Red Garden

The first of a series on the colours of our garden.

The most prominent accent colour in garden is red. Whether it is in the flowers or in the birds (Black Headed Gonolek, Red Billed Firefinch or Red Chested Sunbird).

A Spot of Gardening

Our garden is looking a bit bare in places. So we thought it about time we spruced it up a bit. Just like on a Sunday in Britain we paid a visit to the Garden Centre.
Unlike the UK these are plots of land along the Airport Road and adjacent to the lake. Here people grow and sell plants of various sorts. Thankfully unlike Frosts, Dobbies or Wyevale there is none of the other paraphernalia – not even a coffee shop 🙂

Garden Centre

We wandered through the neat rows of potted plants selecting from a variety of flowering and foliage plants. Eventually we selected 4 plants we liked including two Hibiscus. It turned out one plant belonged to a different gardener. No problems it seems because they simply paid one another out of the reasonable fee we were charged (20000TzS). They then both threw in a free plant each as a gift. Not something I have experienced at Frosts et al.

They were going to be a trouble to carry back to the compound and so our gardening friends hired a taxi and off we shot home.
Borrowing a shovel and assisted by Steve one of the Askaris we planted the various Flora and borrowed a hose to water in.

Here’s hoping for a brighter future garden.

Red Hibiscus

Chenile Plant

Daisy

Yellow Verbena

Cordiline Fruticosa

Cordiline Fruticosa

Red Hibiscus

Yellow Verbena

Daisy

Pink Hibiscus

Chenile Plant

Hydrangea Heaven

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Cornwall at this time of year is covered with hydrangea bushes festooned with enormous globes that are the hydrangea flowers. I never realised the sheer variety of shades of blue, purple, pink and white in which they come and all shades in between. Our campsite has a great display at it’s entrance and across the site.other pics from The Lost Garden of Heligan.

Garden Chronicles – A Different Garden

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Here in Lincoln at Mum’s on a sweltering hot July afternoon.

Garden Chronicles : Crocosmia, Hollyhock and Veronica

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So glad I got to see this plant before we leave. One of my favourite summer plants is Crocosmia. I love the vibrant orange flowers against the lush green vegetation. Elsewhere we have Veronica with it’s spiky purple spires and the tallest flower in the garden the Hollyhock – self seeded purple flowers adorning a 6ft stalk.

Garden Chronicles (Not)

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Unfortunately one plant has not appeared which is a regular in our garden year on year :-(. So instead these are from Anita’s work place. Globe thistles!

Garden chronicles – Lavender, Rose and Hollyhock

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The garden is beginning to burst forth in a variety of colours. For my own memories I am chronicling the various blooms which will soon fade into distance. Earlier this week I posted from the back garden. This post is taken mainly from the front,

Weekly Photo Challenge: Extra Extra (Bugs)

Here is my submission to this weeks photo challenge – extra extra

From the  depths of the Cambodian Jungle in Ratanakiri Province. I took these flowers – only on reviewing did I spot the bugs – an Extra Bonus.

Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge: Floral Macros

a variety of recent pictures taken and are a submission to Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge: Floral Macros

Weekly Photo Challenge: Twist (5) – Flower Power

A submission to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Twist

These close up shots were taken at Powys Castle, Wales in August 2011. I love the way the petals twist into an architectural structure.

Travel Theme :Blossom

Taken from our very own garden – I make no bones about sharing pictures of our amazing Wisteria blossoms in combo with the Ceanothus.

A submission to this week’s Travel Theme: Blossom

Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring (3)

A third submission  to the Weekly Photo Challenge for Spring all photos taken from our garden.

Spring 1
Spring – 2

Gray’s and Blues

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Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK and so with the weather looking good we headed of with Anita’s family to Gray’s Court a National Trust property near Henley on Thames. Some fabulous gardens built among the ruins of a castle and a fabulous bluebell wood. We had a great time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: On Top -1

Here is my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge. This picture taken at Hidcote Gardens in Gloucestershire is of a Crown Imperial (Fritillaria). Taken  from below, using the front facing ‘Selfie’ camera  on my iPhone. This picture also features in my post  Hidcote Gardens

 

My second submission is here

Spring Garden

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Out garden is probably at its best in Spring. I will miss it. The Ceanothus and Wisteria blue combination is sill to come but for now it’s the red of the flowering currant and the yellow of the Forsythia and Keria Japonica which dominate.

Gardener’s World

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This afternoon we took advantage of the good weather and delayed our journey to Lincoln. Anita set to work on the front with a little help from Bex and Matt. Mum potted up some plants with a lot help from Bex. I meanwhile went to the dump and then the weekly ALDI shop (normality needs to go on) before returning to help out front.