HYPERACTIVE GARDEN.

We're running to stand still at the moment as there's a lot to do. Happily, the weather is kind enough to allow us to get on before the really hot weather arrives and we flop around like beached whales.

Becky is back from her travels in Mexico . Welcome back.

For her first grandchild, here is December 12th birthday.



Sorry, Becky, doesn't look a very inspiring entry.

RAIN, GLORIOUS RAIN so much of it that our 1,000L water tanks from the guttering are all full. The recently planted trees and shrubs will be thankful and Gonzalo next door, who's been busy with his veg planting will be overjoyed. It's uncanny how he seems to get the timing just right - always rotivating and seeding before the rain. And what a deluge it was.

Now, here's August 21 birthday flower for Kathleen
and I hope she likes it. Notice I'm scanning whole pages now in case others who read this see their birthday and it'll save me more scanning. Kathleen (Kasey) seems to be a new blogger, has a range of arty-crafty interests and like many garden bloggers, is a very good photographer.



We were just moving a Poligala out of its root-bound pot to put in a permanent spot behind the new wall, next to the vine Gonzalo planted, when the heavens opened. We couldn't stop at that point and got drenched. Still, it was a good excuse to rush in afterwards, have a really hot shower, cuppa tea and relax.

NATURE GIRL

October 21st, this is for you. I know this poem as an old Victorian song and didn't realise that the Elizabethan playwright wrote this famous poem. Enjoy.....

ARCACIA?? or something else? This shrub/tree is everywhere at the moment and I think it's gorgeous. I'd like to find a couple in the garden centres but never see them, yet they are wild in all places here. This one borders the wasteland at our nearest petrol station.



Kate in Canada, who is an artist herself - here
has a very fine blog and this is her birthday flower, December 13th. Who these poets are in this floral birthday book, I have no idea: they do have the flavour of Victoriana though.

By popular request, here's November 20th for Colin



And July 2 for Carol



They have a lovely place in northern Spain and an interesting blog on Mediterranean Gardening
here

And this one's for Yolanda - how appropriate, Norway Spruce for kindness.


If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing her garden blog, with scrumptious veg, wonderful felines and all-round good entertainment, visit her here

This is for Priscilla , who is in the USA and hasn't been blogging long... here.



Happy birthday again, Priscilla, for yesterday.

VICTORIAN FLORAL BIRTHDAY BOOK:


I mentioned this the other day and thought it would be nice to say more about it. The story is that a Victorian floral birthday book was found abandoned in an attic and some years after having it restored, Bernard - being an artist - decided to interpret it in his own way. He begged, borrowed and stole the flowers, plants for the 366 days involved and after a year, his book was published. This was 20 years ago when he was my neighbour near Sancreed, in West Penwith in Cornwall.

Here's the cover and apologies for the little rip in top l.h. corner (that Yang is a naughty boy!)



Here's the lead-in page for March



here are the first three days of March......just a little taster. I hope by the time Blogger uploads this that you can click on it and magnify it to see the really intricate painting and read the words.

If anyone reading this would like me to scan and post their birthday flower, just let me know.