Growing with a Passion

 The heatwave continues and there are parts of the garden beginning to suffer. The fernery needed water this week.

Under the grass are the foundations of an older building which become clearly visible in dry weather.

The pond was getting pretty low so we were very pleased when Anne topped it up because we haven`t been staying long. We get to the garden early and go home as soon as the essentials are done .... watering and harvesting.

 

 

The sunflowers are loving it but there are one or two which did not "get away" .... surrounded by other plants and a row of broad beans.

Here are some of the different varieties.

Sungold

Ring of Fire

Lemon Queen

Piccolo I think

Also looking good are the hollyhocks. i am always astounded to find the seedlings just growing in the pathways. I prise them up just before we go home and pot them up as soon as I can. I sometimes wonder why I don`t scatter my precious seeds on the paths seeing as there is such good germination.

We usually find that the self-seeders are much stronger and more likely to survive but you do have to put up with them in rather awkward places such as the middle of the bean row.

The biggest surprise this week has been the appearance of this stunning gladioli. I don`t remember planting it.

And just a warning to anyone thinking of planting passion flower. This one plant is only two years old. It is rampant. It has grown under the path and come up alongside the tortoise run and it has grown about three or four metres in each direction along the fence.

I love it,

We have a trumpet vine to go in but there will be careful consideration as to where!!

And the casualties so far .... a pretty useless row of broad beans, normally a mainstay for our freezer, our home cucumbers with the droop and mosaic virus .... luckily the ones in the polytunnel are well away, runner beans not forming, possibly bees piercing the flowers instead of going inside.

I continue to pick bunches of statice to dry for winter colour and the lavender is currently drying off in the greenhouse at home.

New lavender bags have been made.

 

 

Happy days.

 

 

 

Chicory and Cherries

If you want any garden jobs done in these scorching days, they need to be done early or late.

This morning saw me splitting a beautiful perenniel rudbeckia, bought at half price, into 5 lovely pieces. I used an old carving knife to do it. It was 7.30. 

I also pricked out the last of my spring bedding. This includes wallflowers, myosotis, bellis daisies, sweet williams and violas.

 I am having to keep a close eye on the seedtrays in case they frazzle so all covered over with shading.

Then it was off for a delightful swim and our breakfast on the beach.

A quick visit to the garden to water.

Inside the polytunnel .....

I was astonished to find the sweetpea row needing a very good pick. Last time there were 4 flowers.
 

The other thing growing madly are the courgettes .... after a very humble start where we thought we would lose the plants .... to this.

Most of our meals include courgettes.

 Second course includes raspberries, redcurrants, cherries, blackcurrants, blueberries (not all at once) with Greek yoghourt.

 

Other flowers doing well are the dried ones ..... statice and pink pokers. The colour range is great. 

Helichrysum are only just starting.

 

I`ve bunched them up to hang in the garden room.

 

Outside the garden on the piece of ground we are developing, a great swathe of chicory has just begun to flower.

 

It is sky-blue. The first time I ever saw it was on the verges in Austria and Switzerland whilst hitching to the Greek islands in the late 60`s. I had plenty of time to study the flora and fauna in between lifts!!!

Tim tells me it grows in the pastures at the farm but he rarely sees it flower due to the cows grazing.

I think it is beautiful.

One for your wild area Belinda if you haven`t got it already.

 

Plenty of insects around it today. 

In fact plenty of butterflies all told. And here is the first buddliea to greet them.

 

 

 

 

 

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Currant Thief Unknown

What a mixed bag of weather we have had. The heavy rain ensured that we had everything tied up really well. Thank goodness as we had strong winds as well. The sunshine in between has brought the most incredible spurt of growth on all plants, including weeds.

In the garden I had to pick four red roses bent over from the winds. The alstromeria has been virtually flattened.

My niece Hazel, gave me this massive trough. I have filled it with rocket and basil for the polytunnel.

 

The biggest surprise was a lovely bowl of raspberries which we enjoyed in the evening.

My main job of the day was to make a start on the barn path from the other end. This is where the hose is stored and seeing as the grass and other growth is so prolific, I felt it needed to be made safer. 

 

The soil here is wonderful, rotted chipped bark. Eventually I want to shovel it all onto the beds and replace with new chipped bark.

It was a bit daunting to look ahead and see what still needs to be done. But I will get there, as long as I am not troubled by horseflies again. What a nasty bite they can give.

The first sunflower was out .....

 

 ..... and the first sweetpeas which I forgot to pick.

 My second job was to clear this path alongside the tortoise run. Some lovely raspberry runners are growing here, to be potted up next time.

Something has been stealing the redcurrants. I fear there will be no jelly this year. I found a gap under the fruit net but I`ve no idea what it could be.
 

My niece also gave us this mini picnic table, which fits perfectly in the fernery.

 

Still quite a few big jobs to do but we`re getting there.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden Houses and Flower Art

We had a short visit today due to family celebrations, but we fitted a lot in.

 Recently we removed a huge fern from our own garden creating some very welcome space for my last bedding plants. We took the fern to the garden today and found it a space on the barn path. It looks quite at home already.

My other task was to put some of my sister-in-law`s pictures in the snug to inspire children or adults. I think they are lovely.

 

In the snug you will find some colouring sheets and paper. Anne and I are on the lookout for felt pens and crayons. If you come yurting or camping, you can spend time here if you wish.

It was very pleasant chatting to regular visitors. They were here about a month ago and they were astounded by the changes in the garden. Well, it has gone a bit mad.

They love the garden and they love the crafts. So very happy to hear this.

The squashes on the compost heap have taken away.

The apple mint and borage surround that area. They have all seeded or rooted themselves.

Poppies are the stars of the show, though some were knocked over by the winds yesterday.

I was dismayed to see the same problem with the buddlieas this year. Melon Cotton Aphid I think. Last year I cut these shoots off and all the shrubs recovered.

Whilst looking closely I found this caterpillar.

The Mullein Moth, identified by the lady with the Titian hair, on her app. Thank you.

I left it there as it is so beautiful but I have just read that it can strip the plant bare .... now I don`t know what to do. Perhaps it can conveniently strip the bad bits and leave the good bits!!!

 

In the polytunnel one courgette is well away .....

......the cucumbers are thriving after a very poor start ....

.....and one has already begun to climb the netting.

The gnome garden has all but disappeared amongst the verdant growth.

And the new fairy house is well-hidden.

All in all a very lush start to June.

 

Flower Rings and Pretty |Boxes

It seems some time since I posted an entry on my latest crafts so here goes.

Most of May was taken up knitting this small blanket. It is not the neatest effort and I can`t seem to get the squares to lie flat despite stretching. I think I need to be a bit more diligent with counting as I crochet round the edge of each square. Despite my self-criticism, I think it has a cosy wrap-around feel especially with the fleecy lining. And I like the soft colours.

I have chosen the recipient. It shall remain secret for now.

The latest Mandalorian and Grogu movie has recently been released. Some of our younger family members have been to see it. With that in mind, I tried some Grogus which I have done before.

Not quite happy with the first efforts and may have to experiment further.

Perhaps with arms.
But I was much happier with the worry worms. Two sold on the craft trolley over the last week.

A camper was very interested in the dried flower rings.She wanted to try some herself. They are made using our own helichrysum flowers glued to a wooden ring and hung by an organza ribbon. She was attracted to the simplicity.

This year we have grown helichrysum, statice and a new one statice "Pink Pokers" in the garden. They have just begun to flower.

These fluffy pompom owls are selling well. I made them by using up the last tapestry wool which I have had for years.

 

Recently I found some very pretty fabric in Jacobs Haberdashery in Hastings. It was only £4 a metre. Yesterday when my gardening plans were thwarted by the weather, I made some lavender bags. 

 

The applique tulip is a motif taken from a set of serviettes which belonged to my aunt. They were a present from her 1940`s wedding. She gave them to me shortly before she died. The set matched a tablecloth with which I made bunting. This will remain in the family. My aunt insisted that I did not tell her what I intended doing with them. I kept that promise but I do hope she approves.

 

The lavender comes from the gardens. I dry it myself

in our garden room in the sunshine and then I store it in this pretty box given to me by my sister.

 

 

It was lovely talking to campers in the week, children and adults alike. I loved to hear and see what and why they had chosen their crafts before they went home. And they were full of what they had bought here before and even had some great ideas for new things.

So, I have been trawling through my old craft photos, on this windy afternoon. I have lots of old ideas to resurrect and I have been inspired with new ones.

Watch this space.