Around Midnight

Earlier this week I spotted this little gem at the back of a border.  In the spring I thought it had died as there was no sign of life anywhere, but eventually the leaves appeared but no flowers.  I fed it with tomato feed and it has rewarded me with 2 flowers.  They are tiny, but beautifully marked, (and are actually darker than in the photo).  Maybe if I look after it a bit better, and cut back some of the surrounding shrubs to give it more light, it might reward me with more flowers next year?  For the moment though I'm very happy that it's alive!

Iris Chrysographes Around Midnight

Nemo Finds Some Friends

When I moved here I inherited a pond, and after several weeks I discovered I'd inherited a fish too!  This fish, named Nemo because of his colouring, had obviously escaped the net when the previous owners removed the rest of the fish, and had survived without any attention whilst the house was rented for 3 years.

For the last couple of years I've been thinking about getting some more fish to keep him company, but I was worried that I'd have to feed them (I've never fed Nemo as he'd survived on the natural food in the pond for 3 years and was perfectly ok).  Two weeks I asked the man in the Aquatics part of Mill Race Garden Centre if I'd need to feed any new ones and he said I wouldn't as the pond was big enough.  So Chilli and Dora came home with me and took up residence with Nemo.

 Nemo (top) Dora (middle) Chilli (bottom)

Since I introduced them they've all been swimming round together.  Initially I felt mean that I'd kept Nemo on his own for 2 years, but as someone said to me the other day "he doesn't remember that he was on his own, all he knows is that he now has friends!".

Pretty In Pink

Different seasons have different colours associated with them don't they?  In my garden we are definitely in the "pink" season at the moment.  I love all the different shades, from almost white to cerise.

 Abraham Derby

Variegated Weigela

Tanacetum Coccineum

 

  

Unknown inherited clematis

Mme Alfred Carriere

Anisodontea Capensis

Scepter'd Isle

Patty's Plum

And finally - 4 of these beautiful very pale pink plants have appeared, I'm guessing they're some kind of allium.  I didn't plant them and they haven't appeared in previous years.  They have no scent.  Can anyone help to identify them?

A Taste of Summer

When I moved here I inherited a vine.  It was very unloved and straggly and didn't produce any grapes.  Over the last 2 and 1/2 years I have nursed it back to health -  I learned how to prune it properly and have trained it over a pergola behind the greenhouse.  This year it is covered in baby bunches of grapes, there are over 100!

A baby bunch of grapes.

Next to the vine are these newly planted strawberries -

If only I could make champagne from the grapes then I could have bubbly and strawberries in the garden!
(How to keep the birds off will be my next project!)

Cedric Morris Irises

Last autumn I bought 3 Cedric Morris irises at the NCCPG (National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens) plant fair at Helmingham Hall from Sarah Cook.  Sarah now holds the national collection of these irises and her display was one of major temptation.    The irises I bought were just tiny rhizomes, but yesterday one opened to reveal this beautiful flower.

Unfortunately I can't remember what it is called, but as Sarah has open days on the 5th and 6th June this year, I may be able to find out then. (The NCCPG Spring Plant Fair is on the 30th May, also at Helmingham Hall, and as the entry fee includes a free plant I may have to attend that too!)

Edited - it's Benton Deirdre

The promise of things to come....

My garden is full of promise today.  It feels as though it's teasing me, with its half opened buds, just biding their time, waiting for the right moment.

Alliums - Purple Sensation

unknown clematis

Centranthus ruber

Unknown rose - possibly Mme Alfred Carriere

Rosa Abraham Darby

I am sure the waiting will be worth it!

Happy Birthday Cats!

Today is my cats' birthday. Florence and Dylan were born 5 years ago to a young ferral cat and  they were  all taken to SESAW, an animal rescue centre, by a lady who had been feeding their mum.

This is them on the day I brought them home

This is them today

 

Over the years they have found some very special and "interesting" places to sit and sleep in, here are some of them. (The last picture is them with our old friend Lucky, who is no longer with us, but they all loved each other - most of the time!)