It is with great sadness…

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Pauline

It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that my lovely husband and  undergardener, Ray, passed away on 3rd May. Unfortunately he didn’t make it home from the hospital, the doctors decided that his body wasn’t up to the journey, but all the family were with him when he passed away. My nephew Tim had flown over from Canada to be with us and he was a wonderful support for us all, his big hugs were just what we needed when we were feeling overwhelmed.

Ray’s Funeral Mass was last Wednesday and our little church was packed, such a wonderful tribute to a quiet gentleman. Everyone who met him took him to their hearts. The singing of the hymns was truly amazing and with the readings which we had chosen, made the service more a celebration of his life. Everyone commented on his wonderful sense of humour and I have to admit that our 51 yrs of married life was a life full of laughter. We all miss him dreadfully but are so lucky to have had him in our lives.

Ray Mulligan 1943-2017

Rest in peace my love, your long struggle is now over.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my previous post. It made such a difference to us, knowing that you were thinking and praying for us all.

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The Sunset Border.

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Pauline

Last year the Sunset border had a bit of a makeover. Over the past 12 months plants have grown and some have set seed, making themselves really at home in the border that catches the last rays of the setting sun from now until September.

Thinking about it, any colour belongs in a sunset border. When looking at a beautiful sunset, you can usually see so many different colours and no two nights are the same.

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Bluebell Bonanza.

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Pauline

Not having visited our favourite bluebell wood for a few years now, I took the opportunity yesterday when our daughter was with us, to share with her somewhere that is very special to us. Just half an hours drive away is Blackbury Camp, an Iron age Settlement dating back to 400BC.

At the entrance to Blackbury Camp.

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GBFD for April 2017.

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Pauline

Leaves backlit by sunlight are one of the joys at this time of year. Leaves newly emerged are thankfully not being ripped to shreds by strong winds and gales , everything is peaceful in the garden here at the moment. The leaves that are catching my attention are belonging to my Acer trees. It has taken some of them a long time to emerge, but it was worth the wait.

Acer Osakazuki with its beautiful little flowers hanging down below the fresh leaves.

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My new Plant of the Moment.

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Pauline

The plant that I am visiting each day at the moment is Epimedium Amber Queen. This plant was new last year and I’m so impressed at the way it has taken off in the woodland here and the number of flowers that it is producing.

The flowers seem to just float in the air, their stalks are so fine.

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April Abundance for GBBD.

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Pauline

We have had some really beautiful weather this month, we could almost think it was summer some days, then the wind turns around and comes from the north and reminds us that it is still only April. Flowers  have been opening in quick succession and if they have caught a hot spell, they are over in no time at all which is a shame.

Narcissus Pipit is one of our last daffodils to flower, it has such a beautiful perfume.

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My plant of the moment.

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Pauline

I’m sure that we all have plants in our gardens that stand out, for a while they are so beautiful that flowers around them get ignored. The plant that catches my eye every time I wander in the garden at the moment is a small tree, Amelanchier lamarckii.

Amelanchier lamarckii

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The Tuesday View, April.

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Pauline

Planting up the rockery is making me feel that I ought to keep some sort of record of the changes I’m making in that area, so I am going to join in with Cathy’s meme of The Tuesday View. It probably won’t be every week, as I don’t think there will be enough changes, but as soon as there are any changes I will share them with you.

The view at the moment of the sunny side of the rockery, with the scree in front.

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March Bonanza.

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Pauline

We were lucky to have had a wonderful weekend last weekend, weather wise. Lovely hot sunshine all day long, the wind decreasing as the days went by, until by Monday, this week, it was positively balmy! March came in like a lion and is certainly leaving like a lamb. The lovely warm weather has made such a difference to the plants, they are rushing into flower, tumbling over each other to get to the sunshine first.

There have been one or two primroses out since the beginning of the year, but now there is such an explosion of them all round the garden.

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The Fritillaries have survived!

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Pauline

Still no sign of Mr. P, we haven’t heard him or seen him for months now, maybe he has gone to the big field in the sky. Whatever the reason, the snakeshead fritillaries are flowering nicely in the woodland, without any bites being taken out of them, thank goodness!

Rusty pheasant doing his job and doing it well so far.

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