Today brings a sense of déjà vu, I'm inside again due to more rain. We've only had a few days of fine weather that lasted long enough to be out gardening recently. Surprisingly, at the end of the day last time I was out in the garden, despite the aches and pains after heavy work, … Continue reading “One who plants a garden plants happiness.”
The sun is out like a welcome visitor after heavy fog, cloudy days and rain. Reminiscent of living by the coast, the recurring rain and storms have been a part of almost every day that stands as a stark contrast to, not that long ago, when it never seemed to rain at all. Rain always … Continue reading ”The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
Why does the vegetable garden need to be a separate garden rather than part of the total garden landscape? With this at the forefront of my mind I'm planning a new garden in the style of a French kitchen garden known as Potager or Jardin de Curé. An old French-inspired graceful garden of herbs, flowers, … Continue reading “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Happiness reigns because it is raining at last in the garden and the topic on everyone's lips in the country this week will be "How much rain did you get?" Unseasonal rain sounds like music. There's no angst about it because crops are harvested, so it's all about filling water tanks and dams or watering … Continue reading “If it’s hot, it’s hot. If it’s dry, it’s dry. If it’s raining, it’s good.”
“In all the recipes for happiness I have ever seen, ‘something to look forward to’ has been given as an important ingredient. Something to look forward to! How rich the gardener, any gardener, is in this particular integrant! For always he [or she] looks forward to something, if it is only the appearance of the … Continue reading “When the flower blooms, the bees come uninvited. ”
Winter has struggled to take a firm hold this year. The usual severity of the white, crisp frost has been light around the garden this winter ( so far) The cold nights and early morning chill is followed by the warmth of bright sunshine on most days. If no sun then welcome rain has fallen, … Continue reading “There are always flowers for those who want to see them”
Our long-awaited day to visit the Rosa Botanica -Carla Fineschi Gardens in, Italy, an hour south of Florence, arrived. (Visited May 29th, 2019). Set on a Tuscan hillside in the small town of Cavriglia, Arezzo we were met by an Italian woman sitting in an old garden shed out of the rain, who took our 6 euros … Continue reading Carla Fineschi Rose Garden, Tuscany
I love inspiring quotes. At times I'll come across a quote that rings so true to me, and is exactly the sentiment I had thought of but not quite been able to express. The quote above by garden author C Z Guest says it all, and in a similar vein to columnist and landscape designer … Continue reading “I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ”
To design gardens that look and feel appealing and are a joy to visit think like an artist and use the basic design elements such as colour, line, texture, form and scale.By using the basic design elements and their combinations will provide the tools to create balance, unity, harmony, transition, repetition, accent and proportion for … Continue reading The Joy of a Well Designed Garden
It's pretty tough in the garden sometimes even though Spring's colour and fragrance have replaced the cold and frosty days of winter. We have experienced extreme weather this Spring with long days of high winds, heat and dust storms that have created havoc. Many plants are struggling from wind damage and the ground, despite my … Continue reading “Life is itself a school, and nature always a fresh study.”
“The air was fragrant with a thousand aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows.” William C Bryant Lavender blooming at Bona Vista 2019. Header Image is a view through the lavender hedge in the Luberon France 2019. I love growing lavender in the garden. … Continue reading As Rosemary is to the Spirit, so Lavender is to the Soul”
“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.” -Elizabeth Murray If you love Gardens then Al ru Farm at One Tree Hill in South Australia is a must visit. The property is owned by Ruth and Alan Irving since 1979. It is a working farm and … Continue reading Gardens to visit- Al ru farm
Arriving at BilleCart Salmon in the Champagne -Ardenne region of France, I was in awe of the beautiful à la Française Jardin or The French Garden that surrounded the Champagne House. We were early for our appointment to visit the famous vines of Le Clos Saint-Hilaire, the Chais and anticipated Champagne tasting so, we had … Continue reading The Garden at Billecart-Salmon
Singapore is a destination well worth a visit just to see The Gardens By The Bay. The gardens showcase plants and flowers from across the world. Singaporeans are proud of their gardens which are a fantastic drawcard for tourism but also for education and aim to be a model for sustainable development and conservation. Their … Continue reading Gardens by the Bay
“For many years, the Jardin Majorelle has provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and I have often dreamt of its unique colours.”Yves Saint Laurent Sometimes when travelling out of the blue one can find hidden gems that you may not have been aware of at all but end up being the highlight of … Continue reading Jardin Majorelle, Gueliz Morocco
A rose is a rose is a rose 