Culm View Badgers

One of my favourite Chelsea displays this year included these badgers from Culm View Nursery.The judges liked it too awarding it Gold.

Barbecue summer or wishful thinking

Well the makeover of the patio continues apace, with the fences sorted as well the paving, we went for natural stone in the end and it looks great.

So I am still planning the furniture to use and we are now thinking about a BBQ, hopefully we will get a decent summer this year and be able to sit out with something tasty on the barbecue. I'm quite a fan of experimenting with food and read a number of food blogs and sites for new recipes and ideas.

The BBC Goodfood website has loads of alternative BBQ meals, so I have no excuse to just pop on a sausage or two! Last year I tried Barbecued Greek lamb with tzatziki, which was pretty simple and very tasty!

To make the Greek style Lamb, simply mash up some fresh garlic to a paste (or cheat and buy a ready mashed jar). Mix this with olive oil a dash of lemon juice some oregano and also thyme leaves,  seasoning as you prefer with salt and pepper. Place the lamb into a large porcelain dish and pour the marinade over it. 

You could then cook in the oven but to cook on the barbecue, wait for the coals to turn ashen, then lay the lamb on the grill and cook for 15 mins on each side for meat that is pink, or 20 mins on each side for well done. Remember to take care on the BBQ checking that your food is properly cooked through and then leave the meat to rest for 10 mins before carving up and serving.

However before I dream of a BBQ summer, we still have to decide on the actual furniture for the patio, now the slabs are laid I dont want to hide them all under large garden furniture, so I have pretty much decided to go for a bisto set. Bents Garden and Home have a great selection on their website, and I have pretty much decided on this one:

Capella Bistro Set from Bents

As it is not too big it wont dominate the space and will still allow you to see the lovely stone slabs underneath.

I have my summer bedding arriving this week - I cheated and ordered that online this year, with the various projects at home and on the allotment I opted now to sow too many seeds - although I did do a few. But most are coming as plug plants ready for my pots and baskets - I am also doing some for my neighbours too this year which should give the road a bright shot of colour near to my home!

So hopefully with my plans of BBQ's and summer bedding we wont end up with a washout on the weather like last year - well here's hoping at least!!

DG

EU plan to Outlaw seeds not "Approved"

A shocking new EU plan will make growing, reproducing or trading ANY veg seed not 'approved' by governments illegal.

The effect? An almost instant extinction of 1000's of rare, heritage varieties, crippling of vital breeding work for new crops & ...destabilising global food security. (While conveniently giving giant corporations a 100% monopoly on our food system) Way to go bureaucrats!

It's not too late. Sign the Europe-wide petition here and save the future of home growers.

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/seedlaw.html

Stunning Japanese Garden at Chelsea wins best Artisan Garden

An Alcove (Tokonoma) Garden

Winner of the Artisan Gardens category at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2013 is the stunning Alcove garden. Kazuyuki Ishihara, the designer, explained that the garden represents an alcove within a traditional Japanese tatami room, decorated with a hanging scroll and flowers to delight and enchant. It is part of Japanese culture to speak with important people in such spaces, and this concept forms a key part of the garden; visitors can let their hearts speak out whilst enjoying the scenery and seasonal references in the design.

A well deserved gold and even more deserved winner of the Best Artisan Garden.

Prince Harry Garden at Chelsea - The reveal

Sentebale Forget-Me-Not Garden

After mentioning Prince Harrys Garden at Chelsea recently (see here) the show opened today and here is the finished garden, looking for more colourful than the illustration. The garden won a silver-gilt award.

Prince Harry at Chelsea Flower Show

B&Q Sentebale 'Forget Me Not' Garden

Prince Harrys involvement at the 2013 Chelsea Flower Show has reportedly led to an increased demand for tickets. His Charity Sentebale, which supports vulnerable children in the African country of Lesotho is represented by this years B&Q garden, Sentebale. The garden is designed by Jenny Blom and the name, Sentebale means "Forget me not" in Sesotho (the language spoken in Lesotho)

It will be interesting to see if the Royal Connection helps to ensure a Gold.

Decisions Decisions

The make over for the patio continues apace, with the new fencing completed, and looking lovely. We were rather fortunate as one of our neighbours was having a big run of fencing put up and we asked the fence company to do ours at the same time. What a lovely job they did too, so that really sets the patio off, far better than the shabby old fences we had before.

I just need to paint them now - although I haven't decided yet what colour to go for, possibly a cream colour rather than a dark wood stain, maybe even try and match the painted walls on the back of the house. Which reminds me they need a new coat of paint too!

I am still deciding on the paving stones to use. We have narrowed it down to a handful of choices, all are natural stone, and I want to tie together the paving colour with the fences. I have chosen several shades of sandstone - there is a lovely stone yard quite local to us that have given me samples of the stone i liked. I'll no doubt have a decision soon!!

Current first choice for the patio...

The pond is ready to be built too. I have had the new railway sleepers delivered along with some rather dramatic looking metal fixings, I had not anticipated needing such chunky looking screws to hold it together but best to be safe than have any problems! My Dad and Brother have been roped in to built it, so that should be done next weekend. Then I can sort out the pond liner, and filtration.

The final decision is the garden furniture. I seem to be spending a lot of time looking round various shops and websites. My current flavour of the month is Hayes Garden World who have a huge selection of outdoor garden furniture so much so that there is almost too much choice!

What I have decided on however is I want to have a smallish table and chairs, and then a matching sofa/bench that ties in. Possibly rattan but i keep looking at the hardwood furniture and maybe I'd rather have that.

How nice is this!! (Oxford Woven Rattan Bistro Set)

It was easy finding the sunloungers for my mother in law, but choosing for my self is much harder! Maybe i'm too fussy or perhaps too indecisive, there's probably a joke in there somewhere haha!!

DG x

Courtyard Gardens in Morocco

With the current weather as it is I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to just hide indoors and hope and hope for some sunshiny days to spend out in the garden.

You may just want to be out in the garden in shorts and t-shirts – but find yourself still reverting back to those trousers and jumpers. Although sometimes there can be nothing nicer than wearing a really good pair of corduroy trousers and still getting down to some heavy duty Spring time work in the garden, all wrapped up and cosy.

Lands’ End have some great choices for this kind of garden wear and with a lifetime guarantee on all their clothing this can last from Season to season. You just don’t know whether we’re going to get that Indian Summer this year – so it’s best to be prepared.

If you are feeling a need for heat and a getaway to spend some time out in a garden, where better to go for inspiration and pleasure than a Moroccan courtyard garden?

Sheltered from the outside world and its endless heat and activity, Moroccan courtyard gardens are inner sanctuaries at the heart of residential houses and palaces. They are personal spaces, designed with privacy for the family, and for women, in mind. These riads – houses with courtyard gardens – are typically inwardly focused, with windows looking out onto the beautifully planted and geometrically aligned central spaces. 

Courtyard gardens also provide protection from the sun and heat of the Moroccan climate. They are gentle places where shade from the buildings combines with water features that encourage cool air circulation. Courtyard gardens typically have a central fountain, often springing from a surrounding of glazed tiles adorned with geometric mosaics. Some may have small pools, with water lilies (Nymphaceae) or lotuses (Nelumbo).

There are many elements that come together to make up a Moroccan garden, and one of the most readily observable is its emphasis on geometry. The distinctive geometrical forms of Islamic style have their roots in the idea of representation of order and the natural world. In this way, the square may represent the four elements, and flowing curves may represent plant forms. Taken together, the various patterns express creation, infinity and the perfection of the spiritual world.


When it comes to colour, Moroccan courtyard gardens often combine lush, vibrant colours with softer, more tranquil shades. The walls of the riad are typically plastered and often painted white or pale terracotta. Mosaic tiling along paths and around fountains or other features may be simple in white and black, or it may incorporate many brighter colours such as red, yellow and green. There may be accessories including lanterns, low mosaic tables and jewel embroidered soft furnishings. This all forms a backdrop for the verdant greens of trees, shrubs and other flowering plants.

Citrus trees are an integral part of the Moroccan courtyard garden. The graceful, refined forms of lemon (Citrus limon), lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and orange (Citrus sinensis) trees in elegant containers combine with their delicate white blossoms and the sunshine colours of fruit. There are many other citrus varieties which may be included in a courtyard garden, including mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and many hybrids and cultivars.

The theme of abundance is typically continued with fragrant climbers, such as delicate white jasmine (Jasminum) or star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), or glorious pink Bougainvillea, that wind their way enchantingly around pillars and along walls. There may also be evergreen trees such as cypress (Cupressas) and bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) to add contrast and rich, sweet scents. Other gardens may have palms, such as Washingtonia and Phoenix.


Aromatic Mediterranean herbs such as Artemisia, Santolina and Moroccan sea holly (Eryngium variifolium) are frequent additions, with their soft, silvery greens and greys. Mint (Mentha) and basil (Ocimum) are both popular herbal teas in Morocco and often found in gardens. Blue delphiniums and pink geraniums add splashes of colour.

Staying in a riad is a great way to experience the beauty and simplicity of the Moroccan courtyard, while museums such as the Musée de l’Art in Marrakech and the Musée Dar Batha in Fez often have beautiful examples of this type of garden. Though not a courtyard garden, the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech is also a wonderful place to gain an insight into Moroccan style, use of colour and typical plants, from the vibrant blue square fountain and water lily pool to the pale terracotta walls at the entrance and palm fronded walkways.