Hello May - where did you come from and where did April go? That has to be the quickest month ever. I suppose it is because there is so much to do in the garden that I hardly noticed its passing. I have finally just about caught up with everything - the weather has been so wonderful that staying indoors wasn't an option. Seed sowing, pricking out and transplanting has been full steam ahead and now all everything needs to do is grow.
The garden is changing, every day there is something new in flower. The daffodils are going over and the tulips are coming into their own. I usually pick shades of purple and lilac tulips for my containers, but this year I seem to have chosen, yellows, apricots and cream. I say seem to have chosen, mainly because I can't remember doing so. I obviously had a funny turn in the garden centre at the time of choosing and a touch of amnesia. Anyway it all turned out alright in the end.
These yellow tulips were the first to open a lovely cheerful colour and the apricot ones are turning orangey now but I don't even mind that.
A few pinky ones have sneaked in so I must have started off on the right track but lost my concentration somewhere along the line.
At this time of year the garden is usually full of Forget-me-Nots but I think the winter did for them and I only have one border with them - it's a shame as I love to see them filling in all the gaps.
All the conifers were removed, skips were filled with tons of rubbish and the picture on the right shows the garden after a couple of years. This all happened when we were a lot younger and had the energy and enthusiasm to take on a massive restoration project.
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| Pulmonaria . Mahonia . Tulips . Honesty . Dandelion . Camellia A Seed to Sow |
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| flower seedlings - Tithonia . Echium . Cosmos . Zinnia Memory Lane When we moved into this house almost thirty years ago it was completely uninhabitable and we had to bunk down at my father's house for a few weeks till it was made fit to live in. The garden was filled with junk and hadn't been cultivated for years. So everything was quite a challenge. But little by little everything started to take shape and even now is still evolving. |
Wildlife Corner
Newt basking in the shallows of the pond
Gorgeous sunset after a wonderfully sunny day
A Book to Read
I am really loving being able to be out in the garden again and enjoying seeing everything blossoming - how about you?
Damson blossom
Check out what's happening in my veg garden over at A Woman of the Soil - see you there
Check out what's happening in my veg garden over at A Woman of the Soil - see you there
Forget me knots grow randomly in the semi-wild round here. Every year when I see them I kick myself, remembering how last year I decided to grow them too - but forgot.
ReplyDeleteThey are such a sweet simple flower although in a good year they do seem to seed everywhere, which is not a bad thing I suppose.
DeleteI am almost all day in the garden now, the weather is lovely, there is lots of work to do and I enjoy new growth every day. I think it is a miracle how fast all grows, buds are formed, blossoms open and so on. Nice to see how you renewed the old house and garden in the past. The sunset is so beautiful, I just think we don't see sunsets often here, the sun disappears behind the glasshouses. I am the one of the sunrises, haha.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend and happy gardening.
I love this time of year - it is really magical isn't it.
DeleteHow deeply satisfying to be able to look back on the old photos and see how far things have come.Magical to have newts.
ReplyDeleteThe garden was in a terrible state and while the OH spent him time indoors I was in the garden trying to lick it into shape, much like you are at the moment.
DeleteGreat to see the old pictures of your garden. It must be satisfying seeing how its changed. I'm growing 3 out of 4 of you flower seeds just the Zinnia I've not sown. Its been so lovely for a change, long may it last.
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been glorious over the last few days but today has been chillier hope we don't get too many late frosts I don't want the blossom ruined this year.
DeleteIt is wonderful to be outside again, and to see things growing at last. Already I can see the benefit of the work I did last year, even though the garden still has a very long way to go. It's my favourite time of the year.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your old pictures, you have certainly succeeded in turning your garden around!
Every day in fine weather is a bonus as far as I am concerned every day seems to hold new surprises.
DeleteThose forget-me-nots are really vibrant
ReplyDeleteIn real life they aren't quite that blue but how they came out on the camera.
DeleteI hope your warm weather stays around. My Forget Me Nots did not survive the winter here either and it was a mild one really. I lose more flowers in the milder winters for some reason. It is amazing to see the comparisons of all that hard work throughout the years. What a gorgeous sunset. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt has been dull and rainy today typical just when we get to a bank holiday weekend. Have a lovely weekend yourself.
DeleteThe tulips are beautiful. It's interesting to see how you've transformed your house and garden. I sometimes look back on the "before" photos of our place; I'm just glad I thought to take some at the time. And I love the little newt!
ReplyDeleteI love before and after pictures myself - amazing what can be achieved with a lot of hard work.
DeleteOnce again Elaine so many beautiful spring colors!! Makes me enlivened :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful time of year.
DeleteA most enjoyable post and photos. It's been a good, if late, year for daffodils and tulips.
ReplyDeleteThe dandelions have appeared in their 'millions' this week on the roadside grass verges.
It really is good to see the tree blossom at this time of year. Flighty xx
The dandelions have appeared in their millions at my plot too - I can never seem to get to the bottom of the roots so eventually they always grow back - shame you can't crop them.
Deletewhere are all the male bloggers? come on chaps you don`t have to be female to enjoy posts like these.
ReplyDeleteWell there's you and Flighty and Keith the Optimistic Existentialist that's not a bad percentage considering bloggers are mostly female.
ReplyDeleteAfter the horrible March I'm still filled with a sense of disbelief that the weather has been so good recently. So lovely to see all the fruit trees bloom and the lovely Spring flowers heralding in the growing year.
ReplyDeleteIt has been pretty amazing just recently - hope it keeps up.
DeleteMy tulips are just starting to peak up out of the soil, but the daffodils are in full bloom. You have a nice array of colors Elaine. We have been renovating our house for a number of years and so I can appreciate all the work that you have done. We still have lots that remains unfinished. Maybe thirty years on I will be able to look back and be happy with what we have accomplished too. I have always wanted to read one of Alexander McCall Smith's books. I love the whimsical title of this one.
ReplyDeleteThe early daffs have gone over now but the large ones are still going strong and mixing well with the tulips - colour in the garden at last! Keeping a house and garden in good order is an ongoing thing isn't it - there is always something to be done in one or the other. I have read most of AMS's books - not a lot happens in them but he is such an intelligent writer.
DeleteOh lovely lovely to see so much blooming in your garden. The weather has been lovely for us over the last few days and what a difference it all makes. I agree re how fast April went....I can't believe it's May and the trees still haven't got their leaves!!!
ReplyDeleteYour tulips are lovely.....I laughed out loud re your amnesia, it's not just me then????
I love the Forget-me-Nots, they seem to have spread everywhere in my garden this year.
I MOST jealous of your newt, he does look wonderful.
How nice to see your house and garden from 30 years ago, it's interesting to be able to look back like that. It sure does sound like you had to put a lot of work in, but most worthwhile by the look of things now.xxxx
The sunny weather has brought everything on in leaps and bounds the garden is looking tickety-boo at the moment always my favourite time of the year. We have a baby newt in the pond as well - it must be the clear, clean water that is attracting them, after our pond clear out.
DeleteLove your tulips, so vibrant colours. It's great to keep records of how the garden changes over the years, especially when you have as many as 30 years worth. I don't thing any garden is ever 'finished', we all have gardens that evolve over time. Small things here and there and sometimes big things, but to say; that's it, my garden is finished, no need to change anything - well, you won't ever hear me saying that :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I look back over garden photos I am always shocked at just what plants have disappeared over the years
DeleteI love seeing the 'before' and 'after' photos of gardens. You can tell how much love and hard work has gone into yours. It is fabulous to get a long spell of warmer weather and the plants all seem to be thriving now. Your selection of tulips are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe garden has changed a lot over the years - now as I get older it is much more simplified in order for it to be easier to cope with.
DeleteI know the feeling. Gardens get easier year by year if you keep at them, don't they? Had a similar experience with ours.
ReplyDeleteThey say it takes seven years to establish a garden - then you have to start all over again.
DeleteI so enjoyed seeing what is blooming in your garden, and the before and after photos! Sometimes I imagine big projects in my garden, and then I remember my aging back and sore hands, and think better of beginning anew. The next gardener can have their way with the garden.
ReplyDeleteExtremely happy to be back in the garden!
No more big projects for me either jayne small improvements will have to suffice
DeleteMy goodness! When spring starts for you, it comes in with a BANG! I love love love those unfurling tulips. And that posy with yellow tulips and muscari... heavenly.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had a lot of vision and courage to tackle such a big garden project. Such a wonderful thing to look back on ;-)
I love tulips it's just a shame they don't last longer. It was the size of the garden that attracted me regardless of the state it was in - little did I realise just how many back breaking hours it would take knock it into shape.
DeleteWow, a labour of love (probably sometimes hate!) but what a result, absolutely lovely! I've never really bothered paying much attention to tulips until this year and I'm amazed at how beautiful they actually are! I have some yellow ones like yours in a vase in the kitchen which have had their run now I think as one has dropped its petals this morning. x
ReplyDeleteI must say I do have a soft spot for tulips their season is over all too quickly for me.
DeleteWhat a lovely lot of colour you've got in your garden. I love the way everything seems to look right together at this time of year. xx
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