Come into the garden, Maud!

An old song but you are actually invited in whatever your name is....


I started this blog with the idea of devoting some posts to my garden but since May I haven't written a single word about it!  Now I guess this is not too surprising as the best times in my garden are Spring and Autumn and since Spring there has been quite a lot of sewing going on! 


So here's Autumn in my garden without the quilts...

I thought I was going to show you the leaves turning but found so many flowers that  I will keep those for another post!


For those who like to know we have:  self sown Verbascum, gorgeous Cyclamen, Japanese Anemone, a Scabious and lastly the rather weird looking Pheasantberry!


Hope you enjoyed my little tour - there will be another one later in the week!


Now I have some sewing I need to get on with or what will I show you tomorrow?

Garden Visit

On Wednesday my good friend and I visited a National Trust property near us - a charming house, part ruined by fire but an even more delightful garden.  I would claim this garden as my own....if only!

I think the beauty in the photos is eloquent enough and no commentary is necessary other than to say we had to dodge some heavy showers and you can catch a glimpse of my lovely friend, camera and brolly in hand!


Nicky

Garden Quilt

Here is another one I did earlier - another quilt from my past.  Now as this was completed some time ago I am completely at sea about the details, apart from the very useful label on the back which tells me that I worked on this quilt from 13 November '08 - 21 January '09. 


I do remember it was another course at my LQS but I cannot remember my teacher.  This was the only course I did with her but I assure you she was very nice indeed.   Her own sample quilt was in taupe and neutral colours, I seem to remember...


Edit:  I have found my paperwork on this workshop, called Simple Applique Flowers, which was with Sylvia Williams in November 2008.


,

The flowers are bonded on and I have herringbone stitched around each one in embroidery floss in different but complimentary colours. 

 I always used to get so confused with herringbone stitch until this quilt came along.  I always ended up stitching in the opposite direction....and put this down to my left-handedness!  Grrr! 

 I have to admit I am absolutely useless at giving directions - my husband asks me do you mean my left (ie right) or your left when I am the navigator - sorry no satnav or similar with us - maps only and sadly me reading them.  I always have to turn the map around to help me decide which way to go - just cannot do it in my head.

The quilting is very simple, by hand outline round the flowers and squares and two concentric circles on every plain alternate square.  There is a purple border all around and I have stitched my daughter's name on as if it was a slimy trail from this little chap which I drew on and stitched over.   

I think he is a good snail - if there is such a thing - and reminds me very much of Brian from the Magic Roundabout - for those of you old enough to remember - minus the hat and scarf or course! 

   

Now I feel I ought to say "it's time for bed!"  although it may not be in your case....and certainly isn't in mine!




Nicky

What's going on in the kitchen?

I know lots of you make lovely stuff to eat in the kitchen but although I have a nice kitchen I only go in there when I have to - it means washing up, cleaning, cooking and those are rude words to me!




But I have to make an exception every year when it is time to make something I like so much I willingly stay in the kitchen and make it several times over all in a short space of time!  Intrigued?




These are my ingredients:

It makes use of a plant I like very much but it is not really that good looking.  I have plenty of these in a paddock by the house.

The plant is elder and I am making elderflower cordial!  Did you guess right?  And it couldn't be easier to make or I wouldn't be making it!



Ingredients:

25-30 elder flower heads, picked early on a sunny morning.  Choose those with the sweetest perfume and watch out for the pollen on your nose!
2 lemons finely sliced
2/3 oranges finely sliced
2.5 pints (1.5 litres) of water
3lbs 8oz (1.5 kg) of sugar
2 oz (50g) of citric acid





Method

Make a syrup by boiling sugar and water, stirring and making sure that the sugar dissolves.  Take syrup off the heat and stir in the citric acid.  Leave to cool.  In the meantime....

Clean up the flower heads - we don't want to add any little beasties to our cordial  - I just shake them a bit over the sink, that usually dislodges anything.

 Place the flower heads in a non-metallic receptacle.  I use a crock pot. 

 Slice the lemons and oranges nice and finely and add to the flower heads

Once cool, pour in the sugar syrup and citric acid mixture.

Cover and store in a cool place for 48 hours or there abouts, stirring from time to time.


After the 48 hours strain your mixture through muslin or a fine meshed sieve and decant into clean sterilised bottles - I use empty wine bottles as I can sterilise them in the dishwasher!   It says in my recipe, to freeze it until required, but I never have and we are all still alive, though once opened I do keep the bottle in the fridge.  Remember to dilute, it is a cordial!

If you have a source of elder flowerheads near you but not near a road - we don't want lead added to our cordial - go picking and make this easy, quick, and refreshing summer drink.  You can add tap water or for a bit of fizz sparkling water or even lemonade.  Well worth the minimal effort.




Nicky

So much garden in May!

Well there were just two many photos for just one post or even two....

Any ideas which fruit this is?

And what about this fruit  - not so common...?

Do you see anyone lurking in the pink undergrowth? 

 No? Well, let's take a closer look....

I think he's the star from bug's life on holiday in the UK!  Smile!

We had Camassia leichtlinii alba, mystery plant?, a fern - thought it was the shuttlecock fern but not so sure, more mystery plant?, and the pink flowers of polygonum bistorta.

Nicky

More garden in may!

Yesterdays post was all about blues and gold.  Today I'm showing you pink and purple and more green of course!

Love those globe shaped flowerheads - and so do the bees!

For the afficionados amongst you, you have seen aquilegia - some seedling of Magpie, heuchera, thalictrum aquilegifolium and allium Purple Sensation.

Nicky

The garden in May!

Lots of new leaves and flowers have come out in the welcoming sunshine of the last couple of weeks.  It is more like summer than spring at the moment.  Or is this the new spring followed by wet summer weather that we have had for the past two years.

I intend to get out and enjoy looking at the garden - so come on out with me....and see what's out there

The first photo is of aquilegias - but these flowers have many common names, my favourite being Granny's bonnet.  Do you know any other names for them?

The rest of the photos are of Bowles Golden grass (aka Millium effusum Aureum), Veronica (I think), Heuchera Key Lime Pie, Iris sibirica - sorry some I remember,  some I don't!


Nicky

Big Blossom!

A few days ago I was out in the garden and I saw this:

Massive flowers on the rhododendron!

Beautiful tissue paper flowers on the tree peony!

Cobwebs on the peony bud!

And can you see who is paying Molly-the-witch a visit.....?

Talk about camouflage I didn't see the cheeky rascal until editing the photo!!

Shall we take a closer look

These flowers are huge and although I love leaves I have to admit I love these more - fleeting as they are. 


Shhhh!  Don't let the leaves know!

Nicky