From September to April twice a week I drive my eldest daughter on a 140 mile round trip to training, leaving at four and arriving home just before midnight. Weekends are spent driving around the country to matches where I am able to cheer loudly. Try that in Sainsburys and you are asked to leave.
RHS Wisley Prunus incisa ‘Praecox’
This is my other life. I used to pick up the child from school and now I collect the teacher, mostly I love supporting my eldest daughter and in winter months when the gardens I look after of other folk are less demanding its fine, my daughter gets the chance to work or sleep and as I love driving and the internet speed at the training venue is super fast, weekday training works well. My only sadness that the training venue is a few miles drive from RHS Wisley which is almost always shut as I drive by but now the Netball Superleague season is ramping up, there are some extra saturday morning training sessions. Hence last Saturday I was thrilled to be sheltering in the Wisley Glasshouse from the pouring rain.
RHS Wisley Glass house by the lake and surrounded by Prarie planting
Christmas had left me feeling like Mrs Overall and I fear I was walking like her too. The glasshouse is spacious, I could feel my bones getting longer as I stood tall to see every detail and as you would expect the glasshouse is packed with plants, home to 4 zones, Tropical, Moist Temperate, Dry Temperate and Root Zone. I found myself reignited.
Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’
Grevillea johnsonii – Spider flower
By chance I happened to be walking through the Moist Temperate Zone when one of the curators came along with some Butterflies, apparently hatching early. Wisley host an annual Butterflies in the Glasshouse event from January 17th to March 8th. During that period, time slots of 30minutes have to be booked in advance in order to visit the Butterfly filled glasshouses. For now I was glad that there were only a couple of Butterflies and I had the freedom to roam for as long as I wanted.
Butterflies in the Glasshouse – species unknown
It gave me time to think too about a nice surprise from Chloris at The Blooming Garden who asked if I would accept the Leibster award from her, I was delighted and said yes. Its an award from one blogger to another and are a way of letting other folk know about blogs you enjoy to read. A good idea as how do you find each other in this big internet world? the rules are this:
Answer 11 questions from the nominator, then select 5 blogs you’d like to share and ask your nominees 11 questions. Choosing young blogs with less than 200 followers is good too. My answers to Chloris’ questions are:-
1. Why did you start your blog?
My family encouraged me as they were fed up with me asking them to look at photos of flowers.
2.Which is your favorite gardening book?
Successful Organic Gardening by the late and brilliant Geoff Hamilton
3. What do you love to do when you are not gardening?
Walking and if my family are with me its perfection.
4.Describe yourself in 3 words.
Optimistic, creative, determined
5.What is your favourite film?
Born Free
6. Tea or coffee?
Coffee every time.
7. Favourite flower?
The last one I saw.
8. How long have you been gardening and what got you started?
From a small child, my parents and grandparents were keen and passionate gardeners, either join in or basically be ignored.
9. Do you garden organically?
Always – a quote from Geoff Hamilton – ” There is nothing mystical or magical about organic gardening. It is simply a way of working with nature rather than against it, of recycling natural materials to maintain soil fertility and of encouraging natural methods of pest and disease control rather than relying on chemicals. It is in fact far less cranky than the methods employed by the chemical gardener.”
10. How do you deal with slugs and snails?
Thrushes are encouraged to bash the snail shells and eat the contents. Slugs are hurtled into the field behind, where they lead a new life.
11. Do you prefer cats or dogs?
We have both, but confess we love Archie our dog most. The cat was one of my youngest daughters rescued animals and he wakes us up at night which leaves us grumpy.
So thats me. I’d like to choose these 5 blogs, if you are too busy to accept and this does take a bit of time, I’d just like you know how much I enjoy reading your blogs. Thank you so much.
Living from Happiness
My questions are:-
1. Do you encourage wildlife to your garden?
2. Do you grow organically and use natural methods?
3. Any tips for recycling plastic?
4. Any recommendations for flowers to arrange in your home?
5. Have you tried edible flowers?
6. A favorite fruit recipe?
7. A favorite vegetable recipe?
8. Do you like to create anything other than flower arrangements using natural materials?
9. How do you feel about growing natives or non natives?
10. Any recommendations for an unusual fruit or vegetable that is good to eat?
11. Do you have a good view from your home?
The cycle of life – Robin in the Wisley Glasshouse
This little Robin was perched next to one of the Butterfly tables loaded with small pots of liquid sugar. The robins who sneak into the glass house apparently are a problem as they predate the Butterflies. Hope 2015 has started well for you and every good wish for a good gardening year.