Magazine style - all inclusive

[alp]

Woke up to turn on the dishwasher, but didn't want to get up too long as the air was cold.

How's your holiday, @Zenj ?

White Camellia

Duke blueberry is very happy - looks set for a heavy harvest!

Pink Camellia

Lavender with giant size flowers! Looks shrunk already!

Irises have taken over and I used the pollen to pollinate the blue bearded ones

The spindly Loropetlatum - first time flowering bought reduced.

More than 7 years' waiting! Finally, my patience has been rewarded! A most unique colour - I think this is an intersectional peony! Very big flower even though 2/5 have been eaten by ???

I cross-pollinated this one with the irises above as I love the markings of the yellow petals of the one above!

Clematis Montana Rubens with thousands of buds / flowers!

Amazing this tulip comes out so well as the light was slow at that time!

Not so sure about this one! A bit confused, like me!

 

[alp]

Girl, seven, born with profound deafness has spoken her first words after undergoing cutting-edge surgery five years ago

• Leia Armitage, from Essex, was born without an auditory nerve in both ears
• In 2013, she had a chip implanted in her brain which gradually returned hearing
• After years of silence, she found her voice and can tell parents she loves them

Such a lovely story!

Compared with the senseless Easter killings, this is morally uplifting! "Cults" for susceptible people who will kill themselves to further their fanaticism and domination! Thou shalt not kill and empathy be taught!

I think my peony is called Fuyu Botan meaning winter peony! So happy to see the vibrant colour! Think it's similar to this one! Toying with the idea of buying the sweet rhubarb!

 

[Zenj]

Had a great time in Sweden thanks alp sun everyday highs of 18c,son as recently bought a holiday cottage ,with a very large lake and Forrest on his door step so we spent time on his garden very large with lots of trees pond and stream and 2 resident woodpeckers .

 

[Zenj]

A few photos of the cottage and lake it’s got twice as much land at the back a fair bit of graft but they have plenty of time to sort out. They even got a rowing boat and flag pole with the property with birthing at the lake.

 

[alp]

Had a great time in Sweden thanks alp sun everyday highs of 18c,son as recently bought a holiday cottage ,with a very large lake and Forrest on his door step so we spent time on his garden very large with lots of trees pond and stream and 2 resident woodpeckers .

Love it, love it, love it! And the weather has been fine! What a fantastic holiday! 2 resident woodpeckers! Love it even more!

 

[alp]

Is the lake part of his property? Wow! Even if it's not, the holiday house has got a lovely setting. So want to fish in a big lake! Last time I fished was about 24 years ago!

The quality of life is just amazing! Did your son catch any fish?

 

[Zenj]

No the lake is separate but just a 4 minute walk away

 

[alp]

Isn't it lovely to have such a lake within walking distance! Luxury to me in this landlocked Essex.

Fuyu

Spanish Bluebell. Apparently, I was not brutal enough last year and they came up this year!

I really love these pink beauties, so I intentionally spared them.

I hate these white things as they choke up my border!

Fuyu again,


Apparently, I have only 2 types of irises - Indian Chiefs and this one.

Clematis Cartmanii! Not a lot of flowers.

 

[alp]

For my my polish chicks, they are driving me mad as well as making me chuckle. As soon as I put them inside the little cage with their food and water trays for the night, they ALWAYS stand inside the both trays and wet the whole cage. Now they are freezing despite the fact that I topped up the bottom with extra paper. They are chirping like mad! But when they jump up and down and spar with one another, it is real fun to behold.

This is the Orchid planted by moist area. I hope it is a slipper orchid!

Viburnum P Mariesii

English Bluebells

Primula auricula

 

[alp]

As the weather man said, the morning sunrise would be red as there would be sand blown from North African Desert. It has an orange glow. Glad that the heat wave is going, but to drop 10 degrees is a bit self-indulgent!

Rain is predicted, but don't hold your breath! For Essex and East London, it hasn't shown a generous soul!

I hope my orchids which I bought for £2.99 reduced from £21 will flower soon. Can't wait. I hope it is slipper orchids as I have never had one!

Last count, I have about 18 spikes of bearded irises. But most of them are blue ones and Indian Chiefs. Never buy from the Fleabay again!

 

[alp]

Love this article about people turning out with their old carriages

Just can't upload any cute pics despite the fact that I have trimmed the head, the horse, the carriage!

Sorry, Ma'am! Had to chop the photo off as it kept saying image too large! Please enjoy the cute little horse!

Horse and carriages parade! Hope the children enjoyed it!

 

[alp]

Was shredding newspaper for bedding materials for my chicks/hens, but the machine overheats and I think I'd better stop for a rest and a cuppa!

Watched MotherFatherSon and it was very good, a hint at the Murdoch family and the relationships are just thought-provoking. There are parallels in all the families involved.

Also, watched F in A to Z gardening series and have to say I really enjoy the episodes - a bit of a sore for the eyes, but the materials are so relevant. The trucker fuchsia fanatic and his wife are such a good team and his garden is just fantastic.

With the unexpected warm spells, I forgot that it's still early in the growing season. Pleasantly surprised to see peonies sporting buds, especially for those I bought from Lidl last year! Sweet surprises

 

[alp]

My chicks' feeding time -

and the worms from my wormery have been fed to the egg laying hens! Not shown here though.

 

[alp]

Kamikaze day! An hour of watering from 6 to 7.10 and cuppa time and 7.30 lawn mowing

Clematis Crystal Fountain

Violety Sheena

Fuyu

Viburnum Plicatum Mariesii

Clematis Montana Alba

One of the Bird of Paradise has changed position of the spike and into position of splitting into flower!

Let there be rain!

 

[Zenj]

Morning all cool today with rain later ,alp that clematis is a stunner