Indoor bulbs

In a moment of splurging  on gifts for others, I popped some indoor bulb kits into my trolley.  Getting up early in mid-December to plant them I have already been rewarded.

The hyacinths have been and gone - filling the kitchen with lovely scent in the run up to Christmas.

The paperwhites are up and just blooming, not quite in time for Christmas but made it for New Year.

The Amaryllis are sitting on the windowsill next in line.

And finally, hidden away in the alleyway, under the gas meter, are this selection of indoor daffodils, hyacinths and crocus, waiting for their moment to bloom.

Winter Wonder

Winter wreath

Last years gorgeous willow wreath ring from Common Farm Flowers, redressed with some swirls of ivy, Eucalyptus and pine cones.   Let the festive times begin!

Winter Jasmine

In the early morning light the first yellow flower can be seem.  The winter flowering plants give me faith that through the ever darkening days, there is spring on the other side.  

Free from Images

I promised awhile ago to return to writing about photography.  My first post is over here.

There is more to come .....

A walk around Shuttleworth Estate

This was my classroom at Shuttleworth today.  A walk around the wondrous estate looking at the trees.  So much better then being stuck inside - if only all lessons could be like this.  Kicking myself for not putting my camera in my bag, all these taken on the humble iPhone.

Sourdough - Guest Post

I discovered sourdough this year and am now an avid baker.  Having learnt the basics, it was my absolute joy to win a day learning about sweet sourdough.

My post about the day is here.

Scent of things to come

Working in the garden/allotment has virtually slowed to a standstill over the past few weeks.

I managed to NOT turn on the computer on Wednesday morning* and set about the horrible task of removing some very mouldy tomato plants and sodden grow bags.    Seriously, if anyone needed an example of grey mould, my greenhouse was full of the stuff.

However for the first time ever, the greenhouse is nice and clean and tidy, with scented pelargoniums overwintering and ready to receive the early sown seed trays in 2014.  Normally this job gets left and left and finally approached in a mild state of panic as Spring marches in.  By then there is pile of dead and decaying horribleness to be dealt with.

The added incentive to keep checking on things is the wonderful scent from the three Attar of Roses plants plus their cuttings.  Every time I open the door there is a whiff of turkish delight and hint of summer to come.

* The payback was a very stressful Thursday with lots of v. urgent emails that I had missed. Ho hum.