Roses In The Rain

It has been a wet few days.I was out in the garden early photographing the flowers.My Florida Dream pink Rose is flowering beautifully, and the scent is of sweet oranges.I love their shape and how they get bigger but still hold the petals.The rain had washed them downwards.

The climbing Rose Zephrine Drouhain has three flower buds on one climbing stem.I missed the first Rose opening when I was at Tatton Park.Its a wander of nature when a flower opens on a plant you have been tending, and nurturing.The wow factor never goes down for me.Every new Rose is photograph worthy!

The Lady Emma Hamilton has flowered eleven times, and this will be the twelth Rose.They are delicate though and the rain breaks the petals up too easily.Maybe next years flowers will be sturdier.

The suprise return of the Margaret Merrill Rose.The most strongly fragranced after the Lady Emma Hamilton.I cut off all the black spot diseased leaves and this new growth duly sprung up and has formed flower buds.
One Rose still in flower, with three other Roses returning for an encore, like operatic divas of the garden.
The rain cannot dampen the Roses spirits.

Cornflowers Blue

The bedraggled Cornflower in flower today. I sowed the seeds a few weeks ago, and they have grown quietly then burst into bloom. The flower buds look like hand grenades before the petals peek out like a mohican haircut!
The Cornflower was widespread once as a weed in crop fields but herbicides have eliminated it from the countryside virtually. Gardeners are growing them as annual flowers so they are naturalising again.
The British use the Poppie for the anniversary of the Armistice at the end of the first world war, the French use this blue flower as their veterans symbol.
Its also called colloquially Bachelors Button and worn by young men as a symbol of love, and if it fades quickly unrequited love.
Various orginisations and political parties also use the blue flower. It is used by Twynings too in their Lady Grey tea..
I love the shape of the petals and the cobalt blue colour. Apparently there is a Crayola crayon called Cornflower!
Its been raining all day and my energy levels have dropped after four mad night shifts. I need to recharge my batterys in the garden, when its stopped raining.

After The Storm

A morning post after my first night shift.It rained torrentially yesterday afternoon, and all last night.Thunder claps sounded as the rain pelted down.
My Heleniums look bedraggled this morning in the morning sunlight. Mist rose from the fences and plants as the sun warmed up the air this morning.
I always try to look at the garden after a long night to see what has flowered, or what has been damaged by heavy rainfall.
It all looks green, and the Eucomis and Tomato plants seem to have grown since yesterday.
The rain and clouds have gone and the sun is shining this morning.Three more nights for me to go. Three more days of sitting on the Rose bench with coffee watching the bee's on the Teasel.
I have enjoyed the garden just sitting and looking, and listening, in a reflective mood.
After all my work its good to sit down and be still.

A Different Point Of View

The birds eye view today of my garden from the spare room, looking down on it. It is good to see things from a new view point.I usually sit by the back door, or on the rose bench at the end of the garden.
The bottom right corner of the photo shows a wild butterfly bush that is growing out of a drain pipe. I thought I would leave it to see if Butterflys come to the flowers, even though they are twenty feet in the air...
The papers today were full of gloomy stories about the British summer being washed away, with two months of rain.
I watched the Wimbledon mens final yesterday which was an epic in three parts because of the rain. Rafael Nadal won the title in five sets lasting nearly five hours!I had slept for two hours and got up to watch it..
A British summer has Strawberrys and cream, Wimbledon tennis, and rain. My Strawberry planter is to the right of the rose bench.I have had a few fruits this year, but the heavy cropping should begin next year when the plants are two years old.
I watched the birds today, and the garden resident rat climb to get to a bird feeder suspended on a fence post.She climbed all the way up, then fell off..
A neighbours Cat called Spice keeps coming to see me in the morning. This started during my night shifts when I sat in the garden with coffee before bed. She is very friendly.
The masses of House Sparrows continue to raid the bird feeders and fatballs. Blue tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, and Robins join in occasionally.The entire House Sparrow fledgling population seems to frequent my garden, sometimes eighteen of them!
The Teasel is taller than me now, ready for the seedheads to dry and attract the Goldfinches..
I saw a bird eating my black Thistle seed that has been hung for months. At least one bird likes it, as the Goldfinches did not come to it yet.
As i write this the rain continues to pour down. I hope to get to the allotment tomorrow, maybe with an umbrella and some wellington boots. The rain will hopefully make all my vegetables grow beautifully.

Walton Plant Stall 2008

After getting up early I was at the Walton village hall by quarter to nine. Hils and Fran were there with the larks setting up the tables and adorning them with vegetable plants, perennials, and bedding plants. A friend of Hils brought a car and trailer full of more plants, and a gazebo which was erected after an hour of rain. The BBC weather site had said light showers but it rained heavily for most of the day..

The star flower and only one photographed from the plant stall was this Lewisia, with its spectacular pink and white flowers. I had not seen this plant before in flower at the stall. Last years were just leaves.

The damp snappy gardener topping up my coffee levels in the village hall kitchen.All the moneys raised go back into the Walton community for the elderly, childrens groups, the girl guides and rainbows etc. I love the fun of selling the plants and chatting to the people who came despite the rainfall.

Fran helping making a sale.This was a dry shot showing the tables. As we sold the plants we moved them up the stall to reduce the number of tables. When the rain was really heavy the Gazebo went up. What a brilliant idea putting the stall under a temporary shelter.The rain ran down my neck, on my face, and soaked my coat. But it did not dampen my enthusiasm!

Me, and a rare photo of Hils. You can see the rain on the roads.The people came despite the weather to buy the plants from the stall. It had been advertised by posters in the village, and within the whats on section of a local newspaper.

Tomato plants nestle by the perennials. There was a good selection of plants available.The first customer was a lady who came as we were putting the plants onto the tables after nine am. She rang her friend up to tell her to come down to the village hall.

The light above from the Trees canopys which gave some shelter in places from the rain. The cardboard boxes got damp early on. I worried the bottoms would fall out as people carried away their bounty from the plant stall to their cars, or to church (The local church must have had bags and boxes of plants in the pews with the parishoners who bought from us on the way to church, before the service).

Half past twelve, the plants packed up, and gazebo taken down. We had sold for three hours, and later found out we had made £441, fifteen pounds under last years total. Hils has a small amount left so her neighbours might make up the fifteen pounds :)
What that means is in the two years I have helped out at the plant stall we have made £900 for the local community. Amateur gardeners growing plants, that spread their healing power
I love the way that gardening and growing plants can benefit community groups, and bring out Walton and surrounding areas to come on down. A meeting place for getting new plants for the garden!
Cant wait for next year...(Hils swears this one will be her last..)

Lone Tulip

A lone Tulip that has not quite finished flowering yet.The rain is falling outside still, heavy rain. Everything looks very green. Only the Tulips, Brooms, and Salvia are in flower.
The allotment will be well watered now. I hope to go back up tomorrow if its not raining.
The plants will be drinking deeply after the three weeks of dry weather. I saw the Robin flying into the garden for a quick snack before darting off into the privet hedge.
I am going back to work for a long day.The garden is quiet except for the noise of the rain drops.

Rain Rain

...Beautiful Rain.I was at work on my long 13 hour day when the heavens opened and rain fell lightly, then a bit more heavier.The first rain in about three weeks.I was so happy.The allotment will have been watered and some of the dustiness been absorbed into the water.
When plants are growing too much hot sun will kill them before they have grown on big enough to resist a water shortage.
The weed and the vegetable plants will have drank deeply from the cups of rain water after the recent hot days.
I will go up Monday to see what has grown in my abscence.I got my Strawberry plants from Hils and some Gem Squash from Pat.The latter have been repotted, watered, and put into the greenhouse to grow on.Ten Courgette plants are lining the edge of the left border and they are growing strongly.
The plan will be half a bed for Courgette, and half the bed for Squash.I have recycled compost bags to peg down over the beds to supress the weeds and keep the moisture in.I think I need some bottles to put upside down to water right to the roots of these water drinking plants.
This year has been so educational, with so many new plants being grown by me, that have bipassed me before.I was purely flowers before for their colour, form, scent, and beauty..now I have added plants that are edible or scented, or that will attract wildlife.
I will try to embed a quick you tube video of my fav African band Ladysmith Black Mambazo.It is only 37 seconds long, but today as it rained I kept humming it.
Only gardeners pray for rain during a hot spell (and maybe farmers too).Another long day tomorrow for me.

After The Rain

The Maori style tattoo's on the Tulip leafs balance the fallen raindrops on them. These are red flowered Tulips but have not quite opened yet.
I caught three slugs and a snail who were revelling in the wet conditions.The Toronto Tulips have been battered by the rain, and only one is left standing upright.They are punch drunk, reeling,and mostly horizontal now.
The Apple tree has a red flower bud on it, and one of my Rose bushes has developed a rose bud above the top leaves. How it developed without me seeing it is a mystery.
A garden unwatched grows faster I think. I love my daily walk around it after the night shift. The birds are singing outside as I type these words.
I love my photo that I took with tired eyes.It captures a moment from the garden this morning after the rain.

Robin And Rain

Its Sunday morning and the rain is pouring down outside.I am going to Harrogate today to the Spring Flower Show at the Yorkshire showground.
The camera batterys are charged and ready to come with me.I will see what plants are being sold, and may bring a few back :)
I hope your weekends have been good.I want to get to the allotment next week ready to plant!
I joined the RSPB (Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds) last night online.I will wait for my membership card, and new book of British birds for joining.
The Robin is still a frequent visitor to the Garden, at the ground feeder, and on the table.He likes the fence posts to sit with his head cocked singing away.
The birds still give me enjoyment. Its therapeutic hearing birds singing and watching them fly around. Natures own wild spirits.

Raindrops And Awards

Thanks to Claire from Claires Garden
http://clairesgarden.blogspot.com/
, and Sue from A Balcony Garden.
http://balcony-garden.blogspot.com/
Both nominated me for E for excellent award.I am flattered thank you both!
The rules state that I have to pick ten further blogs to pass it on. I have to think of twenty :)
Todays photo is a Rain drop on the Pink climbing rose leaves. It is a slow starter in comparison to the other Roses.
I have seven rose plants in the Garden.Two Climbing, two Tea Roses, two Floribunda, and the David Austin Lady Emma Hamilton.
Its been raining all today, the allotment will be swimming but I will go up for a few hours on Wednesday to try and dig the beds and add manure.
There are potatoes and onions ready to plant, Brussel Sprout and Cabbage plants growing here itching to be planted in prepared beds.
I sowed the African bag garden seeds today. Rocket, Spinach Beet, Beetroot, Spring onions, dwarf French beans, and Mustard greens. I also added Parsnip seeds between the already growing mixed lettuces. Eight varieties in two Hessian sacks.
I got an email too from Selections.My vegetable planters (polythene square bags) have been dispatched.I got the allotment after I ordered them!I do need more soil ready for growing more baby carrots.The first lot of plants are growing on in the cold frame.
April has been wet and cold so far.I hope things warm up soon.

Mud And Charity

Mud, mud, glorious mud.. It rained virtually the whole time I was up at the allotment today. The third bed has been forked over.It needs double digging when it drys up.
I added some sand to the boggy first bed by the compost bin. Even simple turning the soil has made the drainage improve slightly.It needs to be dry before I can remove the weed roots and devil grass that is encased in clay..
Three and a half hours later and I was tired so I stopped. On the way out I met Mr Saddiq the guy who has the one third of the allotment. He seemed impressed by the transformation of the wilderness that has bordered his.
He says I can dig his beds over once I have done mine! The Two thirds I have done has taken three weeks so far.The last third is covered with the black tarpaulin.
He actually drove me back afterwards to the house, and saw the garden at the same time. He is going away for four weeks, I wander how much will be done when he returns?
The reason I have the allotment is that he told the allotment lady that he would give up the two thirds so another person could have one, as there is a long waiting list!
The recipient of that charitable urge was me, so once I have cleared my half tamed wilderness I will tidy up his beds and plant some onions, and courgettes for him (I have two Onion sets, more than enough for both plots).
Its going to rain for the rest of my days off so tomorrow is plant shopping at Swillington with Hils and Cat.
Here is to Mud and Charity :)

Rain And Reflections

I am off finally after four night shifts. The photo is of the Hellebore after the torrential rain that fell last night and this morning. The local rivers of the Calder and Aire are near to bursting their banks in places.
The soil is waterlogged in places. No early veg seed sowing for a while yet. Its made me think I want to raise the right border by a foot. If it does rain then it will drain away easier.
You can see the White flowered Heather, and the house warming Cyclamen behind the Birds sunken water dish.
I want a bigger water dish I think as the reflective element of still water is good. Its very calming the water reflecting plants and flowers below the real ones. The earthly ones above, and the magical shimmering reflected plants below. Very Heaven and Earth like.
Bird seed that has been left on the soil has germinated. I have a pot full of germinated bird seeds growing into some kind of grass.
I can see daffodils, tulips, and crocus pushing their way up out of the soil and windowbox. The big blue pot with the mystery bulbs has a baby Muscari. The small grape like flower bud is visible now after the rain battered the strappy leaves, exposing it at the base.
I saw my Robin today, but otherwise the birds have been hiding in the trees. I saw three Chaffinches fly to the fir tree and sit, but they moved away before my camera came out.
I have two days off to reacquaint myself with the garden and the birds. There is weeding to be done, and plans made to raise the borders. The African bag gardens are here and need some things buying so I can construct them for the pavers.
I will sort out my seed packets and photograph how many I actually have. I might even suprise myself with how many I actually have. Bought seed packets, and other seeds loose in envelopes and pharmacy brown bottles... like Calendula, Aquilegia's, Poppies, and Snapdragons I remember...
Thats my reflections after work and rain :)

Flowers for the Soul

Rainy day. The Busy Lizzy Carousel F1 plant has given me another flower. The last few flower buds that were developing pink flowers dropped off before opening. I am quite taken with these flowers now, double blooms. I will try in the new house (Fingers crossed) to grow these again.

Autumn is a reflective time, to remember what worked and what did not. When its pouring with rain the previous blog photos can inspire your memory.

The Daylight hours here are shorter, with the Sun rising later, and setting earlier. The two photos were taken about three hours apart. I sprung from bed at 6am like a switch had been turned on. All that sleep yesterday has repaired my tired body!

Sleep for the body, flowers for the Soul and mind. I am proud of my one plant that survived from the 12 seeds I planted :)

If one flowers then it eases the pain of so many plants keeling over. There is always next year..

I like the Rain splattered windowsill.Its hard to describe rain in photos!

Whale and Mermaid border

The path that led down past the Whale and mermaid willow sculptures was closed. The effect of the heavy rainfall can be seen. Around the gardens they were repairing the paths where the rain has cracked and split the walkways.

The rain had also done a lot of damage to the annuals. I need to come back after a few weeks of sunshine. The website says they sowed seeds directly onto prepared soil in April and May when the soil had warmed up. A mixture of field poppy, cornflower, corncockle, californian poppy, and corn marigold.

The meadow flowers would be the sea of flowers growing around the willow sculptures, with paths crossing the sea at various points.

You can see the ship and whale on the last photo, another reason to go back to see how this display is developing.

In the Autumn the Flowers will be cut back and the seeds left to fall to the ground. The beds will be cultivated and in spring the ripened seeds will start growing. It is only weeded, nature does the rest. I was intrigued by the idea of a direct sown area, in comparison to the labour intensive main borders of massed planting.

All the flowers that start growing from Spring will be like old friends, returned after winter. Its another idea that I have brought back from my second trip to Harlow Carr.

Rain, Rain

A rare break in the clouds, in the morning.It rained torrentially all day monday, and flooded parts of Wakefield. Closed roads, flooded villages.
More rain fell in a few hours I think than all of June normally.It started when we went to Harlow Carr and has rained ever since for nearly two and a half weeks. Mondays rain was like a monsoon and the chaos of closed roads, diversions, and rivers bursting their banks.
All over parts of Britain but especially Yorkshire was hit hardest in places.
I was out today and saw several areas still swamped by water. A lone tree had fallen over as the waterlogged ground had given way.It lay across a grass verge horizontally.
Strange times these for Abnormal weather.Todays daytime temperature was only 14 degrees C.Very chilly for June.
The flowers were still trying to put on their coloured faces, even through the wind and rain.The Deluge has stopped now.Need some warmer weather to dry up the flooded areas.

Rain Delay

Sunday has been wet, and gloomy.It started raining before I went shopping this lunchtime, and continues even now the rain is bouncing off the concrete.
This bedraggled Dandelion has had a soaking.I love the colours, yellow and gold petals.The only plant in flower is the jewel orchid and even that is fading slowly.
I want to find some bright coloured flowers for the camera to test its capabilities.I like this picture.

Thursday Retrospective post

I finished work yesterday and walked back in the pouring rain.

The photo shows some of the allotments alongside my fav long alleyway.I love the tree's, hedges, and flowers that spring up on either side.

The buds on dormant tree's are beginning to wake up.The rain drop just resting on the branch before its fall to earth.