Garden and Catch Up... 31st May 2010

A Blue Cornflower


Phew! I was up until the early hours. Then Buster decided to keep scratching at the door. Jim was shouting at him so I'm up again! I've sent Jim back to bed..... Animals, who'd have them?

ATCs

I have now reached 'U' in our ATC/ABC Group and here is the result:

U is for Underwear


This is off to Joss in London. Teri did 'Undies' too.

I have also made 2 more ATCs for swapping. Please leave a comment on the ATC blog if you'd like either of the ones below:


Roses Cross Stitch (no, I didn't do it)!


Textured Papers


Garden Progress

The weather has been a little more changeable but the garden is coming along apace. Remember the lawn 'extension' that Jim did? The grass is growing....

You can still see the brown earth but it's coming along. Do click on any of the photos to get a closer view.

The latest project is another attempt to sort out the back yard just beyond the new extension. It is all just covered in stone and sundry bits of rubbish from the builders. We have decided to build a wall between the house and the road which leads down to our neighbours' house. We made good progress the first day:


The taller section on the left is the remainder of the old wall. We had to do some large stone shifting and Jim's back needed a rest after this. Here he is about to start work:


And here is the wall taken from the house:


We made a good start I felt.

The aquilegia bed has been a huge success. I can see it through my double doors as I type.


We also have several acers in the same bed.






One of the acers in the same bed.

The largest of the arboretum beds is coming on fast - especially the lupins:


The Judas Tree is still flowering too. You can see one of the living willow fences in the background.


They are looking wonderful this year. Jim grew them from seed.


A perfect lupin flower.

Opposite this bed is the new extended bed and the rhododendron is in full bloom:


They are such showy flowers.

I took these photos yesterday morning. I walked past the bottom of the fairy hill where I spotted this daisy. This one's for you Teri:


The laburnum tree is now in full bloom too. It hasn't as many flowers as last year but they're still pretty impressive:



I walked up the gravel path and on my right is the back of the bed you can see in the header photo. Jim has put an arch up for height:


It's a bit hard to spot but is on the right of the photo. As you can see, the cats followed me about! There are some gorgeous white lupins in this bed:


It had rained overnight and some of the leaves held droplets of water:


Pity about the hole in one section!

On the other side of the bed, the thrift is now fully out:

My son Jason bought me the pink one. It has lovely bronze leaves.

As I turn round, I'm greeted by this cheerful sight:


Chives in flower with fern behind.


In the same bed is this startling orange geum and in the top bed, another one, this time red:



In complete contrast, the Lady's Mantle is just about to flower. It, too, is holding some of the overnight rain:


Finally, just for Rachel, a close up of the white cornflower, which I know she loves:


I think they look like Catherine Wheels in this shot. This is the name of a firework for anyone who hasn't heard of it.