Rainy day project for the garden

The weather hasn't been great for gardening...

St Patrick's was cold (so no potatoes were put in).
Easter was cold and wet so not much done outside.
This weekend was rainy (and cold), so again no seeds sown.

I feel a bit behind schedule but I have the rest of the month to sow seeds!   So this weekend, I decided to work on mosaic butterflies for the garden. I took a night class last year and I had started various mosaic projects - one of which was four butterflies cut out of copper. I finished three of them in class and had one more to do - today's project!

A copper piece completely covered with mosaic tiles and grouted. Of course, once the grout dries it has to be cleaned up!

On the left, a finished piece. On the right the copper shape. I like both pieces and think the copper is nice on its own. However, I can't wait to hang the bright, mosaic tile butterfly pieces in the garden over the coming months.

An enjoyable rainy day project!

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Chelsea Flower Show - What I Liked Best

Looking back at the photos I took at Chelsea Flower Show there are big expensive posh-looking gardens, exotic plants, detailed displays and many a perfect plant. But what appeals to me most are the veg displays (few there were), wildflowers and natural, cottage-style planting. Maybe I'm a little bit country at heart but the hard landscaped gardens with marble structures and fancy features weren't my favourite things - maybe because I consider them a bit too formal. Whatever the reason, here are some of my favourite photos taken at the show...

Above: Love the cottage style planting and the greenhouse in the background. I like the way the purples and pinks are to the left and the yellows and greens to the right. 

I love the idea of growing veg that looks so regimented and perfect, however, not quite a reality in my garden!

And of course not a blemish on the flowers or veg at Chelsea. I grow organically and of course my plants are prone to green fly, caterpillars, snail holes and slug slime.

It was great to see some veg and herbs at the show and the promotion of growing your own. 

Above: I loved the idea of using a wood pallet to make a plant shelf or wall hanging in the garden. This is something I aim to do this year. Generally these pallets are free and easily obtainable.

Above: I am drawn to these plants, the big giant heads of pink look very dramatic, and I will see about incorporating something similar into my garden (depending on the cost).

Above: One of my favourite Artisan Garden designs at Chelsea called Potter's Garden based an abandoned potter's garden from 1914. The simplicity of the brick building and the cottage style planting both appeal to me. I could basically live here!

And of course, this display at Chelsea with wildflowers and what I assume is willow structures was fun and interesting. Reminds me of being a child and doing cartwheels in the grass whilst looking for bugs and creepy crawlies! 

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

On Vacation

On vacation, I spotted a rather artsy looking cow out of pasture which turned out to be part of the Cow Parade tour taking place in Northern Ireland; photo taken at Antrim Castle Gardens, Northern Ireland.

The 'Cow Parade' is apparently the largest and most successful public art event in the world. The idea mooted around 1999. The Cow Parade has taken place in 75 cities across the world, and more than 32 million people have seen at least one exhibit. The cows are incredibly interesting to look at. For more on Cow Parades:  http://www.cowparade.com/

Copyright: All words and photos are property of Kelli's Northern Ireland Garden.

Fab Flowers

Summer flowers bring lovely colour throughout summer. I do love flowers - all year long! 

Left: Watercolour painting called 'Hollyhock' by Egretta Wells.

Egretta, our fellow blogger and person who inspired me to start blogging, has just set up a new online gallery of her amazing floral paintings and fine art. Such beauties! If you'd like to have a look, her online gallery is located at:

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/ewells-2206

Stylish Blogger Award

'Cabbage' painting by Egretta Wells.

Recently I received the 'Stylish Blogger Award' from two fellow bloggers. I'd like thank both of them very much for the award! Both have really interesting blogs I enjoy, and I hope you'll visit them if you haven't already: http://dreamingofroses.blogspot.com/
http://www.ellystuin.com/

In receiving this award, the rules are:

• Link back to the person who gave me the award.
• Share seven random things about myself.
• Award 5 to 15 new or recently discovered bloggers and notify them.

7 random things about me:
1. I did the 13km Mournes Mountain hike last year to raise money for NI Hospice (a really tough hike up a rocky mountain).
2. One of my favourite films is the 'Last Holiday' starring Queen Latifah.
3. I trimmed a beautiful yellow forsythia shrub at the wrong time of year and killed it (a real pity!)
4. I enjoy kayaking and canoeing, but scared of white water rafting!
5. I grow sweet pea every year and don't ever like it.
6. I'm a bit of a hoarder (should see the state of the garage!).
7. I keep all the gardening magazines I buy and re-read them (& re-read again over & over).

'Carolina Wrens Building a Nest' by Egretta.

I'd like to award the 'Stylish Blogger Award' to...
Egretta Wells of 'Paintings by Egretta Wells' at http://egrettawells.blogspot.com/
At 70 Egretta set a goal to set up her own blog and post a painting every day. She has very beautiful paintings some of which I've included in this post, with permission. It was Egretta that inspired me to start blogging.

'Zucchini Family and Yo-Yo's' by Egretta.

Egretta has a second blog that is about her daily life living in Florida. It is http://tengablescottage.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll visit Egretta's blogs. She is very deserving of the Stylish Blogger Award.

Above: one of my favourite paintings by Egretta called 'Textures of Nature'.

Garden Reds

February is my blog's 6-month anniversary! To date I've had almost 4k blog hits. Blogging has been a good way to learn from others, meet knew friends, and keep a record of my progress over time. Another plus, less bits of paper scattered about (and hopefully the blog can't be lost?). To mark the day, here are some photos of the year themed "garden reds" (with a bit of purple)...

Do these count as 'red-ish'? Lupin grown from seed. June 2010.

Peppers 'California Wonder'. Seeds by Thompson & Morgan. Aug 2010.

Thornless blackberry. Sept 2010.

Sedum Autumn Joy. Sept 2010.

Photo taken at my local garden centre. Oct 2010.

Self fertilising apple tree. Oct 2010.

Impressive dogwood stems. (£6.99 at B&Q). Oct 2010.

Cotoneaster shrub / berries. Nov 2010.

My favourite red - an original 'Bowl of Cherries' painting by Egretta Wells. http://egrettawells.blogspot.com/

Thanks fellow bloggers for your visits... I enjoy your words of wisdom, encouragement & humour.

Autumn Yellows - Sunflower, Poppy

Northern Ireland 's first day of October was filled with rain and gale force wind... the sun creeping through at intervals. My garden is filled with Autumn colour mostly flowering shades of yellow, orange and red.

Sown from seed, I really like these yellow poppies - fingers crossed they'll self seed around the garden as they're known to do. I help this process along by picking off dried flower heads and scattering the tiny seeds.
Variety: California Poppy.


Also grown from seed, my giant sunflowers are still going strong. One in particular has had a multitude of flowers (pictured above). I'm collecting seed so I won't have to purchase any next year. Some of the flower heads are as big as an adult head so I could supply seeds to half of Ireland (but will supply the birds instead).

Variety: Sunflower Giant Single (Hardy Annual), Mr Fothergill's, 75 seeds, £1.25 per pack.

"Yellow, Yellow" painting with allamanda flowers by my favourite artist Egretta Wells.
http://egrettawells.blogspot.com/