Had the pleasure of hanging the flower baskets and planting up some pots today. I’m expecting as they settle down there will be a mass of more flowers. Last year the baskets were still partly in flower in December!
Garden done
Tag: Gardening
Canal walk
Today we walked from the carpark of the Toby Carvery at Festival Park, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent to Hanley Park and back. The walk was only about three and a half miles but it was quite humid and I’d already been gardening in the morning.
We saw some Geese and Goslings jump off a wall on the other side of the canal, they swam over to us as I think they were looking for food. Sadly we had nothing for them.
Hanley Park was looking lovely with purple and white flowers in the beds up by the pavilion. They must have spent a lot of money on them.f
Finally we walked back to the Carvery. That was a bit difficult. We had taken a seat outside. But we had to order drinks in the bar, which meant sitting in the bar and having our orders taken, then we could take them outside. When I wanted a bag of crisps I had to go and sit again and wait for them to come and take my order. It was OK but a little strange.t
Then home to more gardening.
Hanging basket madness
We bought home a boot full of hanging baskets today. We went a bit mad and ordered a few too many. With these and the ones on the back seat we had eight in the car. We have got to go back and collect two more. I hang them two at a time, one under another so that when I water the top one the bottom gets watered too.
We order them in April dand then wait for them to grow for a couple of months. They are usually ready for collection in the second week of June. It is mad, but I love them. They finish off the garden. Now I’ve got to hang them!
Passion flower
Fascinating flower
Full of passion
Enchanted star
Frilled and stellar
Surviving the coldull
Full faced like the sun
Blooming with mystery
Suffragette colours
Passionate
Strong.
Seven beech trees
Looking up at Seven beech trees entwined at the top. Inner branches trimmed and from the outside looking like a huge tree. Branches with leaves going down to the ground. There is a huge wooden bench inside in the middle.
Joined
Another visit to Trentham Gardens today for a gentle stroll after a few too many Gin and Tonics last night. It was far cooler today although the sun did shine. My sunburn kept me warm. We had a meal and enjoyed exploring the show gardens over in a far corner of the site.
I still managed a reasonable 6000 steps although I never really raised me heart rate.
When I looked into joining there were various factors that helped me decide to join. I hope we go frequently enough to make it worthwhile and its pleasant to walk in grounds designed by Capability Brown although urban streets are OK too.
Oh Rose
When I see your blushing pink I can see why Shakespeare was so effusive about you.
Pink and packed with petals, this rose shone out in the twilight. The dark green contrasting with the fresh colour of the flower.
I wish I had the skill to weave a story about you, perhaps your antecedents were worn by Cinderella at the ball, or the scent of you enchanted Snow White.
I think I heard roses came from Ancient Persia. Wherever they originated, they are lovely. I saw these outside the Portmeirion factory in Stoke, they brightened my evening.
Holly leaf
Watercolour with Arteza Metallic paints for the #bandofsketchers prompt for Tuesday ‘sunlight,’. A holly leaf caught in the sunshine. The painting was done from a photo, I painted it straight away without drawing it out first.
I need to do some gardening at the moment, the nettles are taking over so I need to cut them back a bit. They are good for butterfly 🐛 caterpillars but if they sting you as you walk past they do need attention. The Holly bushes are a little overgrown too. It’s turning into a bit of a mammoth task, and I’m a bit nervous of taking it on!
Just sat down
It’s been a long day. I went out this morning and I’ve just sat down at 11.30pm. In that time I’ve been out and then later went and collected some flag irises that someone was giving away. They are now in our pond. We got stuck in traffic on the way to the place, so six miles took about forty minutes to drive there. Then later after doing work around the house I went to a yoga class, came home, went on a zoom meeting about college, then a choir practice. We went out for a walk, then I went shopping and finally cooked our evening meal. So that’s why I haven’t been online much today. The odd thing is my step counter doesn’t seem to have included the walk this evening. I know I’ve walked further than it is showing? Perhaps it’s a glitch. I must get a rest. Sorry for the boring post!
Sunlight grass and flowers
A warm evening, so we walked along past this grassy area. Unfortunately I’d forgotten I have hay-fever, (it’s just the start of the season) so I walked round with my eyes itching!
I think the flowers are buttercups and dasies, Is there is a song with those words in it? Good to see the flowers though. The bees were buzzing around and enjoying them.
We walked about three miles, we saw a few people and actually chatted at a distance, but it was good to get out.
Mallaband-Brown 