Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..June already!

1/6/2023

1 Comment

 

I'd like Jine to be a gentle month.

Weather permitting I will focus on the garden.


Picture

A romantic month perhaps..
1 Comment

Simply..blue....

27/5/2023

16 Comments

 
..in a good way. The vase is a charity shop find, the flowers are perennial conrflowers - centaura montana - and the foliiage Philadelphus aureus.

Picture
16 Comments

Simply..excitement....

22/5/2023

6 Comments

 

A parcel appears.

Clever packaging.

Beautiful isotoma, disappointingly tiny lime green petunias...We'll just have to see what we can do.


Picture
Picture
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..grow....

20/5/2023

2 Comments

 

Getting ready for summer....

sweet peas, cosmos, ox-eye daisies, cornflowers and fuchsias. The greenhouse is filling up nicely.

Picture
Picture
2 Comments

Simply..too tired to write anything....

19/5/2023

8 Comments

 

Lovely sunny day. Overdid it in the garden. Will I ever learn!

Picture
8 Comments

Simoly..twice round the garden....

15/5/2023

4 Comments

 

The first perambulation, cup of  tea in hand, is to look for what is new and what is beautiful, listen to the birdsong and perhaps pick a posy for the breakfast table.

The second walk round with pen and paper is to make the to-do list, notingg what needs doing most urgently and trying not to feel overwhelmed by the tasks!

It's important to me to separate these two walks..


Picture
4 Comments

Simply..sprinklings....

14/5/2023

6 Comments

 
and spanglings. The garden is beautiful in it's fresh greens with occasional scatterings of delicate flowers - a contrast to the drana of the tulips.


Self sown Welsh poppies and tiny geranium robertianum 'Celtic White' on the floor of the greenhouse are a special delight.

Picture
Picture
Tiny lily of the valley with it's powerful scent.
Picture
The shed roof is spangled with clematis flowers.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Welsh poppies in yellow and orange.
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..a last hurrah....

13/5/2023

4 Comments

 
The garden moves on to a new phase as tha tulips finish.
They have been fabulous this year.

Picture
4 Comments

Simply..making dreams come true....

18/4/2023

10 Comments

 
Sometimes they do!

I had a notepad on which each page was headed Dream. Plan. Do. I really liked that notepad.

I'm very good at the dreaming bit. Can do the planning though much of it is tedious..nearly done. And ready for the Do.

Will report back next week.

Meanwhile what are you dreaming of right now? What steps will you take to make it come true? Perhaps there is one little baby step you could take today?


Picture
Where did that come from?

I know I did not plant yellow in with the pink.
10 Comments

Simply..subtle....

14/4/2023

6 Comments

 
A tiny arrangement of sweetly scented skimmia and a few catkins.

Picture
6 Comments

Simply..the Lazarus plant....

13/4/2023

6 Comments

 
Did you know that hellebores could do this?

On frosty nights they collapse to the ground then recover as the day goes on. I started lifting it in at night becasue I wasn't sure it could sustain this behaviour, but apparently they can!

Picture
Picture
Summer curtains in the bathroom, and yet more snow! It's quite hard to stay inn sync with the seasons..
Picture
Picture
I keep popping in and out to fill my eyes with the gorgeousness.
Picture
Picture
I keep geting my clogs in the shot. The astonishing tulips are as big as a  hand.
Picture
6 Comments

Simply..thrilled....

7/4/2023

8 Comments

 
..by the tulips, the gorgeous weather and getting the grass cut today both in the back and the front gardens.

I hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
8 Comments

Simply..promise....

21/3/2023

7 Comments

 
of life and colour to come..
Picture
7 Comments

Simply..getting ready....

7/3/2023

10 Comments

 

A new watering can, gardening clogs and gardening gloves, and some pretties to grow on for the greenhouse in summer. I'm all set to go! The continuing sunny weather has energised me.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

A splendid hellebore, a small sarcococca which is scenting the greenhouse beautifully, and a witch hazel will fill the gaps in my future winter gardens.
10 Comments

Simply..the clean up begins....

4/3/2023

4 Comments

 
Yet more sunny days!

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Have switched on the heated propagator though I dom't know yet what I will grow this year, other than sweet pea 'Gwendoline' and more ox-eye daisies.
4 Comments

Simply..romantic February 9....

9/2/2023

4 Comments

 


Romantic...can be as simple as flowers at breakfast.

Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Simply..romantic February 3....

3/2/2023

5 Comments

 
For a few months each year I feel my garden is very romantic. I think abundance is romantic. I have not one white bark birch but ten. Not three or five plants of ox-eye daisies but 25 (so cheap and easy from seed). I really lovee that I can pick big bunches without the garden looking depleted.

Still looking for that floaty dress.

Picture
Picture
Nature gives me this romantic effect for free, every year, with wild orchids thrown in too!
Picture
My winter garden however, is not romantic. It looks like mud season here just now!

I used to advise clients and students to plant something special for winter interest at the far end of the garden, something to coax the gardener out on a winter day. Soemthing so beutiaul and exquisitely scented that made it worth the effort.

It is time to take my own advice. I am on the look out for witch hazel, daphne, sarcoccoca, viburnum, winter flowering honeysuckle....suggestions welcome.

We visiteed Anglesey Abbey winter garden on a still day and were intoxicated by the colours and the scents! See here.


Anyone else feeling romantic? What feels romantic to you?
5 Comments

Simply..to fence or not to fence....

24/1/2023

9 Comments

 

The fence between the front garden and the single track road and down the drive has rotted away and I got rid of it before the winter winds demolished it completely. It was the same as this bit which divides the front garden from the back. All the Swedish houses in the row of 12 had these modest picket fences at one time and I like it very much. It suits the house in its rural setting and is suitably simple to my eye.


But..replacing it is going to cost £1000 plus. (This quote is not for the fencing right around the garden but just part of it.)


Picture
Picture

I think I have 3 choices.

To reinstate the original design. Expensive, not much maintenance required though I should probably avoid letting too many plants grow over it.
 
To plant a yew hedge instead. It will need cut once a year and is slow growing so will take time to create a sense of enclosure.  Considerably cheaper than the fence. Greener. Aesthetically pleasing once established.

To use shrubs and plants as the boundary. I don't have a dog to keep in, or young childresn, and although I want to keep the deer out they can easily jump a hedge or low fence..

What do you think?


I have so enjoyed visualising where you all live. Thank you!

Please note that posts may be a bit erratic for a few days....


9 Comments

Simply..whatever next?

21/11/2022

14 Comments

 

A herd of wild boar have been creating havoc in gardens in Strachur, a village on Loch Fyne  11 miles to the north of us and word has it they are heading this way! There are about twenty of them. I didn't even know we had wild boar in Scotland!

I wonser if the soap trick works with wild boar..
14 Comments

Simply..oh deer....

20/11/2022

2 Comments

 

Here is the beautiful viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii' in early summer.
Picture

It appeared to die a number of years ago then over the past five or six years floourished again, mysteriously. However there is no mystery as to why it is now a stump. The deer have eaten it!

I don't usually get deer in the garden until spring, or when there is snow on the higher ground and I manage to deter them by putting down bits of strongly perfumed soap (works a treat to protect your tulips by the way).
2 Comments

Simply..not storm proof....

18/11/2022

10 Comments

 

I suspect the decoratons on my wreath  (see this post) are a bit delicate for the front door, exposed as it is to wind and rain.

The wreath itself is sturdy enough but the leaves will just have to take their chance..


Picture
10 Comments

Simply..when it does stop raining....

17/11/2022

2 Comments

 
I have to get out there and enjoy it.
Picture
Coffee for ten in my small sitting room today! Our village Conservation Group got together for the first time since Covid to tidy Coronation Wood and plant lots of bulbs in tubs. It rained. But we are hardy folks, and it was good to catch up and get to know some new residents..

Click on Menu to see the story of Coronation Wood.


2 Comments

Simply..hop bines....

27/10/2022

4 Comments

 


..make a lovely wreath. The days have been pretty wet and grey, but in a sunny spell yesterday afternoon I took apart the yellow wigwam which had the golden hop growing on it and made a wreath with the tangled but still supple stems. You just have to bully them into submission, tuck in the loose ends and leave flat to dry.

I will also press some leaves under the rug to decorate it with later.

Picture
Picture
4 Comments

Simply..spectacular....

24/10/2022

10 Comments

 
Is autumn as colourful where you are? If you are in the northern hemisphere that is!
I'd love to know if readers from Australia and New Zealand are still with us...
Picture
10 Comments

Sinply..prunings....

19/10/2022

6 Comments

 

Some large scale cutting back is going on in the garden, and much of it comes into the house for the few days it lasts

This is azalea lutea.

..
Picture
Picture
6 Comments
<<Previous

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.