Surreal times

From January up to now - what a year it's been. Never seen the like before in my lifetime,  A new way of living is upon us. 

Home is still the priority and things have happened in the garden.

The back garden is now only half edible - apples,

Kohl rabi,

tomatoes,

runner beans, French beans, spring onions, courgettes, beetroot and kale

In the greenhouse with the tomatoes the vine is still producing over 50 bunches of grapes.

The other half is now a double patio with a profusion of flowers along with seating areas.

It is now a garden for rest and entertainment and next year the veggie plot will be grassed over for an area of play and lounging.

New times, new ideas, new directions. Onwards and upwards. Let's enjoy where and when we can,

xx

PS Thank you for sticking with me while I've been absent. It means a lot.

xx

It's time ...

... to pull up the mange-tout. They've gone over and the dried pods need picking for seed. A space will be made to plant out the leeks in their final place.

Among the plants and in the strawberry patch are these poppies.

They are all different. Some with a little frill, 

and some with many frills.

Some big and some small. All beautiful.

The mange-tout seeds will be dried some more and put away to plant next year.

We're busy eating the potatoes now to make even more space for the leeks.

xx

Going green

I think I'm into green at the moment for the kitchen.

Having a black and brown kitchen means that I can add extra colours with pans and other kitchen paraphernalia.

All these 'extra' bits came from the same shop and just happened to fall into my basket when I was food shopping.

The chopping board, green container and baskets I've shown before but the latest green is ...

No, they are not all from the same shop - the baskets
came from I-keey-yah.

… a new ironing board cover that brings Spring into the kitchen.

I'm matching all the green that is outside now the warmer weather has come.

These aquilegia plants have contrasting whites and purples

The green of the iris contrasts with its purple flowers.

And the white flowers have appeared overnight on the mange tout.

We're definitely going green inside and out.

xx

PS 1. Please note the paper to be recycled in the baskets.

2. All our veggie and fruit waste goes in the compost and when DH moved one of the bins wonderful black compost was found underneath. That will help with all this growing.

3. A warm welcome to a new follower.

From my feet

I'm stood in the conservatory admiring this cactus. It's not an Easter one, nor a Christmas one but it has decided to flower now with gorgeous red blooms.

On the couch is some reading material which  is a CS find. They may be going back to the CS as they are heavy and take up too much room. I'll flick through them first though.

It's been sunny this week and this is my hat of choice for this year.

My mag collection is from the car boot sale.

The orchids need regular dunking.

This crown of thorns has flowers of a slightly darker red than the cactus.

On the table is my allium seed head. I have 3 of these scattered about the house. There are still some seeds in there. Perhaps I should try growing some. That's DH's job. Mine is planting, collecting, cooking and eating (the veg plants not the conservatory plants!!)

This mother in law's tongue plant was a neglected specimen that had been taken to the CS. I rescued it and it is now trying to get out of the pot.

Our plants come from various sources - this one is from a car boot.

These grown from seed bought from Ebay.

This pregnant onion plant started out as one little bulb from Ebay.

And this cactus was being thrown out by a friend.

It points every which way.

I've been looking every which way in this relaxing room of plants.

Hope you enjoyed my tour.

xx

Second coming

My 3 Lidl - iddle hyacinths have already flowered once.

Now 2 of them are flowering again. Bargain blooms.

xx

Kitchen Window - October 2015

I'm back to the kitchen window again. This time viewed from different angles. One way, then ...

t'other.

These yellow flowers are still blooming away in the front garden while all around I'm cutting back the perennials in preparation for colder weather.

I've just looked at this post and seen that one year ago in July these lovely little flowers were merrily bobbing away in the summer.

There're certainly a keeper bringing the sunshine into the house for months at a time.

xx

Allotment envy

This was how an allotment should be - tended, tidied, productive and loved. A visit around the local allotment showed this in abundance. Here was a space for cut flowers and foliage,

here the beds were set out neatly and orderly.

There was a quiet space between the separate allotments for rest and contemplation with seating, wild and cultivated flowers and a small pond.

The best allotment on the plot, I thought, was this one where every square inch was covered with produce, sheds, greenhouses and special corners. There were even hens pecking around in one area and experimental growing in tyres and unusual containers.

A pergola led to a seating area where the overhead vine could be viewed with easily tended annuals at waist and eye height. Who said allotments should just be horizontal?

This gardening bum had serious allotment envy.

xx