miss marie's miscellany

Anyone for tennis?

I won't be the only person glued to the TV for the next fortnight, I'm sure. Yes, after 50 tennis-free weeks, it's Wimbledon!

I really enjoy watching Wimbledon.....all that determination and sportsmanship is very exciting. It's a great sporting arena steeped in the history of the game of tennis. It might also have something to do with enjoying watching fit men in shorts running around! I will be cheering Andy Murray on; he is tipped to win by several tennis legends in the Guardian, and he has been playing splendidly of late. Let's hope the weight of expectation of the entire nation doesn't weigh too heavily on his shoulders.  I can't help thinking that Roger Federer will be spurred on to win his 15th Grand slam title. It will be so gripping to see how the tournament unfolds, day by day. I'm not sure who is the clear favourite for the ladies; and I have to admit I find the wailing and screaming of some of the female players off-putting. I suppose I could turn the volume down! Not quite the same without the racquet -hitting -the -ball and crowd-cheering sounds. For the real Wimbledon ambience, I should really be drinking Pimm's, not tea!

Tick tock

I know I should be getting rid of these with haste, but they are amazing when seen at close quarters. 

One more garden lovely today, this pansy with its unusual colour

And the Royal Horticultural Society have made me laugh again, now they're after your bras and your fella's boxers to turn them into hanging baskets. Apparently there are special laundry baskets at the Chelsea Flower Show in which to deposit ones old (clean) undies. I wonder if Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry brought their old smalls with them when they visited!

Gnome and Garden

Lots of lovely colour everywhere in the garden this week.

Bluebells are such a gorgeous blue.

This geum is so bright and sunny

And this Dicentra spectabilis with its heart-shaped flowers is lovely, I'd forgotten the stems are deep pink too.

From my garden to something a bit posher.....I'm looking forward to seeing the Chelsea Flower Show programmes on BBC1 & 2. I love seeing the plants and flowers, new varieties and old favourites....and all the show gardens. Interesting to see what the designers come up with, especially in this time of recession. I see from reading the Guardian that all tickets are sold out for the entire week, the RHS have banned one of the exhibitors from having their lucky garden gnome in their display, but strangely they have allowed a garden made entirely of plasticine to be shown.