun.
I am amazed always at how many people read it, and how many leave comments. Garden Rant showed a diagram of what happens to a blog post after you press publish.It really does go on a mini journey around the internet.
I'm impatiently waiting for March and warmer temperatures so i can start my seed sowing. None of my Vegetable grow bags or seed potatoes have come yet.I would like them ready on the side with the Seed packets stored in Envelopes.
The Rose bushes have started new growth, flame red Leaves appearing from the bare stems. The cold spell has caused a few casualties in the plants. The birds keep visiting the many feeders positioned on the right hand border.
I'm waiting for the Spring bulbs to begin flowering. That could be a month away at least.I look everyday at the Garden, and work out whats growing well, whats appeared in the soil.
I found between the Heathers a Pea, dried up, dropped I think by the Birds. I took the Pea, dried it further then planted it. I have a baby pea plant now growing in the kitchen, dreaming of Warmer soil, and longer light. The first Volunteer plant dropped by the garden birds, as they visited my bird feeders. Its like an exchange, a pea plant for fresh food and water!
I will photograph it when the leaves begin to unfurl. It has sent up a stem with the leaves folded up origami style.

City Of Lights

Two last photos from Paris. It has been freezing since I came back. The first photo shows how to relax in Paris. The sunlight and fog make it a timeless picture of an office worker relaxing with legs dangling over the River Seine quayside.Time spent still appreciating whats before us.


A Cheeky Notre Dame bird. These stay in a bush just opposite the Gothic Cathedral. A man fed them from his hand. They flew up and sat eating from his hand, six or eight birds. They had a snack then flew back to the bush. My garden birds would never sit this close to me.
Paris is the city of Lights and love.
I loved the lights, both day and night, the food, the communitys in the cafe's and restaurants, the coffee's and pain au chocolate, The numerous Flowers, plants, and Tree's that adorned the city. The Chocolaterie, and Patisserie. The fresh Vegetables and fruit displayed at the front outside the shop. The Metro system that seemed to run smoothly, and all the passengers were polite to each other. The dogs being lovingly walked and dressed by doting owners. The numerous amount of seats and benches all around Paris making you sit down and watch the people go past. Like famous French writers and Artists throughout the years.Grab a coffee and chill out. The many museums in the city, the historic buildings throughout Paris and its twenty Arrondisements (districts). These are the heart of Paris.
I will return again soon I hope.

Kaladeiscope Of Paris

I have blogged fourteen images from Paris here. A Kaladeiscope of images that remind me of my trip.I think with the Light and Dark, Les Fleurs, and Historic building photos I have given a flavour of Paris.
This was the Chocolaterie just down a side street from the Champs Elysee. I was searching Paris looking for one. This one had two French ladys inside, and the Chocolates looked divine and smelt heavenly. I bought Praline and Nut in Dark Chocolate, and a white Chocolate Framboise for Cat. Five Chocs each, plus some sample from the Ladys.
If I lived nearer I would sample the Chocolates everyday, and buy the little boxes with ribbons you can get for them. I loved Chocolat by Joanne Harris so this place was straight from her pages. Maybe she found them irristible too whilst in France..

The Chocolaterie Window display saying look at me..Come in and try these wanderful flavoured chocolates. Yum!

A Cafe Creme in a black cup. The waiter smiled "are you photographing the table?" as I was looking at the photos I had taken through the viewfinder with my head down. I took this photo afterwards. One cup of coffee, of many.

In the Tulleries Gardens was this Statue the Tiger and the Crocodile. Im the Snappy Gardener and I was with Cat in Paris. I had to get Le Tigre et Le Crocodile for a photo.

Across the way from Notre Dame the Accordion monsieur playing traditional French tunes. I loved these squeeze boxes. How he could get a tune with his thick gloves on is beyond me.I walked all the way over to give him Euros and Say Tres Bien!

In the Ile De Cite I spotted these posters on the wall. I would have loved to have gone to these Concerts. String Quartets and the Second one were playing Vivaldi the Four seasons, and my all time favourite piece Pachabels Cannon in D.

The Cat who got the Cafe Creme... Cat modelling the enormous Coffee cups we got on the Ile De Cite Cafe. These were great to repel the cold weather and warm your insides up in a warm light Cafe.

Two Cats asleep in a Basket...Guess where they were sleeping?

...Inside the Pharmacy window of course. A French Lady stopped from her shopping and told us they sleep their Tout le Jour.. Everyday. They were beautiful Cats too, with shiny coats, and bright eyes. We tapped the window to see if they were alive. They sell fake animals here who look asleep and have a rising/falling chest to make you think they are alive.
These two were definitely alive. I wanted to ask for Deux Chats S'il vous plait in the Chemist!

Mopeds. They must be a good way of getting around the City of Lights if you do not have the money for a car. They were parked in every street, outside all the shops. A lot of the Car Parks were subterannean so There were more mopeds visible than cars.

The humble Bicycle. I loved the electronic bike locks with the lavender eye at the top of the post. They were opened and closed by using a card. I guess Paris wanted people to cycle about to reduce traffic, but wanted secure places to park the bikes.

The Guys playing the Concert on the Sacre Coeur steps with an audience of a few hundred people.

A Clown holding a puppet dancing to the music. I only noticed the Clown after we came back down from the Sacre Coeur.

The Last Kaladeiscope photo is from the Carousel. I love these horses, the lights on the carousel, and the music. They are timeless and make you about six years old again :)

Les Fleurs 2

The first flowers I photographed were some Daffodils in the next balcony along from our hotel room. It had a narrow balcony high above the street.I leaned out and saw a flash of yellow. They were growing in a windowbox. Very William Wordsworth I thought.

Some Pansys with Happy Faces growing on the Butte Montmartre on the way up to the Sacre Coeur. The Sun shone and made them glow with their yellow/burgundy faces.

A random window in a Paris side street. I loved the grass and Ivy growing over the planter box. A simple arrangement but perfectly centred between the shutters. This is the Parisian garden for me. The displays outside peoples houses reflect their sensibilities and green fingers..

The City of Love as well as Lights, Two Roses from the first nights Meal. Blood red, and Pure white. These have travelled back and I am looking after them now.

The Ile De Cite flower market was selling this esquisite Witchazel for 78 Euros (about £68). It smelt divine too. I want one of these for next years Winter.

A bicolour Camelia at the flower market. I love the colours. Its like a Strawberry/Vanilla ice cream mixture swirling colours.

Outside Notre Dame this bed of Daffodils were nodding in the wind, being sung to by the man with the Accordion across the pathways. The sun illiminated the Yellow flowers. Paris in the Late winter..
Beautiful Flower!

An Albino pidgeon amongst the Violas and Wall Flowers. Another of Notre Dames resident birds.

This flower is smiling almost. These have garden spirits in them! Outside Notre Dame.

Tree's. Millions of them all over Paris, All bare but quite structural in their straight lines. I want to go back when its summer and they are dressed in their best finery. Then again in Autumn to see them change colours. Trees planted like this draw you to walk along them, amongst shaded paths. Pleasure Trees!

Some Narcissus, that look like Yellow Angels..

A Huge Camelia bush was in flower outside the Walls of Notre Dame. It was covered in Flower buds and open ones. Hope my gardens Camelia flowers as well as this. It was maybe Eight foot high, growing behind some wrought iron railings.

The Last Fleurs photo. Trees and Ivy cover the walls that keep the river Seine in its same course. I liked the colours here of the Reds and Greens.
All thats left from Paris now is a selection of my photos that do not fit into the previous categories. I have worked two night shifts since I came back.
The weather here has been freezing and the soil is frozen solid. I will blog the images of Paris from my Trip then return to the garden photos.

Les Fleurs 1

These next two posts are about the Tree's, plants, and flowers I photographed in Paris. If the city was a grande Damme then the flowers would be the ornate jewellry used to highlight her beauty. Even in cold, foggy Febuary the Parisians used plants to decorate. Here are the trees along the River Seine. Gorgeous silver Birch trees too..

The Clipped Topiary of the Tulleries gardens. I love the straight line effecct of the planting. I stood to the side to get the longer view of them. The French Royal Gardens like lines, and neatly clipped box hedges. The Louvre had masses of hedges, some poor gardener must have to clip them several times a year to maintain their shape.

Lilac Coloured Crocus with egg yolk centres were growing in the grass in the Tullerie gardens. They were planning on mass planting I think as I saw the gardeners at work further along.

Mass planting of Lavender plants. The Foreman asked me in french do you work for a magazine as I worked out a good angle. I love the shadowing to the left of the plants. These will smell and look divine in the summer. They were adding extra organic matter and turning the soil over before planting.

A multicoloured box hedge shaped like a spiral with the massed Lavender behind the spiral. Behind the garden is rows of green chairs, not benches, for sitting down and watching the people, the gardeners, the birds, and the water fountains. There were lots of Sculptures throughout the gardens. I loved the Tiger and Crocodile. They were mostly classical statues of Nymphs, great Leaders, and Idealised Women. One was dated 1722, and left in the middle of the Gardens. Not collecting dust in a Museum somewhere. The historical art is on public display, being passed by thousands of people every day.

Flowers in suprising places. These Violas and Wall Flowers were planted on the Champs Elysee. Raised Borders with log posts driven into the ground. Maybe as support for climbing plants? You can see the Pedestrians and Cars behind the plants. This was one of the busiest parts of Paris.

Plants on a boat, moored on the edge of the river Seine. How lovely to see a house boat with live plants growing.

Ornamental Cabbages? Growing at the Base of the Eiffel Tower. I loved the feathery effect of these plants, mass planted. They are unusual looking.

More unusual places to find a Tree. This was the corner of a balcony seven storeys above the Rue De Dunquerque. I was amazed to see it. Its very exposed and Windy. Bring the plants up to your window no matter how high in the air you are.

A Geranium in a planting box across from the Hotel.I leaned out of the window to photograph this. The pink and green contrast to the Black planter box, and the White Shutters and window frames. A lot of Parisians seemed to have pots or planters outside their windows. You could look out and see some nature without venturing too far. After a year without a garden I know how it is to yearn for some soil to plant seeds in, and to nurture plants. A green spirit runs through the heart of Paris.

Some Flowers in the Patisserie. I dont know if they were real, but the colours are vibrant and lead the eye into the shop. I saw plants in Offices, Travel Agents, Restaurants (lots were outside too in planters), cafe's, and places of work.

The Beautiful White Flowers of an unknown tree. i love the White simple flowers, contrasting to the Houses behind with the Black metalwork and white stonework. A suggestion that Spring may be near.

Light And Dark

Paris had many sides to her. The beautiful buildings, people who were visiting and those who lived or worked there. The Mist hung around but the sun began to shine on Wednesday and Thursday. Sunlight cascaded down giving a fresh light to the City.
This is Outside the Sacre Coeur. The sunlight was illuminating the stained glass windows so the multi colours danced on the inner churches columns. The dance of colours!

The River Seine that runs through the heart of Paris was reflecting the suns rays, and looking like shoals of silvery fish rushing to the surface.

A small lake in the Gardens of Tulleries had these grass reeds protuding from the rippling waters. Water is great to show light and reflections.

The Eiffel Tower was made to be a silhouette by the Strong sunlight falling onto the river as we walked towards it. The trees and bridges were frames for the magical river Seine.

The almost still waters of a moving fountain in the Tullerie gardens that run from the Louvre along to the Luxor Needle and Champs Elysee. The Ducks swam around between the projectile fountains that sprayed water forward and upwards like a water cannon.

A Bridge and Boat on the River Seine with the Sunlight touching the running waters surface.

After an Hour in the Cold freezing to get up it this was the Sun setting on Valentines day from the observation deck. The orange glow mixes with the lingering mists as the Daylight fades on Paris for another day.

A riverboat turns its lights on, like a giant firefly that patrols up and down the Seine. Will-O-Wisp lights that reflect on the dark night waters.

The Citys traffic starts its daily commute back to their homes. The bridges and buildings begin to turn their lights on. Buildings had lights that were facing skywards to illuminate the facades in colours of white, oranges, and Blues. Neon lights adorn shop fronts and metro stations. Even the Advertisements had lights in them.

The Nickname for Paris is the City of Lights. This was my attempt to capture some of the lighting in Paris as the darkness came.

The Base of the Eiffel Tower showing its intricate yet strong structure. Funny men were walking about with flourescent green models of the tower. They were selling key rings however not the cool green glow in the dark models. Even they took part in the night lights of Paris.

One of my Best Photos of Paris. It is full sized and not shrunk. The lit tower had beams of light but 300 metres higher the Mist was still lingering. The white beams do their best to penetrate the Fog. The Black and Gold is magical on Valentines day.

The Metro at Gare Du Nord showing the Flaming red eyes and more lights. The two sides of Paris. The light and the dark.

Paris One

Every Journey begins with a starting point. Ours was the Eurostar train at St Pancras Station, opened in November 2007. The Train was really long. The platform was lit up through the skylights.

A mere two hours later and Le Eurostar pulled into Paris Gare Du Nord station. One of Paris's six train stations that go to all over France and Europe.

The View from the Hotel room. We were on the Sixth floor near the rooftops of the Rue De Dunquerque. The Sacre Coeur church peeks out from behind. It was sunny but cold.

The tall buildings opposite our hotel, with the groovy window shutters and little balconys.I will do another post about the Flowers in Paris.

The first venture out into Montmartre. One of the side streets leading upto the Sacre Coeur ontop of the Butte Montmartre.

Sacre Coeur. How white was this church, but strangely dark inside except for the flickering of candles and the sunlight falling through the many stained glass windows. Alas no photos were allowed inside so we kept the camera tucked in my bag!

The Beautiful Carousel (nearly as nice as the one Cat bought me but will post it later), at the foot of the steps of the Sacre Coeur. There were Senegal men trying to sell coloured threads by tieing them to your finger. Business was brisk for them. The old carpet salesmen (selling belts and watches on pieces of coloured carpet, 17 years ago) on the steps seem to have disappeared, maybe banned by the City of Paris. They cheerfully chased us up the steps but did not make a sale :)
What a beautiful day to sit, and watch life go past. There was a small three piece band playing to masses of people on the steps. An impromptu concert in the sunshine. A narrow corridor was left for people to walk up and down the Sacre Coeur steps. They played No Woman No Cry, and Wanderwall amongst others with the audience singing back at them.

The Mystical misty Paris from the Butte Montmartre. The tower is at Montparnasse, with a sixty second floor viewing deck.

The first Metro station we came out of was Cite, on the Ile de Cite. The Island in the centre of the Seine with government buildings and the central police stations. The famous flower market was here, right outside the metro steps. I bought a beautiful Butterfly, two frogs, and a Snake. If you go on Saturdays they sell birds and small animals. They had a collection of winter flowering plants, and spring bulbs. The flower photos are to be posted later...

The River Seine. I had to photograph the first river boat I saw coming. The stone banks line the river, and old buildings overlook it. Walkways follow the river on both sides with the obligatory seats and benches. Time to sit and watch the world go by. Anywhere in Paris.

The Gothic Cathedral that is Notre Dame. It has stained glass windows, Gargoyles and Spires.I love this site. On the Corner of the Ile De Cite it has a surrounding square with statues and benches. Gardens, some friendly urban birds, and shops and cafes. I listened to a Frenchman playing his Accordion and gave him some Euros.The Accordion always reminds me of France..

The More famous the landmark the more people come. The religious and the tourists. Students and teachers. They have people who stand outside the entrance with plastic cups asking for euros for food.There were as many French visitors as Foreign ones. I left with a Virgin Mary pendant in a laminated Notre Dame card. Many cultures, classes, and beliefs bubble around the churches. There was no concert here though like outside the Sacre Coeur..

The Cobbled quayside where we waited for Batobus, A riverboat that goes up and down the Seine stopping at the Major attractions. There is no better way of seeing Paris than from the River. The River is the central heart of the City, as the city has grown outwards from its banks. Buildings have grown to overlook the River. The benches and Seats are on both sides of the river so you can stop awhile (Or Sunbathe when it was freezing. Two tough people were basking in the sun).

The Tough plants hanging down the Quayside . Seen through the Boats glass window.

Choppy waters as the Boat moved along the river.

Paris has the Fifth busiest port in France. Which is no mean feat being inland. Lots of Boats plyed the waters up and down. Touristy ones like Batobus, but also people lived on house boats. Long (78metre) Industrial boats, and barges pushing loads like Coal and sand along the river..

The Louvre. It is one of the biggest Museums in the World. A former Fortress and Palace it runs along three sides. The much loved Pyramid is the Main Entrance. We had passed through the Lions gate to come to the huge open space between the Louvres walls. I saw a postcard that showed the French Army Parading en masse in the open space. It is wide!

A Rare photo of me (as I'm usually behind the Camera).

The View to the Champs Elysee, with the Luxor Needle and the Arc De Triomphe in the mist behind. It took ten minutes to cross four major roads with the needle being in the middle.The drivers were very fast here. Beware!

We walked along the Champs Elysee but then went down to the River again to try and find the Batobus stop. We missed it somehow. This is the busy commercial road with very swish restaurants. We took a side street and found a Cafe, then a Chocolaterie (yum), on the way to the Tour Eiffel. It pays to venture away from the main streets to explore little side streets to see what is there. The Cafe culture of Paris is still there (selling Cigarettes, Alcohol, food, and Coffees. The Locals nip in to drink the rocket fuel Cafe Noir, talk awhile, then go out again.) I think the cafes are the barometer of the local community...

Paris's most Iconic Landmark. In the Mist. It is photogenic, and very big..

More Riverboats, on the Walk down from the Champs Elysee to the Eiffel Tower.

There is a lake on one corner of the Eiffel Tower. It had ducks on it, and stately trees. It is suprising the huge tower made of metal and the still waters here.

The Queue to get up the Tower via the Elevators. Oh my Gosh it was FREEZING cold. Wrap up warm if you want to go up it in Febuary.Very patient tourists queued for an hour to get up.We shivered on Valentines day to ride the Elevators to the Second Etage, then the Summat!

View from the Second floor. There was more queueing waiting to get right to the top, 320 metres above the street level. The lift to the viewing platform is like going up in a Rocket with the ground plummetting down beneath you. If you dont like heights look at your feet during the ascent.
The Tower Montparnasse in the Distance. The Night photos are coming in another post...

Ohh La La. A Patisserie. Cat discovered the yummy Pain Au Chocolate with Cafe Creme. We ate a lot of these. One cafe had ran out. The owner said go up the street and buy some to bring back to eat. Very French. Bringing food from outside and eating it in the cafe.

The Blurry Vegetable shop. I love how they display fresh fruit and Veg outside the shops.Its like a still life. Some had lighting trained down to the boxes of produce.

The Art Deco Metro Signs at Anvers, the station in Montmartre. I loved the french slang for them was mouth. An artist wrote that these open mouths swallow people and spit them out in a different part of Paris. They have red lights illuminating the Metropolitan above.

The Rue De Steinquerque leading up to a White Horse and the Steps behind to the Sacre Coeur. It has people, lights, and colour. This is Paris.

Snappy gardener...

On the Friday we were leaving, a last photo of the Shops and people in Montmartre. A quick tour of some of Paris. I think I want a week next time, more time to relax and find more sites and sounds. This is the first blog post about Paris.
Still to come...Light and Dark, and Flowers, some animals/birds of Paris.

Returned..

The Tour Eiffel in the Fog yesterday on Valentines day. Paris was cold, and foggy. It made for some atmospheric photos.

The three days away have caught up with me. More posts soon about the sites and flowers of Paris in Febuary.

Two Heathers

The Heathers today after the frost had melted away. I'm going to Paris tomorrow so the blog will be chilling.
I bought a birds gourmet feast today for the garden birds.
Wild bird seed mix, sunflower seeds, ten fat balls, and two new feeders.
These have been hung up. I hope the birds will find them when I am away.
Will post again on the Fifteenth. I hope to have photos :)

Fog and Frost

Its nine o'clock on a Monday night. This is a Blue Tit from Saturday. It was so foggy and cold this morning. Only by lunchtime had the fog cleared for some winter sunshine.
Now its dark and the temperature has dropped to just above freezing. There will be frost tonight. All the plants have condensation on them ready to be frozen later. I could see my own breath outside.
Time for supper and an early night. I have more seeds come today to add to the collection of Veg seed for when the days are lighter for longer and warmer conditions.
More posts tomorrow..

Waking Garden

The Viburnum Tinus in the early morning light with the Privet trees behind it.
I watered the compost and turned it. The weeds were growing out of the bottom of the bin.I tidied a few leaves up, and moved some pots around.
I did another running repair on the fence with super glue and a small stick to hold the two loose pieces of fence.The hole is covered up now.
I watched the birds today. Two robins came into the garden at the same time.
Blue tits, blackbirds, and a daring house sparrow also came in whilst I watched.
I have some more Herb seeds to sow in seed trays. Mint, Sage, and Thyme. All the others will be planted outside in March or April.
Spring Bulbs are growing slowly, but im sure will have spurt growths when I am away. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, Crocus, Muscari, Chionodoxa, and Narcissus are all poking through the cold soil.
There are three mystery plants. Bulbs in the right border, bulbs in the blue pot, and the Red spears under the Viburnum. Time will tell what they all are.
The Cabbages have started to grow in the Cold frame, and the Baby Carrots in the white basket that I turned into a Veg container!
The Raspberry bush, and Blackberry bush have new growth. The Rose bushes are sprouting new red leaves that unfurl like Japanese fans and turn green.
The sun is shining but it is still cold. I hope its warmed up the soil by March ready for the mass sowing of flower and veg seeds.
A relaxed Sunday before my long day tomorrow. Spring is a month away but the garden is waking slowly in the cool Febuary days.

Sunday Dew Drops

Some Frosted plants this morning. The Strawberry plants seem to hold the frozen droplets like diamonds on the leaf.
The Polyanthus is nearly flowering, and the frozen dew droplets cling to the tightly curled buds.It is still cold outside too.
I am watching Countryfile, so I know its Sunday morning.I have seen about Dutch greenhouses becoming greener using the Sun to warm the water that heats it. They were growing for the Dutch flower auctions. Thousands of Phalaenopsis flowering all year around in the greenhouse.

Paris Thoughts

A tough flower on the slowly resurecting Strawberry plant, a Strawberry Honeoye on Saturday morning. My cold frame lived up to its name as all the plants inside had frozen droplets on the leaves. Its cold outside tonight. There will be a frost tonight.
I am going to Paris in Three Days. Seventeen years have passed since I was there last.
The Hotel is located Five Minutes from Montmartre, where Toulouse Lautrec, and all the Famous Artists frequented in the late 19th Century. I wander if Paris remembers or does it have no Memorys?
I have vague memorys of there, just odd images and rememberences.
I was no Angel back then either, and my French was non existent. The Youth Hostel was grubby and Decaying. It took twenty four hours (coach, ferry, coach) to reach Paris last time.
Going back will be a chance to see it again with my new eyes, and take lots of photos. I have changed and I hope that Paris will still be beautiful. The Camera will photograph a few French gardens that are near the Centre of the city.
Now The Eurostar is a direct Train from London St Pancras to Gare Du Nord Paris through the Channel Tunnel. Two and a half hours.
French Gardens, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre await me and Cat. I will look for the heart and soul of Paris, and try to photograph it.

The Garden Today

I over slept yesterday and had to go to work so Thursday was postless!
My Herbs from Suttons came yesterday but I only opened the box this morning.
They are sat on the computer desk now.i will do some seed sowing on Saturday after my nights have finished.
There are Oregano, Sage, Thyme, Mint, Coriander, and lastly Borage. I have three pots with Basil growing in the kitchen. Three Parsley plants in the right hand border, and three further pots of germinating seeds. They were soaked in boiling water and it seems to have speeded up the germination.
The right hand border has the new green edging keeping the soil in, and waiting for more compost to raise the soil level. It will help the drainage and make for healthier plants.
I have a few weeks before the Veg seeds can be sown. The cold frame cabbages have germinated, and even a few baby carrot seeds have grown.
I'm still waiting for the seed potatoes with grow bags, and large Vegetable grow bags which had sold out when i ordered. They were advertised in Gardeners World magazine. Must be an organic vegetable growing year, as lots of people had ordered them.
The African Bag gardens still need constructing, then decorating. My planting plan has named each veg garden by colour. There will be four. Purple, Blue, Yellow, and Orange. I will decorate each of the container gardens to reflect their colour!
The seed potatoes can be started indoors then moved outside when its warmer. I hope the kitchen garden can be productive and I can actually start the 100 foot challenge!

Blue Tit On The Edge

The Blue Tit hopping around the garden this afternoon, on the edge of the left hand border. I shooed a black and white cat out of my bird sanctuary today. I also spotted a bird bathing in the green waterbowl, either the House Sparrow or Robin was immersed in the water and splashing about, singing Nessun Dorma?.
Now I just need the camera handy to photograph the Bird Bathing!

The Answer to my Sea Shell riddle is Holland has reclaimed a lot of former Sea and built on it. Lots of land in Holland has sea shells and Sand. The Strawberry bed must be growing on reclaimed former Sea land. Thats how they met :)
Second Night shift soon of Four.

Swet Peas

A quick morning post after my first night shift. Pictured is a Sweetpea plant sat on the small table by the backdoor. I want to grow a few plants up a wigwam shape, or maybe some netting on the fence. I love the floral power of sweet peas, and will use them as cut flowers.I have 12 pots with between one to four plants growing up mini poles. They outgrew the cold frame and are just sat on the table.
When they flower they will have colour and scent. They need regular picking to make them flower even more.

The Strawberry Plant and The Sea Shell?

The Top photo is of a slightly battered Stawberry Honeoye flower. I took the bare root plants out of each bag and had to soak the roots for five minutes before planting. The second photo is of a Sea shell I found in the Strawberry plant roots. Both the Strawberry Elsanta and Honeoye were cultivated in Holland.
I wandered how a sea shell ended up in the Strawberry root system. I also found out a likely answer. Any guesses how the Strawberry and Sea shell met?
Am working four nights now so posts will slow down. The Strawberry plants are chilling in the cosy cold frame at the moment. The sea shell is on the kitchen work surface.
I will add the Answer tomorrow!

Lavender, and Strawberrys

The house mouse today grabbing some birdseed.I was stood outside today and he still ran backwards and forwards. Under the Stone paver three smooth grooves showed his favourite routes onto the border. He is a Yorkshire mining mouse emerging from clay soil under the slabs.
I went shopping today thinking of log roll for the right hand border to raise the soil level and keep it in the border, and not on the pavers.
I could not believe how expensive it would have been to buy 22.5 feet of logroll!
I left Focus with two lavender plants for £5....
Next stop was Wilkos. I bought a rolled up green lawn edging, because it was nine metres long, more than enough for the 22.5 feet I needed to edge the border. I thought it could be hammered into the soil. I bought a cute garden sign, and three packets of Strawberry plants.
I spent late afternoon putting in the green edging around the right hand border now like a backwards C shape. I planted the newly started Herb garden with the Lavender, Rosemary, and three heirloom (as they were here before) Parsley plants. I ordered more seeds last night for growing a variety of Kitchen herbs for cooking.
I lastly planted eight Strawberry plants into pots temporarily. One packet only had two plants not three. I have five pots of Strawberry Elsanta, and three of Strawberry Honeoye (Wilkos spelled it Honeyoye). They are chilling in the cold frame. Where to grow them is my next question? The Victorian Chimney pot I looked at online has 32 spaces! I only have Eight Plants at the moment so its too big for me.
The green Edging was not as easy to go into the ground as I thought, because it was quite pliable material. I dug mini trenches but it still needs further pushing down I think or the Soil raising more!
The mouse will have to find a new way into the right border though as his access now has green edging to it.
It is so bright compared to the muddy tiles that were there before. I want plants to grow tall so they overlook the new border edging. I still have some white wire fencing but I dont know where to put that yet so its in the outhouse.
I hope I will get used to my Green edging in time, and with luck the mouse will find a new way (under the fence which is full of holes at the base) to get the seeds!
The Kitchen Garden is beginning to take shape slowly.

Eight Signs Of A Gardener

As Lloyd Grossman said "who would live in a house like this?". This was inspired from Kylee's post about someones household items that signify they are a gardener.
http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2008/01/can-you-tell-im-gardener.html
I had a quick look around at what signs of Gardening madness there was in the house.
Mine are much more obvious than pictures, ornaments, and garden hats. I do have a hat though, a sheepskin flat cap, very Yorkshire or Del Boy.
The First sign is an obligatory Gardens note book. My scribbled seed lists, planted seeds, and garden summer plans are all written in here. My fermenting imagination draws and writes, puts arrows, and dreams come together in the book. Not as grand as the nice Ten year diary with spaces for minimum and maximum temperature, but good enough for me to keep track of umpteen projects. I guess if I do not lose it then I can look back at what I dreamt of, and how it turns out..ready for another growing season better than the last one.

The second Sign is bird books. This is a free booklet I got from the Rspb. Garden birds are a big part of my day now, just watching them for a while lowers my blood pressure. This simple booklet has advice about attracting the birds, plants for wildlife, what to feed them, how to have feeders and water stations, and of course a simple list of what common garden birds you might be able to see.Its normally near the blue chair by the back door with the binoculars.

Hmmm, The Third sign of a Gardener is Seeds. My seed packets in a Terrys Chocolate orange tin. The seed packets are almost as bright as the coloured wrappers around the single chocolate segments. These should be eye candy :)

The fourth sign is Garden shoes like Clogs.
For Oldroses my well worn xmas present gardening shoes from Town and Country. These are usually near the backdoor ready to slip on. (In fact I have them on now). I love the earthy green colour and the footprints they left in the snow the other day. Daily use has moulded the cloggie parts to my size 11 feet! I got fed up of getting mud on my trainers. At least these wash clean.

The fifth sign is gardening related magasines or booklets from the RHS. Hils keeps me supplied with her magasines. These can be found lying on the sofa, coffee table, or upstairs in the bedroom. I love the photos, the plants, the gardening letters, and suprisingly the adverts from garden sheds to organic products to seeds..
After a day in the garden what better way to unwind than reading and being inspired.

The sixth sign is what books are in the house.
Books bought and given. A gardener is quite easy to buy for with so many books, and items related to the garden. My fav book from above is the Heirloom Garden, an American book about heirloom plants that have been passed on between generations, and survive in wild gardens where they wait to be found. Like Foxgloves and the Madonna Lilly! The gardeners yearbook is so nice that I have not written in it. I guess I need lined paper to write on. I do not like writing on books..
The seventh sign is paraphanalia like tools or twine lying around the kitchen especially if your backdoor leads to the garden. Also bags of compost sat on the kitchen floor.
Gardening tools that always seem to end up in the Kitchen, washed and dried after being used in the borders to dig holes for new plants, or to upend perennial weeds.

The Eighth sign of being a Gardener is the home becoming an extention of the garden.
The Kitchen sink has been press ganged into an ersatz growhouse, it is being taken up by plant pots and seed trays. The Amaryllis Apple Blossom is two feet high now but too floppy so its being leaned against the window. Chilli plants nestle with pots of Basil seedlings. The Phalaenopsis sits on top of the baby Venus Flytraps in their mini greenhouse. The seed trays have Agastache, Heliotrope, poppies, and Evening Primrose.
There you go! Eight signs inside the house that my passions are outside in the trees, shrubs, flowers, and wildlife outside the door.

Bee Colour Day

Sunday Rest is how I labelled the photos today. I only took about twenty pictures. I woke up late with a terrible headache, which even three mugs of coffee did not shift.
I went outside to see if sweeping the wind brought debris would help.
I moved a lot of the leaves and twigs into a pile at the bottom of the garden. They will eventually be thrown back into the compost bin.
The Yellow Primula flower is the sole survivor of the attacking insects. I spotted a small caterpillar on the flowers at night so I think they are the
culprits, as I have not seen any slugs or snails.
I think if I leave the Caterpillars they will change into beautiful Butterflys which are truly natures Spirits.
The Snails are being bashed by the birds on the pavers. I find the shells with holes in the side, as they have become a gastronomic delight for a hungary bird.
When I moved in there was a mini community on the Brickwork of the Outhouse. I think they have been ravaged by the birds and have moved slowly to places damp and shaded away from prying beaks.
In both borders the Blue Shades Polyanthus have flower buds on at last, which is good as the Primulas have been chomped on, and rotted by damp soil. As one flowering plant starts to end, another is just at the start of its flowering cycle.
I think the Red spears that are growing under the Viburnum might be Euphorbia. I will have to be patient to see what they grow into.
The Female Blackbird is one of my regular visitors now, feeding on the left hand border, and sitting on top of the fence.
She is tough and chases away all the boy Blackbirds out of her patch.
The benefit of the birds regularly visiting the garden is their natural pest control. I have been philosophical with the holes that are appearing in the Primula flowers and leaves.
C'est La Vie. I want the Garden to be Organic, a self supporting natural eco system. The mouse was back today darting out of the pavers to grab some nuts. He reminds me of Scratt from Ice Age. The mouse has more luck than Scratt though at gathering the nuts!
Sunday then was bee coloured. Yellow Primula, and Blackbird.

Mystery Red Bulbs

Poking out through the soil beneath the Viburnum are these red bulbs? I dug one up and washed it to reveal a woody orange rhizome with roots and many growing points where these red leaves grow upwards.
Do you know what it is? A garden mystery is best shared and hopefully solved.
The leaves were used for technicolour effect to highlight the red stem/s?

Snow In The Morning

I woke up early this morning and came downstairs to see the Snow falling. It was freezing, but I love snow. There is a magic in how the white snow flakes once they settle give everything an ethereal glow. It brings into focus Trees and Shrubs which blend into the soil normally.
I took photos and watched it melt away. The birds were busy eating their hearty breakfasts to warm up. All the birds that visit look well fed, with bright feathers. The bird table and feeders have kept their fat reserves up.
I saw a house sparrow this morning before the sun was fully risen moving around the plants under the Viburnum.I think that this female house sparrow may be the mystery bather who splashes all the water out of the green bowl.
Inside lots of seeds are germinating. Poppies, Alternanthera, Basil, Cerinthe, Evening Primrose, and Heliotrope Marine.
The Mystery bulbs are in the top photo.There were about eighty of them in the soil beneath all the brambles and weeds. About twenty are planted just to see what they are.
There are more mystery bulbs in the big blue pot. One is a grape hyacinth, as the partially developed grape buds were uncovered by the rain.
There is also one more mystery plant which I dug up to investigate. It has a fleshy rhizome like wood that is putting up red bulbs around the Viburnum.I will blog it after this as a question to see if people recognise it. Is it a garden plant or a weed?
It will rain tomorow so I'm glad I got up early to enjoy the morning snow.

Artic Chills

My vegetable bag gardens will take two weeks to be dispatched. Thats only halfway through Febuary, enough time to prepare for March sowing of seeds.
I wanted to photograph the primulas and the carex grasses with the heather behind yesterday when I was off. It has been freezing today. No snow here yet but I read its coming down from the North East..
Artic winds froze me at work today, and caused Chaos around the UK. I hope to chill in the garden this weekend.
The weeds are taking the Winter weather as a sign to start popping up between the pavers and in the soil.