New Year Blooms ...

Good Morning!

I hope you have all enjoyed the Christmas  / New Year Break, it's flown by!
Today I thought I would share a few pics of what is currently in flower in my garden, what with all the mild weather we've had this Winter certain plants are flowering earlier than usual ... or simply haven't stopped! 

Why not take a look around your own garden and see what you can spot.

The White Speckled Hellebore I bought last year from a local garden centre is almost in full flower, a few weeks ahead than it should be.

Whereas my Hellebore 'Pink Beauty' planted in the ground is still forming buds.

Although it's not technically in flower, the brightness of the foliage of my 'Leucothoe Fontanesiana Makijaz' always catches my eye when I walk past it, especially when it's just been raining!

My Alstroemeria Inca 'Ice Koice' hasn't stopped flowering although this is the only stem with flower buds left than I can see.

I took two cuttings from my Hebe 'Pearl of Paradise' the year before last which have grown into good size plants. The one that is still remaining in a pot has started to flower this week.

Flowers have also appeared on the Viburnum 'Tinus' which is right for this time of year, the following photograph is from the plant in the back garden with just a few flowers, it was also attacked by Viburnum Beetle in the Summer. However the one planted in the border at the front of the house, albeit a bit smaller is covered in flowers!

The Euphorbia in the GH border has an early flower spike whilst the one in a pot hasn't any but looks equally impressive when it's glistening with rain.

The Winter flowering Clematis 'Winter Beauty' growing against the shed is in it's first year of flower. I've been watching the flower buds grow over the past month or so and one of them finally bloomed yesterday!

My Purple Penstemon hasn't stopped flowering since last Summer.

Nor has the Climbing Rose 'Hiedelberg'

... and finally the Iris 'George' that I have under cover in the Greenhouse is showing signs of colour!

Thanks for stopping by!

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

My Autumn Garden ...

Good Morning!

It's been a while since I shared some full garden photographs so I thought it was time to show how it was looking so far this Autumn!

First up is the front of the house which had a little tidy up last weekend ready for the winter months! As you can see the Perennials I planted a few months ago seem to be doing well.

As soon as you walk through the gate your on the large patio area (if this was my house this would've been halved in size and planted up lol) but unfortunately due to renting it has to stay put! There is a large Raised Bed which is currently playing host to some Dahlia's. They're a little past their best but the bee's are still enjoying them so are staying put a little longer!

In the gap between the raised bed and the lawn is a small stretch of patio that I've filled with some Primroses and next to them are some Penstemons planted in a small border. 

Back on the patio lining the stretch from the gate along the conservatory is a display of pots.

The shady spot at the other side of the conservatory that currently only see's about an hour or two of sunshine is looking colourful thanks to the Sedum. 

Next to this shady spot is the second part of lawn which is on the same side as the Greenhouse.

Infront of the Greenhouse is my little pond and another small border.

Finally here's a few snaps from inside the Greenhouse!

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

My Favourite Garden Photo's from 2014 ... Part 2!

Good Morning!

I'm back today with the second part of my favourite photographs taken in my garden during 2014.

I hope you like the rest that I have chosen ... oh and Happy New Year!

JULY

The front border during the summer months, a little tricky to photograph but it was full of colour provided by the Antirrrhinums and Dahlias, not forgetting the lovely rose at the end.

AUGUST

It's always nice to see the local wildlife enjoying the plants as much as I do.

SEPTEMBER

Rather unexpectedly this little Auricula decided to bloom at this time of year! The one thing I want in 2015 is an Auricula Theatre to prevent the rain getting on the leaves. 

OCTOBER

One of the things I enjoy doing is putting together pot displays. This is one of my favourites that I did for the Autumn using a Heuchera, Hebe and some white Viola's.

NOVEMBER

This year Cyclamen have become one of my favourite plants. Here is my little collection kept in the conservatory providing some much needed colour at this time of year!

DECEMBER

To end the year I planted some Narcissus - Paperwhites into pots which are kept in the kitchen and living room. The ones in the kitchen are blooming their socks off and are 29inches tall!

Thanks for popping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Getting Ready For Winter ...

Good Morning!

Okay so maybe the title is a little bit more alarming than it should be! 

Earlier this week I dug up the Dahlia's and Antirrhinum's from the front border as they were looking a bit tired and I wanted to get the Winter Bedding in whilst the ground was still warm to give them a good start.

However there was 1 or 2 Dahlia's that were still looking okay so I popped them into some pots and lined them along the front of the house.

Once all the plants had been pulled out and any debris picked up I gave the ground a quick turn over ready for the new residents!

As always I like to position the plants where they are to go before planting. 

As you can see here at the back of the border will be some Wallflowers and I also planted some dwarf Narcissus bulbs at the same time which will hopefully come up next spring.

These have been joined by a row of Bellis- 'Pomponette' in the middle and some 'Primrose - Rosebud' at the front! I then added a mulch of compost over the top to add some extra nutrients to the soil and also give a neat finishing touch!

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Delightful Dahlia's ...

Good Morning!

Following on from yesterday's post on the front garden I wanted to share how the bedding Dahlia's in the front border are doing! Although they are only small the blooms are lovely and striking. Incase you don't remember these are all Dahlias that I grew from seed and are of the 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' variety.

 I have to say that my favourite is this first one, I love how simple and elegant it looks with it being completely white!

This last one is actually from a tuber that got left in the ground by accident last year, which is of a standard Dahlia seed mix. It seems to have bushed out quite well and has lots of yellow flowers!

On a final note as if by magic after yesterday's post went live the Geraniums started flowering in the baskets! Here's a look at one of them and you can just see the Red Geranium peeking out in the middle at the top!

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Front Garden Pots & Baskets!

Good Morning!

Today I wanted to share how the front of the house was looking. I have given the containers a bit of a reposition and they all seem to be blooming now!

The large tub of Cosmos is providing height and colour along with the Alstroemeria. 

The little pot of Pansies in the centre helps to fill the gap.

The potted Clematis has put on a lot of growth after looking a bit unhappy a couple of months ago. However it is taking over a little bit so it may need taming! lol Next to it I have positioned my 'Rhapsody in Blue' Rose and a pot of bedding.

Lastly the two Hanging Baskets are looking great, you can't see them in the photo's but the geraniums are slowly starting to peek their heads up in the centre of the baskets so hopefully they will be visable soon!

Thanks for stopping by,

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX