Showing posts with label Ixias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ixias. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

If You Can't Grow It....Just Sew It....



For the past three years or so, Sweet peas have self seeded in our open compost/prunings pile. They have put on a wonderful display, at times looking better than what was in my garden!!
This year not one came up and being away in September I decided it was  a little too late to plant seedlings when I returned home.
 A couple of stragglers have come up in the garden and are sporting a flower or two, but I was disappointed I didn't have any to cut and bring inside.
I love their perfume......

Trying to decide what to put on a tea cosy this morning, I thought if I can't grow it then I will just sew it....and I did



I would be more than happy if these lovely colours came up in my garden.

On the reverse will be words from Mr. Keats......

"Here are sweet peas, on tip toe for a flight
With wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white
And taper fingers catching at all things 
To bind them all about with delicate rings"




Last week, we finally got the rain I had been waiting for. 
The garden was in need to a good drink.
46mls fell at out place giving everything a good drenching including the garage floor!!
The combination of grey cloudy skies and green, green paddocks....I love days like this.
This week the grass is drying off quickly with warmer temps and the tractors are out slashing the paddocks for silage.
Giant green marshmallows are springing up everywhere.
It's interesting watching the landscape turn into a patchwork of green, gold and brown......





Planted sometime last Summer this David Austin rose....William Morris is putting on a wonderful display.
 Obviously, very happy in it's new home......



Hard to tell from the photo but the centre is apricot tinged with pink.......
It's just beautiful but rather prickly.....



Gladiolus Cardinalis is flowering like there is no tomorrow.
Just googled this to check I had the name correct and the info says 'it's quite challenging to grow as a garden plant since it is found in waterfalls!!....'hmmm
Well I'm very pleased it's happy in my garden as it was a bulb my mum bought many years ago and it's a nice reminder of her.



Another reminder is this concrete wash trough, mum grew herbs in. .
It now resides with me and I also grew herbs in it until a couple of months ago, when it filled up with water and failed to drain.
The roots had blocked up the drain.......
Drastic measures were required and unfortunately the concrete cracked. We have propped it up with bricks and it's holding fast, but will be used for annuals now.
I  planted it with Marigolds and Snapdragons, which should put on a vibrant display throughout Summer.
Could be the perfect spot for Sweet peas next season.....

What do you think ?....


The Poppies are still going strong, attracting the bees .

This fellow was keen for some pollen even though the flower hadn't fully opened....talk about impatient, hehe.......



A first for this garden are Foxgloves. 
The first spire ever, a little on the small side, but I hope it will be happy and reward me with more blooms next season.

Walking around the garden with Rich this morning, I was happy to show him this bloom.
It reminded him of Beatrix Potter stories.....
I like to pass on some gardening knowledge to him and share the beauty........ 







The Ixias I purchased at last months market are in flower.
One bloom is this lovely raspberry pink and the other is a lemon with a raspberry centre.....
I love them and it's so nice to have more variety in the garden this season.......




The Jacobean Lily is sporting some blooms.
Quite a striking colour and certainly an interesting shaped bloom



Sweet little Dianthus Doris.
 You may have been around
for many years, but you are another 'newbie' in my garden.

I have a sweet posy on my bedside table and the perfume is 
quite strong as I sit here and type this post.....

I think I may have to move the vase!!






This week has been about sewing for the market in Bright on Saturday......

Three weeks between each one seems to fly by.

I felt some owlets were needed.
I like to have something new each market as I get locals coming along each month to see what I've been making.....




'Twit,
Twoo
Who loves you?'

A few more to fill and stitch up and I will just about have enough for a sitting of parliament!!

Did you know the collective noun for mice is a mischief?
A mischief of mice, love it.
They can also be referred to as a horde, but mischief is much more entertaining don't you think?

.

Thankyou girls for all your lovely, encouraging comments on my last post....
I am so pleased all my artworks found new homes.
After the rush and excitement of the art exhibition, things have quietened down and the pace is a little slower here.

Cricket has started on TV and I find myself taking a little more interest in it as hubby and son discuss the days play.

In between sewing, I have been out in the garden.
 The vegie garden is keeping us supplied with greens....
silverbeet, kale and spinach and  the broad beans are now ready to pick and if every flower turns into a bean we will be inundated with them.
Any recipes you have for them, would be greatly appreciated......

Ok, I better go and pick some broad beans before I head off to work.
Thanks for dropping by to visit and if you are new to Sweet Birdy Love, I'm glad you found your way over here.

Take care and have a great week,

Claire X

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Spring's Beautiful Bounty........


Hello girls, I'm sitting here tip tapping away, yawning and struggling to keep my eyes open.
After two early morning starts for markets, the lack of sleep has caught up with me a little, so I'll try very hard not to ramble too much......
Trying to be a little more organised and not so last minute I finished off the last of 3 tea cosies on Friday morning and packed the car ready for Saturday's market.


#1 little Blue Wren and Spring blossom.
First time I've sewn a Blue Wren, will tweak it a bit next time so that I'm completely happy with it.......



'
Those nimble little musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties with which natured hath furnished them to the shame of art'......Izaak Walton



The Hollyhocks finished and ready for sale.

I wanted to use a polka dot fabric for the lining but Spotlight didn't have any so a plain fabric sufficed.



'To dig one's own spade into one's own earth.
Has life anything better to offer than this?'.......
Beverley Nichols



Of course there has to be a little vintage caravan somewhere.
This cosy sold before I had even set up my stall....



The market was moved to another location within the park
It was a beautiful Spring morning....
Lots of visitors to the market which was great and
Nicky Bomba played some tunes.....




A nice quiet spot on the river bank.





Handy to have a backpack for your pooped pooch!!
(tired dog, just in case you were unsure!!hehe)



Spied these gorgeous flowers in the main street after the market wound up.
I think they are Ixias, the colours were gorgeous.
Had to stop and take some pics




These guys had the right idea.
 I could quite easily have joined them as I was feeling rather weary but had a 45 min drive home and some more sewing to do.......



Bright is looking her best this Spring with beautiful blossoms everywhere you turn.
 Lots of Dogwoods in flower they obviously love the cooler climate.
I couldn't go past this lovely, white Wisteria and had to stop to take some pics........

As you can imagine the perfume was divine and the bees were having a feast.....







From a distance you don't notice the mauve and yellow sections.....
This Wisteria was beautiful, BUT I still prefer the dark purple variety, both are wonderfully perfumed.


It's good to be back at the market and catching up with everyone. Sales were great which means more sewing to restock.....
no complaints there.
This morning's market was alot quieter than we expected, but that's how it goes sometimes.

This week I will be focusing on the upcoming art show.
I have put my name down for four entries, so better get cracking.
I have an idea of what I want to do so will get the paints and canvases out and hopefully something will turn out well enough to enter. I know where my skills lie and painting is not one of them, but every now and then I hit on a winner!! 

Confession time here, a rooster I painted one year, failed to sell(no surprise there)
 It was a bit of a rushed job....tut tut
It's now hanging in Cluckingham Palace a reminder to allow myself more time and not to settle for second best.

Well, it's time for bed.......thanks for visiting girls and I hope you enjoyed your weekend.
Have a fab week whatever you are up to

Take care,

Claire x