Taking over

Wild flower spotting today while out an about on a derelict area behind a pub. The white clover stood out amongst the yellow vetch.

I don't think there is a yellow vetch flower fairy. At least I can't find one in my book or on the web.

The vetch had grown in every crevice of the flagged area.

Also amongst the undergrowth were these delicate purply flowers which I couldn't identify.

It's sad to see derelict buildings and unkempt areas but on the other hand it's lovely to see nature taking over.

xx

Kitchen Window - May, June 2013

Whoops, I forgot to post May's pic. Tulips, this month and a dying basil plant.

Lovely scents in the kitchen in June from lilac and lily of the valley.

The Kilner jars are DD's. She puts her salad in them for her lunch at work. The old pegs from the washing line have been replaced with new ones.

New specs for me - pretty much the same as my old ones! The coloured 30s vase was my mum's and the white vase is a vinegar bottle bought at a car boot years ago. The cards are thank you cards.

xx

It's a take-over!

These lords and ladies plants are spreading each year and getting bigger and bigger.

They are in competition with the lily of the valley in this small, confined border and it looks as though they are eager to move.



Look at them lining up ready to jump out of the bed.



Jane and Chris have lily of the valley taking over on their plot and also a beautiful plant called Trillium.

Hope you don't mind me pinching this pic.

Here's my Trillium for comparison.



xx

Flower Fairies - Lords and Ladies (Autumn)

My plants have their berries early. The berries are easier to spot than the flowers.

Fairies, when you lose your way,

From the dance returning,

I the darkest undergrowth 

See my candles burning!

These shall make the pathway plain

Homeward to your beds again.

Cecily Mary Baker

The picture for the Spring song is here.

I also found the Spring song itself.

I have neither bells nor petals,

Like the foxglove or the rose.

Through the length and breadth of England

Many flowers you may see

Petals, bells and cups in plenty - 

But there's no one else like me.

In the hot house dwells my kinsman.

Arum-lilt, white and fine;

I am not so tall and stately

But the quaintest hood is mine;

And my glossy leaves are handsome;

I've a spike to make you stare;

And my berries are a glory

In September. (BUT BEWARE!)

Welcome to my new followers. I hope you enjoy your visits.

xx

Flower fairy Spotting

I spotted these in an overgrown garden as I walked into town - a sea of golden yellow. Such a shame about the litter.

Here is the poem for the buttercup fairy and here is some folk lore surrounding this pretty flower!

In the garden

Weeded early (well fairly early) this morning after a healthy, sorry, hearty bacon butty breakfast. It was cooler and I managed to weed half the veggie garden and a little bit of the front where the flowers are. We have these yellow poppies but the one that caught my eye this morning was ...

this lovely pink poppy. It's huge, probably about 8 inches across.

Another pink flower was this peony.

Both those pinks are in my current blanket.

Did you know - you can get 6 different arrangements from 3 colours?

One last flower I particularly like is this black aquilegia which I think is called Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata Black Barlow.

The Poppy Flower Fairy is not in my book but here is the poem for the Red Poppy.

We were all of us scarlet, and counted as
weeds,
When we grew in fields with the corn;
Now, fall from your pepper-pots with the corn;
seeds,
And lovelier things shall be born!

You shall sleep in the soil, and awaken next
year;
Your buds shall burst open; behold!
Soft-tinted and silken, shall petals appear,
And then into Poppies unfold--

Like daintiest ladies, who dance and are gay,
All frilly and pretty to see!
So I shake out the ripe little seeds, and I say:
"Go, sleep, and awaken like me!"

Lily of the Valley

These flowers grow in a very narrow shady border by the side of the house. They spread like mad and provide a lovely colour combination of green and white.



Lily of the Valley is sometimes called Ladders to Heaven. You don't have to climb them to enjoy their beautiful scent.

Who needs an air freshener in the loo when there is Lily
of the Valley around?

Lords and Ladies

These wayside flowers pop up all around the garden in Spring. They are not the most beautiful of flowers but they remind me of my original Flower Fairies book.

I only have the Autumn poem in my new Flower Fairies book with the Autumn berry picture.  I can't find the Spring poem anywhere on the internet, I'm afraid.

A very warm welcome to my new follower.

Blooming Bluebells

Blue seems to be a theme at the moment!

I think that these are not true native bluebells as the flowers are round an upright stem. However they are blue and bell like. There must be another fairy in there.

A flash of Colour

I spotted a flash of yellow and on closer inspection saw a clump of these beautiful flowers

Perhaps I should try spotting all the flowers in my Flower Fairies book.

It was a lovely day for a walk.

On today's walk home from the CS look what was in the sky.

It was the biggest rainbow ever spanning 3 streets - a very low and wide arch of colour.

Welcome to my new follower. I hope you and everyone who's reading had a lovely day today. The sun is still shining here.