Glory of the Garden

“Halfway down the garden

is a bench

where i sit.

there isn’t any 

other bench

quite like

it.”

With apologies to A.A. Milne, I have been sat on said bench wallowing in the spledour that is summer; enjoying the sun on my back, the thrum of busy bees and the flute-like whistle of happy blackbirds, while scarlet poppies frolic in and out of burnt orange day lilies.

Now any diligent gardener will tell you they never, ever get a chance “just to sit” on their own bench.... 

which is why I am always accompanied either by my lunch.... or my paintbox....

Catch these paintings and more in the "Glory of the Garden" summer exhibition at the Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, Herefordshire, from 7th July onwards.

I’ve been wrapped in thoughts of autumn harvests while working on the September issue of Country Living magazine, so lest summer should pass me by, I’ve dug out my June copy to get me back on track.

It’s full of useful tips... I’m going to follow Stephanie's advice and pop a couple of squashes in between my bean rows. This should create a more humid environment that may prevent mildew. And, like this little pansy, my eagle eye is always on the lookout for self sown seedlings that I can move to gaps in the borders.

Copyright Country Living Magazine 2012

Something for the weekend

Heat the water and sugar in large pan, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then transfer to a non-metallic bowl. Cool and stir in the citric acid.

Shake any bugs out of the flower heads, (more for the bugs benefit than yours, as you'll be straining the syrup later) before adding the blooms to the sugar syrup, along with the sliced lemons.

Cover and leave in a cool place to steep for 2-3 days. Stir two or three times daily. Done!

Strain through a muslin (or clean kitchen cloth) into sterilised bottles, and store in a cool dark place, or fill plastic bottles (leaving room for expansion) and pop in the freezer for a year long supply.

Aldeburgh Festival

With the Aldeburgh Music Festival in full swing there's still time to catch a medley of my musos rocking out in the 

Snape Maltings Gallery....http://www.snapemaltings.co.uk/event/mary-woodins-musical-selection-in-the-gallery/

More pictures from my palette

The iris fields where I'm prone to roam looked stunning a couple of weeks ago... before the weather turned unfavourably autumnal!

Red White and Blue

With four fabulous days of Jubilee celebrations at an end, I’m pleased to say my garden put on a fair splash of red, white and blue in support. While not ideal for hanging around on a boat, in a fancy hat, the rain showers combined with bonus bank holidays, did at least yield perfect weeding conditions.

Oblivious to the royal hubbub, Gabriella, my very old and favourite but quite tottery of late chicken, tucked her head under her wing for the final time this weekend. Now, the well known dish ‘Coronation Chicken’ (cold chicken in a mildly curried sauce) was invented for Her Majesty’s celebrations on 2nd June 1953. It did cross my mind (very fleetingly), it might be fitting to serve up Gabby for the Jubilee.... but she’d be a tough old bird, and after all, she was my friend, so we went for ‘Cremation chicken’ on the bonfire, with all the weeds.

Garden Notes

Two new illustrations and some timely advice from this month's Country Living magazine before we hurtle into June

 Coyright Country Living magazine

"The fairest flowers soonest fade"

As if not to be outwitted by the Chelsea Flower Show, a slick of long awaited sunshine has coaxed my favourite flower into bloom. I've just gathered a rainbow of irises at my local nursery, and am now in a race against time... 

Crushed eggshells and worse!

This year it has taken me three sowings of cucumbers to end up with some credible seedlings. Well, actually, my first two sowings were very credible.... 3 varieties, indoor, outdoor, with fat and juicy leaves; therein lies my downfall. They were also irresistible to a furtive intruder who left me with stumpy stalks and a slimy trail, twice.

Third time round I scattered crushed eggshells on the surface of the compost and, sorry, a few slug pellets. By morning I had the culprit, caught in the act, lifeless upturned shell resting against one of my precious plants. 

A reasonable sacrifice for a whole season’s cucumbers I’m afraid.

Another string to my bow

With the music festival season almost upon us, I've been tapping to the the beat with my brush!

"Tails" of the Unexpected

I can always rely on rhubarb to cheer me up, on yet another wet morning, when my plans to belatedly plant my maincrop potatoes are once again thwarted. The beautifully prepared bed I have earmarked for them is now a moated island... and not the tropical sort!

The rhubarb however is in full swing. Don’t you love a true stalwart that delivers reliably on minimal attention? 

Amid visions of simmering pies and steaming crumbles I tug at the crimson stalks and unknowingly dislodge a bundle of dry grass at the centre of the plant. Quick as a flash, half a dozen teeny, velveteen bodies with pink tails wriggle out of sight. I do hope they find their way back to their cosy nest and I do I hope I haven’t picked the umbrella that was sheltering them from the rain. Sorry chaps!