Flowers to inspire artists!

I've had some nice comments from Sandra who lives a couple of miles up the hill, since I started my garden blog. She likes my flower photos so much, she has suggested her students visit my site for inspiration for their paintings - Sandra, I have to admit that my daughter Andrea takes most of them, (I give instructions and artistic direction) but even she admits it's more down to the quality of her trusty little Canon Ixus750 digital camera than her photographic skills!! However, I am taking more photos myself now that I've got used to her camera and discovered the macro button!!

More photos of new summer flowers

We started to trim our tall leylandi hedge today, so the borders will be speckled with clippings for a few days - more work to do on Friday. Helpful hubby has only stood on one plant so far, he usually manages to squash many more! More summer flowers have bloomed to-day, again the day was overcast and not at all warm. I spotted the Foxglove up by the deck in the back corner of the garden - I've included a close-up because the markings are so beautiful. My carnations/pinks are almost open, should be a nice display by the weekend - I love their perfume, especially 'Doris', an old fashioned variety. See photo of small flower buds, I am looking forward to plenty of bright orange/red berries to keep the birds fed over winter!

My fir tree is still alive

It's been quite chilly and overcast today, but the warm weather at the weekend has certainly encouraged my plants to flower. I was a bit worried about my blue fir and thought it hadn't settled in (planted in July 06) but it now has new growth showing. The fuschia did actually have a flower open on Sunday, but over-enthusiastic watering by my helpful husband soon got rid of it!!!

Sunday stroll in Watergate Park

My grass is all cut, edges all neat, no weeds (that I can see), seedlings all planted. This afternoon we walked in Watergate Park, which is man made on the site of a very large spoil heap from an old coal mine. It's really maturing and we were lucky to get close to the swans with their two cygnets. I don't know what the cerise coloured plant is, one thick central stalk covered in flowers - any ideas? We only saw this twice within the whole area. Back to work tomorrow, so will revert to walking around the village instead of exploring further afield

RHS Harlow Carr Gardens, Yorkshire

Had a fab day out on Friday, brilliant sunshine and the gardens were beautiful, as usual. The red poppy flower was as big as a dinner plate! and the blue poppy was stunning, it was growing by the stream. Back to work on Monday, so had better work in my own garden to-day. Will be planting out some marigold seedlings, still small because I got five weeks behind with my seed planting when I was recovering from an op on my leg earlier this year

Thornley Woods

On Thursday we had a nice walk in Thornley Woods and here are some pictures - I wonder how many dandelions will grow from this single seed-head???

My Rockery

I thought I'd better take a photo of my rockery before the purple/pink heather goes over. This is my favourite corner of the garden. I like the mixture of shapes and colours which I can see from the kitchen window. It looks better from a distance, because I don't often venture up there to weed as I'm not keen on toads/frogs and one always jumps out and gives me a shock!

Visit to Shibdon Pond

Today we walked around Shibdon Pond Nature Reserve. Here are some pictures of the flowers and vegetation

The Goose in the garden...

Look who we found in our garden this morning - Gregory the goose. Andrea (my daughter) is super talented and makes all sorts of things. Usually in the middle of the night, I never know what I'm going to find when I wake up. This morning it was this goose that had taken up residence in my garden, she made him after visiting a lovely fabric crafting shop near to where we live called The Fat Quarters and buying some gorgeous pattern books. Later on today we are going into Newcastle in search of some soft terry towelling fabric to make a lamb - wonder if he'll keep the grass short?

Sunday afternoon walk

On Sunday afternoon we walked in Derwent Park. Andrea took some pictures of the wild flowers we found including dandelion, dog daisy, vetch, cowslips, 'old mans baccy' (that's what we called it when I was a girl) and the most beautiful purple clover. There was a tiny wild forget-me-not and some pink flowers for which I don't have a name yet. The swans were nowhere to be seen, neither was the heron, but we had a lovely walk even though it was very chilly

My garden in May

This is my first attempt at blogging and I will attempt to show different aspects of my small garden as the months pass. It will be interesting for me to compare this year to next, and so on. I have just dug a new border near the patio for my collection of patio roses which have been in pots. My garden slopes (both ways) and is surrounded by a high conifer hedge.

The coniferr patch in the lawn is filled with plants I received for my 35th wedding anniversay last year. I know they'll eventually grow too big, but I don't think I'll be around to worry about that when they do! Here are some photos of different areas of my garden taken yesterday. The Spring flowers are fading now but everything else is coming on really well, especially with the mild winter. The Nicotiana plant which is almost flowering, is a bedding plant from seed grown in 2006 - it has overwintered fine, with flowers, and I wish I hadn't pulled the rest out last Autumn when they were looking the worse for wear! The fuschias flowers are about to open. I put the pots between the shed and the greenhouse over the winter and they've survived!

I love watching the birds and feed them most daysbut on Wednesday a hawk dived into the tall conifer, grabbed a sparrow and that was the end of him ...... only feathers left on the lawn!