New paintings and regular art updates.
I’ve collected some seeds from seed heads, including poppies and nasturtiums and marigolds. I need to store them in a cool dry place and I think they will be OK in a kitchen drawer. I need to remember that are there, if not they will be wasted, also when to plant them, I guess I will Google that, or look on the back of seed packets when we go to a garden center.
Nasturtiums sprawling in the back yard. They are in our front hedge too. There are flowers six foot up in the air. You can tell its nasturtiums because of the shape of their leaves, sort of like umbrellas. The leaves, as you can see, are sometimes variegated. The colours vary from pale cream to deep red. I’ve never seen a blue or purple one? Maybe they will do some genetic modification to change that? At the end of summer they are something cheerful to look at.
The back yard looks very green now. The flowers are going and there is some wilting, but temperatures have stayed reasonable so there isn’t any frost damage yet. I suppose we will have to compost the plants if it gets really cold, but I’m one of those gardeners that keeps going as long as possible. Successes are the fushias which have woody stems, also the begonia that is in the shelter of the wall. A few lobelia remain and the nasturtiums hubby planted into the old brick wall are trailing everywhere!
Nasturtiums like poor soil. They have large seeds about the size of a pea. I think they would be great for children to grow. You can plant them in succession over a few weeks and they first put out tendrils with umbrella shaped leaves. When it rains droplets gather on their leaves. Then in late summer, or early autumn the flowers appear. Trumpet shaped, the flower from pale yellow to deep red, with diffeepatterns and stripes as well as full colour ones. You can eat the spicy leaves and flowers in salads or on cold soups. I think the victorians used to use them as food decorations.
Thirty year old ceramic head. Every year I plant this, and another one (hidden behind a hanging basket) with lobelia or other trailing plants. I was going to put in nasturtium seeds but forgot!
I’m pleased with how it’s lasted. When it was fired it had a crack in the back and over the last twenty five years its been out there I’ve expected the frost to break it but it survived. I made it at a pottery class in Newcastle-under-Lyme and was really pleased with the result.
Anyway I’m thinking of making some more if I can find a pottery class or group.x
Crawling and creeping
Eating and munching
All over my nasturtiums
They chomp the leaves.
Soon to crystallise
Into chrysalis, cased-
What will the pupate into?
Butterflies, Moths, Sawflies?
Holey plants turned to beauty….
Flowers outside by our front door. I love the Nasturtium flowers, then I really enjoy the round leaves with slender veins running to a central spot. Nasturtium flowers can be used in salads. I think the leaves and seeds can be eaten too? Orange and pepper flavouring. The blue green grass next to the plants are a nice contrast.
Nasturtium with varigated leaves and other plants that are in front of the house. The only problem is the litter that blows about outside. Now I wear gloves or pick it up in a plastic bag to dispose of it.
Today I saw several discarded marks just lying on the pavement mixed with the fallen leaves. How horrible that people won’t take care of the place they live in. I hate the way they take no responsibility for their environment.
Our plants out the front are doing well although I’ve seen people through the front window, stopping when walking their dogs, no doubt to pee on the plants! Still I’m glad we grow them…
One of the most interesting flowers, simple to grow from seed in poor soil. The leaves are flat and round with veins spreading in rays from the centre. The flowers have petals spreading out from a centre that has holes in it and a sort of pointed spike on the back, (hard to describe). The flowers come in a variety of colours, from cream, yellow, orange and deep red, usually with stripes on them. The plant trails and sprawls and climbs.
The flowers are actually edible! They taste like a sort of peppery orange. You can use them to brighten up a salad. A taste of summer. I’m not sure about the leaves and the seed pods, always make sure a plant is safe to eat before you try them.
X
I took these photos in a friend’s garden 6 years ago (they came up on my Facebook feed) I am a nut about colour and some of these just zing!
I think I used a little digital camera with no added features to take these. I was just amazed how the reds and oranges stood out in the green.
I wish I could time travel back to those simpler times. But time flies, tempus fugit, and before you know it you are 6 years older and perhaps not wiser!
But in the meantime I’m going to enjoy browsing through these again…
Cheers x
Mallaband-Brown