Summer colour

Well summer is supposed to be here, but the weather hasn't been the scorcher predicted, but then again, it never is, is it? But despite the cloudy skies and the rain, ( quite a bit at times) everything in the garden is blooming.
Over the last 18 months our back garden has had quite a makeover, and now that it is no longer shaded by those two dreadful diseased sycamore trees,
(which the local council removed earier in the year) everything looks much happier and healthier.
Here are a few pictures to show what it looks like now...

....we still have a lot of swapping and changing to do, but we were eager to get a lot of colour into the garden as quickly as possible...

we only havs small garden, approximately 25 feet wide by 35feet long, but we want to pack as much in as possible...

....the lawn has yet to be given its final shape but it's growing lovely now it sees so much sunshine.

....even the torch baskets are blossoming beautifully...

....the fuchsias are coming up now and they're giving us a good show...

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.....this is a new variety which we bought from our local nursery, and of course the beautiful roses...

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we have some lilies too...

...in various colours.....

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and this gorgeous pineapple broom smells wonderful!
The clematis are coming into their own now, so if it's a nice clear day i shouldbe able to get some nice pictures.
Our garden is very small but with all the colour, the small salad crop, summer berries and an apple tree, it's out little private paradise.

...Enjoy your weekend, whatever you do!

Shopping for roses!

Gosh, it's been quite a while since my last post. Not intentional, I've been busy making items for my spot at the local farm shop. You can read all about it here.
We made our trip to David Austin Roses

to buy the roses for the garden. This year we decided to change the whole of the front garden. We lost quite a few well established plants and shrubs during the cold snap, they've all gone and now it's all changing. I shall post pictures when it's all complete.
Anyway back to our trip, I thought you'd like to come with me, so here we go...

.... We've parked the car and we're off into the shop. I didn't take any pictures inside the shop (sorry) I was so eager to get outside. They do have a wonderful array of gifts and books ( I do have one to show in a while) and cut flowers.
Anyway, outside we go.....

....the restaurant, we didn't go in today, (we'd had a full English breakfast before we left home), but the food is delicious as we know from earlier trips, and the china used is all covered in roses (of course!)
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....Our trip was two weeks ago, and the roses were just coming into bud, so there were no bold displays of open flowers. We will be taking another trip back in a couple of weeks to view the show gardens which are absolutely stunning when they are all in full bloom.

......All these roses, did we know which ones we wanted to buy? well yes we did, we'd already decided, but I just want to show you the stock beds....

....and the fields of roses, all waiting to be bought and taken to new homes where they will be loved and admired....

...it's a good job I don't work here, my salary would all be in roses!...

...and just to show you one of the "residents" here.....

....I just have to show you this, my extra treat

...I had intended to buy a teapot, but when I looked through this beautiful book, I changed my mind....

....so when it's snowing or cold in winter I can look at the beautiful images in this book.....

.....and think of warmer sunny days and the beautiful scent of the roses. It is also packed full of information too!
Now you'd like to know what we bought I'm sure. Well we bought four roses ( for now) they were Lichfield Angel, Munstead Wood, England's rose, and Susan Williams-Ellis. You can see which ones they are by following the link. They are now planted in the garden. When the wind stops blowing and the buds open fully I shall post pictures. They are just gorgeous.

No words....just garden flowers, enjoy!

Lambing time at Calke Abbey

Yesterday we took a trip to CALKE ABBEY
We are so lucky to have it on our "doorstep"!
Its lambing time and there were so many beautiful lambs ...

These ones were a few days old, aren't they sweet?...

...over 400 had been born to date, at our visit....

....and more were expected. It was lovely to see them all, and now it really is spring...

We also took a trip around the garden. I love the garden whatever the season...

On this visit, the "plant theatre" ( as I call it) was adorned with these...

.....let's have a closer look shall we?..

..beautiful aren't they...

..all those sunny little faces looking at us...

...This time of year, when the staff and volunteers are busy in the garden, the potting sheds have some lovely treasures in them, well they are to me! Look at what we found....

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...we even found the scarecrows "at home"...

....it'll be out in the garden for them soon!
The bees were also busy in the sunshine...

....I don't know where this plane is jetting off to, but I'm quite happy where I am!...

...look at that beautiful blue sky, I do hope it lasts!!!
Then we walked back to the house, through the trees, what a view...

...it was so peaceful,not many people around, just listening to the birds, wonderful.
On the way out I popped into the shop, they had some plants for sale.
I bought a spearmint plant to replace one I lost in the cold weather. Now I can enjoy fresh spearmint tea in the morning again!
I do hope you've enjoyed your trip to Calke as much as I did!

Family and floral delights.

It's been quite hectic here in the last couple of weeks. Our daughter, her husband and our little grand daughter have been staying with us, so all my craft and garden projects have been on hold.
I think little Mary-Ann loved being in the garden..

..being just 21 months old, everything is an adventure. Even redistributing the stone path...

...but it all got very tiring, in the end....

...when cousins came to play, the house got very noisy. With Evie..

....Lily....

.....Harvey...

...and Mary-Ann too...

....and mums and dads, the house was very noisy. But it doesn't happen very often that we're all together, so it really didn't matter.
Now the house is quiet again, and I have time to look at the flowers...

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.....everything's bursting into bloom....

One thing which won't feature in our garden is this.....

....It was for sale in a local garden centre. It definately isn't to our taste, but each to their own, I suppose!!
I am now catching up with my knitting projects
...and I now have items for sale again.
Hopefully tomorrow Mick and I are going out for the day. Not sure where yet, but I will post pictures here, hopefully they'll be sunny ones too!
Have a great day, whatever you're doing.