The sun is shining the weather is sweet and I have hayfever.  The hayfever days are the worst as I love being outside, I love the sunshine and ironically I love flowers.  Most of the time my medication works but towards the beginning of the year NOTHING will save me.  I reluctantly vowed to have a day inside despite the steamingly beautiful weather outside but I got a lovely surprise visit from my sister who brought me some of her strawberry plants (she has an abundance) and with it an anemone and some sorrel.  She then came back and brought me and my husband a choc ice from the shop...what a brilliant sister!

 

 

In true fighting style I decided to eat my choc ice outside and whilst I was out there it looked  so beautiful I managed to take some very quick photos of my recent projects before becoming a snivelling wreck.  The pond is looking amazing now albeit a bit green (I was too excited to wait for rain and so used water from the hose...)

 

 

I recently made a mobile out of shells that I had collected over the years that were just sitting around in a box inside a darkened cupboard, and some chandelier drops that were hanging around after we bought the house.  My sister described it as a bit 'Blair Witchy'.  I can see that but the crystal drops and shining mother of pearl shells send darts of light around the garden.  It's a disco ball for the birds and frogs.

 

 

Last years tulips are looking pretty good this year.  I have a terrible memory as to what I have planted where so it's always a nice surprise to see what is coming up.  I think I will move these to the border when I have finished and put the strawberries into the Butlers Sink. Also the greenhouse is looking fantastic.  Only completed a few weeks ago with help from my other half who also built some excellent benches out of old decking planks.

 

  

 

We've hurried to get it finished as we wanted to get it ready to put the pricked out plants in that I've been growing for my sisters wedding at Summer Solstice.  I will put up a post showing how we built the greenhouse later. There are loads of Cosmos, Poppies, Argentum, Clary and sunflowers to name but a few. 

 

Before my sister and I started growing flowers for my wedding last year we hadn't given them much thought and only grew 'practical plants' that is ones that you can eat, use as manure of keep pests away with.  I think both of us now really appreciate how nice it is to be able to bring in fresh cut flowers into your house every week that you have grown in your own garden.  They're delicious!Below is how my garden looked like last year.