Tulips emerging

Frost covered tulips... this past week presented frosty mornings over 4 or 5 days. The forecast this week is 'wintry' - lets hope its not too wintry!

I eagerly watch the tulips emerging. I've only a few tulips in pots as my clay soil isn't the best conditions for them. Above photo taken 3 March 2010.

Below: Same tulips as above (last month); photo taken 5 Feb 2010.

Above: shop bought tulips (I got a little impatient waiting for mine to grow). Tulips are so lovely.

I had a little house guest from other shop bought flowers.

New Gardening Channel Update (UK/Ireland) - The new Horticultural Channel on Sky Channel 166 / 402 Freesat, aired on 6th March 2011. 'Grow Your Own' magazine March 2011 had printed, "The Horticultural Channel will air round-the-clock gardening tips from March 6...". Hmmm, 'round the clock' (to me means 24 hours?). So I was a little disappointed about the 1/2 hour programme every 2 weeks. Oh well, better than no programme. It was a good half hour watch; did anyone else see it?

A Walk in the Park (New Garden Channel)

Frost greeted me most mornings this week. On the plus side, the days were dry and sunny so I took advantage: a few walks in the park. Here's what caught my eye at Belfast Botanic Gardens...

Some beautiful woodland areas planted with crocus and other bulbs.

I never get tired of looking at crocus.

I was surprised to see the first grass cut this week. The smell was fantastic (nothing beats fresh grass). The gardeners have been working very hard on the rose beds for months clearing weeds and moss.

Isn't this a camellia? Lovely pink flowers...

Unfortunately one of their plants was covered with black... sooty mold?

Above: I'd never seen this plant before, but think it's winter Aconite.

The hellebores are beautiful but droop their heads awkwardly; it was tough getting a picture of the actual flower (down on my hands & knees).

Good News for UK/Ireland - A new Gardening Channel! The Horticultural Channel is being launched and broadcast on Sky Channel 166, or 402 on Freesat, from 6th March 2011. Gardening programmes will be shown from 9am on Sunday mornings (not sure if it's only Sundays?). Apparently the programmes will focus on allotment gardening and people growing their own food. Can't wait to see what they offer!

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'.