tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80811017955976000042024-03-18T19:21:57.578+00:00StasherStasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.comBlogger1752125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-65915495018036109482024-03-16T07:32:00.007+00:002024-03-16T07:33:49.138+00:00Six on Saturday <p><a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/03/16/six-on-saturday-16-3-2024/">The days are whizzing by and we have longer days here in the UK. Time to link into Jim's Garden Ruminations to share six from the garden.</a></p><p>1. This week's instant gratification: Hyacinth Yellowstone. It is ages since I planted hyacinths in any garden. We stopped at B & Q to buy some new kitchen cupboard shelves, there were none in stock, and I took consolation in these. The colour is is soft yellow very similar to wild primroses and they work nicely in the the sort of gloomy weather we have been having this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi1GrCvLHfoBHpggCBqumavOEKfUZcUse6djUSAR-Laa8pPUqicv6MIWTkXt_FHsNX4v5Z9wj6Rnc-a6uKlht816DZCWOTHKz8dCvpmr41ZvyzsVGjm-E_zJ3JPgmTRpYl1qV7BiXs0ee8wcbCHoX5bilU_oq_AugVqw_8DRuPLoBZCquXAM_BQbdUUY/s1754/Hyacinth%20Yellow%20stone%20this%20week.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWi1GrCvLHfoBHpggCBqumavOEKfUZcUse6djUSAR-Laa8pPUqicv6MIWTkXt_FHsNX4v5Z9wj6Rnc-a6uKlht816DZCWOTHKz8dCvpmr41ZvyzsVGjm-E_zJ3JPgmTRpYl1qV7BiXs0ee8wcbCHoX5bilU_oq_AugVqw_8DRuPLoBZCquXAM_BQbdUUY/w565-h399/Hyacinth%20Yellow%20stone%20this%20week.jpg" width="565" /></a></div><p>2. I despair: this is just one of the examples of the devastation by slugs this spring. Would the RHS have us only grow plants that slugs and snails don't touch?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUS368bszDfj9iHDzZp0bhz6uyrL1_EkjMceeE1JRW-dy3jiorXONghgGdc8hV8l_Qpsl-qVpCeWJV8nwmdz4H50u4ixxuJq42g45t-bOHyEvtT4DAVtYY-Bgg5u46PSg21nherfqV3c5xFaKW4-MHODZElz4H52xkCHgKuYizbcyjRk4FfMH82nd2h2k/s4080/Slug%20nibbled%20daffs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUS368bszDfj9iHDzZp0bhz6uyrL1_EkjMceeE1JRW-dy3jiorXONghgGdc8hV8l_Qpsl-qVpCeWJV8nwmdz4H50u4ixxuJq42g45t-bOHyEvtT4DAVtYY-Bgg5u46PSg21nherfqV3c5xFaKW4-MHODZElz4H52xkCHgKuYizbcyjRk4FfMH82nd2h2k/w293-h389/Slug%20nibbled%20daffs.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slug nibbled narcissi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>From a headline in yesterday paper: <i>‘It’s patronising to say that all slugs are friends – the RHS treats gardeners as nincompoops’...A new campaign by the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts is encouraging us to appreciate the garden pests – but not all horticulturists are keen.</i></p><p>3. For several years I had admired a yellow rambling rose along a friend's fence, and last year I had permission to take some cuttings. I have three good rooted cuttings, and this week at the same time as planting out the hyacinths, these were planted all along the south facing fence. Let us hope it won't be too many years before they are flowering. Hopefully someone will be able to identify it once they are in flower, and in my dreams the fence is festooned with roses.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruiwPcTID_aGds8m5TpSoipmmajZ7Q-e8LSSFkB2AePD-TfcX-xYYdlh8hLfPWxKJrxzMv6aOkUYhrntviVbfsJ33U3vEv9xeqnwJP4GkZ2CTJ92YMB-H1BkmVkNTTQVy8xL87yWb6cGbLyjnnmTy2oh76S2QEfQHsPyvTO7rZ_eeocjY3Ikg_b2mL5A/s4080/New%20rambling%20rose%20cuttings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruiwPcTID_aGds8m5TpSoipmmajZ7Q-e8LSSFkB2AePD-TfcX-xYYdlh8hLfPWxKJrxzMv6aOkUYhrntviVbfsJ33U3vEv9xeqnwJP4GkZ2CTJ92YMB-H1BkmVkNTTQVy8xL87yWb6cGbLyjnnmTy2oh76S2QEfQHsPyvTO7rZ_eeocjY3Ikg_b2mL5A/w262-h348/New%20rambling%20rose%20cuttings.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div><br /></div>4. A new Rhubarb addition to the garden just could not wait any longer to be planted. Again another plant for which harvest will only be possible in a year or two: Rhubarb Timperley Early<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wEZG6HTKES2x5NcrY_0DZgnI5nuTl8Pj4i9IT-EPJAjlFxoje9CfGTjbfrNBfLNuBajLpZJfwfh240-V776WHhjoXwQ9k3Jpj7j9y3yE2sS7oUJ8U0holmqm8Tn4DfDz9Pyeu8nAX1bzMt_OvLsYFwnR1jas6T821u6F2i7R1VwEJzDIk3-qztbAE10/s4080/Rhubard%20Timperley%20Early.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wEZG6HTKES2x5NcrY_0DZgnI5nuTl8Pj4i9IT-EPJAjlFxoje9CfGTjbfrNBfLNuBajLpZJfwfh240-V776WHhjoXwQ9k3Jpj7j9y3yE2sS7oUJ8U0holmqm8Tn4DfDz9Pyeu8nAX1bzMt_OvLsYFwnR1jas6T821u6F2i7R1VwEJzDIk3-qztbAE10/s320/Rhubard%20Timperley%20Early.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div>5. Another pest has started on its spring attack both on the acer and for some reason on this Chrysanthemum Chatsworth. By coincidence I read this week, that chrysanthemums should be stopped, but whether this applies to this variety I am unsure, maybe the squirrel has taken over garden duties? It is the second time in just a few weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIrTWNUjUQXo4Fm6G47R1i98i-ZQ3XkbLpsmBJtdBkzG5WWJGHgYRLvhbK87cHIYp7-jHJX36zRxk2_CTb5xR8iG4b60zj-tDrJwgiQhQ8PYD-SPIIpJfHV-At1tL0G22p87N1WBmlQbbh_8W8_4qvdlbiHxNqjlPUp5UJpcmjfaGwqp4WGNosJrgM1Q/s4080/Squirrel%20damage%20to%20Chrysanthemum%20Chatsworth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIrTWNUjUQXo4Fm6G47R1i98i-ZQ3XkbLpsmBJtdBkzG5WWJGHgYRLvhbK87cHIYp7-jHJX36zRxk2_CTb5xR8iG4b60zj-tDrJwgiQhQ8PYD-SPIIpJfHV-At1tL0G22p87N1WBmlQbbh_8W8_4qvdlbiHxNqjlPUp5UJpcmjfaGwqp4WGNosJrgM1Q/w279-h370/Squirrel%20damage%20to%20Chrysanthemum%20Chatsworth.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><div>6. I am delighted that the division of <a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2021/03/six-on-saturday-20-march-2021.html">Primula 'Blue Horizon'</a> has paid off, of course it may be that wet winters suit it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtBVLba76-vTZLvsimNgP2VzZtObFbfFyQL4W-gdLRKBNsgSa2RnD53wW5Nfxsm3l5xR4z6MpjFnT2anRJzHYv2Z474UBqXRXiR8TsAMGaMMM9Y4nttuJNsxZVTb2Dj2Ge4lm80-IArzhiJHwtNFz6w6T7s7zaYcXM5IcsA6nnEm05WGPGJ0yswQ8jGw/s4080/Primula%20'Blye%20Horizon'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtBVLba76-vTZLvsimNgP2VzZtObFbfFyQL4W-gdLRKBNsgSa2RnD53wW5Nfxsm3l5xR4z6MpjFnT2anRJzHYv2Z474UBqXRXiR8TsAMGaMMM9Y4nttuJNsxZVTb2Dj2Ge4lm80-IArzhiJHwtNFz6w6T7s7zaYcXM5IcsA6nnEm05WGPGJ0yswQ8jGw/w297-h395/Primula%20'Blye%20Horizon'.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div>Not so much 'instant gratification' but planned ones await me at the Rare Plant Fair at the Bishop's Palace this coming Sunday, as I have put in 'pre-orders' from two growers! </div><div><br /></div><div>At Christmas one of our SOS members showed Christmas baubles on the gardening theme, just as shout out for my thoughtful son, here is the fun plant themed Mother's Day: I am in his eyes a 'Plantastic Mum'. Of course on a art wireworkshop my efforts moved to plants....</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfMY-ss_dO-Rapdafiz9yHCG8M0oOA_qfCNQV_tKEtC_0OAFAk74DhSu6gqTi9eST8vw4zUVXpmxiiMTMz0OL30IPLYNVcS1gf6_wdhYhmUsevbOO5bP1clYVtN2AQR0EhyphenhyphenGew92ulM2AkBYWt9vPglf3bRtPQ4bRy5vhTDmNwjPfu07RlWpm_rVh-3g/s4080/Mother's%20Day%20Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfMY-ss_dO-Rapdafiz9yHCG8M0oOA_qfCNQV_tKEtC_0OAFAk74DhSu6gqTi9eST8vw4zUVXpmxiiMTMz0OL30IPLYNVcS1gf6_wdhYhmUsevbOO5bP1clYVtN2AQR0EhyphenhyphenGew92ulM2AkBYWt9vPglf3bRtPQ4bRy5vhTDmNwjPfu07RlWpm_rVh-3g/s320/Mother's%20Day%20Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-25109476647478222872024-03-15T17:31:00.004+00:002024-03-15T17:33:01.756+00:00No Knead Zaatar Flatbreads <p> I treated myself to a month's subscription when I read there was an offer in January for a first month for free, after two months I realised that I would enjoy this and therefore went in for the year! Today I attempted the February bake of No Knead Zaatar Flatbreads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOYysqmIV6bVbjSJ0IVhsMIIJAQrk5nr-aZGQogJ-qqxZpwvm3C1lT2LEjzJKFjg3qmXbIqQQxV0niw8K9wZAYUJ0gx-FSyjs0oIN2RcYNMy6pvgdnONB8ihGX13NE1n_5J4oqPHNBAVbltZovL0H5LoLU9oBXBw2lDG2ZaHteYH0pGppcxlVjw_jWV4/s4080/Bake%20with%20Jack%20Flatbreads%20and%20hummus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOYysqmIV6bVbjSJ0IVhsMIIJAQrk5nr-aZGQogJ-qqxZpwvm3C1lT2LEjzJKFjg3qmXbIqQQxV0niw8K9wZAYUJ0gx-FSyjs0oIN2RcYNMy6pvgdnONB8ihGX13NE1n_5J4oqPHNBAVbltZovL0H5LoLU9oBXBw2lDG2ZaHteYH0pGppcxlVjw_jWV4/w350-h464/Bake%20with%20Jack%20Flatbreads%20and%20hummus.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><p>I've followed Jack with his weekly YouTube sessions almost from the start, but these demonstrations on the Homebakers' Club are something else! I watched the video once and now having tried the flatbreads for the first time will watch it again. It really does only take 2 minutes in the pan and 2 under the grill. The first two I made were a little scorched, so next time, I shall place the breads a little further away from the elements. They would go marvellously well with sometime like a tagine and were very close to a good nan which I am always partial to when we go out for a curry. The flatbreads were deliciously light, fluffy and tasty!</p><p>I usually cook my own chickpeas in the pressure cooker, but picked up a couple of tins of chickpeas early in the day, as I had not pre soaked the pulses. The tinned version were excellent. </p><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-55214087333757994102024-03-13T18:22:00.002+00:002024-03-13T18:22:15.180+00:00Honey and Spice Cake <p>Fancying a spicy bake, and having resolved to work towards the one out, and then a little more space, I leafed through Exceptional Cakes by Dan Lepard and Richard Whittington. I've had this book since 2011 and it is time to move it on. Before that I thought I would try the Honey and Spice Cake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzmQRSIgfSnv-WbpU5XFttlPePjOGVA9ERpBe6g4O4XE3zLhpPDhBJuYlsUvmZHSpoRlhFp3y1T123wgVNKgKle-NnQ_x-Xa_wIa-nfmeLUoy3-MK4GVXMMyb4imr9vnU_B07U72Z5Ghx3WlCJV3SulWTO0tImOZEDo4gYF7_JUZ2L2LG3u69HjSSKyA/s4080/Dan%20Lepard%20Exceptional%20Cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzmQRSIgfSnv-WbpU5XFttlPePjOGVA9ERpBe6g4O4XE3zLhpPDhBJuYlsUvmZHSpoRlhFp3y1T123wgVNKgKle-NnQ_x-Xa_wIa-nfmeLUoy3-MK4GVXMMyb4imr9vnU_B07U72Z5Ghx3WlCJV3SulWTO0tImOZEDo4gYF7_JUZ2L2LG3u69HjSSKyA/w375-h498/Dan%20Lepard%20Exceptional%20Cakes.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><p>Thanks to a search on Google <a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2014/08/honey-and-spice-cake-by-dan-lepard.html">I found that my original post dated 2014</a> after I had finished baking this. What a coincidence, however this time I divided the dough into 2 x 500g tins. I had forgotten that I had baked this, as the book was not marked, and isn't it strange that I was drawn to the same recipe. The book will now be passed on, and next time I shall try a different version <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/may/21/honey-treacle-cake-recipe">Dan Lepard's Honey and Treacle Cake</a> .</p><p>Tonight's pudding: a slice of warmed up cake, a drizzle of honey and a little custard.</p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-12380662908717674372024-03-07T13:26:00.004+00:002024-03-08T08:50:19.185+00:00Lemon and Ginger Teacakes<p>Friday bun day has been a tradition for quite a few years now. It used to be some afternoon tea time treat, but these days it has migrated to a breakfast treat instead. I usually make a batch of enriched buns and freeze most of the batch to use on the following Fridays.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea1W06RUlKlPUS77TrEAREpG1KKXaNzJBst9NwPae1TIcZOYHOXmjK7nf1jQotx1nHj7bbKf2n7m7Ry-b6Py8yt9PJuXdCOwpofR0K04F4vLSjc3NWJuyq9Bf_WoA-2Wt-ZfV8Kq-9eNPSmvLklMmL-RoqIRWbZ72Iwk-MxWJ8P25jYNvaGQ8e65-EQ4/s4864/Lemon%20&%20ginger%20teacakes.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4864" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhea1W06RUlKlPUS77TrEAREpG1KKXaNzJBst9NwPae1TIcZOYHOXmjK7nf1jQotx1nHj7bbKf2n7m7Ry-b6Py8yt9PJuXdCOwpofR0K04F4vLSjc3NWJuyq9Bf_WoA-2Wt-ZfV8Kq-9eNPSmvLklMmL-RoqIRWbZ72Iwk-MxWJ8P25jYNvaGQ8e65-EQ4/w453-h340/Lemon%20&%20ginger%20teacakes.JPG" width="453" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon and ginger teacakes</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It can't be far off the twentieth time I have baked these tea cakes, the recipe is still on its Waitrose paper, cut out and stapled in my Bread Baking note book. <a href="https://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/m/martha-collison-slemongingerteacakeswithhoneybutter.html">Although I can easily access the recipe on line</a>, I am holding onto the paper copy, as one can never tell if it will fall off the listing on line!</p><p>As there were no buns for Friday Bun Breakfast tomorrow, this morning a nice batch was made. This time I used some fresh yeast which I picked up yesterday morning from the baker at Morrison's fresh bread counter, and many of the techniques I have learnt from Bake with Jack, and they came up as the best batch ever. </p><p>PS Having eaten them for Friday breakfast I realised I forgot the mixed spice, they are OK list this but they are definitely a lesser bun! </p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-24814177264233180062024-03-04T08:13:00.001+00:002024-03-04T12:20:36.972+00:00In a Vase on Monday - Continuing the Mustard Theme <p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> A couple of weeks ago, I started to play a sort of 'domino' game via the In a Vase on Monday, with Cathy and this week, I am following on the<a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/02/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-keen-as-mustard-2/"> Mustard Theme</a>. I especially love condiments whether it is a fresh fruity sauce such as cranberry sauce, a chutney, salt and freshly ground pepper of course, or mustard. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_j2oRftopSbOGPgFMolndNwB5f3fJKvK7iNgrn5Vxvqsbf7gsA35aPaz2jRpc0LOkjpsSuzxaru5Ql51uc1F2Xob77ZYi2xwPr_aGh1t_ne1FxkVsF3FTmevGx91Vuz7l7RAOcdwB2LnYGd22TMhhlJgt383xtx0xFYyPDv_0kA8cVvIC3-Zje_3s0/s3636/In%20a%20Vase%20on%20Monday.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3636" data-original-width="3395" height="491" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn_j2oRftopSbOGPgFMolndNwB5f3fJKvK7iNgrn5Vxvqsbf7gsA35aPaz2jRpc0LOkjpsSuzxaru5Ql51uc1F2Xob77ZYi2xwPr_aGh1t_ne1FxkVsF3FTmevGx91Vuz7l7RAOcdwB2LnYGd22TMhhlJgt383xtx0xFYyPDv_0kA8cVvIC3-Zje_3s0/w459-h491/In%20a%20Vase%20on%20Monday.JPG" width="459" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The middle of the stone table where we enjoy eating many of our meals hold a slate Lazy Susan, and on this stands today's vase, together with Salt and Pepper Grinders and a pot of ready made English Mustard.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Over on the back garden wall the Corydalis cheilanthifolia is slowly migrating upwards, most probably by ants moving the seed into crevices. As we sat eating lunch yesterday the sun caught the flowers, and being a pale mustard colour, suddenly the recent theme of Cathy's post and these flowers inspired me to include them in today's arrangement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I've included some of the Corydalis's fern life leaves, a couple of leaves of the early flowering Geranium malviflorum, with a stem of a dark red polyanthus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Yes, we have some powdered Colman's mustard which is essential in some cooked sauces and chutneys and pickles, but in recent years, I enjoyed a pot of ready made English Mustard in the fridge which is so easy to use for adding to sandwiches, rather than making up some fresh and ending up throwing the greater part which became dried up in the bottom on the small mustard pot. I had found Colman's ready made English Mustard using 21% mustard a little bland compared with my home made version, and since it also contains flour which would not be usable by a couple of friends who are coeliac, I went back to mixing my own from mustard powder . Once when we were eating out in Wiltshire, on the table of the restaurant was a jar of Tracklements English Mustard, and that certainly cuts the mustard: 39% mustard and no flour! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Did any of your mothers used to admonish people who left mustard on the side of the plate? I had thought that my mother saying "The Colman's got rich on the mustard people left on the side of their plate" quite amusing. <a href="https://norfolktalesmyths.wordpress.com/2019/04/04/the-profit-on-the-side-of-the-plate/"> In the age of the internet I made an enquiry about this and spent some time yesterday reading a very interesting article about how the Colemans set up business near Norwich and the development of the company to this day.</a>, and <a href="https://norfolktalesmyths.wordpress.com/2023/05/07/colmans-revisited-the-real-mustard/">an updated version</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/03/04/in-a-vase-on-monday-measure-for-measure-2/">This week, Cathy who hosts anyone who would like to join in, rules on her blog, has an intriguing Title Measure for Measure, </a>which I shall try to follow on with next week. </span></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-1530240253134763212024-03-02T15:20:00.002+00:002024-03-02T15:20:58.783+00:00Six things in the garden on this wet Saturday<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> As I sat in the conservatory this morning, peering through onto a sodden garden, I re</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">ally thought it would be probably best to skip a week, but habits die hard, and thinking over this week, it would be a shame not to mark some of the highlights. <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/">For different gardening things or maybe even similar ones and inspiration all the other SOSers will have gathered in Jim's Shed better known as his anchoring post, to share discuss and comment on our Sixes in the Garden. Anyone is free to pop over there.</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">1. I'm starting off this week with acknowledging that I succumbed to a little self gratification last Saturday, or perhaps more nicely put: I found four beautiful polyanthus, two of which are the gold laced type to help chase the grey clouds away. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yK_CwRXb3qxmvlTtm-I-tii7FkEdl9n0BR6AWDMvq3jQ1gSa2W0KoNvH1_FJaZNCUN_JxsCD6NRQOLWSJ_QeMYl_KSaU8F6974JkxlizVYJJeR7e83BRNcpyEVinfhYojD0G2GG3FB6aPkXksZb8KPYa0t0cfhE7TujjMHij5z0ijCXbVCPKNPy89dA/s1754/Polyanthus%20on%20Shed%20Shelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1754" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yK_CwRXb3qxmvlTtm-I-tii7FkEdl9n0BR6AWDMvq3jQ1gSa2W0KoNvH1_FJaZNCUN_JxsCD6NRQOLWSJ_QeMYl_KSaU8F6974JkxlizVYJJeR7e83BRNcpyEVinfhYojD0G2GG3FB6aPkXksZb8KPYa0t0cfhE7TujjMHij5z0ijCXbVCPKNPy89dA/w596-h421/Polyanthus%20on%20Shed%20Shelf.jpg" width="596" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">I felt happier but the grey skies haven't gone away. Staging them on the shed shelf meant finding four terracotta pots of the same size. Since I promised Mr S that I would not buy any more pots, with my fingers crossed behind my back, and to keep to this, meant that some plants needed repotting in other containers first. Of course it was time for some Pelargoniums to be freshly potted up etc, and I had the satisfaction of having a nice display and getting one of the gardening tasks on my list ticked off. It is not that I am 'forbidden' to buy pots or indeed anything I want for the garden, it is just that he indoors worries about me moving large pots around, or that I may start to trip over the stash or end up head first unbalanced in the bins that store the pots.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2, The little Primula Wanda White is in its third year in the garden, and continues to be a healthy strong and extremely good flowerer, opening its first blooms just before Christmas. It is compact and holds its blooms close to the bright green leaves. Even the small divisions made late last year are thriving, these two were made the year before that.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ilATFS6JUJF0Evhz-8t7KT-PlLTasNN9GF349BjAwuRjyZz0t2_P5jyUqrcvJkDUkjLZzkUy0d8ANwB2IvCz5ZzJxlOLUlpH52KFwuZLlM7481CSV2yjyZV5xEp0LT1tmrnQVw8DS-94XHkucV7_cOATQbAEly5LcbJoy2IdJhmXnKav4FzYapY0rjQ/s4864/Primula%20White%20Wanda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4864" data-original-width="3648" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ilATFS6JUJF0Evhz-8t7KT-PlLTasNN9GF349BjAwuRjyZz0t2_P5jyUqrcvJkDUkjLZzkUy0d8ANwB2IvCz5ZzJxlOLUlpH52KFwuZLlM7481CSV2yjyZV5xEp0LT1tmrnQVw8DS-94XHkucV7_cOATQbAEly5LcbJoy2IdJhmXnKav4FzYapY0rjQ/w309-h412/Primula%20White%20Wanda.JPG" width="309" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">3. Another excellent plant that thrives in this garden, this time along the shady border is the <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Saxifraga stolonifera. Its pattern leaves make a good front of the border statement.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl5LYnuzcXBPP99vBzyabPMEiEGUVrRdi16l2g7RdfBCAVhgvr-8sffH01RDgzprM0n7eB6mANXdw7KlM4cuEf0C-JhS3_IO-g0JvppHYogzmyBHlk2V81oAKTfkPih5XD6BIpJFzxy3cxFPXrErC9ZhDsT2WaNoW7xRFDfDbcDAPsfLiITyyz62A03E/s4864/Saxifraga%20stolonifera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4864" data-original-width="3648" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl5LYnuzcXBPP99vBzyabPMEiEGUVrRdi16l2g7RdfBCAVhgvr-8sffH01RDgzprM0n7eB6mANXdw7KlM4cuEf0C-JhS3_IO-g0JvppHYogzmyBHlk2V81oAKTfkPih5XD6BIpJFzxy3cxFPXrErC9ZhDsT2WaNoW7xRFDfDbcDAPsfLiITyyz62A03E/w326-h435/Saxifraga%20stolonifera.JPG" width="326" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">4. Each Spring the young growth on </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' certainly adds an interesting evolving coloured foliage. It is still growing in a pot, but had a change of soil a year ago.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMa6nC-_fixCDrr_WpkcImt0uzpGlf6a0my56sIPGg0b2k87u0xDYgMOYBWBmoIqVNrTmBjVqR4nB85wZKR0DBB0sXrXCgdBPUwGBMk1pxwAsu-6eCoKhAKyEhc2BOw6vHEyNgzEY_-XgkmG0x_iRPuihiNe0fwHslr5rDuhoLIrozP8EyACUe59I99g/s4864/Sorbaria%20sorbifolia%20'Sem'.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4864" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMa6nC-_fixCDrr_WpkcImt0uzpGlf6a0my56sIPGg0b2k87u0xDYgMOYBWBmoIqVNrTmBjVqR4nB85wZKR0DBB0sXrXCgdBPUwGBMk1pxwAsu-6eCoKhAKyEhc2BOw6vHEyNgzEY_-XgkmG0x_iRPuihiNe0fwHslr5rDuhoLIrozP8EyACUe59I99g/s320/Sorbaria%20sorbifolia%20'Sem'.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>5. The standard purple Primula Wanda is starting to make a good display, but this little group really ought to have been divided and replanted last autumn. I have a spot earmarked to take them next. Just as some people enjoy moving their 'knickknacks' or furniture around the house, I do the same with certain plants in the garden. I find I can inspect the roots, give them a little more space or arrange them against different plants which gives a nice different view of the same small spaces.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aMDtFVaNNcHA-h_0GJybLCFRLy1fslAa5azPRHoWfwyPQT9PSoUmAnwCvHoe9Sfq-m1MwsCbsMrsCh09XCyaZHazrRyUA4sUDubqdXPqj_QMosnTrzeuCqRjQXBANWFUQG0mWrtXpkdxs0PA13pKUQoaRihwbfSejHFuGag9jHLmUqTVWuRp9CQj-Gw/s4864/Primula%20Wanda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4864" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aMDtFVaNNcHA-h_0GJybLCFRLy1fslAa5azPRHoWfwyPQT9PSoUmAnwCvHoe9Sfq-m1MwsCbsMrsCh09XCyaZHazrRyUA4sUDubqdXPqj_QMosnTrzeuCqRjQXBANWFUQG0mWrtXpkdxs0PA13pKUQoaRihwbfSejHFuGag9jHLmUqTVWuRp9CQj-Gw/w460-h345/Primula%20Wanda.JPG" width="460" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">6. The cyclamen continue to be the stars on the near side of the conservatory border and standing out this week amongst a range of colours is Cyclamen coum 'Tilebarn Elizabeth'. With no patterning on its <span style="background-color: white; color: #616161;">pewter leaves, her charmingly pale pink flowers have with a deeper basal blotch, and each petal is delicately edged in a deeper rose pink giving its flowers a vibrancy within the larger patch of cyclamen coum blooms. I ought to mark this and try to collect some seed during the summer. In previous years the seed pods just seemed to disappear.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDSFG8cSGu0QqSoIaMvuwjGyEn7XiiZec5_JKZkIUkE4P-8m_R1cPn1sjRX79KGfhwKsceIxyl3zjupI4ZIEQFLfbG6T2puKCyYIKpJD2n42D1xu2n8lwHNh7wWWpL5OZJSrNGVCloS4h6D7Q9Hp4z3fRi_yHs8EEjsmIQTwofkh38W1mqD12BsnzGeg/s2471/Cyclamen%20coum%20'Tilebarn%20Elizabeth'.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2471" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDSFG8cSGu0QqSoIaMvuwjGyEn7XiiZec5_JKZkIUkE4P-8m_R1cPn1sjRX79KGfhwKsceIxyl3zjupI4ZIEQFLfbG6T2puKCyYIKpJD2n42D1xu2n8lwHNh7wWWpL5OZJSrNGVCloS4h6D7Q9Hp4z3fRi_yHs8EEjsmIQTwofkh38W1mqD12BsnzGeg/w480-h266/Cyclamen%20coum%20'Tilebarn%20Elizabeth'.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I still haven't planted any seed, it has been too cold, and we even had a heavy shower of snow during the week, but it melted within minutes. </span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #616161;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #616161;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #616161;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-87039633817228580132024-03-02T07:46:00.006+00:002024-03-02T07:53:48.147+00:00Working with Wire Workshop<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"> A bunch of our WI ladies went on a 'Working with Wire' workshop on the 'extra' day at the end of February. Carolyn had already been there with her daughter. The course was run by Kate Westcott at her home. Seeing Kate at the Snowdrop Festival at Shepton, and having admired some of her creations there, I became even more excited about attending this afternoon workshop . As I like form and shadow I was looking forward to trying my hand and coming home with my own creation.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M8cBIyksAFlji-F2EaiHvDyM1b5kNEtuvOyNwnLZREPtFhPLX9f6C0m6_sT3Q3yK_1tm83NbWMj1d0FzcuChDTgXJxXU9D9-AFcVuutBn8bWy_WSsJ_cb4oc6h3cPqSX6uNwIPFeCk7Is0aMvktngjU0Pxp6fXlUaXxolLE_TQIDFi7D9tjyWtua5O8/s4080/Wire%20Workshop%20with%20Kate%20Westcott.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3M8cBIyksAFlji-F2EaiHvDyM1b5kNEtuvOyNwnLZREPtFhPLX9f6C0m6_sT3Q3yK_1tm83NbWMj1d0FzcuChDTgXJxXU9D9-AFcVuutBn8bWy_WSsJ_cb4oc6h3cPqSX6uNwIPFeCk7Is0aMvktngjU0Pxp6fXlUaXxolLE_TQIDFi7D9tjyWtua5O8/w459-h345/Wire%20Workshop%20with%20Kate%20Westcott.jpg" width="459" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">At the start of the afternoon Kate here sitting on the right side in white shirt, went through with us the tools, materials and some of the techniques.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3899ZiNaqk0WptchJiYZWY53LeFowh1Pyx_Wxzsqh8O9ux4pIDn5ExUF_1fmWbG-nyygyjGB1ANv4ow1-Cw2EFxMeox0qG9-jUQsJwDNFWCOx8TRjeSbJpJZU5SVSbVDqV-yEGQzhduwAYzXDaff0iYcrNmPrawy7CIe0E0S4rP_xl11undz_zPAXJc/s4080/PXL_20240229_165611056.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3899ZiNaqk0WptchJiYZWY53LeFowh1Pyx_Wxzsqh8O9ux4pIDn5ExUF_1fmWbG-nyygyjGB1ANv4ow1-Cw2EFxMeox0qG9-jUQsJwDNFWCOx8TRjeSbJpJZU5SVSbVDqV-yEGQzhduwAYzXDaff0iYcrNmPrawy7CIe0E0S4rP_xl11undz_zPAXJc/s320/PXL_20240229_165611056.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2vBboI2L3W3wsLpzAN45o5GjRuGw3LJzz71KY80QH9WCfhIYT77026uBmIJ1WcztgqEycJLaXQXvVPoKDSJcbFAMHsnnJ2ov7MKpKjRjiSbplBYL-QcSySLh0tNGhf3ybyiK6gc7PIB8pzlTdOUGZjA0GjYo9Np6JXTdRLfW8Uvk81nVZgnptGL3IM/s4080/PXL_20240229_165731133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m2vBboI2L3W3wsLpzAN45o5GjRuGw3LJzz71KY80QH9WCfhIYT77026uBmIJ1WcztgqEycJLaXQXvVPoKDSJcbFAMHsnnJ2ov7MKpKjRjiSbplBYL-QcSySLh0tNGhf3ybyiK6gc7PIB8pzlTdOUGZjA0GjYo9Np6JXTdRLfW8Uvk81nVZgnptGL3IM/s320/PXL_20240229_165731133.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYgalI_yZIdqrqL-HsbmpS8pTl9UaQ7Hby5v7mR0gWnoPaYIxKX3SpvgbixCdqAAezOGXnMPlMQtOHsA3TK84RDt4UMtpV2UC8rfL9wx6yMIxaDQWTOvcnsYmozY64-5MDlPGXVQ2DfSDIrwnvWJBeDaYzBrtEifneEN6cwvpSUYM5WVcw6sO3fpZcuo/s4080/Wire%20work%20snowdrop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYgalI_yZIdqrqL-HsbmpS8pTl9UaQ7Hby5v7mR0gWnoPaYIxKX3SpvgbixCdqAAezOGXnMPlMQtOHsA3TK84RDt4UMtpV2UC8rfL9wx6yMIxaDQWTOvcnsYmozY64-5MDlPGXVQ2DfSDIrwnvWJBeDaYzBrtEifneEN6cwvpSUYM5WVcw6sO3fpZcuo/s320/Wire%20work%20snowdrop.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">During the first half of the session we got to grips with the tool and wire, and with some of Kate's examples on the table, with laughter and chatter and sheer will to forge forward, we each came up with different pieces of wire flowers or foliage. After a short break with great home made cake and drinks, we then went on to plan out the grouping on the blocks of wood, and Kate had the task of drilling in the small holes. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_iGd80akm6yCV1LVy4ZNCwUCj6jsLqKjbTkvYUB7kmUyHlUjAL1aAiXaghyphenhyphenopl3gZFLivdQZwZczEh2_5Nr4JWWebj5rYCbmiC5ABhJK0FgzLBG8ye7FxQCIjpnZuB0OH2spGUAKR-_yN-vrDfFSBXP2u0I624ccAaz82drFyV48q7iaLJaMpGdqOo/s4080/My%20Wire%20work%20creation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWi_iGd80akm6yCV1LVy4ZNCwUCj6jsLqKjbTkvYUB7kmUyHlUjAL1aAiXaghyphenhyphenopl3gZFLivdQZwZczEh2_5Nr4JWWebj5rYCbmiC5ABhJK0FgzLBG8ye7FxQCIjpnZuB0OH2spGUAKR-_yN-vrDfFSBXP2u0I624ccAaz82drFyV48q7iaLJaMpGdqOo/w381-h506/My%20Wire%20work%20creation.jpg" width="381" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My first Wire Work creation<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Everyone came away with their unique creation. Carolyn added to her previous creation and was inspired to create with heavier wire to create a charming snowdrop group. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghScRF8CY2asChVxVV2-tWQk9piUwO80P_Tdgy1agWW7qp4wXydGCwLgmng4TBu8Uc2a3pm6w-tyodH7EigDOhGq0os9emCthNz2loFRMYOss3jxWtslUPw8qX_H5ATFof_tSJXHlfTIyf9u5P1UCNiLsijWqYFor9OVhcT66YO8I1Tx3Qi4Btp8wFUe0/s4080/Wire%20Work%20Carolyn's%20larger%20group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghScRF8CY2asChVxVV2-tWQk9piUwO80P_Tdgy1agWW7qp4wXydGCwLgmng4TBu8Uc2a3pm6w-tyodH7EigDOhGq0os9emCthNz2loFRMYOss3jxWtslUPw8qX_H5ATFof_tSJXHlfTIyf9u5P1UCNiLsijWqYFor9OVhcT66YO8I1Tx3Qi4Btp8wFUe0/w382-h288/Wire%20Work%20Carolyn's%20larger%20group.jpg" width="382" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Using a heavier wire gave its a different character to those with a lighter wire.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4sWOq0ymC98dIasOfQ_6rnMcwLmqxL3kcm2NlyzTWho9m57SZ7DH4z6j0CJFY6TCMR6Cf7OmpUHriOZO0ASOI5CnwawBN9zi15kYBBXBXkn5AB24fTBmfo8rzm89paOvqoYZ8HLSwKjMhuN2_fFJhw7CaLUZ2ptcNIMIaIjd_gRCouo7Sk0bxYIz93w/s4080/Wire%20work%20Snowdrop%20group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4sWOq0ymC98dIasOfQ_6rnMcwLmqxL3kcm2NlyzTWho9m57SZ7DH4z6j0CJFY6TCMR6Cf7OmpUHriOZO0ASOI5CnwawBN9zi15kYBBXBXkn5AB24fTBmfo8rzm89paOvqoYZ8HLSwKjMhuN2_fFJhw7CaLUZ2ptcNIMIaIjd_gRCouo7Sk0bxYIz93w/w288-h382/Wire%20work%20Snowdrop%20group.jpg" width="288" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The arrangements look great against a wall, and the finer wire gives the flowers movement. </span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialDmV74zu_Ns4BkB-CD27mDMZhW3MA9iNaB_NHmkCm6MJ5lC4ijU4i88Kf5ZsoOvW_Mde8ophr8JfAF40ekyOTFsMhDMuGGVZiETsjl-BzFdEuw8Mse-etK4ZLi3aEDXXtxW71TGE08x5-61BN5_1Gz8cagVH6b2-swKb4Koagqw1ZKeTW1DPB4RkyeU/s3457/Wire%20work%20creation%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3457" data-original-width="2861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialDmV74zu_Ns4BkB-CD27mDMZhW3MA9iNaB_NHmkCm6MJ5lC4ijU4i88Kf5ZsoOvW_Mde8ophr8JfAF40ekyOTFsMhDMuGGVZiETsjl-BzFdEuw8Mse-etK4ZLi3aEDXXtxW71TGE08x5-61BN5_1Gz8cagVH6b2-swKb4Koagqw1ZKeTW1DPB4RkyeU/s320/Wire%20work%20creation%202.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiYnwIFlLz7Wcw9M7217nmwwebss3stxiwYY9JhgLM3RU1wVMnll83DgNnqKYiD6ezdwcICJXzW6oLsUcXovZV0qdyhVZm9HkGBsluZsYxBvrpGG6P3usuVurMl4llRz9Wgx6gCgXfJzs8GMokl_XS_Ld2PMzOO7kNbD6KFeAjgNn8LyVc4gyL0OpgKA/s3963/Worework%20creation%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3963" data-original-width="2757" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiYnwIFlLz7Wcw9M7217nmwwebss3stxiwYY9JhgLM3RU1wVMnll83DgNnqKYiD6ezdwcICJXzW6oLsUcXovZV0qdyhVZm9HkGBsluZsYxBvrpGG6P3usuVurMl4llRz9Wgx6gCgXfJzs8GMokl_XS_Ld2PMzOO7kNbD6KFeAjgNn8LyVc4gyL0OpgKA/w264-h379/Worework%20creation%203.jpg" width="264" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We thoroughly enjoyed the day, so many thanks to Carolyn who first spotted that this would be an interesting activity for some of the Crafting group, and to Anne in whose car five of us were conveyed. Anne was particularly fast, and had a couple of brilliant creations, none of which are featured here. I am sure we shall be carrying on Wire work and sharing this with others during our fun evenings.</span></p><p><a href="https://www.katewestcott.com/"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Kate Westcott Designs</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Black iron wire in gauges of 24, 21, 18 from <a href="http://Wires.co.uk">Wires.co.uk</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Cutters and pliers from <a href="https://www.cooksongold.com/">Cooksongold</a></span></p><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-63753662908560991622024-02-26T17:27:00.002+00:002024-02-26T17:28:46.851+00:00Violets are not always blue for In a Vase on Monday<p> It is a sad time for our WI group as a well loved member is very poorly. Today one of the walking groups out on the levels were the first to have been filmed sending a message of love. Later in the week almost all the other members will have been included in a number of clips, which will all be woven together in a group message of love and support.</p><p>A couple of years ago, on visiting our garden this member much admired a few of the violets, and understanding what they meant to her, it was within a matter of days, that I collected a few plants together for her to grow in her garden.</p><p>When we returned from our walk today, I was thinking of this, and took this picture of some violets currently open in the garden.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrrKguLi96_Efm-3HRxwgVws9rwN-ZjaV_DXZh4XUVxwOvfTigwCl3QBX3BGuEwKU3tDDPSXK85-mB310ollvJf2XgjOc_1NN0zRnvQjToecA-EgsAMf8dsr3WX6QKU73WxHNdPcI00cLzx_lMlUYSwlPrwgttXQj6jzhOphR__Uw5ytsUSghO063Scc/s3445/Viola%20odorata%20'Kim'%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3445" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrrKguLi96_Efm-3HRxwgVws9rwN-ZjaV_DXZh4XUVxwOvfTigwCl3QBX3BGuEwKU3tDDPSXK85-mB310ollvJf2XgjOc_1NN0zRnvQjToecA-EgsAMf8dsr3WX6QKU73WxHNdPcI00cLzx_lMlUYSwlPrwgttXQj6jzhOphR__Uw5ytsUSghO063Scc/w428-h336/Viola%20odorata%20'Kim'%20(2).jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Although not the same as the ones admired this Viola odorata 'Kim' is the violet currently in flower, and surrounded with its own leaves, in a little crystal vase. The Elephant is a vintage 1930's one which came down through my husband's family. I have sent this off to Our photographic group leader who may include this in the 'video' of all the clips.</p><p>The levels are still flooded, but our walk was along an elevated well drained path. The views from the car were spectacular and we saw many different birds during the morning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV44RUwJEYNP0F6HMNHgYIVUa7V3iDMAgk9I_AeTu46cEHWmoFzhurMpCPabBeU_1KmVlR9NLetc-ZTxCj-WONoTKTe4Ym7swNIzySYv9Ks92W9ct8PH-e6pkunxSU0OqE_qJn8NDNhG38FcseSqcr5GeVoVv-ou4jsfxTu7UQJcYO2Wbc6ebDQEiBigM/s4080/Flooded%20Somerset%20Levels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV44RUwJEYNP0F6HMNHgYIVUa7V3iDMAgk9I_AeTu46cEHWmoFzhurMpCPabBeU_1KmVlR9NLetc-ZTxCj-WONoTKTe4Ym7swNIzySYv9Ks92W9ct8PH-e6pkunxSU0OqE_qJn8NDNhG38FcseSqcr5GeVoVv-ou4jsfxTu7UQJcYO2Wbc6ebDQEiBigM/w442-h333/Flooded%20Somerset%20Levels.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><p>Flowers, plants and friends are woven together to form a lasting bond. </p><p><a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/02/26/in-a-vase-on-monday-keeping-watch-at-twilight/">I feel that after all the years of posting on In a Vase on Monday which was an inspired creation of Cathy, we too are forming each week memories shared through an arrangement of flowers from our garden. As usual I am linking in there. </a></p><p>I have promised last week, a bit of a domino game of sorts with Cathy, but that game has been put in abeyance till another time.</p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-76591892538060996712024-02-24T07:38:00.002+00:002024-02-24T07:45:02.878+00:00Aeonium Velour in flower - Six on Saturday <p>I'm saving the best for last this week, this is not to say that first five of six things aren't SOS worthy. Areas got flooded again this week, but luckily the only bit of standing water here a mere sliver along the fence that abuts the neighbours path only lasted half an hour or so. <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/02/24/six-on-saturday-24-2-2024/">I'm linking in this post as do others, which offers any reader visiting Jim's post, the opportunity to savour lots of multiples of six things from lots of different gardens. </a></p><p>1. Luck would have it that at my gardening club this week, I won first prize in the raffle, which allowed me to choose, and although there were probably more valuable prizes such as a bag full of maincrop seed potatoes, worth nothing to me of course as I don't have room to grow potatoes, I chose this pretty red Primula titled 'Gold Nugget Mix'. My primula that I had been nursing through many seasons is just about hanging in there, so I am delighted to have another one. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ryN9p81MZDArHUU1nNAXEGpo0iIrjBz8hvxWAbT_jncBi8Dc-aTnoNr44oXCzbHsC7a6e-ah8GEKdMXhu-qv2tsC67MTWiNPm7Kfwq0TeHbjD6WzAIHI0GJ3aVTeNFzTd6J4mKVzq9WSji7vcYXESYI5Avczz3oXpeZ1Zz7S_yPkxOcEEKEnh9pgGtk/s4080/Red%20Primula%20'Gold%20Nugget%20Mix'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ryN9p81MZDArHUU1nNAXEGpo0iIrjBz8hvxWAbT_jncBi8Dc-aTnoNr44oXCzbHsC7a6e-ah8GEKdMXhu-qv2tsC67MTWiNPm7Kfwq0TeHbjD6WzAIHI0GJ3aVTeNFzTd6J4mKVzq9WSji7vcYXESYI5Avczz3oXpeZ1Zz7S_yPkxOcEEKEnh9pgGtk/w311-h413/Red%20Primula%20'Gold%20Nugget%20Mix'.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><p>2. With a little bit of shelter from the excessive rain, this 'exotic' looking plant catches the eye of visitors. After hearing that it is a little hardier than I thought, from Avon Bulbs at the HPS talk, the Tropaeolum tricolor is starting into flower outside. I may just use a few blooms to jazz up tonight's starter. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApAnOu8II5kdIt8iNhKLRlnwr-qyqXuS9wY1CxHM66RXmvNR8vfYBT1ciQHW4bHGKwn-95Gffzj3CkdxmD8uGsYqcefR3B2fk251vB0A9v-Jzy3q1Hpxq4nRLzj3nTi-4WqY0lVhsncOCwXdovNZ3gUEpncU6bn0RDe4rVNHsKo9lH-_a3izI44Epixo/s4080/Tropaeolum%20tricolor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApAnOu8II5kdIt8iNhKLRlnwr-qyqXuS9wY1CxHM66RXmvNR8vfYBT1ciQHW4bHGKwn-95Gffzj3CkdxmD8uGsYqcefR3B2fk251vB0A9v-Jzy3q1Hpxq4nRLzj3nTi-4WqY0lVhsncOCwXdovNZ3gUEpncU6bn0RDe4rVNHsKo9lH-_a3izI44Epixo/w291-h386/Tropaeolum%20tricolor.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /><p>I read that <span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">the bright green lobed leaves are called 'peltate' </span>with the middle of the leaf connected to the leaf stalk, which is also similar to nasturtiums which are in the same family.</p><p>3. When it was pouring with rain, I spent a little while writing out some labels for the new snowdrops, and in a lull when I went to put in G. Heffalump's label, I noticed that the dwarf Forsythia was valiantly starting to flower.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisetSjQejJ69HdxZpnd3lXEv0Ic4ZOXZUZuPULwLAow8P-Pplu1pYM4R3dXu4CMr2zDmSDZYR-OxjrOcxmIPCD7jwmEJtfGObmUQB1S7OWJGTp8AFgZgVik5oPy1xLPAydvf_o0oL5_0LS42KdiO0-72txKilcCD11wjWyYryrrPGgz6GtP1Lj127DASc/s4080/Dearf%20Forsythia%20and%20Gallanthus%20Heffalump.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisetSjQejJ69HdxZpnd3lXEv0Ic4ZOXZUZuPULwLAow8P-Pplu1pYM4R3dXu4CMr2zDmSDZYR-OxjrOcxmIPCD7jwmEJtfGObmUQB1S7OWJGTp8AFgZgVik5oPy1xLPAydvf_o0oL5_0LS42KdiO0-72txKilcCD11wjWyYryrrPGgz6GtP1Lj127DASc/w317-h421/Dearf%20Forsythia%20and%20Gallanthus%20Heffalump.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><p>4. I have a little penchant for clay pots, preferably terracotta and if I can get old and interesting pots so much the better. I was interested to read about some early pots excavated during an archaeological dig in Wells to the rear of what is now the Wells Museum. I am volunteering as a Gallery Steward for 'Smashed in the Cellar' and took some photographs showing parts of the old garden pots.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2dSDNWboiJk4fuIteoSfQTRSM6Tm3DRqw0n0BC91zaFE7UCdXD5TGuJH1ENc5EPTXbsM7LsO48-zv5HkTgGrz1OB_gqye4-JBBCYfntZ-vqPi6SZrsabrlVzrvegXbzkeN8ewtd2C7JssN2pCuHuvdMYl3yfsoSOHR6rNbky97-zeb4DYGjdNp7mw2Q/s4080/Early%20plant%20pots%20excavated%20at%20the%20back%20of%20Wells%20Museum.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2dSDNWboiJk4fuIteoSfQTRSM6Tm3DRqw0n0BC91zaFE7UCdXD5TGuJH1ENc5EPTXbsM7LsO48-zv5HkTgGrz1OB_gqye4-JBBCYfntZ-vqPi6SZrsabrlVzrvegXbzkeN8ewtd2C7JssN2pCuHuvdMYl3yfsoSOHR6rNbky97-zeb4DYGjdNp7mw2Q/w334-h443/Early%20plant%20pots%20excavated%20at%20the%20back%20of%20Wells%20Museum.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><p>Panels explained that the earliest garden pots were made at the East Somerset Potteries, and there is a piece of old Dutch Delftware Pot which would have been used for displaying prize bulbs. When I was in Shepton last week, I spied what looked like an old pot for sale, and would have gone back except that the roads have been flooded. I went on the bus yesterday and each and every one had been sold! I have amongst my old pots one imprinted Sankey! </p><p>5. One buys bulbs with the expectation that they increase. It seems that Daffodils don't do particularly well here in the garden. This is all is left of the bulbs I bought in 2022. The foliage is a little on the yellow side and perhaps it is ailing. Any suggestions?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94FxArp3wx_LGicL3FSYi6gPfBJ35NBhNTnQ9WkMBhCu6sDIX0FU_xFjej3QYcxHIWG1YQl8mM3qnFk_9K_ts758RY-oFDDMY_JxxPmogfEDNUYF8znmwcgnI2f8ZeQFFadIqgYu-fyO0wBItp8ma55-MkXs_xI8gNH8VsOboCMR_x1I-xgqZXVeBOIs/s4080/Narcissus%20cyclamineus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94FxArp3wx_LGicL3FSYi6gPfBJ35NBhNTnQ9WkMBhCu6sDIX0FU_xFjej3QYcxHIWG1YQl8mM3qnFk_9K_ts758RY-oFDDMY_JxxPmogfEDNUYF8znmwcgnI2f8ZeQFFadIqgYu-fyO0wBItp8ma55-MkXs_xI8gNH8VsOboCMR_x1I-xgqZXVeBOIs/s320/Narcissus%20cyclamineus.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p>6. There is just about sufficient headroom for the Aeolium Velour as it stands on its stone topped table, and had we had more sunshine, its leaves would be even more purple and would contrast nicely with the yellow flowers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9DgigouKonDLHlhf4x2eIjmpMg0KzNxjEqILbLE4tUmj-rv7CybQ4wGlBAAqJWbOdzJf7UUWTK74YYstoTeOUVqFAsJCSSPUJv82Df3qV172GW0L-ZhIeI0adiZgI91gWUbbxFZK_hfS2gcOuD85OhFedlRoqRG1jgTpOGIDTOD_bdGLTSAIWiYVZU4/s1754/Aeonium%20in%20flower%203%20pics.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9DgigouKonDLHlhf4x2eIjmpMg0KzNxjEqILbLE4tUmj-rv7CybQ4wGlBAAqJWbOdzJf7UUWTK74YYstoTeOUVqFAsJCSSPUJv82Df3qV172GW0L-ZhIeI0adiZgI91gWUbbxFZK_hfS2gcOuD85OhFedlRoqRG1jgTpOGIDTOD_bdGLTSAIWiYVZU4/w432-h612/Aeonium%20in%20flower%203%20pics.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><p>And will there be any dry weather soon? If not I shall still have to go out there, and prepare a few seed pans, hopefully in a couple of weeks time when the seedlings are up we shall have better light, but I ought to check first!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72OG83zFV0Qo2Wr0m8GTkoZR_mGZ90ojcQWJSt3TDt2pwyReV4DWC00wVc0kHST_VEBunQSDxjAsNdLhfuZGqbSi3vDAQ69su_sBanQtWdfH3oydccUZbwdOqlZmj0vq8F1WwXvjupkTvLQj5sX-mEAdjiimuKw413d9prZsniJfSPbcn8cZgwhsg868/s1745/Aeonium%20flower%20close%20up.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><p> </p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-62343720800644035712024-02-19T09:59:00.000+00:002024-02-19T09:59:07.867+00:00In a Vase on Monday <p> We have had so much rain, too much. If it seems that many of my posts over the last few weeks or indeed months, have had such a 'wet' theme, it is because it has been the wettest autumn and winter I remember. Local rivers have burst their banks, or overflowed and many properties nearby have been flooded. I wonder whether we shall have an ever longer record broken since the 'Wettest on record since 1890' as quoted in the Independent for the period July to December 2023. I feel particularly sorry for all the people and businesses that will have to go through the whole trouble of bailing out, clearing up and starting again, possibly after having only tackled the problem just a few weeks ago.</p><p>Am I using this as an excuse for my less than perfect flowers? It does explain the rain drops and the saturated snowdrop petals. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1oVybEUtn-GzgHki0dssqFUtNUYH_p0nqYPZozH-6Ire9malJzXOYBEa1nNxIHyj-aeesyNNH6nywHznS7neQpG_mDZe7JTk33XOrIWr6uzMRs4xHFZc5lhyphenhyphenKc2tPrseV23ek8r4f1d9TEu_4edM5j995GejGf-nwTTHuEiyB5Sye7fDiIYmjrFmHOU/s4080/IAVOM%20snowdrops%20and%20daffodils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1oVybEUtn-GzgHki0dssqFUtNUYH_p0nqYPZozH-6Ire9malJzXOYBEa1nNxIHyj-aeesyNNH6nywHznS7neQpG_mDZe7JTk33XOrIWr6uzMRs4xHFZc5lhyphenhyphenKc2tPrseV23ek8r4f1d9TEu_4edM5j995GejGf-nwTTHuEiyB5Sye7fDiIYmjrFmHOU/w318-h422/IAVOM%20snowdrops%20and%20daffodils.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p>With the mild weather snowdrops are nearly over, but the late flowerers deserve their moment on IAVOM. Here Galanthus Sprite mainly on the left hand side show their markings on their blunt outer petals. with almost all green inner petals. They are waterlogged and the green markings faded on account of the lack of light since they emerged.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMJ8yf5KDI_fd2kXxCd3bwyXoX26JSPDHZz3bpfr9JAFX3rBYnFfyLsmTsasudRalpf9bEp8RhE9m2246MDJbxbBcJmXG4ZuqIheHJXg2-UaBCtvm9_Lrjbj1lrKG7sklF2kPAHYLPNSpVqrwGUu4QtcQDZ-OfkAhpIYIxrrxPN0xEJDalikdJxM4uUc/s1892/Galanthus%20Sprite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMJ8yf5KDI_fd2kXxCd3bwyXoX26JSPDHZz3bpfr9JAFX3rBYnFfyLsmTsasudRalpf9bEp8RhE9m2246MDJbxbBcJmXG4ZuqIheHJXg2-UaBCtvm9_Lrjbj1lrKG7sklF2kPAHYLPNSpVqrwGUu4QtcQDZ-OfkAhpIYIxrrxPN0xEJDalikdJxM4uUc/s320/Galanthus%20Sprite.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br /><p>G. Marjorie Brown is a strong 'girl' with strapping grey green leaves, and robust flowers. It would be quite amusing when they have increased to place a plant fairly close to G. Charlotte just to show the contrast in size! Here against the Terracotta soldiers and high against the Tete a Tete daffs you can have an idea of size. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcAH1_ppVTUdZeKGbErBSQhAAm3inyMr76afEYrtLDBK3mCuw08zyyQ1wicOjp_0GjYDOYHB0WTl6CZLAZdm-LCN_hPYH0G67F101hONAqvAFFtMTwnt8GaJxn39PIPYIeMEISEHAc_vgGdzdZgeScuZM_ZVolHk6-mDjGT-gAmc7Wuz04nIoz4ZiNIk/s1245/Galanthus%20Marjorie%20Brown.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1214" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcAH1_ppVTUdZeKGbErBSQhAAm3inyMr76afEYrtLDBK3mCuw08zyyQ1wicOjp_0GjYDOYHB0WTl6CZLAZdm-LCN_hPYH0G67F101hONAqvAFFtMTwnt8GaJxn39PIPYIeMEISEHAc_vgGdzdZgeScuZM_ZVolHk6-mDjGT-gAmc7Wuz04nIoz4ZiNIk/s320/Galanthus%20Marjorie%20Brown.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><p>The leaves at the base are from one Cyclamen hederifolium that I selected for leaf form. </p><p><a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/02/19/in-a-vase-on-monday-keen-as-mustard-2/">As usual I am joining in with Cathy, and wonder how people in other parts of England are fairing. </a>We also have gardeners in other parts of the World each having from time to time their own weather and environmental challenges to face. </p><p>I have mentioned any books for some time, and yes I have been reading. In January my book club's choice. Two of us gave this book a very high rating, but the rest of those who had completed it had lower ratings. If you already have this book or can borrow it from your library, I was say read it, and it would be interesting to hear what you make of it. Everyone thought it was well written. I really liked it</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4LJEb_e54FmdH0X6crNw8cotEWs84P590J3YiqU1gcB1k4Co57NQAx5V9a_od6B3AvqNq5YMdGzn0MIDFUxQ2DhhmLaPP-AzCJWAOMBLzBo-RTYksC9JHlPAZNEo1kZzElXoix88BGFoYVrV2DdWUoAoXV9BzYdOrrz8xzu8CY_9uNt_ZZbMvidCUxE/s4080/Lost%20Property%20by%20Helen%20Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4LJEb_e54FmdH0X6crNw8cotEWs84P590J3YiqU1gcB1k4Co57NQAx5V9a_od6B3AvqNq5YMdGzn0MIDFUxQ2DhhmLaPP-AzCJWAOMBLzBo-RTYksC9JHlPAZNEo1kZzElXoix88BGFoYVrV2DdWUoAoXV9BzYdOrrz8xzu8CY_9uNt_ZZbMvidCUxE/s320/Lost%20Property%20by%20Helen%20Paris.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p>My current read for the club is 'The Maid' by Nita Prose. This has been a page turner for me, but I am slowing down as I don't want it to end. I have just a couple of chapters to read. Again on Good Reads I see there are some severe criticisms. I would answer those on that forum, but I would rather be reading for myself, baking, blogging, arranging flowers etc. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMluqPvL9hqkR5mdSzPo7Q938j9MbSaphImHW-dq8HjH496PRfNgn_4v667HPiDzpXgcAUKShQSVpXp0Aue8ytJ-ePSURZxdUXijc53GYbSZNWknUtm82yxMO0OYaGI4GXgwSva6yIbk-yFte3nG8kpb2Aw_bObbXCzMyYJ28RzgA2Q0QBfnyByDC3Rnk/s4080/The%20Maid%20by%20Rita%20Prose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMluqPvL9hqkR5mdSzPo7Q938j9MbSaphImHW-dq8HjH496PRfNgn_4v667HPiDzpXgcAUKShQSVpXp0Aue8ytJ-ePSURZxdUXijc53GYbSZNWknUtm82yxMO0OYaGI4GXgwSva6yIbk-yFte3nG8kpb2Aw_bObbXCzMyYJ28RzgA2Q0QBfnyByDC3Rnk/s320/The%20Maid%20by%20Rita%20Prose.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-57912132576427706162024-02-19T07:52:00.007+00:002024-02-19T09:28:35.554+00:00Wholemeal Cobb Loaf a la 'Bake with Jack'<p>It is back to basics for me this week, and I am not too old to learn new tricks. I have loved making bread for years and years, sometimes using a large table top mixer, but for nearly twenty years have gone back to the hand process, by far my favourite. I find the kneading most enjoyable.</p><p>As a treat to myself I joined Bake with Jack's 'The Homebaker's Club', I have been watching him on YouTube, and there is almost everything you need there to achieve as good a standard as you could attain. He has given much and he is a gifted communicator, so why not indulge myself in a little course available whenever I wish to log on?</p><p>This Sunday the weather was decidedly damp and wet, the bread bin nearly empty, as was the freezer of 'everyday' day bread. I thought I would get back to basics after all the sourdough bread, and watched and printed out the Wholemeal Cobb Loaf instructions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTA20sRRrwNIcmSktMayZNFX-Awlu0kFCWqjn_A3MdxvfAu1OIE8zNkuIeUVnAfqBD7hLVUc-h6nhI2jREZFOVNQN6c2GsjomJFCiIPbGCvVstSIuxBXFXyxhw5TWU60u-yDJl4y9iP2jwfdmLZmYsrUXcnOq6aXW4rxqCzxOUiacUKpCAq6swQohMEQ/s4080/Wholemeal%20Cobb%20Loaf%20Bake%20with%20Jack.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="477" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTA20sRRrwNIcmSktMayZNFX-Awlu0kFCWqjn_A3MdxvfAu1OIE8zNkuIeUVnAfqBD7hLVUc-h6nhI2jREZFOVNQN6c2GsjomJFCiIPbGCvVstSIuxBXFXyxhw5TWU60u-yDJl4y9iP2jwfdmLZmYsrUXcnOq6aXW4rxqCzxOUiacUKpCAq6swQohMEQ/w359-h477/Wholemeal%20Cobb%20Loaf%20Bake%20with%20Jack.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><br /><p>I followed it and make the one large cobb. What would I do differently next time? Divide the dough in two, or use perhaps some of the dough to make some rolls, as this loaf is a little too large for us. A smaller loaf with extra for the freezer would suit us better. All in all a superb recipe different from the other he had shown, and with explanations and reasons for doing various manoeuvres, I have further techniques to try on other recipes. </p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-24553424976313846112024-02-17T15:17:00.004+00:002024-02-18T06:31:33.919+00:00Six on Saturday - trying to brighten up<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Yes the daylight hours are increasing, but what I and the garden would like is a little less rain, and when it is not raining, a bit of brightness. The lack of light is really affecting the growth on plants, and I am holding back from sowing seed on account of this. Despite this, I have been out in the garden and here find six things worth mentioning, <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/02/17/six-on-saturday-17-2-2024/">so that I can join Jim and other gardeners, keeping a log of our gardens.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. Bright yellow stands out against grey overcast skies, and I am thankful for the yellow Mimosa Tree growing on the other side of our fence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjgv6qxVQleuxqZPH2-UrKWq0m9NbInFN-Um4O1buL7L73N7PikZL3VPtA2UXmw737GyIRI4V0510FqDxfX2jeWWKScjBMfMZNp9-hZtSl4F8u9dUPTVF20w9ajKdpjhPIfAXjgtaxyhL2Zx5dwdHHzBVhEmR4A9t_Kj9zZ5tesW1BA5Uw-tKuKYwDro/s4080/Mimosa%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjgv6qxVQleuxqZPH2-UrKWq0m9NbInFN-Um4O1buL7L73N7PikZL3VPtA2UXmw737GyIRI4V0510FqDxfX2jeWWKScjBMfMZNp9-hZtSl4F8u9dUPTVF20w9ajKdpjhPIfAXjgtaxyhL2Zx5dwdHHzBVhEmR4A9t_Kj9zZ5tesW1BA5Uw-tKuKYwDro/w328-h436/Mimosa%20Tree.jpg" width="328" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2. Down in the border the yellow hellebore could also do with some better light.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpEJHagihkq-kzgdAFdyRKNQ1JoyS5O_5DH_PyZ55B6KNazgdqiXjKwzYO-R-LxgefqWOteKm00o52GuhaoWHrWUTg484o5FdoC1IQEhCIfORO5c78b3NNPHumMoLioIkBStwXtzGkqbjm_ong-_YEQ2xUOKN0IfIXxp2fRt4ei43Pln45Jklz4WPh4/s3072/Yellow%20hellebore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2380" data-original-width="3072" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpEJHagihkq-kzgdAFdyRKNQ1JoyS5O_5DH_PyZ55B6KNazgdqiXjKwzYO-R-LxgefqWOteKm00o52GuhaoWHrWUTg484o5FdoC1IQEhCIfORO5c78b3NNPHumMoLioIkBStwXtzGkqbjm_ong-_YEQ2xUOKN0IfIXxp2fRt4ei43Pln45Jklz4WPh4/w463-h359/Yellow%20hellebore.jpg" width="463" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /> 3. This week I noticed that the Chrysanthemums which had all been packed together in some compost, and sheltering from any possible frosts were starting to sprout. They were all tipped out of this pot, and were repotted individually in fresh compost. This is the first year that I have carried out this task for the new Chrysanthemum I bought last year, and I am not sure of the next steps, so that will be something for me to look into this coming week. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc0RCxoiTuOqtCN_krUm3WksBYSBVw9esOsyKPuKzGJt_BaKOJOSP6kxBsGMp-W_SAc_w_0_jlr6nn-w6rPOx-xoCTcamwiRtSVNsnNaTEotICykj2HVT9WR9IjW2YgdJMPbkc2rqd4sIuvHAwOsKMt9d273Dptv_jk0aP0YCgDnBae2ZagWXy4Lkb2M/s4080/Chrysanthemums%20repotted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsc0RCxoiTuOqtCN_krUm3WksBYSBVw9esOsyKPuKzGJt_BaKOJOSP6kxBsGMp-W_SAc_w_0_jlr6nn-w6rPOx-xoCTcamwiRtSVNsnNaTEotICykj2HVT9WR9IjW2YgdJMPbkc2rqd4sIuvHAwOsKMt9d273Dptv_jk0aP0YCgDnBae2ZagWXy4Lkb2M/s320/Chrysanthemums%20repotted.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even Chrysanthemum Picasso which Brenda gave me last autumn, after I had lost mine over then previous winter, received protection, and now is in new compost. Should night time temperatures threaten to fall, they will spend the night in the shed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1NV5HoELD_AWoTcVfxAoWs-zkLU5Ywez81rJQQkr9iugMcQd81XrSvOTp6rXM2BqUNTSkq_RpVYCih4WLcZfg-QMpXanlTnW8Jl4fK0zfJjL19MmNv0R7YaQ0NSeDJqakrRiOFj6jnjZvOmj_kGosaykC_im6v_-t2-C5ep7BYFHAQj3lXLzp_CwwJ8/s4080/Chrysanthemum%20Picasso.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1NV5HoELD_AWoTcVfxAoWs-zkLU5Ywez81rJQQkr9iugMcQd81XrSvOTp6rXM2BqUNTSkq_RpVYCih4WLcZfg-QMpXanlTnW8Jl4fK0zfJjL19MmNv0R7YaQ0NSeDJqakrRiOFj6jnjZvOmj_kGosaykC_im6v_-t2-C5ep7BYFHAQj3lXLzp_CwwJ8/s320/Chrysanthemum%20Picasso.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4. I think the Corydalis would have benefitted from a good cold spell then some bright sunshine., rather than the warm wishy washy dark days we have been having. However perhaps I am being impatient. I have placed some of the tubers of <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Corydalis solida subsp. solida 'Beth Evans' in a bowl and they are just starting to show a little colour. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4ljDqX827sJBNowzVMRjD-Ly547IHFg9ypYsPiFFu7Wd-jjfGxQzbEIo_vCKjatM4_FYCZ9QZvh8ZRGifK62fa0D2UxiCKiHiBahKZkPkbDCX79AeShX8yXWYx4cRHhJxG5v1PkbQGQTU6SLo0K6SlBuGIhKhc237hbp101Q0oNvgLXlMXat5RLQr_0/s4080/Corydalis%20solida%20subsp.%20solida%20'Beth%20Evans'.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4ljDqX827sJBNowzVMRjD-Ly547IHFg9ypYsPiFFu7Wd-jjfGxQzbEIo_vCKjatM4_FYCZ9QZvh8ZRGifK62fa0D2UxiCKiHiBahKZkPkbDCX79AeShX8yXWYx4cRHhJxG5v1PkbQGQTU6SLo0K6SlBuGIhKhc237hbp101Q0oNvgLXlMXat5RLQr_0/w282-h374/Corydalis%20solida%20subsp.%20solida%20'Beth%20Evans'.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; text-align: left;">Corydalis solida subsp. solida 'Beth Evans'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I write this it has just dawned on me that I have forgotten what I did with the Dicentra cucularia. I had loads of of the little tubers, and they probably got planted in the garden. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Properly labelled when sown as soon as the seed of Corydalis Malkensis was harvestable, this week it was a joy this week to see the tiny seedlings emerging. I remember it was a case of harvesting the seed almost hourly as they soon fell out of their seed pods. At this size the very soft seedlings would soon be devoured by the S & S brigade.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28ajAp45v3VYbl1ZnaJPTeMXUJC9RINTxliwRqW8K8lAwChdcN-fR3FqomXJ6naPWNDQJxmEx6B6i5SDY4h_EtYclqlgo7CLNe2uIFURZRDLyAJhXlwDk-NiwZklElkAmsRcWd_IOw6mj2yAwT7D3j_tjYeY8TAjQwtjNTriNc6zrLcBf-6LRSTuqnoI/s4080/Corydalis%20Malkensis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28ajAp45v3VYbl1ZnaJPTeMXUJC9RINTxliwRqW8K8lAwChdcN-fR3FqomXJ6naPWNDQJxmEx6B6i5SDY4h_EtYclqlgo7CLNe2uIFURZRDLyAJhXlwDk-NiwZklElkAmsRcWd_IOw6mj2yAwT7D3j_tjYeY8TAjQwtjNTriNc6zrLcBf-6LRSTuqnoI/s320/Corydalis%20Malkensis.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Corydalis Malkensis seedlings</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">5. I took the bus and went on an adventure yesterday: Shepton Snowdrop Festival! I</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> went on the walk from the town centre to the home of probably the first Galanthophile James Allen. Since I cycled to catch the bus, this meant I wouldn't be able to buy a whole load of plants. In reality the garden is already perhaps overstocked with snowdrops. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdukKeoClzYTNOh5-RmeQ6Q-t6uTo5mjAV_JWev8SWVmBhSnvByqR17CyyWuJQiXrPjIi6J3jGz-2GBeKwpLsab9hUSJ900Yh-fnB7Uk4it-H4uxiEXtVuiqtVDrxJV4aKtjHrkQUywr2A_IU6elZvqZD97RKtz9NEdA5vUFZfCSJK1CuNwX9ZOxKJH4/s4080/Galanthus%20'Heffalump'.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdukKeoClzYTNOh5-RmeQ6Q-t6uTo5mjAV_JWev8SWVmBhSnvByqR17CyyWuJQiXrPjIi6J3jGz-2GBeKwpLsab9hUSJ900Yh-fnB7Uk4it-H4uxiEXtVuiqtVDrxJV4aKtjHrkQUywr2A_IU6elZvqZD97RKtz9NEdA5vUFZfCSJK1CuNwX9ZOxKJH4/s320/Galanthus%20'Heffalump'.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Galanthus 'Heffalump'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I managed to find the cultivar </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Galanthus 'Heffalump' </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had been trying to source, from the Avon Bulbs stall, it is now planted close by the dwarf yellow Forsythia. The other snowdrop is a replacement for Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice' this time from Jenny at Elworthy Cottage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEatxvkWFPLyAHVF2GUkxtP12tTkft_5mOiGgrMmQ1Go0Gb0eUBQFypVPj4ndKuXS0bb2AUE9v8MzuaZFxWH_6PIroIQckKLcVbdK4WArstajqdy9gHh8snBMVhQ1wubLhzv23Wd3eIzVrCpjASPOteb4LjSa_WRW07VP9hY6k6dzX661Z_97ZzNaLYg/s4080/Galanthus%20nivalis%20'Viridapice'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEatxvkWFPLyAHVF2GUkxtP12tTkft_5mOiGgrMmQ1Go0Gb0eUBQFypVPj4ndKuXS0bb2AUE9v8MzuaZFxWH_6PIroIQckKLcVbdK4WArstajqdy9gHh8snBMVhQ1wubLhzv23Wd3eIzVrCpjASPOteb4LjSa_WRW07VP9hY6k6dzX661Z_97ZzNaLYg/s320/Galanthus%20nivalis%20'Viridapice'.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was pleased to receive her assurances that this was from a strong and very long lived acquisition of hers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">6. I had intended acquiring a few more violets. At this stage I was going round the stalls with my lovely friend Alison Mayal, who is a very experienced and knowledgeable gardener, but horror of horrors, she cannot see what people see in all the varieties of snowdrops. She does of course enjoy swathes of the G. nivalis and Flore Pleno. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyway when I asked to smell a violet, I just could not smell it, but to Alison it smelt lovely. Apparently my genes predispose to not smelling violets, so for now until a find another violet whose flowers wow me, I shall stick with Viola odorata 'Kim'. Since added to the garden last year, it has made good growth, and the flowers are very pretty at the moment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82J2QKYVIACNInDeq6VrbuZzYamAx92d0b7Lf6RrkBjFFRVOh3dzHNtdC2_-r20orrrkig7Ndra5JWzx3XafgctktMDQPtsJHcv1ljLObQW856QyB8Pm97Z3RLnn9eu8ppqsiv8F34js9iTYoQ1n-PpVI8NjOI1SlEQWq7sTDY1DRF0uajUgkNbiT9qI/s4080/Viola%20odorata%20'Kim'.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82J2QKYVIACNInDeq6VrbuZzYamAx92d0b7Lf6RrkBjFFRVOh3dzHNtdC2_-r20orrrkig7Ndra5JWzx3XafgctktMDQPtsJHcv1ljLObQW856QyB8Pm97Z3RLnn9eu8ppqsiv8F34js9iTYoQ1n-PpVI8NjOI1SlEQWq7sTDY1DRF0uajUgkNbiT9qI/s320/Viola%20odorata%20'Kim'.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Viola odorata 'Kim'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If only I could find a really good way of controlling slugs and snails! I haven't felt up to night patrols, but when I am out there, I do check places where they often hide, and despatch them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-16657016788228940642024-02-13T11:57:00.001+00:002024-02-13T11:57:36.379+00:00Oak Tree on Tree Appreciation Tuesday<p> At this time of the year, when hedges have just been trimmed, it is possible to see for much further. Seeing over the tops of the hedges or through hedges reveal things that for maybe just a few minutes as I walk catch my eye and make make me stand and appreciate their beauty. Here in the middle of a series of fields stands a magnificent oak tree. It is not far from Wells, Somerset.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0T8Qjz4rtjUQuBXcmI7oJ469dTL2QyJ121jx0FGkbdtHt0yAbQJEVThUUCf471XV_MELTGt9IrmvAPYpo8Njx-Gqikwm_L1F6AjaTTtwhrj1aBcJ4Z6DvBwPe5BXyf14EXcujptjEMWiskgTwC7BncEYUgZ19gXGpU-xlzouvsgP_4dcRreGOBzRVXY/s4080/Oak%20Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0T8Qjz4rtjUQuBXcmI7oJ469dTL2QyJ121jx0FGkbdtHt0yAbQJEVThUUCf471XV_MELTGt9IrmvAPYpo8Njx-Gqikwm_L1F6AjaTTtwhrj1aBcJ4Z6DvBwPe5BXyf14EXcujptjEMWiskgTwC7BncEYUgZ19gXGpU-xlzouvsgP_4dcRreGOBzRVXY/w399-h530/Oak%20Tree.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I stopped to admire the tree, to my delight I also found this large steel cattle drinking trough which I had seen several years ago, most probably one winter, but I had failed to find again, most when I was looking for it again, the hedge was so thick and covered with greenery, it was therefore out of view from the road side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIw-eRO-uY22W9gm6WDPAcQX2wyykm6B1xCC4eD8j1l6oJWpM9_cRV96IW7LX_rGj_XC6VAt0B3dxnRrOnx_kF_KZ4bXuMpgkBCArYvGyjdldWp43cgN0DNGHc5N-9VQylREq23kuUryf47CNQOzGKEHoSWPV33TIEhgX6-8uzYxKIoGvCi28k5ErFaQ/s4080/Oak%20Tree%20with%20cattle%20drinking%20trough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaIw-eRO-uY22W9gm6WDPAcQX2wyykm6B1xCC4eD8j1l6oJWpM9_cRV96IW7LX_rGj_XC6VAt0B3dxnRrOnx_kF_KZ4bXuMpgkBCArYvGyjdldWp43cgN0DNGHc5N-9VQylREq23kuUryf47CNQOzGKEHoSWPV33TIEhgX6-8uzYxKIoGvCi28k5ErFaQ/w373-h495/Oak%20Tree%20with%20cattle%20drinking%20trough.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The iron and strong riveting just don't seem to be appropriate for a cattle trough, and I wonder whether it had an industrial past and once the industry had closed, the containers were repurposed locally? Something I shall be looking into, or finding the person who can tell me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7mQT66YkmYF1dkMQ0sB8JjG-MGAZFqea3e6BNXUmV9pKkza-emLINaJQgNP9ZaTYTkOiWMYVfR_aDR0ZVj6mNOT3BVYChCDgn_PZGiIkVvRbdhxpR2AcqcUf9bloDfk8scFGsrrstZgKERcgVOTNiKHLqgbY8QuXvjVj98U1lnwaBnt3x5_ZhsoW-Ao/s2653/Closeup%20cattle%20drinking%20trough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2014" data-original-width="2653" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7mQT66YkmYF1dkMQ0sB8JjG-MGAZFqea3e6BNXUmV9pKkza-emLINaJQgNP9ZaTYTkOiWMYVfR_aDR0ZVj6mNOT3BVYChCDgn_PZGiIkVvRbdhxpR2AcqcUf9bloDfk8scFGsrrstZgKERcgVOTNiKHLqgbY8QuXvjVj98U1lnwaBnt3x5_ZhsoW-Ao/w434-h330/Closeup%20cattle%20drinking%20trough.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-81758739826552153402024-02-12T14:46:00.003+00:002024-02-12T14:46:31.196+00:00Cyclamen In a Vase on Monday<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cyclamen coum are coming into flower adding sugared almond type colours to the garden. The leaves can be quite varied too, and some of them are described as having Christmas Tree patterns on them. They wouldn't last long there as it is very sunny and warm there today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4G6RL54mL3MyQb3GO3c6z8q0Jw0OBN4OPUckd_fVC9pEp9-QEDPlDIVOE-pXzUliMZEjNJ0AZkotW-qaNgQ4TwFwTSDpW7wfRSfilz0MZbVoVuTrpk35ZuqZuDP_xlw_Ly8nLjTfTrcWX9dh6Y2vPVdp_ekJCB4thN1Un-RzXFp1DrWV0MFEGxN797Zs/s2899/Cyclamen%20in%20the%20conservatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="2776" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4G6RL54mL3MyQb3GO3c6z8q0Jw0OBN4OPUckd_fVC9pEp9-QEDPlDIVOE-pXzUliMZEjNJ0AZkotW-qaNgQ4TwFwTSDpW7wfRSfilz0MZbVoVuTrpk35ZuqZuDP_xlw_Ly8nLjTfTrcWX9dh6Y2vPVdp_ekJCB4thN1Un-RzXFp1DrWV0MFEGxN797Zs/s320/Cyclamen%20in%20the%20conservatory.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">To set them off in terms of size and colour the small leaves of <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Cheilanthes lanosa which have soft grey felty leaves which probably earned it its name 'Hairy Lip Fern' were just the ticket.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdZjdiyUdlKgpWa7YyukxzjU1KdBseQrXPn30infXeGJnAljXgf0vUyLCF9EAHKqaJYARhJwKqSVj8OVEgL1p2s9okc8zNYfgIAMY1I9IRKlcJJn_Hgv5tHbRCFUavWqbzRcLa28fL8nwR8HNUK1W0f9ITGWPiQ1SQU7QLsat0HlcE47dr6UU3S0im14/s3689/cylamen%20bloom%20close%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3689" data-original-width="2709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdZjdiyUdlKgpWa7YyukxzjU1KdBseQrXPn30infXeGJnAljXgf0vUyLCF9EAHKqaJYARhJwKqSVj8OVEgL1p2s9okc8zNYfgIAMY1I9IRKlcJJn_Hgv5tHbRCFUavWqbzRcLa28fL8nwR8HNUK1W0f9ITGWPiQ1SQU7QLsat0HlcE47dr6UU3S0im14/s320/cylamen%20bloom%20close%20up.jpg" width="235" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">The little triangular heavy based cut glass vase is one the smallest vases I have and it often sits on my kitchen window sill with small flowers.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioceFVjuVX7_SagcscbZisEV80A9insze3qLk6j_BuEumpADfULNBkUd4f3JybdWeqWrL2TtBBTPTHyW5D43LM1R7E27-z8thqVgyaZeOc1cABL98SOrcliUiTp-hkmvcOrreI7EODvYMWpOx3sbNvo_NcJkCalx7bFBjeaWcfEE06fxs-WAQN38cB2sI/s4080/Cyclamen%20IAVOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioceFVjuVX7_SagcscbZisEV80A9insze3qLk6j_BuEumpADfULNBkUd4f3JybdWeqWrL2TtBBTPTHyW5D43LM1R7E27-z8thqVgyaZeOc1cABL98SOrcliUiTp-hkmvcOrreI7EODvYMWpOx3sbNvo_NcJkCalx7bFBjeaWcfEE06fxs-WAQN38cB2sI/s320/Cyclamen%20IAVOM.jpg" width="241" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">It is far cooler there, and will be enjoyed for a few days, with a refresh later in the week.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/02/12/in-a-vase-on-monday-a-vase-of-vegetables/">This is being linked in to Cathy's post. If you would like to join in by posting flowers from your garden, you will find any rules on Cathy's Blog.</a></span></span></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-42460881953774236942024-02-11T18:32:00.003+00:002024-02-11T18:32:32.648+00:00Apple, Pecan and Cinnamon Buns<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> I recently joined 'Bake with Jack' Home Baker's Club, and decided to start with the <br />Apple, Pecan and Cinnamon Buns. I had only watched half way through the detailed video, and thought I could go ahead and try the recipe. First mistake: I did not read properly through the whole recipe or watch all the videos to the end!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you are not yet a member of the Baker's Club, <a href="https://www.bakewithjack.co.uk/blog-1/appleandcinnamonbuns">the full recipe and YouTube link is easily followed</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">These are the buns just before they went in the oven. I realised that I had forgotten to put the cinnamon in with the apple when I was cooking these. I used coxes orange pippin apples, and gave the buns a light sprinkle of cinnamon just before they were popped in..</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoHmkjjsgq5t183blzv2AShwfke59eN8fMWcDA3OxtwF82lOj7UzJzkXeiEgRHK6iT5nlmd_5LibSiZsCuxk4B2g5Vxpr2mMlUEo_y8hIeocYp1P6Qciv43hvXf8dbwOPbrrpPNX0M2VAzM73i0UjpsB6O_LPCXxrI61_XeCOtdcJOnSVW6sRoNjP_Uo/s4080/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoHmkjjsgq5t183blzv2AShwfke59eN8fMWcDA3OxtwF82lOj7UzJzkXeiEgRHK6iT5nlmd_5LibSiZsCuxk4B2g5Vxpr2mMlUEo_y8hIeocYp1P6Qciv43hvXf8dbwOPbrrpPNX0M2VAzM73i0UjpsB6O_LPCXxrI61_XeCOtdcJOnSVW6sRoNjP_Uo/s320/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns.jpg" width="241" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I tried to cook both sheets in the oven at the same time, as I had yet to get to part of the video when Jack advised cooking only a single tray at a time to get an even bake.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0fqKzZ6odJzisHhsdJgWQGCrT_dFu_jgNij-Qbju8qvT1ZCHknuyh1HTh_HktZNQCOEdlw-gLAuNDL34xRon0WJIb6KyovJdRZaXmBcZ0KbmOt5206t2rtojWdpa2O8ce8JMw_An9Ix8WVVhS3AF3I3Ti172ASOXm-PRefozwZ4_eSDe_pSoD1aptj0/s4080/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns%20out%20of%20the%20oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0fqKzZ6odJzisHhsdJgWQGCrT_dFu_jgNij-Qbju8qvT1ZCHknuyh1HTh_HktZNQCOEdlw-gLAuNDL34xRon0WJIb6KyovJdRZaXmBcZ0KbmOt5206t2rtojWdpa2O8ce8JMw_An9Ix8WVVhS3AF3I3Ti172ASOXm-PRefozwZ4_eSDe_pSoD1aptj0/s320/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns%20out%20of%20the%20oven.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I also didn't do the icing and sprinkle nuts in the order Jack suggested, but sprinkled the nuts first then iced them, which I think is one step better as the icing helps keep the nuts on the buns. Half I did not ice so as to be able to freeze them. Had I watched all the tips before baking I would have realised that for those that were to be frozen, no nuts or icing until the buns are defrosted and refreshed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">All in all these buns are absolutely delicious, and I shall keep the cinnamon to add as a sprinkle as the apple is fragrant with the lemon juice and sugar, plus I added the zest of the lemon to the apples. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf3jblU73FsijNU9i5LlHB7_UBqn1EdjO1ZOfMFhQ9vTl_lSwHSdBdBOPb0SdK8VVA6uNvBA2-0J6SwybHE8DRB92c4Hw6xyOYU6Z7m66cFAGtO2go8Q4H4gZhG6wxO81ub2FJ913TpDjgSqbQhquktTNqRE0k9wEJXwj2K1TaKe2YzD6h-IMUyyTKeE/s1721/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns%20close%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1721" data-original-width="876" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJf3jblU73FsijNU9i5LlHB7_UBqn1EdjO1ZOfMFhQ9vTl_lSwHSdBdBOPb0SdK8VVA6uNvBA2-0J6SwybHE8DRB92c4Hw6xyOYU6Z7m66cFAGtO2go8Q4H4gZhG6wxO81ub2FJ913TpDjgSqbQhquktTNqRE0k9wEJXwj2K1TaKe2YzD6h-IMUyyTKeE/w269-h528/Apple,%20Pecan%20and%20Cinnamon%20Buns%20close%20up.jpg" width="269" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Sandra came over to join me for a little walk, and we had afternoon tea and a bun each afterwards.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-67774663081549979262024-02-10T08:04:00.000+00:002024-02-10T08:04:52.763+00:00Instant or seasonal gratification in the garden - Six on Saturday <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have had a very wet week, and garden cannot take any more. Some of the flowers have been bashed down by the heavy rain, and the lack of sunshine is taking its toll. However at this time of the year, expectation is high and the newly emerging plants bring intense pleasure, but still I am not immune to instant gratification. <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/02/10/six-on-saturday-10-2-2024/">Just reading Jim's anchoring post with all his Camelias and posts from other gardeners several in other countries will bring more Six on Saturday enjoyment. </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>1. I ought to know better than visit a good local plant nursery, merely of course on the pretext of delivering a year's supply of the regional HPS leaflets, whilst having a bit of ready cash in my wallet! I came away having spent some of my pocket money: Crocus chrysanthus 'Romance' was placed in the garden, in a spell of 'non heavy rain' yesterday. The outer petals are paler but and when open all the inner petals are a lovely buttery yellow.<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-IfaFxmnw2WpnDtWZ8B7Xw26yrmNDKA4fAZppSduueDBdcuKiOHU_D8M_0rybJaBGXoH8egeuZFoMkRjHjydsLkPcZ9wyPHrqwsm6meyUM57mV0WNv33_1U4OjNgtlKiHsAHWKvUXkydzwN-EEUNoLxM2itfa4cA2O8o2WurFw2Dhv6aI9-tW_fC6BLM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="1063" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-IfaFxmnw2WpnDtWZ8B7Xw26yrmNDKA4fAZppSduueDBdcuKiOHU_D8M_0rybJaBGXoH8egeuZFoMkRjHjydsLkPcZ9wyPHrqwsm6meyUM57mV0WNv33_1U4OjNgtlKiHsAHWKvUXkydzwN-EEUNoLxM2itfa4cA2O8o2WurFw2Dhv6aI9-tW_fC6BLM=w344-h494" width="344" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocus chrysanthus 'Romance'</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I also picked up a snowdrop: Galanthus Sprite, it is a good virescent, which I happen to have in the garden which is nice and healthy. As these specials are slow to increase, I wanted to establish some in another part of the garden, but the original clump is not ready to be divided. As well I bought four pots of Eranthes. However I had picked up two pots of Eranthes from the garden centre at Rocky Mountain, where I did my weekly veg shop on the way. Comparing the two suppliers, I am pleased to say that the pots supplied by Jackie Williams at Triffids Nursery were far far superior, having very good roots, whereas the others had barely started to root but showing shoots, I dare say the corms had only just been planted. That reminded me of the lesson to check the roots before buying!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. I've not posted about this crocus which grows in the Conservatory border right next to Crocus sieberi 'Tricolor' out of sight to the left of this group. I believe these are Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple'. I've had it many years now and is a good returner each season. These grow on the outer edge of the bed along the gravel path, so whatever the weather I can walk out a look at the spring flowers emerging, or even admire it from the conservatory.<br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYguahzWJdOJD21rZxIj4WuwprGSLvZCxVUVZWwL-qoOwZu5Tp9RHysQwUSyZf0HlIBpAGqOvq2wd4Gqb6eWr-_g1tqgSwLP_3fBRDrljgZXBmoOQ-G1wSy131H9CIxODUeYzBk41kpiD_cstz3P0SpS-2LrY57pbiCwuiBKM5nn7VussBV_M2DO5_K8/s4080/Crocus%20tommasianus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYguahzWJdOJD21rZxIj4WuwprGSLvZCxVUVZWwL-qoOwZu5Tp9RHysQwUSyZf0HlIBpAGqOvq2wd4Gqb6eWr-_g1tqgSwLP_3fBRDrljgZXBmoOQ-G1wSy131H9CIxODUeYzBk41kpiD_cstz3P0SpS-2LrY57pbiCwuiBKM5nn7VussBV_M2DO5_K8/w402-h534/Crocus%20tommasianus.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><div><br /></div>3. It is the mixture of the Cyclamen coum that forms the fist strip of Spring flowers which I look out on from the conservatory: this week it although not quite reaching its peak, it is already working nicely.. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbPHgTsv4dW9EJyF97O4MayRsqOzb6MxSwBfTCyni31zQlgkH9KVEPwjRJOk544G_mZjy08mzTmT8Jvbt8edD9WX0AKQ9v1RRvunb2eLK3n4VapJUsDB8KB-8So66bbZmgoMZkfhd6NsofdSeQklTBFCZt3V-4x9PkTs9L4matmHLz_A4SQR25NypHTw/s4080/Cyclamen%20coum%20in%20the%20Conservatory%20Border.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbPHgTsv4dW9EJyF97O4MayRsqOzb6MxSwBfTCyni31zQlgkH9KVEPwjRJOk544G_mZjy08mzTmT8Jvbt8edD9WX0AKQ9v1RRvunb2eLK3n4VapJUsDB8KB-8So66bbZmgoMZkfhd6NsofdSeQklTBFCZt3V-4x9PkTs9L4matmHLz_A4SQR25NypHTw/w348-h462/Cyclamen%20coum%20in%20the%20Conservatory%20Border.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><br /><div>4. In that same border Galanthus 'Trumps' is sending up its easily recognised blooms, one gifted to me by Cathy: three flowering bulbs this year.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTq_D96T76gOCvkXsQBNneFGaswx-DCo-OaevWpLF33ALHO2NT2FCYNf0KFxnH-pxA5UL9K81diq2XcZeMP-EGkN75XdH_Ehxhn6JaFK1yXhdNxOv4n9QTt3R28ww4HGbEo_9qrpu9nnkpnAKyynYklT3HgmYSL5Pwb1sh15w0ETvDuAY6YkIM0OlKcI/s4080/Galanthus%20Trumps.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTq_D96T76gOCvkXsQBNneFGaswx-DCo-OaevWpLF33ALHO2NT2FCYNf0KFxnH-pxA5UL9K81diq2XcZeMP-EGkN75XdH_Ehxhn6JaFK1yXhdNxOv4n9QTt3R28ww4HGbEo_9qrpu9nnkpnAKyynYklT3HgmYSL5Pwb1sh15w0ETvDuAY6YkIM0OlKcI/w302-h401/Galanthus%20Trumps.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galanthus Trumps</td></tr></tbody></table>These eranthes were planted in previous years!</div><div><br /><div>5. Whilst planting out some other plants, I had forgotten that the spot is where the Oxalis triangularis come up each summer. Having just come back from a friend in whose home I have admired several times this plant growing as a house plant, several of these little rhizomes are going to be placed in a pot of compost ready to grow into a new house plant.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7JOBRl6agRQXoqFPxdxfOqaBPAOb2bz3lcJLh2Lju2mc7OcoOSbBNpM4SV5PwKmOWXJtjmrbZoL1rdpURByrNo_gBXk8y1_0SA_LS4VEy-yO5cZ3dw_BTMqycrmiO58NSD8KrtU_CmfJorlOG4YXde6SMwbBPZRgg4kWIzz9r5Yj9BCAuyqBNq9gxTk/s4080/Oxalis%20triangularis%20corms.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7JOBRl6agRQXoqFPxdxfOqaBPAOb2bz3lcJLh2Lju2mc7OcoOSbBNpM4SV5PwKmOWXJtjmrbZoL1rdpURByrNo_gBXk8y1_0SA_LS4VEy-yO5cZ3dw_BTMqycrmiO58NSD8KrtU_CmfJorlOG4YXde6SMwbBPZRgg4kWIzz9r5Yj9BCAuyqBNq9gxTk/w341-h453/Oxalis%20triangularis%20corms.jpg" width="341" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxalis triangularis rhizomes accidentally uncovered</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Still my favourite returner now in its sixth year in the garden, is Crocus minimus Spring Beauty. At a stage when as my gran would say: not quite enough blue sky to make a sailor a pair of trousers, the bees were out and the crocus obliged by opening. Precious moments during this generally wet week with dark skies.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE8WzM5W1Y7-OoNdE0qbyKgvQBG4-ByMrDrX1MNbuHmsbq2SNYOVxFWTgs9OgvyBV7pIYVxiSqLhZmngwhiVoNNqLZfbiIlo2QrW6GzGGjp6YMyKFimyQu4ktI7wmAgWaAmrJb3DefFEl8FIeWVhf07EPPXrjUswRGp9JBZqP0pwqMATKsMiWxIUhN_I/s4080/Crocus%20minimus%20Spring%20Beauty.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBE8WzM5W1Y7-OoNdE0qbyKgvQBG4-ByMrDrX1MNbuHmsbq2SNYOVxFWTgs9OgvyBV7pIYVxiSqLhZmngwhiVoNNqLZfbiIlo2QrW6GzGGjp6YMyKFimyQu4ktI7wmAgWaAmrJb3DefFEl8FIeWVhf07EPPXrjUswRGp9JBZqP0pwqMATKsMiWxIUhN_I/w399-h530/Crocus%20minimus%20Spring%20Beauty.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Crocus minimus Spring Beauty</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When it dries out a little I have a few jobs to do, more tidying up and pruning, and a little seed sowing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-23084463808259187222024-02-06T08:30:00.030+00:002024-02-06T08:30:00.140+00:00Tree Appreciation Tuesday - Of myths and legends<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In these parts do trees grow, around which myths and legends abound. Many myths, legends, and much speculation has grown up around a Hawthorne which grows in a stunted way. <a href="https://thegardenstrust.blog/2018/12/22/the-glastonbury-thorn/">The best information about this tree I found can be read on The Garden Trust Blog</a>.</span></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #3b3b3b;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Crataegus monogyna 'Biflora' flowers in the Spring and then during the winter. I would not say that the winter flowering is showy, to me it is as if it is just starting its Spring </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">flowering</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> early. </span></span></span></h3><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCz7M7vk84ncyaHg3I45kyu5uGYUdzOaxyFGVAPugrQKXD6bkSGqxmNm4Hta-FTkuP_rj6cgDuON17CqsblP784p7fE8BSd1HJnEWLjAYTSg0-qxlAtafygHsk7x0-MzvS7EN_bCxWmqRSnT8PXVD-d0npAlf90-GkI-hnsE1WImTO01GnPHJhZun4s0/w395-h524/Hawthorne%20outside%20Glastonbury%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="395" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glastonbury Parish Church with The Glastonbury Thorn</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCz7M7vk84ncyaHg3I45kyu5uGYUdzOaxyFGVAPugrQKXD6bkSGqxmNm4Hta-FTkuP_rj6cgDuON17CqsblP784p7fE8BSd1HJnEWLjAYTSg0-qxlAtafygHsk7x0-MzvS7EN_bCxWmqRSnT8PXVD-d0npAlf90-GkI-hnsE1WImTO01GnPHJhZun4s0/s4080/Hawthorne%20outside%20Glastonbury%20Church.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I have read that neither cuttings nor seeds can be used to propagate the tree, and that it has to be grafted.<br /><br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz90NUkeC1hPt8Jg-P1_Vc0MRmO7Eh6_YR6ziIUdgwfLFwPv2gSqw9w_Lmg10eXfN0iDijD8K-6NcoTryTYswKl4MisnD02P17xlzQy7i6py7Y9P2ETngji8eyAJlziyqX7i7veu6TrhdYNuM1PmqBVAhbcPX3IcxHCCXSwOdxbn57zTNIp5-XrtMB6mY/s3047/Flowers%20and%20berries%20on%20Glastonbury%20thorn%20tree.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2181" data-original-width="3047" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz90NUkeC1hPt8Jg-P1_Vc0MRmO7Eh6_YR6ziIUdgwfLFwPv2gSqw9w_Lmg10eXfN0iDijD8K-6NcoTryTYswKl4MisnD02P17xlzQy7i6py7Y9P2ETngji8eyAJlziyqX7i7veu6TrhdYNuM1PmqBVAhbcPX3IcxHCCXSwOdxbn57zTNIp5-XrtMB6mY/w451-h323/Flowers%20and%20berries%20on%20Glastonbury%20thorn%20tree.jpg" width="451" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Flowers in January as well as haws from last year's flowers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgiE_wE9TZ85Btb8S5oKS-OWgkwz0eDvGoMAw3tY4KIC3uBK0LbIXy_Z0GFh7G1ISKeexuj_FvMC6R71t56kG2LGQ8-7C012OuUbK47lQw8S3OheDLK6QLnOR6Fbh2HoD3-ntloxIGGhO_hpXiu7Eo3M7dorhUvDz6nzIoVXEjKm-mvIIUGTTm9X8-Ms/s3051/Lichen%20on%20the%20Glastonbury%20Thorn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2813" data-original-width="3051" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgiE_wE9TZ85Btb8S5oKS-OWgkwz0eDvGoMAw3tY4KIC3uBK0LbIXy_Z0GFh7G1ISKeexuj_FvMC6R71t56kG2LGQ8-7C012OuUbK47lQw8S3OheDLK6QLnOR6Fbh2HoD3-ntloxIGGhO_hpXiu7Eo3M7dorhUvDz6nzIoVXEjKm-mvIIUGTTm9X8-Ms/w447-h412/Lichen%20on%20the%20Glastonbury%20Thorn.jpg" width="447" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lichen and moss encrusted criss cross of twigs</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-twice-flowering-hawthorne-crataegus.html">I first wrote about a similar Hawthorne two years ago</a>, and for this week's Tree Appreciation Tuesday, I took pictures last week of the Hawthorne outside St John the Baptist, the COE Parish Church at Glastonbury. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This particular tree just represents for me, the mystic and mystery which can build up regarding either one particular tree or a tree type or maybe a tree in a particular place. It could be that a tree has particular meeting for just one person, a group of people, a tribe, the fact that trees enter the psyche of people is not surprising. The Glastonbury Thorn has been written about, and stories spun around it. This is quite ironic given that almost all the specimens of 'The Glastonbury Thorn' are not likely to be more than a hundred years old.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Whether in ancient times or now, starting up stories which appeal, or entertain, has been of value to religious places, business and commerce. <a href="https://www.glastonburyabbey.com/myths-and-legends.php">From the Glastonbury Abbey webpage</a>:</span></p><h2 style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>The Holy Thorn</i></span></h2><div class="pb_keytext" style="background-color: white; padding-bottom: 5px;"><p style="background: transparent; color: #333333; line-height: 28.8px; margin: 0px 0px 15px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Many believe that the Holy Thorn tree that can be seen in the grounds originated from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.</i></span></p></div><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 7px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>By the 1530s, not long before the Dissolution of the Monasteries, three thorn trees grew on Wearyall Hill (sometimes known as Wirral Hill) about 1km south-west of Glastonbury. The trees were very unusual because they flowered twice - once in the spring around Easter, and a second time at Christmas.</i></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 7px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>Not surprisingly, they were seen as holy thorns. In the Civil Wars of the 17th century Puritan soldiers cut down the only remaining thorn because they saw it as an object of superstition. However, local people had kept cuttings, and it is from these that the thorn now growing in the abbey grounds is believed to descend. It continues to flower around Easter and again at Christmas.</i></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 7px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>The custom of sending a budded branch of a Glastonbury thorn to the Queen at Christmas seems to have begun in the early 17th century, when a branch was sent to Queen Anne, King James I's consort. A spray is still cut from the thorn in St John's Church yard and sent to the sovereign each Christmas by the Vicar and Mayor of Glastonbury.</i></span></p><p style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #333333; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 0px 7px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i>The thorn featured on British 12p and 13p Christmas postage stamps in 1986.</i></span></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-28797259522499876772024-02-05T09:44:00.001+00:002024-02-05T09:44:22.217+00:00Snowdrops and friends In a Vase on Monday<p> Snowdrops and Cyclamen coum are coming up in the garden. They make good bed fellows, as the coum corns are relative small, and the leaves not as extensive as the C. hederifolium. </p><p>This week's little arrangement consists of a number of the named varieties. I had picked these as I had a number of friends come round for coffee and cake(s) on Friday. We sat in the conservatory, but that is where they chose even though we were packed in there. I had quite a few compliments about the garden, most had not seen anything other than the Nivalis, and enjoyed viewing the differences close up in the little vase.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVsNaGfAykMP7KK-4GnLoLbWRn39Z6d2F53soAj5Ccm8MEgl9FaIlGxpEi2sVTQdT5vQAniy9kM08i5eI9lXMdAytlDHEwFe0K0r1CGIWZjyh3NF2_lesbSuneBtbU_38n-btLKMDFUDmhlkh85baM39DclSestIjo9QCApEj7GG8HnscEtFJHT_I5jg/s2418/Snowdrops%20and%20cyclamen%20coum%20IAVOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="2418" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVsNaGfAykMP7KK-4GnLoLbWRn39Z6d2F53soAj5Ccm8MEgl9FaIlGxpEi2sVTQdT5vQAniy9kM08i5eI9lXMdAytlDHEwFe0K0r1CGIWZjyh3NF2_lesbSuneBtbU_38n-btLKMDFUDmhlkh85baM39DclSestIjo9QCApEj7GG8HnscEtFJHT_I5jg/w536-h396/Snowdrops%20and%20cyclamen%20coum%20IAVOM.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Again another charming and different snowdrop is Galanthus Diggory. This was a gift several years ago from Anna, and the outer petals curve in and are pleated reminding me of seersucker fabric.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU7VIrlA5bS4Qos25AlpfD9QvZ8VjHQI08Z30F8WMLhdzT-dCCq76ncR94SjqnDM8RggKVkeU00-saIFHfBawz42uA_6xGa3MfLcPvBkSgJrbVhb5nzml83_0tRustoUJSuJoxK-1tfqxm3z01gl_tKjAS9Bbw5bbAOK2OkWqAW0bIDj6NfVyhBYc7bE/s2865/Galanthus%20Diggory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2599" data-original-width="2865" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBU7VIrlA5bS4Qos25AlpfD9QvZ8VjHQI08Z30F8WMLhdzT-dCCq76ncR94SjqnDM8RggKVkeU00-saIFHfBawz42uA_6xGa3MfLcPvBkSgJrbVhb5nzml83_0tRustoUJSuJoxK-1tfqxm3z01gl_tKjAS9Bbw5bbAOK2OkWqAW0bIDj6NfVyhBYc7bE/w419-h380/Galanthus%20Diggory.jpg" width="419" /></a></div><br /> <a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/02/05/in-a-vase-on-monday-at-the-double/">As usual I am linking this post to Cathy's post, and anyone who wishes to post and link in their arrangements using flowers and greenery from their gardens is welcome to join in.</a><br /><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-4316993245077830442024-02-03T15:06:00.003+00:002024-02-03T15:06:40.227+00:00Six on Saturday - Six things in the garden at the start of February 2024<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The garden plants has more or less been standing still during the last week, but I have been doing a little repotting, and moving around of plants. <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/02/03/six-on-saturday-3-2-2024/">For further interesting reading on matters garden or gardening, Six on Saturday anchor blog is the place to go to.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As I looked back over previous years, I realise that each year I had been attracted to 'yellow' in the garden. Last autumn I bought some Crocus chrysanthus 'Dorothy' from the Potterton's stall at the Bishop's Palace in Wells. Jewelled with moisture on this grey and gloomy day, they draw me to the sitting circle table on which some of the smaller pots of early flowers have been placed. The dark purple streak on the outside of the petals particularly appeals to me. The crocus in the ground have been slow to emerge this year, with one or two are valiantly showing promise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG69Iyj8o_k8ahhBQWvaxy9Mis9iMN-_u-izGYzwYjF2C7fKRXFqFmWIV_Fkn03UeRZz4VyFtWtqUx6dmqnykudv9qSgoySCyqDYCf9t3A9aNt51Y-Tq54TZvUHm2u01sCSIXWltnv9FOl-A9z_FSXpQc2daPYNfDak63GjK50-GE6OKnLTYjU7Xi02Hc/s3097/Crocus%20Chrysanthus%20Dorothy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3097" data-original-width="2745" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG69Iyj8o_k8ahhBQWvaxy9Mis9iMN-_u-izGYzwYjF2C7fKRXFqFmWIV_Fkn03UeRZz4VyFtWtqUx6dmqnykudv9qSgoySCyqDYCf9t3A9aNt51Y-Tq54TZvUHm2u01sCSIXWltnv9FOl-A9z_FSXpQc2daPYNfDak63GjK50-GE6OKnLTYjU7Xi02Hc/w422-h475/Crocus%20Chrysanthus%20Dorothy.jpg" width="422" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">2. Other spring beauties that I am trying to establish in the conservatory bed are Eranthis. I<a href="https://www.gardensillustrated.com/plants/winter-aconites-growing-planting">n February 2024's edition of Garden Illustrated</a>, there are several pages dedicated to what we call 'Winter Aconites'. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I mentioned last week that I had planted a new one: <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2024/01/six-on-saturday-winter-magic.html">Eranthis hyemalis 'Winterzaube' 'Winter Magic'</a></span>, and <a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2020/02/six-on-saturday-8-february-2020.html">ones planted in 2020</a> are just at the stage of their showing their position. A little further away is a plant which has been moved several times, but I think this came in soil in a pot brought from my last garden. It forms a neat clump of several blooms.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dCMWCVu8TP9A6G86bxxUgk4injuGK8KhG-tD3YMxX68GZ0rrzITrHkcAkdrjuePuWMwedKKHpb0EUzAsW4h6aGiRx8nkCVu-x_1iHLGTTbUl_7pJ2n4Ed597b1XCujpOEdDidqFCcImiftv5JNKB7nOTLnA3otiR8EUSN0W149PyOukuundQGmK1ATI/s4080/Eranthis%20hyemalis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dCMWCVu8TP9A6G86bxxUgk4injuGK8KhG-tD3YMxX68GZ0rrzITrHkcAkdrjuePuWMwedKKHpb0EUzAsW4h6aGiRx8nkCVu-x_1iHLGTTbUl_7pJ2n4Ed597b1XCujpOEdDidqFCcImiftv5JNKB7nOTLnA3otiR8EUSN0W149PyOukuundQGmK1ATI/w344-h457/Eranthis%20hyemalis.jpg" width="344" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I even had a few moments wondering if I was 'imagining plants' since they are neither up now, nor did I mention this last on blog. This is where I search for what I have done in the garden. I remembered that I had bought three eranthis last year which I identified as Eranthis cilicica when I looked carefully at them. The article explained that it appreciates a sunny spot that becomes dry in the in summer. I have already earmarked spots, and should they come up, they will be moved. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">They are not yet up, but I did find a picture in my files, but I had not named it. From now on I shall be naming the pictures I choose to keep each month, all the others are useless really when it comes to searching. However I found it based on looking through pictures taken in February 2023. <br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">3. On the couple of decent days this week, a got down to a couple of plants which needed moving. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkkp_AP52K70sS1eqx06YN0B8VWG5V7wZ-Z8zLBUatuJMOY689p3HoZkb3_0e_HG0VMWvUEexWLIT-Bj_q70HlGjmh7r29dcIRZvklJkcqkLOJwWIOQm3TmOFahYLjHNnvU4PVnNbaGDmfIJ_DLPX0HEF8sfPqiH90aBsnKmT34Gi9pZDROUg824MX6U/s4080/Fatsia%20japonica%20'Tsumugi-shibori'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkkp_AP52K70sS1eqx06YN0B8VWG5V7wZ-Z8zLBUatuJMOY689p3HoZkb3_0e_HG0VMWvUEexWLIT-Bj_q70HlGjmh7r29dcIRZvklJkcqkLOJwWIOQm3TmOFahYLjHNnvU4PVnNbaGDmfIJ_DLPX0HEF8sfPqiH90aBsnKmT34Gi9pZDROUg824MX6U/s320/Fatsia%20japonica%20'Tsumugi-shibori'.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When I turned out the <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">Fatsia Japonica Spider's Web, I realised it either had to be moved to a larger pot or out into the garden to take its chances, so it was decanted into the shady border. It seems to be going by a different name these days: Fatsia japonica 'Tsumugi-shibori'. Here it will fend for itself, and won't need watering.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;">4. Some of the seedlings from seed received in December 2022, have already grown corms large enough to take their chance in the open garden. Of the seedlings labelled 'Fairy Rings' there were just a few whose leaves more or less conformed to that type, and again, they are going to take their chances in the open garden. It will be probably 2025 before they start to flower, but as I like the leaves, I will be happy to enjoy those.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SMbrYxPZTO9OekgMSWrN2HGiMagYQHJWUaS3eNDv6Dwux9VYlbWVph6Zu96lnJtcvmDGRAYoNUTnIa3eYiC5HHn1hYxFNmXmLx2PTa2nC0Ml8ZHloi6h87XhGTXsCZbvYzLwo2cwBbGbzqKzNwqhLZW8fEMgNS5E5Rwg88n2N6V_anDK4PUfb_ckxmc/s4080/Cyclamen%20hederifolium%20'Fairy%20rings'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SMbrYxPZTO9OekgMSWrN2HGiMagYQHJWUaS3eNDv6Dwux9VYlbWVph6Zu96lnJtcvmDGRAYoNUTnIa3eYiC5HHn1hYxFNmXmLx2PTa2nC0Ml8ZHloi6h87XhGTXsCZbvYzLwo2cwBbGbzqKzNwqhLZW8fEMgNS5E5Rwg88n2N6V_anDK4PUfb_ckxmc/w321-h426/Cyclamen%20hederifolium%20'Fairy%20rings'.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cyclamen hederifolium Fairy rings type</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. I tend to go for the distinctive or larger snowdrops. I do have two small but perfectly formed snowdrops which I was delighted to see up again this year: their first year since being planted last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this diminutive single nivalis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKHERQ3UCNzJTgyESJ_LNHFTBvD-y3aXe0kLAoZ1QLzlqJfa8L6t5aktU3p4Zv-vhTVecXUhwxxX2pZQm44lsaUl3ieZqSk9ZQN5_5ykBANOslLDYwvKo3qB2dCTvQvbobEugBchDy_jlUa6hHfjozRsnx8f5VNLExzZbDVu3c8P3_IS7RCQLaf8BDx4/s4080/Galanthus%20nivalis%20'Charlotte'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKHERQ3UCNzJTgyESJ_LNHFTBvD-y3aXe0kLAoZ1QLzlqJfa8L6t5aktU3p4Zv-vhTVecXUhwxxX2pZQm44lsaUl3ieZqSk9ZQN5_5ykBANOslLDYwvKo3qB2dCTvQvbobEugBchDy_jlUa6hHfjozRsnx8f5VNLExzZbDVu3c8P3_IS7RCQLaf8BDx4/s320/Galanthus%20nivalis%20'Charlotte'.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />Galanthus nivalis 'Charlotte' has bulked up since last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other small one is Galanthus rizehensis 'Margaret Billington'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZHlBZeV70OtPNwe7zPa7bDa2mQIsZcZrLnitRDp8FHXId5niOzUgiezsFMTE2X_Uc4tlIl744HAHTtRJYLx9wfGfuxaoZonpk8mjS47daSYwdqIcBZeMhfBsPb_WqOgs08Iu8FXXiRH24klzS-pAekWZ-pQJsXyUdZlTgtYj0K9NPM69kEgWNXZw1CE/s4080/Galanthus%20rizehensis%20'Margaret%20Billington'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZHlBZeV70OtPNwe7zPa7bDa2mQIsZcZrLnitRDp8FHXId5niOzUgiezsFMTE2X_Uc4tlIl744HAHTtRJYLx9wfGfuxaoZonpk8mjS47daSYwdqIcBZeMhfBsPb_WqOgs08Iu8FXXiRH24klzS-pAekWZ-pQJsXyUdZlTgtYj0K9NPM69kEgWNXZw1CE/s320/Galanthus%20rizehensis%20'Margaret%20Billington'.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The taller of the two blooms, which is the older bulb has four outer petals, and the smaller one is from the bulb formed last year, and has just three outers. Both these were bought at Elworthy Cottage Plants last year, when we visited with friends Brenda and Peter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. In the same Garden Illustrated magazine (Feb 2024), currently my going to sleep read, I was amused and informed in equal measure by Alice Vincent's article 'Fond of the Frond'. She is a self-confessed pteridomaniac. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD871U3cxPXa7n4bOBEAo4DS5ggtf-D0Q6leJqlmx-2KlWwAzR9CXfciPWObaUMfzXX7jvj1q-AD-irxLG-X97-YUNqGcuMoOUfedzscxKlAgFtg6tQP457NCYeYJ_IdoIeuDQ9jeSS3djJ80T-NU0wux5DTsbLJ85votccqrwtKL9IJIS6f3sRZSL8o/s4080/Fern%20Asplenium%20x%20ebenoides%20and%20Fern%20Cheilanthese%20lanosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaD871U3cxPXa7n4bOBEAo4DS5ggtf-D0Q6leJqlmx-2KlWwAzR9CXfciPWObaUMfzXX7jvj1q-AD-irxLG-X97-YUNqGcuMoOUfedzscxKlAgFtg6tQP457NCYeYJ_IdoIeuDQ9jeSS3djJ80T-NU0wux5DTsbLJ85votccqrwtKL9IJIS6f3sRZSL8o/w463-h349/Fern%20Asplenium%20x%20ebenoides%20and%20Fern%20Cheilanthese%20lanosa.jpg" width="463" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I probably don't have enough plants, didn't know the name until now, or don't know too much about all the wonderful ferns, I am however 'an admirer' of the fern. And if all space which could grow ferns in the garden is full, well, there are pots to fill. Here Fern Asplenium x ebenoides aka 'Dragon Tail Fern' and Fern Cheilanthes lanosa (grey felty) aka 'Hairy Lip Fern'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No doubt the garden will draw me out, and I shall find time to do a gardening next week. </div></span></div></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-60121445730730822182024-01-30T08:28:00.001+00:002024-01-30T08:28:00.136+00:00Tree Appreciation Tuesday - Golden Weeping Willow<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">What an enchanting tree and its placement was inspired!</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><strong></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCkCQwSzJjWtcaGz6Z_o4L42AMOBWjlB5ZgshtYEFz6SoNpOkMAWImp7AU0-vNcWOvPaMZRAsKhHFUBNzNwal0ndzpbgW_1Vh46FmLXOUdkhvZMO860cdLxUzDYJRwjt4ANHWUvNYyBESgvZDsWTxfc1jYdGKf-eO-iRODB5GCrH_4Pf8auywZ3Gxmsg/s3189/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace%20Gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3189" data-original-width="3072" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCkCQwSzJjWtcaGz6Z_o4L42AMOBWjlB5ZgshtYEFz6SoNpOkMAWImp7AU0-vNcWOvPaMZRAsKhHFUBNzNwal0ndzpbgW_1Vh46FmLXOUdkhvZMO860cdLxUzDYJRwjt4ANHWUvNYyBESgvZDsWTxfc1jYdGKf-eO-iRODB5GCrH_4Pf8auywZ3Gxmsg/w403-h419/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace%20Gardens.jpg" width="403" /></a></strong></div><strong><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The footbridge across the Bishop's moat, with the small island on which it is growing, allows for a glimpse right into the crown, and a walk right through the drooping branches. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fgcih8zJjIt7jyhDFxMVrVgmI7BR3HYMUx3lBmTNT4AVpykeo4U6f1vRiqASVET7Xh9KQqAK1JdD2hcI3pL-tuuYw3db8Ewsk0S8fwGRrUTvltBs_aiIHccPbntdQkuLZ_lNUPNMDM47Y6f6dwIFhYcqFrJ4X6E8Dm6InxoF7ajp0pamrv0P_Q1sgOE/s4080/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20and%20bridge%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Fgcih8zJjIt7jyhDFxMVrVgmI7BR3HYMUx3lBmTNT4AVpykeo4U6f1vRiqASVET7Xh9KQqAK1JdD2hcI3pL-tuuYw3db8Ewsk0S8fwGRrUTvltBs_aiIHccPbntdQkuLZ_lNUPNMDM47Y6f6dwIFhYcqFrJ4X6E8Dm6InxoF7ajp0pamrv0P_Q1sgOE/w333-h442/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20and%20bridge%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">In the summer you are bathed in pale green flickering light, now in the winter you can pause mid way and appreciate the structure of the tree. Look up and there are long side limbs, and look down and the reflections equally enchant. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHk65PyWiq05UmzYmlpk3sMfI-QoVTztZ1q4tRwILJRinamd3JzLDXQM7Dw8ca3XN__ofbcJWmfv39BAnjV88bq0Iem8HmVV47JcDVNPEuW907_xhyrfjhjTf9bONvNhssYXw7j_UjfSkwJMVPtMZtcXEwZwXI9su9F7B2dXOCf5RmRElnzHsXYSpdO8/s4080/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20side%20branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHk65PyWiq05UmzYmlpk3sMfI-QoVTztZ1q4tRwILJRinamd3JzLDXQM7Dw8ca3XN__ofbcJWmfv39BAnjV88bq0Iem8HmVV47JcDVNPEuW907_xhyrfjhjTf9bONvNhssYXw7j_UjfSkwJMVPtMZtcXEwZwXI9su9F7B2dXOCf5RmRElnzHsXYSpdO8/w479-h361/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20side%20branch.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I noticed in a couple of places where the long stems reached down to the water, they were growing roots and therefore it would be easy enough to propagate. If anyone has a large expanse of water in need of a tree, maybe some enquiries for cuttings to the Bishop's Palace may gain you a little piece of this beauty?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Once in 2020 the Swans nested on the little island and a board had to be put up along the bridge, usually the Palace Swans nest along the bank of the moat further along, but during this period when there were far fewer visitors to the Palace, and when so many places were closed, the Island must have seemed the ideal spot for Grace and Gabriel to build their nest. I remember watching the webcam to see how the eggs and the young chicks were progressing. The things we found to do during the Lockdown! The island is still a place for rest or preening for all the Palace's birds</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbbdNtpBfzq4yGbJ50PqZZi96f31RjGy8pJWAxjuGRLMeFF5PbmRAfeLaSkUFNt2ccDqLKC5voKHmQqJkJvg_IiqiMELZIT0v_41hKYRkKk_uT-nm8cyBzLEMF7hYKhDfl4NHBR0g-w3sY4NhRffBxBzxpD_PvHvwQFPgyzxxi00XPsby3chXVPbNwEY/s3795/Mallard%20Drake%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3795" data-original-width="3036" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbbdNtpBfzq4yGbJ50PqZZi96f31RjGy8pJWAxjuGRLMeFF5PbmRAfeLaSkUFNt2ccDqLKC5voKHmQqJkJvg_IiqiMELZIT0v_41hKYRkKk_uT-nm8cyBzLEMF7hYKhDfl4NHBR0g-w3sY4NhRffBxBzxpD_PvHvwQFPgyzxxi00XPsby3chXVPbNwEY/w303-h379/Mallard%20Drake%20Wells%20Bishop%20Palace.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">There are so many wild willows growing on the levels not far away but this is a hybrid. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Salix x sepulcralis var. chrysocoma</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubVHefu4KvhP3g1-jKcUinSTzx2Jae1nzwFJes-9xDliKy9L_-hTtpWy8IoTNM3GK4lhZ2IzS_L_CWtI8rMnNaYDfdS1UMCKf3GssxMLnUoANhN_OB_4YJHL-kb6Dto8787GJ1_Oihf-FMW_LQ2wworVPNFXFTLg20zFx0L-cBTcdK-oIDwAjmSKTeI0/s4080/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20name%20plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubVHefu4KvhP3g1-jKcUinSTzx2Jae1nzwFJes-9xDliKy9L_-hTtpWy8IoTNM3GK4lhZ2IzS_L_CWtI8rMnNaYDfdS1UMCKf3GssxMLnUoANhN_OB_4YJHL-kb6Dto8787GJ1_Oihf-FMW_LQ2wworVPNFXFTLg20zFx0L-cBTcdK-oIDwAjmSKTeI0/s320/Salix%20x%20sepulcralis%20var.%20chrysocoma%20name%20plate.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cultivar origin</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Golden weeping willow is a hybrid between white willow (<em>Salix alba</em>), which is native to Europe and Asia, and Babylon weeping willow (<em>Salix babylonica</em>), which is native to China, both of which have been cultivated for centuries. The first golden weeping willow hybrid dates to 1888.</span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Derivation of names</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The genus name <em>Salix</em> is the classical Latin name for the willows. The hybrid name <em>sepulcralis</em> means of sepulchres, or tombs, and, like the common name, refers to the trees' weeping habit. The letter x in the Latin name indicates that golden weeping willow is a hybrid species.</span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://canadiantreetours.org/species-pages/Golden_weeping_willow.html">These details are courtesy of the site Canadian Tree Tours</a> I found this when I was searching for the origin of this tree, and found the site<a href="https://canadiantreetours.org/species-pages/what.html"> to be well worth looking through.</a> There is much there to further my enjoyment of the trees I see around me.</span></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-17607186411905340622024-01-29T09:00:00.004+00:002024-01-29T09:12:43.143+00:00In a Vase on Monday - Snowdrops and Magnolia Seedheads<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once again, snowdrops feature and I wonder how many there will be either from bloggers like me or <a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/01/29/in-a-vase-on-monday-sticks-of-pink/">Cathy herself who tirelessly puts up her post for us to link in with.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week's little posy is an assembly of two types of snowdrops: some of the neat double snowdrop Galanthus Mrs Beatrix Stanley and large single elwesii. It is Anna that I thank for the lovely double snowdrop, received as two bulbs back in 2019. The foliage I have used before several times. The vase is just one of my very small hexagonal jam jars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8EVefGn3XnoX3rvJH5jrVgho7CoDw6a3PogwA3q6dX49zzKig9rOmqJFYu_Sk29K41cvWGnTiwBaU5XTkD3afIA5HPOYBzl0A67bAT6FEzm-WLcmBuRJTDqP8ps0pL5kbWAg15Ki04SPvP3iY9tIzKJKvC7fGuDJbey0Nfqusb1GH5O_eqbbtUNgIlU/s2310/Snowdrops%20and%20Magnolias.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="1824" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8EVefGn3XnoX3rvJH5jrVgho7CoDw6a3PogwA3q6dX49zzKig9rOmqJFYu_Sk29K41cvWGnTiwBaU5XTkD3afIA5HPOYBzl0A67bAT6FEzm-WLcmBuRJTDqP8ps0pL5kbWAg15Ki04SPvP3iY9tIzKJKvC7fGuDJbey0Nfqusb1GH5O_eqbbtUNgIlU/w407-h514/Snowdrops%20and%20Magnolias.JPG" width="407" /></a></div><br />At their base are the seed pods of Magnolia Grandiflora. Last week, I sauntered into the Bishop's Palace Gardens in Wells for two reasons. One was to take a little gift and a bookmark that I made for James the Head Gardener, and the second reason is that I wanted to take pictures of the Golden Weeping Willow which will feature on my Tuesday Tree Appreciation post tomorrow. <p></p><div>When I was returning through the arched doorway through a wall, a lady asked me if I knew what the large tree was growing against the Palace, so we walked together and she pointed out the Magnolia Grandiflora. I confirmed the name with a gardener nearby and also asked if I may pick up and take away a few of the seed heads which were lying on the path, and she smiled: I was just about to rake them up and they would end up on the bonfire.</div><div><br /></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-25562667642879670722024-01-27T07:41:00.001+00:002024-01-27T07:41:54.610+00:00Six on Saturday - Winter Magic<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After two storms within seven days, we are now having a few sunny pleasant winter days, which are working its Winter Magic in the garden. I can see all sorts of spring specials breaking through the top of the soil, and each day I feel this magic working on me too. <a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/01/27/six-on-saturday-27-1-2024/">No doubt Jim will be sharing the Winter Magic in his garden, that is where if you wish to post about Six Things in your garden on Saturday, you are welcome to join, or just to have an idea what we have of interest in our gardens.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. Eranthis hyemalis 'Winterzaube' 'Winter Magic'<span face="open-sans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">(winter magic) is a named form of the Winter Aconite and is usually in flower before the bulk of the snowdrops. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="open-sans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5m82lAePFFCQADwlkB9SAfoAieEnDFRO2Pr-qwbjX0qxnJJ_w40lqhpCtrVrRKagDeB_l0E-UMQujlsM9I_9RdHjOCptmeerH_Lbd4G-MyKJ7Zsgb7l2wKnN4F_X8VNFFKywvKKrDWSn4bE8Q642vJmTtFrUt37-puKP27XeH8j4KYsDWr6AOBOLTQ/s4080/Eranthus%20hyemalis%20Winterzaube%20'Winter%20Magic'.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigE5m82lAePFFCQADwlkB9SAfoAieEnDFRO2Pr-qwbjX0qxnJJ_w40lqhpCtrVrRKagDeB_l0E-UMQujlsM9I_9RdHjOCptmeerH_Lbd4G-MyKJ7Zsgb7l2wKnN4F_X8VNFFKywvKKrDWSn4bE8Q642vJmTtFrUt37-puKP27XeH8j4KYsDWr6AOBOLTQ/w393-h296/Eranthus%20hyemalis%20Winterzaube%20'Winter%20Magic'.jpg" width="393" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="open-sans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="open-sans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">I really ought to have bought three or four, but I got the last one! It is a sterile, golden flowered aconite and this early form was discovered in about 1980 near Erfurt, Germany. Maybe it had been moved to a polytunnel to bring out the flowers ready to sell at the HPS Somerset I attended last Saturday. Hopefully Chris will bring more to the <a href="https://www.sheptonsnowdrops.org.uk/">Shepton Mallett Snowdrop Festival in a few weeks' time.</a></span></span></p><p><span face="open-sans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Usually the weather means I don't drive down for the January HPS Somerset meeting but when I read that we were to hear </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;">Mickey Little speak, I was delighted that I was well enough and the weather had turned mild, and we were between storms. Mickey trained at Cannington, was a nurseryman at Kelways and Head Gardener at Castle Drogo, Hestercombe and Achamore before joining Avon Bulbs as a propagator. His knowledge of snowdrops is extensive and he has been involved in propagating new cultivars of Galanthus over the years.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: helvetica;"> I was also very sorry to hear that this is the last year for Avon Bulbs as the owner<a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2022/05/east-lambrook-manor-and-avon-bulbs.html"> Chris Ireland-Jones</a> is retiring at the end of the year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">2. I also bought three snowdrops Galanthus Robin Hood and Galanthus S Arnott, which I already have but just planted a couple of years back, and a new one to the garden Galanthus 'Reverend Hailstone'. It was in peek condition when I brought it home, six days later it needed to have the main flower cut off.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdZGktr626optgUzSOI6LgSF7YRlDjdaIRR3jbR5Q2YBtboz2aelYRtiUj51dtxmuSqsYAShjmPYb6GG0KCobfTdtj_dexhiqxbGPV5o5FTXJjyyFnrz6fhujy-0SRopi0zbJJ0BCGvVY3Rvl0zkTyet6gctvtc_ibwY_tEq51fRWpAFZ-8yiWjMObz0/s4425/Galanthus%20'Reverend%20Hailstone'.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4425" data-original-width="2635" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdZGktr626optgUzSOI6LgSF7YRlDjdaIRR3jbR5Q2YBtboz2aelYRtiUj51dtxmuSqsYAShjmPYb6GG0KCobfTdtj_dexhiqxbGPV5o5FTXJjyyFnrz6fhujy-0SRopi0zbJJ0BCGvVY3Rvl0zkTyet6gctvtc_ibwY_tEq51fRWpAFZ-8yiWjMObz0/w243-h407/Galanthus%20'Reverend%20Hailstone'.JPG" width="243" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span>The flowers of this large hybrid are long with the outer segments double the length of inner segments, which have pale green inverted ‘V ‘. I have read that it is an early season snowdrop up to 30cm high, so it will go somewhere at the back of the border. It was discovered at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire and named after former rector of local church .30cm</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">3. One of the slides Mickey showed was one where snow had covered the nursery and I could see their ranks of </span><span style="background-color: white;">Tropaeolum tricolor covered with snow. As soon as I got home last weekend, out went the pot from the conservatory where it is looking perfectly happy. I gather if temperatures fall below -5C then they will need some protection.</span></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW12YR-M30PXS4YUaUB36PJUgdG4Q5irBvaDCqHPbN7x97BzSWQ2PbnnY1OdAA45fH7ddgZe8jMn_G1UznL-ctksV9zyV1dsKhuJFYKhCIVB0sen0u0z1vOZHOmu49QjxPs0Jme2qMkzAEYr6YtkwncvMzm6SBBw2ci4uQFiJIAkv6QGxtH5G_Z1AQE0/s4080/Tropaeolum%20tricolor%20from%20the%20Avon%20Bulbs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW12YR-M30PXS4YUaUB36PJUgdG4Q5irBvaDCqHPbN7x97BzSWQ2PbnnY1OdAA45fH7ddgZe8jMn_G1UznL-ctksV9zyV1dsKhuJFYKhCIVB0sen0u0z1vOZHOmu49QjxPs0Jme2qMkzAEYr6YtkwncvMzm6SBBw2ci4uQFiJIAkv6QGxtH5G_Z1AQE0/s320/Tropaeolum%20tricolor%20from%20the%20Avon%20Bulbs.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tropaeolum tricolor from the Avon Bulbs</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4. Remembering and being able to easily identify my own snowdrops without referring to the labels, is not something I can do without revision and application each spring. I picked three different blooms, have put them in a small vase in the kitchen, have made a sketch of the different inners and keep on looking at them. Even Mr S is getting in on the act!</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h1UmheDn1DmFwIe-heBkAE9Merr5pit16GiZ9NSKFc2zUi1ks9C3ZORDD3an2hHTMWGfCw5imRWgnUm9OH-dgUU0j1tZXC6Tebw6MnhLWEO0H7XqDH0_wrLxMD9VgX9bliSPUG00tZHWRTT-E_dyXTRLNuBwwPQO1RSFJQIMO5QjRRDtrNwUSSHOBGU/s4080/Galanthus%20Bertram%20Anderson%20close%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_goPzq7tz5yE-qQJT5x-MXA-bTiGNsGk4VZAEl1fWlmJuJN0O6RYspmLEfAxAsIGVHK2da9EQp8UIKADfTKy4-f0433ate6GgDYKz_Hh2GrUrI6X2j6cLZ_cQd_F41LoeOGDE46yG6hfiVCaXjfirAbvrwQPc_zbit1emtdKIIy-Hyv2dsZtIv_SSP4E/w320-h425/PXL_20240125_081917934.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h1UmheDn1DmFwIe-heBkAE9Merr5pit16GiZ9NSKFc2zUi1ks9C3ZORDD3an2hHTMWGfCw5imRWgnUm9OH-dgUU0j1tZXC6Tebw6MnhLWEO0H7XqDH0_wrLxMD9VgX9bliSPUG00tZHWRTT-E_dyXTRLNuBwwPQO1RSFJQIMO5QjRRDtrNwUSSHOBGU/s4080/Galanthus%20Bertram%20Anderson%20close%20up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppe6iRQOUiRCRxTan7CSjT02VhxDgI4umGM2AaUE2KGcTtwyzyUBHUxSXW8yb8kxbv8X8FXFeZITvQK5NoJxzF9TbvWY_NZ8th9SoJ85MoSynY93L09SR2rPsXruZU4Si0koCU-vKGKRXqu14Ryx7o-9Ilm8j72UhW1L5RPuiPvksmc5eXtP_DlrwKh0/s2046/Galanthus%20Collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2046" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppe6iRQOUiRCRxTan7CSjT02VhxDgI4umGM2AaUE2KGcTtwyzyUBHUxSXW8yb8kxbv8X8FXFeZITvQK5NoJxzF9TbvWY_NZ8th9SoJ85MoSynY93L09SR2rPsXruZU4Si0koCU-vKGKRXqu14Ryx7o-9Ilm8j72UhW1L5RPuiPvksmc5eXtP_DlrwKh0/s320/Galanthus%20Collage.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">5. Despite planting the garlic on 1st October last year, and the relatively warm autumn, they were so slow to sprout, that I wondered whether they had rotted in the soil. I'm pleased to say that was not the case: from seeing the shoots early December, this is how they are looking now with their criss cross of sticks to deter the neighbouring cats from scratching up the soil and leaving you know what behind!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxBltWe1lr8gmJJf_rikdNOHE5x7kQVSQvln1ashHQVGV6dbKCQuLzuXyOGgPdLRYsHRBY6RuDJ5bbBJVEbsjxjLfJpu2FRCRDNwhGkLI4gJhFZbvLz5YZSwSvkyniuKo7cX4IhIxAuNRcrGJK9eZaJTk_fN-WgsEHIugQUC3_McMMVMLFokzuVmPVdY/s4864/Garlic%20Shoots.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4864" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxBltWe1lr8gmJJf_rikdNOHE5x7kQVSQvln1ashHQVGV6dbKCQuLzuXyOGgPdLRYsHRBY6RuDJ5bbBJVEbsjxjLfJpu2FRCRDNwhGkLI4gJhFZbvLz5YZSwSvkyniuKo7cX4IhIxAuNRcrGJK9eZaJTk_fN-WgsEHIugQUC3_McMMVMLFokzuVmPVdY/w367-h275/Garlic%20Shoots.JPG" width="367" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">6. The morning sun catches the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: helvetica;">Carex comans 'Bronze Form' nicely, and around it the small cyclamen coum are just starting to flower. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3b3b3b;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwqqnmyLnSTusa0IcmervTN3gFvxxrm7SzJpEzpN5WYECcWKR5nAcHSlE81tdJ2rzfnSessPGE64EbYwDWsiF-inuQMp00Xq95vmRm5fmsqLJcGdLcEVGvc9QUO5utBOQ9HoXykjtiG-qVz7TrXdSLp9Ns3lxK-vAqe70qSreyw3Jh4l8jwjsp4v3AZU/s4864/Carex%20comans%20'Bronze%20Form'.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4864" data-original-width="3648" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwqqnmyLnSTusa0IcmervTN3gFvxxrm7SzJpEzpN5WYECcWKR5nAcHSlE81tdJ2rzfnSessPGE64EbYwDWsiF-inuQMp00Xq95vmRm5fmsqLJcGdLcEVGvc9QUO5utBOQ9HoXykjtiG-qVz7TrXdSLp9Ns3lxK-vAqe70qSreyw3Jh4l8jwjsp4v3AZU/w289-h385/Carex%20comans%20'Bronze%20Form'.JPG" width="289" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #3b3b3b;"><span style="color: black;">Last Sunday I went out dig up some of the dreaded Spanish bluebells which appear to be taking over the border by the drive. Yes I got a couple of buckets up, but hurt my foot on the top of the spade. I wasn't wearing boots but my garden crocs. What a silly thing to do! The H&S in my own head reminded me that I should consider all aspects of a job before starting!</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Josefin Sans"; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-59402360540230231552024-01-16T15:01:00.002+00:002024-01-16T15:01:36.082+00:00Tree Appreciation Tuesday - Spared Oak<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the winter when the ground is saturated, a walk along made up paths are in order, and we have used the path leading from Wells Sports Centre towards Haybridge. Now a new housing estate has been built, further paths were built through some fields making a short circular walk a possibility. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS3Z9hMMLZVIMiH40GRQTOd9RbBacEQZVUNSy7iD0CAR3N7F5lVZm-BsK6sVyiLQZ_jeBSKUHc194BnuWksSRTwFPwzvwSMgGPZbCRP2BTuzlq5niQLV7tvRNV4JO2jw7woNWSz3Msrr9i9NS_tNEdnTtIDPLInSH1upbiKiWzPSDR-IDAZj4SMxW3JY/s4080/PXL_20240107_110855761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS3Z9hMMLZVIMiH40GRQTOd9RbBacEQZVUNSy7iD0CAR3N7F5lVZm-BsK6sVyiLQZ_jeBSKUHc194BnuWksSRTwFPwzvwSMgGPZbCRP2BTuzlq5niQLV7tvRNV4JO2jw7woNWSz3Msrr9i9NS_tNEdnTtIDPLInSH1upbiKiWzPSDR-IDAZj4SMxW3JY/w496-h374/PXL_20240107_110855761.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><p>Oak trees are fairly common in this area, both in the open in fields, and in mixed woodland, and there are a number of these scattered along old hedgerows. In this area these seem to be about the same age, with extensive branching. This one caught my attention on a number of walks, and I am so pleased they were no felled at the time the space was laid out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOghjYmUATWAOM1X1wW4swiGIs8A3klM6W48R4h4m03hadjCkxExj4dAHYbizB3-KG_e9IuAY4pfpdMOPpTzaw4Inq68YZl8zd7h2dYXJyGJqADL7G3cufU2ZJPuIeHAzZTY8qk08NmjraWdzllW__H0UEJKl6yyxd_wK_k2Hx_I3413YqTspc7lRaWMw/s4080/PXL_20240107_110921923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOghjYmUATWAOM1X1wW4swiGIs8A3klM6W48R4h4m03hadjCkxExj4dAHYbizB3-KG_e9IuAY4pfpdMOPpTzaw4Inq68YZl8zd7h2dYXJyGJqADL7G3cufU2ZJPuIeHAzZTY8qk08NmjraWdzllW__H0UEJKl6yyxd_wK_k2Hx_I3413YqTspc7lRaWMw/w327-h434/PXL_20240107_110921923.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><p><br /></p>I like the way the bark on the main trunk has been closing up around an old side branch that has been decaying for a long time. It was too muddy to walk around the tree to see if there are signs of the tree having completely covered over areas leaving gnarled patches along the main trunk.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo82bKOyIElm5GlJanU2EqomUnXHbHoQHT663DB4TAQZHgcrsgklxM4-ipAvAMzwO_j9pTsyytHZCDgZD5IViwjuNwiQYQFUySOFJMVDCIdcgndUyWiY7LwcCU5wQ0ZwT1vbcSbz058B1URPrWL3XTAmDNHgKxusVSs4LME6IeEOWh1thv3gJNxnKwHOU/s4080/PXL_20240107_110937480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo82bKOyIElm5GlJanU2EqomUnXHbHoQHT663DB4TAQZHgcrsgklxM4-ipAvAMzwO_j9pTsyytHZCDgZD5IViwjuNwiQYQFUySOFJMVDCIdcgndUyWiY7LwcCU5wQ0ZwT1vbcSbz058B1URPrWL3XTAmDNHgKxusVSs4LME6IeEOWh1thv3gJNxnKwHOU/w360-h478/PXL_20240107_110937480.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p><br /></p>This is another similar oak less than 100 metres away, but here covered with ivy and no doubt offering shelter to birds at night, during storms, or providing ideal nesting opportunities.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uqdM7ODZjI8u3KvhXQLYggTRs6SRf59b16yyKdwEok0rBQE6f8foB-NvTZ7DSeqrnD_zcj8CGr04cAqOW4UbgT0kp3V8o1DszYmmQRauViIOl660j-L1jST1GRvDUL7IxIOZ6ROffsMsty9I4z5ba1tlV47IFkSdGH3UFAMupNSKXHUIrOgCaEuZNZc/s2928/PXL_20240107_111146797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2751" data-original-width="2928" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uqdM7ODZjI8u3KvhXQLYggTRs6SRf59b16yyKdwEok0rBQE6f8foB-NvTZ7DSeqrnD_zcj8CGr04cAqOW4UbgT0kp3V8o1DszYmmQRauViIOl660j-L1jST1GRvDUL7IxIOZ6ROffsMsty9I4z5ba1tlV47IFkSdGH3UFAMupNSKXHUIrOgCaEuZNZc/w387-h364/PXL_20240107_111146797.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-23804178719807177272024-01-15T15:03:00.002+00:002024-01-15T15:03:07.175+00:00In a Vase on Monday - Winter cold grips not the nodding snowdrops<p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/01/15/in-a-vase-on-monday-green-grow-the-rushes-o/">I'm joining in with Cathy for my first Vase this Year! </a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">What is not to love but the sight of snowdrops on a cold sunny day? With a selection of silver grey stems of other foliage here are a few precious stems of Galanthus Geoffrey Owen. This is a beautiful snowdrop with double the usual three outer petals, all six with the same proportions giving the drops their unique fulsome look. Leaves with a silvery or greyish tone complement the blooms which is why I have a couple of stems each of Hebe Topiara, and Pittosporum Garnettii. Since all my 'Terracotta Army' figurines are overwintering on the corner of the table in the conservatory, I left them all in situ for perhaps a first view of them all together. </span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdnJbn00pyPaK0R8wig6vC996u5Djx8VzeJN3PRuxXS0sn-98LiL63cOd2BFTSNuyDqnJFrt-5oyMXKR8jQs5R0w5V6cN6JOgE_NahwY3FZ1a3fSbrpSPV-gz73lJKgJqpjAZi1_b3CIH6TgpZr5W8CdcQqTP7fzgsdcpr739Or7kvS7u5ALi2TTPmLs/s4278/Galanthus%20Geoffrey%20Owen%20in%20a%20Vase.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4278" data-original-width="2768" height="567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdnJbn00pyPaK0R8wig6vC996u5Djx8VzeJN3PRuxXS0sn-98LiL63cOd2BFTSNuyDqnJFrt-5oyMXKR8jQs5R0w5V6cN6JOgE_NahwY3FZ1a3fSbrpSPV-gz73lJKgJqpjAZi1_b3CIH6TgpZr5W8CdcQqTP7fzgsdcpr739Or7kvS7u5ALi2TTPmLs/w367-h567/Galanthus%20Geoffrey%20Owen%20in%20a%20Vase.JPG" width="367" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #525252;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As I was picking the drops just after lunch from the garden today, I couldn't detect any scent, but now they are opening in their little vase, which I have moved to my desk, I can smell a delicate almondy scent from the beautiful Galanthus Geoffrey Owen. Usually described as a mid season flowering snowdrop, perhaps because of its situation or perhaps also on account of the very mild period until recently, this has been an early flowerer this year. They will no doubt bend as the freeze as observed by William Wordsworth in his poem, but will recover easily as temperatures rise above freezing during the day.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #525252;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNd2rOfdjT9-07Z5p_HMaakFZcsIE5LZZeQhQrTh8zufV0Q-ojOrqzCvgRNbK1KHoiGvZF7JY0w8RAgIT7Tg1Xjx2eGGD3NtRVBYIWGFh3lDgLGo4GHxseIGi7J3ctHilIXZIdcUDsLoI9GN0H0kmrkhqlwfk6FCWg-cdAwabwyLuRCOooZKhb_XEcws/s2699/Galanthus%20Geoffrey%20Owen%20close%20up.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2699" data-original-width="1986" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNd2rOfdjT9-07Z5p_HMaakFZcsIE5LZZeQhQrTh8zufV0Q-ojOrqzCvgRNbK1KHoiGvZF7JY0w8RAgIT7Tg1Xjx2eGGD3NtRVBYIWGFh3lDgLGo4GHxseIGi7J3ctHilIXZIdcUDsLoI9GN0H0kmrkhqlwfk6FCWg-cdAwabwyLuRCOooZKhb_XEcws/w337-h459/Galanthus%20Geoffrey%20Owen%20close%20up.JPG" width="337" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Galanthus Geoffrey Owen with its unique six outers </span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I had not realised that William Wordsworth had written a poem about snowdrops until just recently: </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>William Wordsworth </i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>TO A SNOWDROP</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #525252; margin: 20px 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Lone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they<br />But hardier far, once more I see thee bend<br />Thy forehead, as if fearful to offend,<br />Like an unbidden guest. Though day by day,<br />Storms, sallying from the mountain-tops, waylay<br />The rising sun, and on the plains descend;<br />Yet art thou welcome, welcome as a friend<br />Whose zeal outruns his promise! Blue-eyed May<br />Shall soon behold this border thickly set<br />With bright jonquils, their odours lavishing<br />On the soft west-wind and his frolic peers;<br />Nor will I then thy modest grace forget,<br />Chaste Snowdrop, venturous harbinger of Spring,<br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #525252;">And pensive monitor of fleeting years!</span> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I was delighted to hear from my friend Kay, and having read the poem she sent me, which was <span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;">Little Ladies by Laurence Alma-Tadema, decided to look up other poems which lead me to the one by William Wordsworth. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><h2 class="title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Snowdrops</i></span></h2><div class="field field--name-field-author field--type-entityreference field--label-hidden" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="field-item even" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>by <a href="https://www.poetrynook.com/poet/laurence-alma-tadema" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #129abc; text-decoration-line: none;">Laurence Alma-Tadema</a></i></span></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5e5e5e; margin: 1em 0px;"><div class="field__items" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="field__item even" property="content:encoded" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>Little ladies, white and green,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With your spears about you,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Will you tell us where you've been<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Since we lived without you?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You are sweet, and fresh, and clean,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With your pearly faces;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />In the dark earth where you've been<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There are wondrous places:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Yet you come again, serene,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When the leaves are hidden;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Bringing joy from where you've been<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />You return unbidden—<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Little ladies, white and green,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Are you glad to cheer us?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Hunger not for where you've been,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Stay till Spring be near us!</i></span></div></div></div>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081101795597600004.post-24257356074216065922024-01-13T07:50:00.005+00:002024-01-25T10:36:17.979+00:00Six on Saturday - My first in 2024<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> The soggy, damp, dismal, dark, depressing weather we experienced during December seems to be temporarily replaced with more seasonal weather. A few bright skies and actually being able to view sunrise at around 8:15ish this week, has done me and the garden a world of good. Having had a bad dose of some virus, being able to view the garden from the conservatory has been a boost as I recovered. I also enjoyed reading everyone else's posts on SOS, and it was lovely to receive a nice card from my SOS sister on a plant based theme of course!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The ground is still not suitable to work with, but a few leaves have been picked off the gravel area.</span></p><p><a href="https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/01/13/six-on-saturday-13-1-2024/"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jim with his large garden compared to mine is our 'anchor man', and it is there that I am linking this post, if you go there, there will be others linking in, and you may well be entertained by reading some of the posts.</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1. I've looked around my small back garden and found a few things which caught my eye this week, and willing to share. Since before Christmas with the mild weather some of the earlier snowdrops have been tempted out, sadly a few clumps have been nibbled 'petal-less' by itinerant marauders. These two seem to have escaped so far, and now the cold weather has arrived, hopefully they will stand for longer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Galanthus Fieldgate Prelude: <span style="background-color: white;">An early flowering snowdrop with inner markings that fade up towards the long bottle green ovary.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xWL4_aC8epwS4naO5fM8Enp4ND9gRZN5DwJUcJLWaGOq7k0PhAhdggsSUsZ8oZs6anp_SD-tGzfBNJE2tXJT2v5iQc43K2-Er0dndor0SStCvk1f3lgF6T92VDmsXShiRsbwdKN6OJ1VaZpQ5d4m0mUYxjxdTFdU4CDPgYiL4xj-LdLNkjhw9kKTC98/s4080/Galanthus%20Fieldgate%20Prelude.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2xWL4_aC8epwS4naO5fM8Enp4ND9gRZN5DwJUcJLWaGOq7k0PhAhdggsSUsZ8oZs6anp_SD-tGzfBNJE2tXJT2v5iQc43K2-Er0dndor0SStCvk1f3lgF6T92VDmsXShiRsbwdKN6OJ1VaZpQ5d4m0mUYxjxdTFdU4CDPgYiL4xj-LdLNkjhw9kKTC98/w324-h430/Galanthus%20Fieldgate%20Prelude.jpg" width="324" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2. This group of Galanthus Godfrey Owen here opening up in the sun, is thriving. The clump was divided, the second half placed in a more shaded part is a poor sight. Since this is one of the first varieties up early in the year, the second clump will be repositioned not far away, in a better spot. Even Mr S noticed the difference in this snowdrop. The inner three perianth segments have similar sizing and length to the three outer perianths and are pure white, giving the blooms a more fulsome look of six perianths or as I explained to Mr S 'petals'. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1omhV0r-73-2VkEDcj55fqDfj-Rhg6dXkLJx8QWA3re-ABTE7sWd7t0LV47DiBO-CTAQzI-7yD9wflDzAjviwpPQtuJyf1K6UHhD6K6yokMvEYcRNQbrfbKSpKvWbpwMz0IBCdMknBnCvtiTYMbZSz11oNjzQr29ZTL4M5NwDSjIvvtbXNHCDbKh9DL0/s2654/Galanthus%20Godfrey%20Owen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2520" data-original-width="2654" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1omhV0r-73-2VkEDcj55fqDfj-Rhg6dXkLJx8QWA3re-ABTE7sWd7t0LV47DiBO-CTAQzI-7yD9wflDzAjviwpPQtuJyf1K6UHhD6K6yokMvEYcRNQbrfbKSpKvWbpwMz0IBCdMknBnCvtiTYMbZSz11oNjzQr29ZTL4M5NwDSjIvvtbXNHCDbKh9DL0/w422-h401/Galanthus%20Godfrey%20Owen.jpg" width="422" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What I am finding with the early snowdrops, is that the clumps on 'higher ground' and those that the catch the sun are less prone to being nibbled, which is an excuse to do some moving, and also not getting too excited about adding different varieties to the garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">3. The low sun has also been catching the Cornus, making it live up to its name 'Mid Winter Fire'. Yes there are two Cornus here, one bought at the gardening club under a different name, and the other one bought from a nursery.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcQa5MgxXlAk_832Ed-jFEwdX28xJvw5x3W4p5cN2V9AceOBK6eBXgNwOI6PrYs6LxhX3500PJjNk-eizZrntlrFvAWA9WwiF6GJneVkyMyIx6h_AeqR-n4EViGzyFX_htKI3KW4e-BsWDyheEuL4pfYr_JCbeHYPq0lJUUelp5GyPebGL6s7h6hOFUo/s4080/Cornus%20Mid-Winter%20Fire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcQa5MgxXlAk_832Ed-jFEwdX28xJvw5x3W4p5cN2V9AceOBK6eBXgNwOI6PrYs6LxhX3500PJjNk-eizZrntlrFvAWA9WwiF6GJneVkyMyIx6h_AeqR-n4EViGzyFX_htKI3KW4e-BsWDyheEuL4pfYr_JCbeHYPq0lJUUelp5GyPebGL6s7h6hOFUo/w319-h424/Cornus%20Mid-Winter%20Fire.jpg" width="319" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4. In the winter there is nothing quite like fresh herbs to pep up dishes, and several parsley plants grown from seed have done well. Having sown the seed and succeeded I shall be doing this again in a couple of months time, as these plants will probably go to seed at the start of summer.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOQ4sWSlX3GxkosJIJy_xjFdv5lJvjwGLw1gYTb7N9qJLbx6SN407DXuXd6mrhsrnScw3RoTO57OQB-F8n4tNSMcV_U5KzgDf4bdbM9UL58wPHZU_PnSF0uiHpkVjxjmoWRb2HJS8idDIAXPFUyB7O3gl0JYYfb7b6QgLepL8zsoOeeUTZ-w64L7Y3wg/s3072/Parsley.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2711" data-original-width="3072" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOQ4sWSlX3GxkosJIJy_xjFdv5lJvjwGLw1gYTb7N9qJLbx6SN407DXuXd6mrhsrnScw3RoTO57OQB-F8n4tNSMcV_U5KzgDf4bdbM9UL58wPHZU_PnSF0uiHpkVjxjmoWRb2HJS8idDIAXPFUyB7O3gl0JYYfb7b6QgLepL8zsoOeeUTZ-w64L7Y3wg/w488-h430/Parsley.jpg" width="488" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">5. I noticed last week that <a href="https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2016/09/pseudowinetera-colorata-red-leopard.html">Pseudowinteras</a> were having their turn, not to be outdone, here is a lovely 'Red Leopard', which I moved from its shady summer position to one which gets better light. I shall continue to grow it in a large pot so that it can be moved as the seasons change. One year the leaves got scorched badly by the strong sun. In the summer its red spots are more prominent, a little like my own freckles I would suppose. This plant was first bought in 2016, and am only now starting to use it in cooking and am enjoying its spicy peppery influence in winter casseroles and soups.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_9g5wlbq-GUuEzifEP2ZhbizHLACLeAkHO4XtXNB6fnXl4pKKTs4lD4XGMQjJL_pt9PjNPeFelbrxkxusV-u7tu0x9P4HxAevbZApKZ1ol20BySafVl39GwhIyV82E-wrGAeONe2NWhUpMPIaazCebj8X2WiyC6AA_FMzHe-FgsSkI5y07AUdPEsudI/s3126/Pseudowintera%20colorata%20Red%20Leopard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3126" data-original-width="2642" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_9g5wlbq-GUuEzifEP2ZhbizHLACLeAkHO4XtXNB6fnXl4pKKTs4lD4XGMQjJL_pt9PjNPeFelbrxkxusV-u7tu0x9P4HxAevbZApKZ1ol20BySafVl39GwhIyV82E-wrGAeONe2NWhUpMPIaazCebj8X2WiyC6AA_FMzHe-FgsSkI5y07AUdPEsudI/s320/Pseudowintera%20colorata%20Red%20Leopard.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">6. Now it is obvious that the slightly etiolated growth first appearing towards the end of November is a flower spike. This is the first time I have had Aeonium Velour come into flower. To be fair, I had always broken up the plant before it had reached this size, but had not got round to it in the autumn. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZhjzy6jxk2ELjXQ9jgAs5ln9bQjhouOOzB7Tb2866qkUkG_fpht8daGX63A0S3_lcEAocxZzrfDU7MQwSrtCJgjbeyKyMd87DlFLRqE8hIZr37Rq3zRh_j-K1Y-r6DuX0gRMFQ6DqSCUtF1XOXS9ewI76f2C6CPkgH_VXCKCGwHhnpkzxUUxACoU9SQ/s3904/Aeonium%20Velour%20Mature%20plant%20in%20flower.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3904" data-original-width="2504" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZhjzy6jxk2ELjXQ9jgAs5ln9bQjhouOOzB7Tb2866qkUkG_fpht8daGX63A0S3_lcEAocxZzrfDU7MQwSrtCJgjbeyKyMd87DlFLRqE8hIZr37Rq3zRh_j-K1Y-r6DuX0gRMFQ6DqSCUtF1XOXS9ewI76f2C6CPkgH_VXCKCGwHhnpkzxUUxACoU9SQ/w300-h468/Aeonium%20Velour%20Mature%20plant%20in%20flower.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The lack of sun over the last few months has caused the usual lovely maroon colouring to replaced with green,. Once it has flowered, I'll be breaking off a couple of the rosettes to start new plants, and if there is room in the front garden, the rest of the plant will spend its last season planted straight into the garden.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3201" data-original-width="2947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Yy5BWrxLNrWeLt9lpyOLelDhsV4OqCsvhgtRucz4gYn-T3iOGUudUz9YfuCWLYZvvr-EeB5qmbAFWCXpbX8P56VyCPXM8oGrIcTL6bzp4wUzaziQDbZC_d31ixI7z0MYOskjjdTCFvyoUaBWDO3amZRtAjXlBYDaY6V5XUaUfninmvTiz9Ac0A3Czwc/s320/Aeonium%20Velour%20Flower%20Spike.jpg" width="295" /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />There always comes a time when, as plants mature or grow too large for its space, there is the wrench of having to 'despatch' them, and for favoured plants there is the process of 'regeneration' by this I mean taking cuttings or stolons and planting back up in new soil, ready to go for another few years of enjoyment and then process starts all over again.<br /></span><p><br /></p>Stasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02616094223215469144noreply@blogger.com8