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💚💜💚💜💚One of yesterday’s little cottage garden projects …The spring pots on our potting table at the side of the cottage ...
28/05/2026

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One of yesterday’s little cottage garden projects …

The spring pots on our potting table at the side of the cottage are long gone, so a little summer theme is needed.

Because the table is under our pergola I thought some ferns would look nice, along with Nepeta ‘Cats Pyjamas’, Margriet, Pansies and Geraniums. So off to the garden centre I went.

When I got there and saw the cost of the ferns, (which weren’t substantial)), I remembered that I had some self seeded young ferns in our shady garden at the back of the cottage. So my shopping spree was that little bit lighter!

I’ve grown the pansies from seed as well as lots of geraniums this year too. The Bellis daisies, are just about hanging on from spring, and you might remember the white Muscari that I had in the small wall planters? They’ve obviously gone to seed now and need replacing, which I did after taking these photos.

They were deadheaded and I found a place for them in one of the borders. I’ll be interested to see if they return as beautiful as they were this year.

After the heat that we’ve had over the last few days, this area under our pergola is very quickly turning into my favourite spot in the garden!

Right, I’m off to water some pots now, although the thunderstorm that we had in the middle of the night might just have done that job for me!

Have a lovely Thursday everyone ☺️



Garden inspiration ~ Container gardening ~ Cottage garden style ~ Rustic garden

🌸🩷💚🩷🌸It’s ‘National Children’s Gardening Week’ There’s something special about children growing up with muddy hands and ...
26/05/2026

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It’s ‘National Children’s Gardening Week’

There’s something special about children growing up with muddy hands and curious minds and time spent in the garden.

From watering plants as toddlers, to watching the bees and playing hide and seek amongst the flowers, these little moments will hopefully be life long memories.

Watching Max and Finn over the years explore and play in the garden has been really special. The most memorable sleepovers have always been the ones where they’ve helped in the garden and had a fun time.

Gardening teaches them patience, responsibility and respect for nature, without them realising that they’re learning.

The garden isn’t just a place to grow flowers, it’s a place to grow confidence, curiosity and happy childhood memories. 🥰

As it half term week, you might have some special little visits this week. If so, pop over to the for gardening ideas and have some gardening fun!

Have a lovely Tuesday everyone, stay cool!

🐶🖤🐶🖤🐶‘It’s Murphy Monday!’ Murphy’s enjoyed himself in the garden this week, he’s been my gardening companion that’s for...
25/05/2026

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‘It’s Murphy Monday!’

Murphy’s enjoyed himself in the garden this week, he’s been my gardening companion that’s for sure!

It got a bit too hot for him yesterday though, so I was watching him carefully, he tends to struggle in the heat sometimes.

They say that today could be the hottest May Day on record here in the UK, so we need to take care of our pets and watch out for heatstroke.

A few ways to keep your dog cool:

🐶 Always ensure they have access to cool fresh water.
🐶 Let them lay on a cool tiled/stone floor.
🐶 Keep room shaded and ventilated.
🐶 Use damp towels or cooling mats for them to lay on.

We usually walk Murphy early mornings, but we’ll definitely be avoiding midday today, and it will be a shorter walk than normal.

Murphy is lucky in that he doesn’t need to walk on a pavement or road on his walks, but if you do, watch out for those paws, if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws.

My gardening jobs will also be morning and evening today, that’s for sure, that’s if any get done. It might be a day to relax I think once I’ve had a little encounter with that dreaded hosepipe! 🫣😂💦

What do you have planned? Whatever it is, have a lovely Bank Holiday Monday and enjoy the sunshine 😀

💚🌸💚🌸💚Lots happening in our cottage garden …What a glorious two days we’ve had, hasn’t the weather been amazing? Of cours...
24/05/2026

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Lots happening in our cottage garden …

What a glorious two days we’ve had, hasn’t the weather been amazing?

Of course we’ve spent as much time as possible in the garden. On Friday I tackled a job that I have to admit felt a bit over facing. Our two cutting garden beds had been put off too many times and I had to grit my teeth and get on with them.

One had been covered with w**d membrane all through the winter and that stuff is an absolute godsend, no w**ds in sight. The other one hadn’t had that luxury, and was absolutely full. Once I get started, I do actually find w**ding very satisfying, and therapeutic and it didn’t take as long as expected to get it looking decent.

It was so warm, and the weather forecast is great for next week too, so I decided to plant my dahlias out. They were more than ready to exit the greenhouse for the last time and my cosmos were chomping at the bit too.

Yesterday I planted some of my new geranium plants that I’ve been growing in the greenhouse. Because of last year’s drought, I’ve decided to invest more in these drought tolerant plants, and I love them so it was an easy decision.

Then it was time to give the sweet peas a bit of TLC. Feeding, tying in and removing tendrils is a joy to do when you know that they’ll repay you with lots of blooms. I’d grown far too many from seed, so yesterday we put up a mini version teepee to accommodate them, I couldn’t see them go to waste.

So, a very productive couple of days and the weekend isn’t over yet. Lots more to do though and we’ll be making time to sit and enjoy it too!

Happy Sunday everyone ☺️



In my garden ~ My gardening life

💜💚💜💚💜All of a sudden it’s all about the alliums and the lupins …… The heat started to arrive here yesterday and what a d...
23/05/2026

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All of a sudden it’s all about the alliums and the lupins ……

The heat started to arrive here yesterday and what a difference it made to our garden. The lupins were looking a little bit w**dy during the week, but all of a sudden they’re coming into their own.

The alliums are just about fully open too. It’s good to have them back!

I love purple in our garden ….. but it’s a colour that’s only allowed in the garden, nowhere else. Are you the same?! 🤔💜

Happy Saturday everyone 😀💜😀💜😀

One simple photo ….. no music, no hashtags, no reels, no carousels ….. just took the photo and posted! Bring back the be...
22/05/2026

One simple photo ….. no music, no hashtags, no reels, no carousels ….. just took the photo and posted!

Bring back the better, original Instagram meta! 🙏

Joining in with & …… there’s a little bit of a cottage theme going on here don’t you think?!

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷I managed to get some of my spring pots emptied yesterday, but not many because I’ve still got quite a few tulips s...
22/05/2026

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I managed to get some of my spring pots emptied yesterday, but not many because I’ve still got quite a few tulips still flowering away. I know the majority of you will have said goodbye to your tulips a while ago, but we’re always behind here

I haven’t talked much about my tulips this year, which is strange because tulips are my favourite spring flower, I adore them.

What was your favourite tulip this year?

Mine was a new one to me, ‘Tulip Ballade’ and I’ll certainly be getting her again.

Tulip Ballade is full of elegance and charm and is one of the best known lily-flowered tulips, with graceful fluted flowers. She’s an heirloom tulip dating back to 1953.

An Heirloom tulip is an older tulip variety that has been preserved and passed down through generations because of its historical importance, beauty or unique characteristics.
This one is certainly a beauty!

She’s been flowering since March and has been stunning. I love how her petals curve outward at the tips, giving her a refined lily silhouette.

When the sun catches her she opens up to show a stunning yellow centre, which the pollinators haves loved just as much as me. She definitely stands out amongst a crowd!

Happy Friday everyone …… it’s starting to warm up!! 🌤️🌤️🌤️

PS. Save this one to your autumn shopping list, you won’t be disappointed. 😀

💚🤍💛🤍💚Dandelions, Buttercups & Cow Parsley …… May isn’t just a special time for our gardens, it’s a beautiful time for o...
21/05/2026

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Dandelions, Buttercups & Cow Parsley ……

May isn’t just a special time for our gardens, it’s a beautiful time for our countryside too.

The fields at the side of our cottage are absolutely full of eye catching yellows from the dandelions and buttercups. My favourite cow parsley sways in the breeze, edging the fields and country lanes beautifully.

The paths are filled with the scent of the hawthorn blossom, everything being transformed by nature’s beauty.

Why wouldn’t we want to take the long way home?!

Have a lovely day everyone ☺️



Country life ~ Yorkshire ~ Countryside ~ Nature ~ Country style ~ Wild flowers

🩷💚🩷💚🩷It’s time for our pink rhododendron to have a turn of being the star of the garden. It has really pretty pink flowe...
20/05/2026

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It’s time for our pink rhododendron to have a turn of being the star of the garden. It has really pretty pink flowers at this time of the year, but to be honest I keep thinking of moving it to a different part of the garden.

I think it was one of the first shrubs that I planted when we bought the cottage 15 years ago and at that time I had little knowledge of shrubs and where they should be planted. It makes me cringe actually, because I’d see something at the garden centre that took my eye and into the basket it would go, with absolutely no plan as to where it would go. 🫣

It has a few yellow leaves on it at the moment which is a sign that it needs a feed, so I’ll add some to my list when I visit the garden centre on Friday. September/October is the next best time to move them, so if it’s healthier, it’ll stand a better chance of surviving.

With the lovely weather that’s forecast for next week, I think it’ll be a busy gardening week ahead, I can’t wait to drive some quality time in our garden. I’ve a feeling I won’t just be buying rhododendron feed at the garden centre! 🤭

Happy Wednesday everyone ☺️



Cottage garden ~ Gardening time ~ Cottage garden style ~ Welcome to my garden

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