The season of little flowers

The butterfly wanted to find himself a sweetheart,
Of course one of the nice little flowers was what he wanted
So he had a look at them
But what a lot there were to choose from.
                  Hans Christian  Andersen

 

The lady who wrote this book is a friend of mine and her garden was full of little flower gems.

I picked some little flowers from the little plot I keep my tiny bulbs and plants in  to enjoy inside whilst I stitched...

    Just living is not enough;  said the butterfly,
        One must have sunshine, freedom and little flowers.

 

 

The first iris reticulata

Primroses

 

Aconites with their cute wee green ruffs.

 

..from the Winter Flower Fairy book by Cecily Mary Barker.

The appearance of snowdrops in my garden every year never fails to thrill me. My  love and fascination  for them  never diminishes.  It's usually about this time that I get out my much loved Secret Garden book to read again.

 

As with a lot of flowers interesting folklore has evolved.

 

 

..a double snowdrop in my woodland garden.

 

 

...of course I can't resist picking some to keep me company..

...another favourite book Portrait of a NZ garden by Kerry Carmen has some lovely pencil sketches...

 

Vintage postcard.


To brighten up the living room I bought this bright and cheery pot plant..

 

..it's a Kalanchoe.

 

...some fiery skies to brighten up the evenings..

Have a happy, healthy week.
xx

July jaunting...

......I do like to be beside the seaside.....
I do like to be beside the sea......

especially on a sunny wintry day...it just blows away the cobwebs ...

 

.....duck petticoats....

 

...a sample of outer wear...

 

 

....these ducks were on the estuary....

 

..just lazing around.

swans keeping an eye on the weather.

 

 

weathered old tree...

 

 

Treasures to be found...

 

..an old china chip brought home to add to the collection....

 

...the blue glass must have been washed up just for me...

 

 

tiny adornment by Neptune.

 

 

 

 

...rock sculpted by wind and sea..

 

 

...littlest rock pool...

 

A beach rhino...

 

 

.....time to go home...

...happiness filled.

Have a happy week.

xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snowdrops and other winter delights

I am feeling better and have been enjoying July, it's so unpredictable weather wise...heavy frosts, sunny warmish days, like today, rain, sleet, hail, winds....a total scramble of weather..it makes life exciting.

 

spectacular sunrises...

 

..mellowing out to 'soft days'.

Perfect for doing a little knitting...

 

...or a little stitching...

 

 We have had some crisp starts to some days...

 

the grass staying crunchy underfoot all day..

 

...slivers of ice adorning the pond...but it amazes me every year in the midst of the worst winter days the little snow drops push their tiny green spires through the frozen ground, they emerge so perfect and delicate looking..they pull me outside rugged up to watch their progress, that breathtaking feeling that has never left me after reading The Secret Garden....

 

 

a few wee primroses just peeping out too.

The White Magic Hellebore I planted in the autumn is flowering and looking lovely in some little vases around the house.

 

 

Established plants in the woodland garden.

Skeletal trees have a stark beauty, catkins , cones and pods become an otherwise unseen beauty .

 

 

Alder cones

 

 

Tulip tree pods.

Pussy Willow is starting to emerge.... I have big jugs of it all over the house!! ..I adore it!!  

 

 

I have a birthday this month and was spoilt.

 

beeswax candles and

 

and hearts lovingly crafted by the Thrifty Fox...

 

 

delicate old lace and button magnets.

 

victorian scraps and delicately scented soap...

 

and this dear wee spode vase, blue spots and flowers!!! 

It's so lovely feeling my strength returning and doing some crafting, enjoying what the garden is offering up and feeling more like 'me'!

Have a happy week.xx