Garden Journal

Seeds and a Village Show.

artistsgarden — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:32:03 +0000

Spurred on by the comments of Zoe, James A.S. and HappyMouffetard, I have decided I will enter my “flower arrangement” in the show.

If you don’t know about the Emsworth Village Show it is on now - until the 30th August. It has been organized by Emmat - and it is in conjunction with VP’s Water Aid fundraiser.

In the tradition of any good village show - there are loads of categories where you can display your crafts, produce, livestock, flowers and cooking.

I have to say that “Floral Achievement 3: Bouquet in the style of Sarah Raven” was not the first thing I thought of when I was deciding which category to enter, and after looking at the competition - from Glosterwomble - I think that he has it sown up with fabulous velvet queen sunflowers.

I was going to enter - and will still enter the “Homemade Seed Packets”. As this is quite appropriate to me just now.

A few months ago - I grabbed a brown paper bag from my seed stash with “Green Wizzard?” (Note the question mark) Anyway - I had grown them a couple of years ago - unfortunately, all were eaten bar one seed head which I kept.

However - I have sown the seeds and they are looking suspiciously like Verbascum chaixii Album-

I love to grow things from seed - but I am very bad at labeling my seeds properly, usually because I am in the middle of something else when I realize that the seed is ready for harvest and I grab something - anything and stuff the seed in, fully intending to label and bag it later

I should stop doing this - as my memory is not what it used to be. I cannot for the life of my remember what these are:-

No date - no name - no idea!!!

I know that I am deluding myself if I think that by making seed packets I will save myself from this

or this

But it will mean that I can swap seed at the garden club - which hopefully will be correctly labeled!

Now - I wonder if I can make a Celebrity Portrait out of fruit or veg for the village show

A good place to visit is…

artistsgarden — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:28:28 +0000

An open garden

Especially if it is

VP’s (Virtual) Open Garden

If you have some time over the next few days - I can recommend you visit VP’s Open Garden.

VP has been working very hard and has opened her garden to raise money for WATER AID, and you can go - even if its raining!

One word of warning - there is so much to see - don’t think you can just pop in for a minute - but grab a cup of tea - put the phone to answerphone, and send the kids/partner/dog out.

Then settle down for a lovely tour, which is very well signposted if you get lost.

If you cannot make it this weekend - don’t worry - the garden is open until the 21st September and there are some prizes when donation milestones are reached

VISIT

ENJOY

DONATE

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - in a vase

artistsgarden — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:48:58 +0000

It is the 15th of the month - which means it is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day - hosted by Carol at May Dreams Garden.

I cannot flower arrange for toffee, but currently blooming in my garden are Cosmos “Purity”, Painted Sage, Sweet Peas, Thyme, Hardy Fuchsia, Verbena Bonariensis, Dark Mint, Cardoon, Echinops, Eschscholzia, Lavender, Garlic chives, Kaffir Lily and Crocosmia (formerly known as Mombretia!)

Do visit Carol and check out the blooms from next door - and the other side of the world.

Thank you Carol for GBBD and I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Wordless Wednesday 13th August, 2008

artistsgarden — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:12:57 +0000

Wordless Wednesday - Ligularia dentata “Desdemona”

Results of the 10,000 visitor draw

artistsgarden — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:22:32 +0000

We have had a wonderful time with my sons and their partners visiting - so I took the opportunity to use them to make the draw to celebrate my 10,000 visitor to this blog. Shedman has a new sidekick - who oversaw the whole process.

And the winner is Niels - So many congratulations to Niels - if you want to drop me an e-mail and let me know which picture you would like from my blog - I will send it to you.

Thanks also to all of you who have left comments on my blog this past week - as always - I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and comment.

Wordless Wednesday - 6th August 2008

artistsgarden — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:36:50 +0000

Wordless Wednesday - Rain Washed Calla Lily

Artist’s Garden Comic - Issue 4

artistsgarden — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:20:36 +0000

My thanks go to Yolanda Elizabet at Bliss who left a comment on my “Question” post which inspired this comic. (it is still raining here!).

A couple of my blogging friends have had a really bad day to-day - so I hope this brings a smile to their faces.

Pink Artist Project.

artistsgarden — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:05:13 +0000

In January of this year I discovered Monicas Blog - Girl Gone Thread Wild.

She put out a call to textile artists - to make a 2 inch pink square for a project she was doing to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

The response she received from textile artists across the world was amazing. The pink squares 490 of them, flooded in. Monica used them to create a doll called “Love Squared”.

This doll is now being raffled for charity and if you would like to donate/enter the draw please check out this link for all the details.

Monica has boundless energy and her enthusiasm and joy are amazing.

On her blog are the details of the the pink artists - and the journey to make the doll a reality -

Please take a look.

And remember:-

GET CHECKED.

Wordless Wednesday - 30th July 2008

artistsgarden — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:03:58 +0000

Wordless Wednesday

Question

artistsgarden — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:24:18 +0000

In the UK we are being urged by the media to plant drought loving plants.

Mediterranean style Gardening is very popular in the magazines

My question is

WHY?