Saturday 29 August 2015

Stop the clock!

August proclaims
 a poignant reminder, 
that I am one year older,
age like summer marches relentlessly on

Travelling to northern India and Kashmir during April diverted attention from the garden

No seed trays prepared
or young plants nurtured 
nothing to plant out in the garden
Would there be regrets?

no runner beans, 

Blue Ensign Convolvulus

or Morning Glories
Not to be defeated
A dash around the garden during May
scattering seeds hither and thither,
in pots and on the ground
all was not lost, most seeds appear to have flourished
The success of this experience will most likely
herald a different routine henceforth in the garden - after all I am one year older!

58 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday and I hope that it was a grand day.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment which I appreciate

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  2. Happy birthday Rosemary, and what a month to celebrate it.

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  3. Happy birthday, Rosemary! Beautiful photos, as always.

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    1. Glad that you enjoyed seeing them Linda and thank you

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  4. Happy birthday, Rosemary! Like the seeds you scattered in the garden germinated to bloom beautiful, the seed within you looks growing graceful and strong. Wish you happy and healthy days ahead.

    Yoko

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    1. Thank you Yoko - I intend to make life in the garden as easy as possible.

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  5. A gorgeous garden with less work -- perfect!

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    1. Does age bring more wisdom? I am all for an easier life with the same results

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  6. One year older one year wiser. Happy birthday Rosemary. Your garden is looking beautiful. P.s. I thought you were going to have to get rid of your box balls due to blight or whatever they call it?

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    1. Yes, you are right Elaine - in this particular area of the garden, which is almost entirely walled, the blight has not appeared. Strangely the blight that we have appears to be repairing itself which I have never heard of. New green growth is growing up between the bare stems. I think that we will have to see how it fares during the winter months.
      Thanks for your happy birthday greetings which actually falls on the very last day of August.

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  7. Dear Rosemary, I also often wish I could stop the clock! But that is obviously not going to happen, so the next best thing is to live life to the fullest. I guess, this post indicates that you had your birthday recently, so belated Happy Birthday from me!
    For various reasons I also have neglected my garden this year a little bit, but I feel it is so forgiving and I still get tons of joy out of it and I hope you do the same. Your photos certainly look fabulous!
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. You are in time Christina, it falls in two days time but thank you.
      We do like to travel, but we also enjoy our garden. Prioritising is perhaps a good word, but as you say the garden is most forgiving.

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  8. I am thinking that it is a lovely way to celebrate your age into this wonderful garden !!! Happy birthday to you dear Rosemary !

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    1. Thank you so much Olympia - it is such a joy to hear from you, you have been greatly missed

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  9. What a beautiful garden and I love the flowers!
    Lovely post Rosemary...

    Titti

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    1. Thank you Titti - I am very attached to blue flowers in particular in the garden so was pleased that these seeds germinated

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  10. Happy Birthday, dear Rosemary! You're timeless - and that's what also is called elegant. And you are very inspiring. Thank you for that - and I wish you many, many happy years more!

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    1. What a wonderful birthday greeting Britta - I really treasure your kind comment - thank you

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  11. Hello Rosemary, We have often commented on your green thumb, but in truth, if you scattered seeds to such brilliant effect, it is the result of your years of hard work instilling the soil in your garden with tilth and ideal nutrients.

    Have a very Happy Birthday,
    Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - thank you for your kind birthday wishes
      In truth it is H who feeds the ground religiously each and every spring with his own homemade compost. However, I was very happy with the results following my neglect.

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  12. That sounds like a plan!
    Have a lovely birthday Rosemary.

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  13. Your garden is bursting with color and you have reminded me to plant convolvulus. How could I have neglected doing that for a couple years, they are so colorful.

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    1. I love those blue ensign convolvulus - who would imagine that a little brown seed could produce such a spectacular flower

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  14. Happy birthday. As always, your garden looks wonderful.

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    1. Thank you Susan - it is surprising just how much colour is still showing in the garden

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  15. Oh to have a garden like that. I would love it.

    By the way...Don't forget to celebrate...it's your birthday!

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    1. Thanks Janey - our grandson is staying with us getting some work experience before he returns to university. The three of us of going out for a birthday lunch to celebrate.

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  16. If the photos are anything to go by there does not appear to be very much wrong with your garden at all.

    Ms Soup

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    1. Next year I shall do the same - no more seed trays or potting on - this way is easier, and simpler, it just means that the flowers and vegetables arrive a little later.

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  17. Your garden obviously wanted to be sure to put on a great display for you!!! It all looks beautiful, I especially like those fabulous Blue Ensign Convolvulus, they are stunning aren't they. Happy Birthday! xx

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    1. I love that particular Convolvulus - it looks exotic, but is very easy, as you can see, to grow straight in the ground or a pot from seed.

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  18. Your garden looks stunning! Happy and sunny Sunday!

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  19. Happy Birthday Dear Rosemary! You have almost shared birthdays with our local Aussie grandson, who just turned six :) Your garden is stunning, no matter what you do...how fantastic are those blue convolvulus, and the stunning pink hydrangeas. I look forward to whatever your garden does - it is always lovely.

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    1. Happy belated birthday to little Aussie - he must be a Virgo too!
      I first came across those beautiful blue convolvulus when visiting the garden at Hidcote. I had imagined that they would be difficult to grow, but as you can see they are very easy. One little packet of seeds, bought in the sales, has lasted me 3 years, and I still have more seeds for next year.

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  20. As you see, when you were out in spring to India, your garden kept you in mind and surprised you with a wonderful display of flowers. Remains to congratulate you with your birthday!

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    1. Thank you Janneke - the garden is very forgiving

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  21. Happy Birthday Rosemary. Your garden looks especially green and colorful. I see that your boxwood has recovered. How wonderful! Yes the days march relentlessly on and another season is coming to end and much too soon.
    I hope that you had an especially lovely Birthday day. ox Gina

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    1. Thank you Gina - the last day of August is the day - the boxwood has not been affected in the area I have shown which is almost completely walled - however, the plants that had die back seem to be regenerating themselves, we will just have to wait and see what they are like next spring.

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  22. Your garden is warm and colorful with a great mix of annuals and perennials . The Convolvulus is one of my all time favorites, the color is just stunning. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday !

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    1. Really lovely to hear from you Jane and thank you for your birthday wishes - do hope that you have enjoyed a very happy summer break.

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  23. Dearest Rosemary, many, many wishes for a happy birthday! Your garden is a joy to look at.Simply wonderful. Nature has the power to surprise us so beautifully and your area has been very generous on it.
    Wishing you a great start into the new month and thanking you for your kind comments I'm always so happy to read
    Olympia

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    1. Thank you so much Olympia, I appreciate your kind birthday wishes - we had planned to visit an open garden today, but it is pouring with rain.

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  24. Happy Birthday Rosemary...
    Your garden looks lovely...

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  25. Happy birthday, Rosemary! Your garden is looking beautiful and so lush. Not a lot blooming here at the moment, so thanks for sharing your lovely flowers. Cheers

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    1. Thank you for your birthday greetings Loi - surprising how much colour we still have in the garden, but today is the beginning of September, I smell autumn in the air.

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  26. Happy Birthday ... and thank you for sharing such lovely photo's.

    Happy September too !

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan - I appreciate your kind comments

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  27. Belated birthday wishes hope you had a good time despite the rain! There is never a best time to be away in the garden in the growing season, Your garden still looks stunning despite the absence, so glad so many of the seeds hastily sown gave you such rewards! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you for the birthday greetings Sarah - showing the seeds in a rush was so successful that I shall not bother doing trays and potting on again. The flowers bloom a little later but I don't find that a problem.










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  28. Happy birthday, Rosemary :) I'm glad to hear you were so busy exploring different countries that you haven't had time to worry about getting older! I wouldn't worry about the garden, it's looking as magnificent as always. Maybe the garden elves have been helping out while you were away.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary - there is so much stuff in the garden that to a certain extent everything now looks after itself. Our biggest job is removing the growth we don't want to prevent it all turning into a jungle.

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  29. Happy birthaday, a bit late, but anyway..
    Lovely photos.

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