Petals, Perfume and Painting

April ending and the merry month of May to enjoy. The garden and countryside are bursting with new life. The grass verges are golden with dandelions and new leaves are clothing the bare trees. So much is happening in the garden, it’s hard to keep up.

The tomato plants have been growing but nights have been so cold that we’ve brought them back indoors at day’s end. Now though, they’re outgrowing their pots and I felt it was time to plant them in the greenhouse bed. They should be fine as long as frost doesn’t strike. I can’t see any in the forecast so fingers crossed.

I sowed broad beans because my local nursery said they weren’t growing them this year. Mine grew well but then I discovered the nursery had them after all. I bought a few extra and have planted them outside. The ones I bought are “Bunyard’s Exhibition” and the ones I grew from seed are “Masterpiece Green”. Will be interesting to compare them.

Broad beans are very hardy. They can be grown outdoors over winter but I’ve not had much success with that. I prefer to start them in Spring. When they reach a bit of height they often attract blackfly, a type of aphid which seems to favour broad beans. The best way to stop them is to pinch off the top of the stem as soon as the blackfly show up. Best to eat the beans while they’re small. The skins harden as they mature. Delicious with freshly made mint sauce and new potatoes.

Rhubarb is lovely this year. I think a dressing of homemade compost and more water has boosted the growth. We’ve enjoyed it stewed with vanilla ice-cream and I’ve frozen some but there’s plenty more to come.

To save time and energy when I chop rhubarb into chunks I line up the washed sticks and slice across several. Makes it an easier and quicker job. Then the chunks can be put into a container for freezing. They keep for ages and are a winter treat.

The apple blossom has been a sensation. I love the way the buds are deep pink opening to pale delicate petals. Such a beautiful sight and full of promise for delicious apples later. The petals are falling now. Still look lovely on the ground.

For me a garden has to be more than a collection of flowers or a utilitarian vegetable patch. I need it to be a sensual experience with sounds, shadows, colours, wind, water and wildlife. I like to have trees with the sound of the wind in them and shadows cast by strong sunlight, blossom followed by fruit or berries, the reflections on water. Scents are important too. The perfume of wallflowers and lily of the valley, the aromas of mint and rosemary. Plus I enjoy the natural comings and goings of wildlife in a garden like birdsong, the buzzing of bees and the beauty of butterflies. It has to be a total experience.

In the past I’ve had no garden, tiny gardens and allotments, but now I have a good sized garden. It’s a lot of work and it’s never really tidy and has lots of weeds but it satisfies my senses and my need to grow things. Wildlife flourish in it and so do I.

Here are some pretty flowers growing right now.

Under and around the fruit trees I have some wildflowers. Campion is a favourite and plantain has taken over a bit but it’s a handsome plant.

I’m not able to do as much gardening as I’d like so I’ve had an urge to knit again. I can’t resist buying yarn. I like to have it in for when the inclination strikes, so I’ve just bought some. Some chunky yarn in a subtle shade of green, some random dyed double knitting with cotton in it and some lovely grey tweed . Exciting! Might knit myself a cardigan. A nice bit of creativity when I can’t manage all the gardening.

I have managed to do a little painting. I photographed a lovely Nerine flower in the garden last Summer and made a drawing then painted it with gouache.

I hope you’re enjoying the pleasures of Spring. Don’t forget to sit in the garden and look around if you’re a busy gardener. So much to take in.

Bye for now. With you again in a couple of weeks.