miss marie's miscellany

Looking lovely in the garden this week

I was thinking how few photos I've taken this year of flowers in my garden, somehow up till now, there don't seem to have been as many as last year. But this week some beautiful colours have appeared .

Blue, blue anemone - this is sitting on the front doorstep, every time I go out, I have to stop and stare.

 

Pretty pink geranium

 

Frothy creaminess of this beautiful hydrangea

 

Lovely rose :-)

 

I love this two-tone geum, it's so unusual and the colours almost seem to glow, I find it mesmerising, especially when the sun is shining.

 

Green apples galore, it'll be a good harvest this year.

 

Cheery yellow calendula

 

All the bright and beautiful colours are having a good effect on my latest WIP, I thought I'd take a photo of it in the great outdoors.

 

Nearly finished! I'm loving how it's turning out, the random choice of colour is working a treat. I hope to be able to show you the completed blanket after the weekend.

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 

July collage

This year is passing by rather quickly, I can't believe it's the end of another month. There's been lots of crochet, some trips away and a mix of good and bloomin'  awful weather, sounds about right for the good old British summertime!

 

Strolling in the park

These palatial gates are the entrance to Birkenhead Park on the Wirral. My brother and sister-in-law live quite nearby and took me for a visit. The park was created in the 1840s and inspired the architect who designed Central Park in New York.  I can see why......it's vast with wide avenues, lots of trees and flowers; you can walk, run, cycle, play and even go fishing in the park, motorists can drive round the perimeter road in the park, and there was even a horse-drawn carriage sitting by the gates when we passed by. And of course, there's the all- important cafe, I didn't go there but I'm reliably informed it's good!

There must have been hundreds of squirrels running about the park, I managed to snap this one, they don't really like posing for photos!

 

We headed for this boathouse. It seemed Italian in style to me, both exterior and interior.

 

It has an amazing floor decorated with pebbles.

 

A lovely tranquil place in what is a busy urban area, good to know it's being looked after so well and is there for everyone to enjoy. 

Three gardens in one day: part 3

Last stop on this whistle-stop tour is Castle Kennedy Gardens, set on a vast sprawling estate, with a lake and tree-lined avenues. Castle Kennedy is a romantic ruin, covered in wisteria

 

Next to the castle is a beautiful walled garden

 

A lovely space to wander around
 

 

 

and enjoy the flowers

 

 

 

I have to admit the feet were starting to hurt a lot by now, so a big explore of the huge estate was not really going to happen. If you want to see Monkey Puzzle Avenue you will have to visit yourself! 

But through this gate..........

 

we found a lily pond to rival all the ones we'd seen before.

 

 There were so many water lilies you could hardly see any water

 

Monet would have been proud!

That's the end of the garden tour, I hope you've enjoyed this little slice of this beautiful part of Scotland.

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

Three gardens in one day: part 2

Next stop on out garden tour was Glenwhan Gardens. I think this has to be one of the best gardens I've ever visited; it is natural and un-manicured, with gorgeous planting, great sweeps of flowers and foliage.  

 

The garden spreads outwards and upwards around 2 lochans with amazing views from the highest points.

 

There are so many paths winding around the garden and also in between the plants, that you really feel right in the midst of the garden and are able to explore fully. There's lots to catch the eye amongst the flowers

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are even peacocks wandering around, this was the closest I could get before this one ran away

 

I've just let the pictures do the talking in this post :-)

 

Truly a beautiful and inspiring place.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Three gardens in one day: part 1

 

The main reason for visiting Dumfries and Galloway was to go to some of the beautiful gardens of the region, which is situated in the Gulf Stream, hence the  beautiful and lush wealth of horticultural interest. We managed to go to 3, each with a distinct character of their own. The first was Logan Botanic Gardens. This is affiliated to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and is a plantsman's paradise with exotic species from all over the world. 

 

 

Tropical!? If you look closely, you can see some of the many fish in the lily pond.

 

There are so many eye-catching plants........this is a Lantern Tree

 

 If you look at this tree's bark, you can see how it gets its name -  the Filo Pastry Tree (honestly!)

 

Palm trees everywhere

 
 
   

Gunnera - huge plants, it's like being on another planet standing in the midst of a sea of these.

 

I'll take you to Garden no.2 tomorrow!

 

 
 

 
 
 

Happier

Sometimes, it's little things which can cheer you up the most

 

A visit to see friends who live by the sea

 
 

Some new arrivals in the garden

 

A new WIP

 

And if all else fails, something sweet will hit the spot (sorry this pic is a bit blurred, I must have been excited at the impending sugar rush)

 

(In case you're wondering, the lovely pudding above was rhubarb creme brulee with ginger biscuits and was to die for!)
 
  

 

May collage

A month of contrasts of temperature, starting off cold and ending warm and promising. A month of tulips galore, they have brought wonderful colour to the garden. A month of happy crochet projects, including a special gift. A month when I visited some old haunts and places I'm glad I re-acquainted myself with.

 

This is the first time this year I've been able to post lots of flower photos, something which makes me very happy! Enjoy :-)
 

Chameleon explained

Do you remember the yellow tulip in my last but one past, the one called the chameleon tulip? 

 

I didn't know why........but I do now!

This is how they look today

 

I've never grown a flower which has changed colour before :-)

 

Final flush

All the tulips are nearly past their best, they've provided some wonderful colour in the garden for the last 2-3 weeks. 

This variety is called  Antoinette.

 

On the pack it says this is the chameleon tulip, I'm not sure why!? The colours remind me of pear drops

 

I planted these to have cut flowers in the house, but I've hardly picked any, i just couldn't bring myself to take the scissors to them!

These dwarf tulips were the first to emerge, they're called Johann Strauss (yes, I have to get some musical names in there!)

 

This is  Flaming Parrot.

 

 

Jan Reus, fantastic dark red 

 

Madonna, delicate white ruffles with a tint of green.

 

Palestrina 

 

 

Spring Green

 

And just because it's so pretty, this lovely parrot tulip  'Rococo' again.

 

 I'm glad I included some ruffled parrot tulips this year, they are exciting to watch as they go from tightly bunched up petals which give no hint of what's hiding inside to richly coloured and frilly flowers. A lovely contrast to their more upright sisters.

I love tulips, they're one of my favourites,  and I'm sad these lovely flowers will soon be gone from the garden, they make me catch my breath every time I walk past them!

 

But they'll re-appear next year, and there's plenty more to look forward to as spring turns into summer.