Summer break projects - Summer of 2024

Dear Gentle Reader,

Once classes came to an end one couldn't just stay idol and wait until the classes would start again in September, so one got onto social media and looked through many books to find projects that included what one has learnt during all those 11 lessons. And one had success in her research and loved every second of it :) 

I've talked about the 2 top projects before on another post, link here

The 2 middle ones and the 2 bottom ones, come from this link I used as inspiration, link here. While working these little cobweb wheels I've noticed that playing with picots can give your project a new dimension, creating a more airy, lacy look. Or just restricting the whole thing is turning it into a completely new thing, which will open a new adventure to the creative mind. I can see skirts for angels, bells, ghosts (as a friend suggested it), oh and I'm sure there are many more possibilities to come up with. I shall mention about this in another blog post a little bit later. So watch this space 😜

Travelling further through the wonderful world of tatting I'm discovering more treasures in books I have. This book I've found in a Hungarian trift store years ago. I must say I'm glad I didn't  leave it there. 

These patterns belong to Milena Tomkova and it can be found in her book Frivolitkova Krajka. Of course these are patterns that one can play with, make them in 2 colours or like patchwork put them together. 

In her book I've found a few ice crystals using bare thread method too. They are soooo pretty, I couldn't resist not making them. They will be really tiny ones when tatted with threads size 80 or 100. 😜

Nothing is nicer and refreshing on a hot summer's day then a cup of icecream, a nice drive around the county/counties and your favourite craft 😜 I'm working on another summer project called Daisy Doily by Janette Baker from the book Learn To Tat. 

I know it's a mish-mash of colours, but that's not important for this, the important part is that I'm practicing some techniques with my shuttles, techniques I've learnt on needle tatting classes. I can't wait to start my shuttle tatting classes in September. Link here, peek in, register so you can watch these classes with amazing teachers LIVE, or link here to watch these classes on re-play. These classes are both for needle and shuttle tatting, and if you are a beginner like me or just looking for a refresher class THESE classes are your go to. 

Apologies for the blurry photo, this is one way of protecting the designer's property from theft, the watermark is mine, it showes I took the picture after I made the project. The picture that's not blurred out is public domain pattern, accessible to everyone on the Internet. 

My Garden - July 2024

Dear Gentle Reader, 

"July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It's length is 31 days. It was named by the Roman Senate in honour of Roman general Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., being the month of his birth. Before then it was called Quintilis, being the fifth month of the calendar that started with March." - got this bit off Wikipedia.

July brings new joy into my garden, in spite of still cold ish weather we're getting. Roses are at their best, Mock Orange perfumes the garden with its heady scent, the pink and white Astrantias and I've discovered a newly developed bunch of grape blooms on my grape vine. Sign of a long summer? Could be, and hopefully warmer. This summer was a rubbish one, with occasional sunny spells and yet cold. 

Life in the greenhouse doesn't care about the rubbish summer we are having, it's like a sauna in there, which is wonderful for plants like tomatoes and melons. Raspberries outside are ripening, these kind of berries are sweet, but never too sweet, but this year they are a bit more tangy then previous years, hence the cold weather. However it's nice with cereal, brekkie doesn't come healthier then that. 

Yesterday with the rain we had hailstones for a short while, not very big ones peppercorn size. They didn't do much damage, just fringed a few leaves in the roses. Today (Sunday, 6th of July) was a showery day, but I've managed to gather a bowl of red and yellow raspberries, change the water in my fishtank and for my delight I've seen one of my cleaners, one of my 3 hillstream loaches hiding among my dwarf lily pads, trying to camouflage, which was almost successful until it moved. I wanted to take a pic but it was too darn quick to dissappear among my oxigenator plants. Anyway it's always a pleasure to see them, I have 3 of them. 

Little treasures in the gravel among the calendula, in form of  alpine strawberries. My pink and red tall carnations look nice and smell amazing. I hope this year I'll be able to gather some seeds. I've also managed to water my toms, melons and other plants thst needed a drink using the rainwater from my waterbut, making room for more. No lack of rain here in Ireland 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️😁. 

A few days ago I've noticed a single Regal Lilly in my flower bad, bit raggedy because of the lilly beatles, but still lovely looking and smelling gorgeous. To be honest not a huge fan of lillies inside the house but I don't mind them outside. Also to my joy I've got the first 2 toms in. Juicy , sweet, went down like a treat. More to come. 😜🍅🍅🍅The plants by the trellises, are my green runner beans, because of the cold weather they got in the ground a bit later then I hoped and now they are looking a bit sad. I lightly covered the freshly dug up raised bed with grass mulch, to keep the weeds down and the moisture in. I've noticed many gardeners doing the same thing on social media, so I said I'll give it a try. Trowel and error gardening is all about and how right that is 😜😁

As the month throttles towards the middle, we are getting a few warm, rain free days, with the promise of more warm, rain free days. I live in hope. Taking advantage of these warm, rain free days garden gear on, wellies on and out I am like a shot to do something in the garden. Like a shadow I'm followed by Her Majesty Queen Dubh, she's also my quality control manager, checking my every move and voicing her approval or disagreement. She's not shy about it either. We also take well deserved breaks under the warm sun and gentle breeze. And just like that cruising through the fruit trees of my garden something redish catches my eye and Lord behold, A CHERRY. A solitary blushing cherry on my cherry tree. Yayyyyy, says I, hoping that it won't be discovered by blackbirds. Maybe, just maybe, I'll get the chance if tasting it. Life in my fish pond continues without any bother and today as I was changing the filter fleece I caught a glimps of 2 hillstream loaches (I have 3), but by the time I reached for my phone, only one of them stayed out. 😜 Those lil buggers are very fast, but excellent cleaners. They also love hiding among my miniature lily pond leaves, which offers them an excellent camouflage. They are spotted like the loaches. 😜 Took me a while to spot one among the leaves the other day. 

I was right, the other day I went out to put an organza bag on my cherry to protect it from my pesky resident blackbird and it was GONE. 😭 oh well next year hopefully I will get more 🙏🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

This year gardening and veggie growing is kind of a rush job, I'm still sowing (veggies that can still be sown in July) and getting plants into the ground. I put up some arches for the runner beans and blackberries. They are looking good. Also harvested my 1st tomatoes. My jasmine and Hardy geraniums are looking good, also have tall Chabaud carnations growing. And the water loving forget me not bloomed this year. Not much difference between your usual forget me not and this one except one loves water and the other not so much. 

Finally my cucumbers, chilies and eggplants got planted in enriched with farm manure soil of the big greenhouse among French marigold and chamomile. They are growing well and fast I can see already a little chili developing on one of my plants. Grapes are looking well aslo. I put fake wasps nest until my mesh arrives to detere the pesky wasps and maybe hoping my resident blackbird family won't discover these either. As I was trimming the grape wine I discovered a new bunch of grapes just blooming then developing into grapes. Bit too late at this stage, maybe its a sign of long summer. Can't wait to harvest them. Tomatoes are ripening too, every second or third day I'm bringing in some for the tea. They growing nicely and gradulay ripening with the aid of a few banana skins. Also planted some nasturtium a few years back, these growing around the tomatoes are from the seeds that the 1st plant dropped, just like the calendula. Both beneficial plants attracting polinators and beneficial insects. The melons in the small greenhouse are doing amazingly well. Plenty of fruit on my galia ones too. Looking forward to eat them.

While I was digging in the high raised bed, I discovered a few spuds, leftover from last year or previous year, can't remember now. However it will be eaten. Also planted some over chitted spuds that I bought a few months ago and I was chitting them on the top of the press in the utility room. At this stage I'm hoping for some spuds in September or October and maybe for Xmas. They are nicely tucked in the ground under a thin layer of grass clippings mulch. The thin layer of grass clipping mulch will provide heat for the spuds on coldish nights (Still chilling  nights some days), also will keep moisture in and weeds at bay. Dug into the soil will enrich it as it breaks down. 

I went to a garden centre in the next county from where I live, to see if I can get a few veggie seedlings. Got spring cabbage and immediately once home I planted them. Also got some sage, green fennel and a small bayleaf tree. I hope on my next visit I'll get some lettuce plants or other fast growing veggies. After finishing cropping I moved the peach tree outside and now it's enjoying its summer al-fresco until the autumn and will be moved back when it will drop its leaves. 

Melons looking good in the greenhouse, Galia is playing catch op with Emir. The competition is fierce in the greenhouse 🤣😜 the spuds are coming up nicely outside, so are the spring onions, every 2nd or 3rd day now I'm bringing in a few toms for the tea. This year I'm growing something new in the greenhouse...turmeric. It's a root/rhizome are used in many ways for many things. Great medicine for : 

•  Relieves joint pain and aids mobility
•  Helps to fight chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and tendonitis
•  Enhances immune health
•  Improves the body’s inflammatory response
•  Lowers the risk of brain and heart disease
•  Increases the body’s antioxidant capacity

Make sure before you use any of the alternative medicine you ALWAYS check with your gp first. 

But also it has a beautiful pink flower, it's part of ginger family, therefore tastes like ginger and pepper with a touch of sweetness. Also if used as a dye it will colour the fabric yellow. 

There's nothing better then home grown stuff. Harvested my 1st Emir Melon and 1st of the grapes. Must tell you they make an awesome late night snack. Nothing better then those chilled on a hot summer day. We are getting temps up to 24 C and some showers, but the temps staying around 18-20 C, which is still good. Chillies and the eggplants are catching up at this stage, which makes me even happier, because I didn't think they'll get this far. On the other side of the small greenhouse Galia is getting roundy and swelling up nicely. Fruit on my hazelnut tree looking good too, sign that autumn is slowly approaching. Let's hope they aren't going to be discovered by some cheeky squirrels or other nut loving critters. 

Sincerely yours

Anna, the Gardener 

Nature in My Garden - 2025

April

As slowly everything wakes up, so are the bugs, butterflies and other polinators and creepy crawlies will wake up to gorging on nectar and pollen. And as I was walking around my garden I've seen fluttering by cabbage whites, bumblebees, peacock butterflies, tortoiseshell and commas. I've managed to hypnotise into staying a comma and a tortoiseshell butterfly just long enough to take a few pics. 

Planting for wildlife always brings a smile to my face. For instance I was splitting potted Tete-a-tete mini daffodils, and I haven't gotten the clumps in the ground yet, when this orange bottomed bumblebee found it and decided to have a feast. 

Life is amazing, enjoy your garden :) 

May

Hot days bring out more and more birds and bugs to enjoy the sunshine and heat, but I think wildlife in my garden copped on that they have a stalker, because I had a terrible time "catching" this little Holly Blue Butterfly. I've seen Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens and plenty of Woodpidgeons and Turtle Doves etc. Although when it comes of nest building why do they always choose the most ackward places??? A little Wren has chosen my shed to build her nest, but unfortunately no matter how quiet I moved around outside the shed she abandoned her nest after a few days. I watched the shed for a week but she didn't return and when I checked there were 6 eggs in it....Tragedy, so much energy in building a nest, laying eggs then for some reason just abandon it. It really broke my heart a little bit. But it is what it is.... I just hope the little Wren has found a better place to build another nest and bring up a family.... 

On a happier note a Wood Pidgeon mama is still on her nest, the same momma who managed to raise a chicklet last year, I spite her nest being robbed twice..... Her nest is in the Hawthorn tree behind my big greenhouse. Everytime I'm there I can see her on her nest, I wish her a good day and advise her to be careful and don't let the nest robbers too close. Good luck momma! I just wish you'd learn how to build a proper nest 😔 

June-July-August 

Tortoise shell, hover flies, orange butt bumble bees, common blue and copper butterflies taking advantage of the bounty, feeding, breeding or just getting ready to hibernate. Even an emerald moth presented itself one evening. One never knows what beauty might show up in ones garden. 

And now and again one is eye witness to the marvel of nature, a pure transformation. The transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly is called metamorphosis. Specifically, butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, which involves four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.  

Here's a more detailed explanation: 

Egg: The life cycle begins with an egg, often laid on a leaf or stem.

Larva (Caterpillar): The egg hatches into a larva, which is the caterpillar stage. This stage is primarily focused on eating and growing.

Pupa (Chrysalis): The caterpillar then forms a pupa, often enclosed in a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar undergoes a dramatic transformation.

Adult (Butterfly): Finally, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.

Every gardener's nightmare the cabbage white. It only takes a mamma butterfly and a pappa butterfly and the damage is done. Every gardener cringes when they see them fluttering around the cabbages.... But the smart gardener knows that sacrificial plants can make a difference. I used nasturtium as sacrificial plants in my greenhouse, and all is good. While they munch on my nasturtium, the other plants can grow and make me happy. I'm looking forward to see the pupa stage and the birth of the new generation of butterflies that might end up food for birds or other creatures and some will hibernate. 

And this is the life cycle of a butterfly. To be eye witness to such a great miracle of life is very humbling, I feel insignificant and tiny, but also very privileged to see such. Just one of those little blessings in one's life ..... 

All the best

Annamaria 

Learning New Tricks In Needle Tatting

Dear Gentle Reader, 

I started learning tatting more seriously 4 years ago during lock down. My go to were the fb groups, YouTube and my books. I was advised to learn to tat with both shuttle and needle, and only then decide which tool suits me better. Back then I wasn't friends with my shuttles, but not long ago I had an epic moment Read all about it here and I and my shuttles are friends again.

But let's just go back to my needles... 

A few months back, more precisely on the 13th 9f March 2024 The Online Tatting Class started a new season of needle tatting classes with a new teacher, Katia, fenomenal lady, wonderful, kind, pacient, helpful teacher, it's a pleasure to learn from her and chat with her. With her help I've managed to decipher the more intricate sides of tatting. And, oh boy, that was such an eye opener to realize I can tat now patterns that I've looked past, because I didn't know the "how to". Now I'm thirsty for more...

These lessons are available on YouTube here

Since then week by week I've learned something new, something interesting, something unique.

These are just a few pages from my needle tatting journal. Everytime I look through it I feel happier and more confident that now I can tat almost everything that comes my way. TOTC are taking a Sumner break now, but that won't stop me searching for summer break projects that include the lessons I've learnt so far. And this is how I came across Mark Myers Heart Motif, available for purchase on Etsy. 

It has true rings, half closed true rings, bare thread space, joins, picots....almost everything I've learnt in those 11 weeks before the break.

Now on to another pattern for more theory into practice thingy 😜

Apologies for the blurry photo, this is one way of protecting the designer's property from theft, the watermark is mine, it showes I took the picture after I made the project.

All the best

Sincerelly yours

 Anna

My Garden - June 2024

Dear Gentle Reader, 

And just like that with marking June, half of this  year has almost  already passed. It's just crazy how this first half of the year has gone. 

Anyways.... Life in my raggedy looking garden continues, unfortunately because of bad weather, cold and rain we had my garden this year doesn't look the way I'd love it to look. And inspite of all the hickups we had, my garden keeps giving. Some plants are a success some aren't, this year is not their year.

In the greenhouses grapes, peaches, melons, tomatoes are growing nicely. I can see little tomatoes on the vine, and my melons are blooming, no sign of melons yet though. Outside the weather has been kind, sun was shining, was warm and the plants took advantage of this change. Rambling Rector in the hedge along with the Golden Honeysuckle are slowly taking over the hedge peppering the lush green with patches of white and bright yellow. Red campion stands proudly with the last blooms of my tree peony. The thornless blackburry is laden with flowers. Yummmm. 

My wildlife and fishpond got 4 new additions, now they are 6 fancy goldfish. I'll be moving 3 in another tank like the one they are in now. But for now they seem to be fine together like that. Also trying to figure out a solar powered pump and filter for them, which is a bit of a headache but not impossible to make . (more about that later) Got a few good tips from the fb group I'm in, so hopefully those ideas will come to fruition later on. 

My little elderflower tree produced it's 1st flower, yayyyy, even the Hypericum is happy about it with its lush yellow blooms. The other honeysuckle it's covering the shed very nicely with the Clematis Montana that bloomed pink and white last month. 

The first picture in this collage is my rambling rector rose which is taking over the hedge with the Golden Honeysuckle. You can't see the Honeysuckle on this picture, but it's there , I promise it is. That yellow rose came to me as a cutting, it's a climber, but it's happy enough to be treated as a tall rosebush. It's fragrance makes me smile every time I smell it. My soft fruit bushes: the raspberries, red and white currants are not happy this year, the blackberries full of flowetbuds (hopefully there will be fruit too if the weather keeps on the kind side). Gooseberries the red ones are laden with fruit, so are my black currant bushes too. The yellow gooseberry is a tiny bush not old enough to produce fruit just yet. 

The weather forecast said it's unusually cold for this time of the year, might get ground frost on higher grounds. Awesome, that's all we need😫😭, but I'm hopeful my garden will survive and it will keep giving. 

Today weather wise it's pretty mixed, chilling wind, sunshine, scattered showers and all that jazz. I wish the weather just made up its mind and be just favorable for the gardeners. But I'm not complaining, it could be worse. However, late May and early June is still sowing time for beans, beetroot, cauliflowers, carrots, blanching celery, chard, kale, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, radishes, spinach, onions, corn, swede, turnips, etc. I already sown a few from the list. I'll try sowing corn now and see if I get a cob or 2 this summer early September. The peaches look amazingly well and apparently it likes the fish water I pour on it every time I change the water in my fish tank. The same treatment gets the grapevine too and judging by the length of each bunch of it grown any bigger I'll have to duck to avoid bumping into the lower berries. 😉😜😍🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️😋 The tomatoes are coming along nicely, their fruit (some might disagree with me here saying, it's not fruit, it's veggie) 🤷‍♀️ but hey ho, it will end up in the same place after eaten.... I mean in the tummy😋 Also the melons, now this one is a new cultivar I'm trying out, it's called Emir, are already showing off their fruit. I decided this year to let them go rampant in the small greenhouse where I'm growing 2 of each, Galia and Emir, both are specifically bred for polytunnels and greenhouses. Galia I love had great success with previous years. Let's see which way is more successful: growing upwards or letting them run around the raised bed. We shall see! 🤔 about Galia here 

Life in my greenhouse is beginning to show signs. The seeds I've sown some time ago are starting to sprout and by the time the promised heat will come, they'll be ready to go out in the raised beds. Melon Emir is swelling nicely in the small greenhouse. Outside inspire of temps like 5 - 9C, which is crazy weather for this time of year my plants look OK and blooming away. My rambler rose "Wedding day" started blooming, it's a new addition to my garden, I'll train it up a hawthorn tree behind the greenhouse. This way the bird nest in the tree will be protected from sharp claws. I love this rose, the bud displays butterpale color, then the flower when fully opens it's white. They smell like freshly baked shortcake cookies. This year I had only a few clusters of flowers, next year I'll have more and after that even more 😜 And as I was exploring my garden further on I've noticed signs of cobs on my hazelnut tree. I hope no cheeky squirrel or other hazelnut loving creature will nick them before I have the chance to taste them this year too. Walking further on among my fruit trees I've noticed 1 single, solitary fruit on my cherry.... Wow, I hope I'll get a chance to taste this one too. Then a few paces further I notice an flower on my pear tree and plum tree. Strange, they should have done with the flowering by now and producing fruit.... See, what I mean by the crazy weather? Even the fruit trees get confused, let alone us, humans. But I guess it's not just Ireland, that gets this unruly weather, it sweeps through most countries in Europe and it's due to an Arctic stream. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Now the next bit was a fun project. After watching a few videos on YouTube and Instagram, and asking for advice on FB groups I've managed to put together my very own filter pump for my fishtank. It has all the trimmings, it has a pump, filter sponge, fleece and stones, and cheaper then and electric filter pump, which I didn't really want. But it works as the picture showes. Happy me, happy fish.

I was also advised to buy these so called "Chinese Hillstream Loaches" the lady at my local petshop said that they keep some in cold water and that they clean the aquariums walls of algae. We'll see now how they like my outdoor tank, pleanty of algae there. 

On the other hand today was surprisingly good day. I've harvested 3 very ripen, juicy, sweet peaches from my peach tree. And it was wolfed down right there and then still warm by my family. Everyone enjoyed this lovely treat and everyone was nicely surprised. I've noticed another of my bush flowering (I don't know the name, the wind blew away the tag). My grapes are getting bigger and bigger and I honestly felt bumping my head into the lower grapes. And my Emir Melon is growing nicely, swelling day by day. 

With the ripening of raspberries, currants and gooseberries we lightly step into July. 

Sincerely yours

Gardener Anna

Miscellaneous (travels, outings, trips, interesting facts) May 2024

Dear Gentle Reader, 

Yesterday (11th of May) I went on a trip to Glendalough, Co Wicklow with my local photoclub. These 2 lakes are part of the Wicklow National Nature Reserve. Was an early start (get up at 7 am, bus leaving at 8 am) Absolutely fabulous day, hot, sunny, light cooling breeze, breath-taking views. I honestly didn't want to come home. It was an amazing day. The photo club is not a huge group, but the craic is mighty, the fun and banter compensates the numbers. Thanks to a well established management every outing is a success.

The bus dropped us at the upper lake (I must say it was a very comfortable bus, which is always a bonus) and from there the group had to make their way to the lower lake where the pick up point was. It was a long walk but everyone made it in our own pace, no rush, no hurry, with plenty of photo opportunities on the way. (I knew I was going to pay for it the next day, but that is OK, no pain, no game, every muscle pain worth it.) 

This walk between the 2 lakes is called the Bird Watching Walk (I think). It covers the distance between the 2 lakes, dividing it into a short and a long walk. We got the long walk. But before that something exciting was waiting for the group. 

As an amateur photographer, one always has a few gadgets in one's bag and a few tricks of the trade, or to learn something new from the more experienced members. They are a real fountain of knowledge, which I'm grateful for. Lens balls, black and white shots, debth of field, macro are just a few of these tricks and gadgets. A new lens with a built in macro, which I got from my dad. He loves his photography too (inherited the bug from him). 

As we were looking around, trying to find photo opportunities these 3 young teenage stags ran into the small clearing surrounded by the forest and peacefully started grazing. I was like "WOW, this is not happening!!!! “ (although I saw a few from the bus and one of the members told me I might see a few more around, I was like YESSSS, that's what I want). Anyways I dropped my bag, changed lenses and as slowly as I could got closer and closer and even closer. 

They were chasing each other, headbutting, testing eachother's strength just like more dominant stags would do during rutting season in the autumn. Usually young stags gather in groups called bachelor groups and they'll challenge the dominant stag, even try to steal his does. If the dominant stag is powerful and strong enough, they won't have a chance. Best of luck to these young Princes in the autumn. 

As we toddled along soaking in the view, and the sun, taking a few snaps here and there, we came across to this old graveyard and Lord behold, oh dear, there were more deer. This time a tad tamer, they even let themselves to be petted by the tourists around there. Even I've managed to pet one while he graciously took the offered dandelions from my hand. I was so delighted. Ive forgotten to take pics, so if someone managed to take a pic of me feeding the deer, please share. Thanks. And THAT was the highlight of the day for me. I loved every second of it. The little bond I shared with that lovely youngling was just magical. I shall never forget that moment 😁😍

And pretty much that concluded our journey as we reached the lower lake where we had our well deserved icecream and rest. 

After that we had food and dessert in Enniskerry, which went down like a treat. Yummmm it was :) 

Mushroom and chicken pie (which was absolutely scrumptious) and side salad, crowned with a big slice of coffee cake and more coffee. 

An absolute fabulous day, thank you everyone :) 

Sincerely yours

Annamaria 

My Garden - May 2024

Dear Gentle Reader, 

And all of a sudden we are in May. After a very wet March, and cold April, this month seems to warm up slowly. The weather forecast says "warmer weather is coming next week"....hmmm....heard that before...but I live in hope. My Garden and plants are seriously craving for heat, nothing can grow without heat. Even if the sun is out, it's still cold. It's shocking how everything is so behind. With a bit of heat every single plant in every garden will play the catch up game.

That huge blob of pink gorgeousness is my tree peony, it's still in her glory displaying these big cups of candyfloss delight. The plants in my greenhouse desperately need attention, but I got sick and I couldn't go out to tend them. I'm on the mend now, I hope I'll be able to do a bit of work in the greenhouses soon. My grapes are growing, soon they'll flower and self pollinate and then the waiting game starts until the harvest. Fingers crossed 🤞🍇 My peaches are swelling day by day getting bigger and rounder, showing off their peachiness. Can't wait to sink my teeth into their juicy flesh. 😜🍑 Tomatoes are blooming, early strawberries are forming fruit too. Life is good in the greenhouse. Plants are growing, which makes me happy 😜😁

As says pass by my garden flourishes and grows. Days are becoming warmer, yet still not as warm as in the past years. My pink Clematis Montana is blooming like crazy and shooting new stems all over the place, I have a white in as well and a honey suckle to cover the side of that shed. Well that's the idea, but sometimes plants have other ideas and here is where I need to train them where to go. We'll get there, no worries. I can't get enough of these gorgeous apple blossoms on my hubby's fav apple tree, Granny Smith. They are so beautiful, the softness of that pink, the light scent.... All I  need it now is to bear fruit and then the circle will be full. There's a new kid on the block, called Hops, I must say, I have high hop(e) s for my hops. And no, no I'm not going to brew anything from it, maybe just a few potpouries mixed with lavender and other sweet smelling herbs and plants for a better sleep at night. The blue Aquilegia there is the pure version of the wild one, credit to the birds for this one. The pink dainty little Dianthus, is a perennial one called Dianthus pinifloria, because it's leaves reminds one of the pine leaves. The other shrub that's gonna bloom (name I do not know, because the wind blew away the lable) it's a white one, light vanilla scented flowers. Bees love it. 

Now a blue Iris Siberica is blooming next to the white one. They are nice. My Snowball tree is full of little snowball like flower clusters, but if you take a closer look, you can the florets look like small Hydrangea flowers. So cute! My auriculas never sees to amaze me, year after year they just pour out their amazing little flowers that look like a gypsy skirt. Fabulous little plant. I have only this one, but I've seen ppl having collections of auriculas and they display them on a shelf in clay pots. It's really showcase like. The white Clematis Montana blooms a couple of days later then the pink one and it will last longer a bit then the pink one. However both mixed with the honeysuckle will be an amazing display 😍 Finally I've managed to plant my tomatoes, I couldn't because 1.the weather was too cold with light frosty mornings and 2.because I was sick, but once I got better, in the ground they went. Oh, I must not forget to lable them....duhhh🙄😜. 

Day by day the grape bunches (at this stage blossoms only) are getting bigger and bigger. Must get a mesh before they start opening to protect them against grape moth and then later in against wasps. I don't have anything against wasps, I know they are useful as polinators and as aphid munchers, but the grapes are mine 😜🍇. There's a little ecosystem going on among the gravel. Self seeded violets, wild calendula, forget me nots and alpine strawberries are fighting for space with the weeds. Time to give them a helping hand ✋😜😉pink flowered Bush was the pride of my late mother in law, blooms every year and displays these clusters of pink trumpet like flowers with a light citrusy fragrance. Cute Bush, doesn't mind drastic cutting back either. The other one is a saxifrage, I just love their tiny, pink flowers, it's like a froth of pale pink among all that green. It's an excellent ground covering plant. 

Sincerely yours

Annamaria