Opening Weekend

Looking at my window as I write this,

I have to say,

it doesn't look very much like

Spring!!

But yesterday it did,

and I had a little wander round the garden...

 

 

... the plum tree is absolutely loaded with blossom,

and I'm sure hoping

that this means

lots of plums:)

 

 

There are lots and lots of these:)

 

 

The tulips are just so incredibly beautiful,

the reddest of red.

 

 

I decided I needed some 'srping' cushions

for the front verandah,

just to brighten things up a little.

 

 

And I've been doing some work down the side garden,

it needed it :)

 

 

More 'ugly' plants disappeared:)

 

 

It looks a little barren at the moment,

but just you wait:)

When Spring returns,

 (tomorrow),

I will be out there planting seedlings

and

it wont be long before it's blooming.

 

I've just re-opened for the coming season,

and what a way to 'kick off' :)

Test match weekend in Dunedin,

All Blacks -v- South Africa,

and a house full of very happy guests.

 

"Arrived 14th September - ...our stay here was so wonderful and a pleasure ... saddens us to leave... all in all our experience in Dunedin for the rugby match was the best ever.  Thankyou Dunedin, but for most cheers, Jenny and Jake :)"

James and Karen 

 

 



Early Spring Gardening

I have not been here

in sooooo long.

It's been winter,

and not alot happens round the cottage

in winter.

Except a bit of planning in the garden,

and that usually involves

a bit of digging

and moving things.

I decided over winter

that the front garden beds needed a revamp.

This was them at the beginning of winter,

and before I started to dig!

And then I got started...

... and this is what was left,

hmmmm,

not much...

But,

there are lots of new plantings,

and in a few weeks,

I will be back,

to show you how it looks

as Spring shows her colours.

There are glimpses of spring already

in other parts of the garden ...

...sweet early jonquils...

... little matchheads...



...wild plum blossom...

...forget-me-not dainties...

...the first flush of spring flowers...

I found these gorgeous chairs recently,

covered in grime,

and in need of a fresh coat of paint,

With some new canvas seats and backs,

they will be just perfect,

I do believe,

for the front porch,

where you might find time to sit and enjoy the morning sun,

or the birdsong in the evening.

Back in a few weeks

to show you

the front gardens in all their spring finery.

See you,

Jenny



Sunday's Garden

A day in the garden

is good for the soul :)

   Sunday was mellow,

and it felt so good to be outside,

pottering around in the veggie patch..

(don't mind the lettuce gone to seed in the front,

I'm saving them for a friend,

and her chooks :)

The strawberry patch was on the list of things to do -

snipping off the runners,

and ending up with heaps of new plants,

which will hopefully mean,

heaps more berries next year.

And I don't want to skite,

but I'm pretty impressed with my tomatoes this year.

Countless hours of loving attention,

careful watering and feeding,

and many a conversation with them

have paid off.

They are loaded,

and they are good :)

And the flowers ...

....the palest pink....

...raspberry pink ...

... pretty in pink ...

... and the loveliest little daisies...

Sunday's garden :)

Sweet Peas

A deliciously sweet bouquet :)

Given to me

as I was admiring a gorgeous cottage garden.

So sweet

in every way.

Christmas at the Cottage

Merry Christmas :)



The art of sowing seeds.

Think I might have been a little heavy handed

with the seeds :)



And to think I was worried that nothing would grow...

...what does one do with a gazillion and one cosmos and lettuce seedlings??

I will plant them out,

and I will never have to buy another lettuce from the supermarket,

and cosmos will flower in my garden for eternity  :)

I remember thinking

when I was scattering the seed,

how many should I scatter?

Apparently I may have scattered a few too many :)

And then there are the tomato plant seedlings...

... well - how was I to know that every seed would grow?

When deciding on how many to scatter

I reckoned that some wouldn't grow,

so scattered a few more!

Now, planting these babies out will be more difficult

as I do not have a glass house

that is 20 metres long!!

I can't bear the thought of not planting them, though,

so I will ponder this little glitch

 a little longer.

I think I have quite a bit to learn yet

about the art of sowing seeds :)

Garden's looking very pretty,

even though the wind did it's best this week

to batter and bend my flowers.

We even had a light dusting of snow one morning this week!

These gorgeous granny's bonnets self seed all over the place -

I love them.

So pretty :)

See you,

Jenny

Divine!

This is what I see as walk down the hall

to the front door

each morning...

And once I'm through the other side,

I turn round,

bury my face in the blooms,

and breathe in !

It's truly divine :)

Of course it's hanging way too low,

but who could possibly take the snippers to this beauty.

You've just gotta duck below it :)

 These are loving it under the magnolia,

what are they?

I'm sure I should know!

I tried a bit of an experiment this year,

and chose not to prune this rose bush,

'cos it just kept on flowering all year

and it seemed such a pity to cut it back.

So I wondered if it would be as good come spring,

and sure enough

it's amazing!

Absolutely covered in buds.

This garden is definitely one of my happy places :)

Around the back in the veggie patch,

I've been looking after the strawberries...

...and I've been sowing carrot, beetroot and bean seed,

put some potatoes in the ground,

been carefully tending my flower seeds that have all popped through the ground already,

and generally just trying to keep one step ahead of the weeds :)

Cut down an ugly old tree last week,

so once it's all been tidied up

I have plans :)

A little bit of woodland in the city :)

Here's the "before plans" pic...

It may take me a few months before I can show

the ''after plans'' picture,

but it will happen :)

In the meantime, looks like there is some wood to stack!

See you.