Coton Manor and Gardens

Michael and me went to Coton Manor and Gardens today near Guilsborough. The ten acre gardens were originally laid out in 1925 by the grandparents of its present owner. Here are a few beautiful photos to share with you. Worth a visit, http://www.cotonmanor.co.uk/

Exciting news regarding the clematis

Very excited, one of the Clematis Armandii which is climbing over our archway in our back garden has three flowers on there, two are in bud and unfortunately one has gone over. As soon as i can get a decent piccy will post....watch this space!

A couple of my favourite flowers

Although not the best arranged in the world, here are a couple of photos to show you are a couple of my favourite flowers. The pink ball is a paeony, I have two plants in the garden now, one of them flowered this year, these were brought today from my favourite flower shop on the Harborough Road in Northampton today...Homelands, they are so worth a visit they have many flowers that you don't find in the local supermarket and are very fresh. The others in my jug have all been grown in our garden and cut fresh today, they are pink gypsophylia, pink echinecea, and white anemone. We have a lovely dusky pink in the front garden too, very delicate flowers.

New Essential England bouquet

I received my monthly bouquet from Essential England today, it smells as always beautiful and looks as gorgeous as usual. The bouquet has white lilies, peach and pink roses, gypsophylia, rosemary and a couple of other flowers i need to try and find out what they are. Anyway here are the beautiful pictures. Going to get a new vase tomorrow though that takes shorter stems. As you can see from the photos Watson likes to smell them.

Cyrtiris Empress

My favourite flowering plant i have growing at the moment aside from the pink echinea's is this Cyrtiris Empress. It should flower between June and September, but has only just started to flower. It reminds me of my favourite houseplant the orchid. I purchased this from the plantfinders fair back in June at Cottesbrooke Hall a worthwhile event to go to as it sells plants not necessarily found in garden centres.

Growing cut flowers in the garden - Kelmarsh Hall

I went today for a talk on how to grow cut flowers and foliage in your garden. It was held at Kelmarsh Hall, by a lovely lady called Esther who is the head gardener there, and assisted by Tracy the assistant gardener. Over the next few months I will be getting the allotment prepared so that i can as well as vegetables grow some wonderful foliage and flowers to use in cut flower displays and bouquets in my home and for friends. I will let you know how successful things are, and what varieties are best so you can give them a try.

I have ordered a recommended seed catalogue by Moles which apparently are one of the few seed suppliers that still do a good selection for growing as cut flowers. One flower i will definitely be growing next year for my displays will be the antirrinhum (commonly known as the bunny rabbit), also some more echinea and cornflowers.

Here are some pictures taken today...showing some flower arrangements from a wedding held at Kelmarsh Hall yesterday, and the walled garden.

Engagement Bouquet

Our friends Amanda and Robert have got engaged and are having a party. For their present I have made them their very own special bouquet which includes gerberas, roses, carnations, cala lillies to name a few. This is my only my second bouquet and was quite hard work and unfortunately i crushed a few stems along the way and spilt the water whilst filling the plastic cellophane wrapper at the bottom of the bouquet, but all in all I am pleased....I hope they like them.

The "Amanda" Rose

I am so pleased with my "Amanda" Floribunda Rose. It is on its second bloom and the flowers and scent are amazing. First released in 1979 this florinda has globular buds opening to clear bright yellow flowers. Fully double, in large clusters with light green foliage. From Peter Beale Roses http://www.classicroses.co.uk/ this website has access to 1300 different variety of roses. Here is a picture of my first blooms from the plant, when the rain ceases I will show you the 2nd blooms.

My first bouquet

Here is my first ever attempt at a hand tied bouquet. I made it for my friend Deana's birthday....quite proud of my first one.

Homegrown

Noticed in the garden this morning, that aside from the tomatoes coming on well, have a couple of courgettes growing. So my total produce is now new potatoes, beetroot, courgettes, tomatoes and an unnamed plant....could be melon, courgette or butternut squash....will have to wait and see. Think the carrots i planted not come to anything :-(