Irises

I hope to grow lots of irises this year, They are one of my favourite flowers and I dont think deer eat them, This is especially important as a pair of deer seem to have taken up residence in our garden. My first purchase of the year was an Algerian Iris bought at the Hardy Plant Society February meeting



http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3291


Iris reticulata are always one of the first signs of spring,


http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Harlow-Carr/About-Harlow-Carr/Plant-of-the-month/March/Iris-reticulata


I would also like to grow Tigridia again. I grew them in pots on the patio in the 1990s when we had a spell of hot summers and mild winters and they self seeded in the patio cracks, They have all disappeared so hope to be successful with new bulbs


http://www.google.com/imgres?

The sun is shining and today it really does feel as though spring is coming. The last week has been bitterly cold. We were on the Isle of Wight visiting our son's family yesterday and it was just as cold there with icy winds. We went to the Chequers in Rookley to eat in the evening and I had a delicious 'veggie roast' from their carvery.  

http://www.chequersinn-iow.co.uk/index.php

 

My small grandson Bobby stayed with us for 2 nights last week. I took him to our local Farm Shop. As we arrived there I heard a little voice from the back of the car saying 'Polar Bears Nanna'. He had seen the alpacas ! He really enjoyed his visit especially as he was allowed to feed the chickens and look for eggs

 http://www.elmnursery.co.uk/Elm_Nursery/Home.html

 

 

Our first taste of spring last month was a visit to the Central Parks in Southampton

http://www.southampton.gov.uk/s-leisure/parksgreenspaces/citycentreparks/default.aspx

 

Here are some of the early spring flowers Bobby and I  saw there 

Victoria Garden in Farnham is a delightful Town Centre Garden. I visited it on my way home from 'Unravel' a fantastic knitting/crochet show held annually at Farnham Maltings

These Daffodils were one of the first signs of spring in my garden

 Broad Beans plants in a tub in the greenhouse

This is my first post for a very long time and I will give a quick resume of some of the events of last year!

The Queens Diamond Jubilee was celebrated last June. You have probably read or seen some coverage of the magnificent official events.

There were celebrations all over the country and I think most families were involved in some way.

Guildford Castle Grounds had a stunning display of colourful carpet bedding  celebrating the Jubilee.

 

I made this cushion to celebrate the Jubilee

and this one to give to a friend who is moving away from London, 

Our daughter Susannah and her husband Jon, who live in Wisconsin, USA celebrated the Jubilee with a tea party for their friends. One of her cats is helping to decorate their home with the Union Jack.

Roger and I and our friend Julie went to the Big Picnic at Hampton Court Palace. The Queen wasn't scheduled to attend but we caught a glimpse of her and the Duke as they drove past Hampton Court on their way to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Epsom Racecourse. The Big Picnic was a great success with over 13,000 people attending. Entry to the gardens was free. Stalls sold delicious food and there were traditional games and races for the children.

Roger and Julie getting ready to enjoy their picnic at Hampton Court Palace

The Jubilee was celebrated in our road with a Big Lunch .

Here is Roger and some of our neighbours

Grandson Bobby enjoyed the party

 

 

 

Son Charles and his wife Maria were thrilled to be able to attend the picnic and concert at Buckingham Palace

Here is Charles at the Palace entrance

 

 

 

 

Maria collects the picnic hamper

 

 

 

 

 

Guildford Institute celebrated with a 1950s tea party

 

Here are some of the early summer flowers in my garden last year

Here are some of the flowers I saw when I visited the London Squares Open Day last June

 

 

 

 

My New Years resolution is to be a more frequent blogger!

Today I visited the beautiful flower festival at All Souls Church in Sutton Green. The festival was part of the celebrations of  the 90th Anniversary of the church. I was reminded of last years Flower Festival at our parish church St Peters which celebrated 400 years of the King James Bible. You can see some of the arrangements from the earlier festival by following this link -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruthiegledhill/sets/72157627822455350

Here are some pictures of the lovely garden at Westways Farm, Gracious Pond Road, Chobham. The garden was open for charity at the beginning of May.

I have come to the conclusion that I take the self sown plants in my garden too much for granted. They are invaluable for supplying colour and need very little help from me. Purple aquilegias are the most abundant. They really are beautiful flowers.

                                                                      

This white aquilegia wasnt self sown.
I think I bought it at a HPS plant sale

This is a blackcurrant sage which I bought at the end of last autumn and overwintered in the greenhouse. I shall plant it in the border now the weather is warmer

This auricula, which is just coming into flower has also been overwintered in the (cold) greenhouse

The saladini salad leaves in the greenhouse are delicious. I sowed them early in March.

At the bottom left are larger lettuce plants and spinach  that have overwintered and are now going to seed. Young tomato plants are on the floor in the centre

Aubergines are in the big pots here. The smaller pots contain cucumber and courgette plants waiting to be potted up

The supermarket ginger root which I potted up is just beginning to grow, Behind are some dried statice from last years garden