How does your garden grow.

I've been so busy working on the Rose Garden,

I hadn't even noticed what was happening to the rest of the garden.

Here's what I found, it's not looking too neglected

New Tulips planted last Autumn, sorry I can't find the label for the name.

It almost looks like a Gardenia, when the petals are open.

I planted 10 but it looks like there will only be  9. 

A few garden ornaments I like to use dotted here & there.

These are Day Lilies, planted in a vintage storage jar.

I move them around to add a splash 

of colour where needed. 

This area needs some attention, I had intended to re-do it. 

However I didn't have time before it started to grow again.

There are 2 pink climbing roses growing up against the wall. 

I did give them a hard pruning, so hope they will be OK.

The Peonies are already in bud, they need to be staked.

All I've done to this area is hoe out the weeds.

It's a mixture of pinks and blue, perennials.  

and the rose is white ( Iceberg) 

 I found these Aquilegia ( Columbine )growing in the gravel  drive.

The seeds must have been blown there.They were so tiny

 when I dug them up, but they've grown so quickly 

now they are being looked after.

Chives, which keep re-growing every year.

Always nice to have, to sprinkle over summer salads.

Rosemary & Thyme which might need replacing.

I always grow my herbs in pots.

The pink Tulips from last year, some bulbs only made leaves no flowers.

 They look pretty in these big stone pots.

This Lavender plant I bought in Provence. Its still looking good.

I do keep cutting it back to stop it going straggly.

I've managed to keep it a good few years.

The last of the Muscari ( grape hyacinth) bulbs.
 I have three different varieties which all flower at different times.

Ornamental grasses. I was never very keen on them, 

I always thought they looked like dried weeds, but now I've 

changed my mind and thought I'd try some this summer.

My potting area, full of hope-fulls !

By that I mean, plants that have been over wintered in the garage

and now I've re-potted them hoping they will flower again this summer.

I'll let you know later what was successful and what wasn't.

The Rose garden is now finished, All the roses 

have been planted, and the Clematis which is already in bud.

I'm taking a short break, going to the coast, 

before our summer visitors start arriving in May to stay in 

La Petite Maison 

I will show you the finished result when I get back.

Some of the roses already have buds on so it shouldn't 

be too long before we have signs of pink.

I'll look forward to seeing what's growing in your gardens 

and what you've all been doing.

So until then

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

Cutting my Lavender

Very soon after I'd been living in France and several weekly visits

 to the local markets, bringing back home the wonderful selection

 of fresh fruit and vegetables in plastic carrier bags.

I realized I needed the right shopping bag, so I bought my French

 style market basket, which as you can see is well worn

as it's been to many markets.

But early this morning before the sun had come up I used it 

along with my well used flat basket 

to carry the freshly cut Lavender from my garden.

I gathered it by the hand-full and tied each bunch with string, to hang

and leave to dry in a dark room hoping it will keep it's lovely blue colour.

 During the day I moved the bunches around the terrace

so that I could enjoy the beautiful aroma.

Each time I touched the flower heads, they release their oil so the scent

 began to float around the terrace, reminding me of my visit to the Provence.

I left a bouquet on the day bed.

Tomorrow I'll be cutting some more

and making some Lavender and ribbon posies.

I'll also be replacing this lavender from last year 

and using it to fill some small cotton bags I've made

 to hang in the guest bedrooms.

I love this time of the year the days are long,

 and the garden is full of

 wonderful perfume from the many different plants.

I'd love to know what you do with your Lavender.

I have a good crop this year so I need lots of new ideas, let me know.

Look forward to your ideas.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

From Me to You

Wishing you all a lovely day for this St Valentines Day.

Someone could be receiving this heart filled with Lavender from my garden

along with a few other extra surprises offered as my gift

from joining the 'Grow Your Blog Party'

So please come back again on Monday when I'll be showing the name

of the winner of my gift, it could be YOU

My Mr France has never been one to give me flowers

but what could be nicer than seeing this pretty little flower 

growing on his miniature Orange tree, which he looks after with tender care.

Also this beautiful rose which he chose and planted in our garden.

So I have Valentines day all year round.

I know it's not a rose but I'm showing this poppy I painted

they grow in my daughters garden. 

So it reminds me of her.

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing.

Take care

and

Keep warm if you are living in those cold snowy parts of the world.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian

My 100th Post

I can't believe I've just written that.

If Blogger didn't count them and inform me 

 I would have let this special day pass me by without knowing.

If you don't mind I need to write it again only in bigger numbers

100 th. post.

I promise I won't mention it again.

 I created my blog in 2012. If you weren't reading me then take a look at my first post.

Except for my family, I really didn't know who would want to read about my daily life, 

but 99 posts later and just past the 40,000 number of views.

I'm feeling quite pleased with myself.

 I'm still here and when I don't enjoy writing and sharing I'll stop.

I thank every one of you who take the time to read about me, 

If you don't write a comment  I don't know you are reading it, but thank you anyway.

Finally a special thank you to all my blogging friends

who leave such lovely encouraging comments.

 A sketch from my journal of the back view of our house from the grazing field.

What better subject to share with you than the beautiful countryside I enjoy where I live, 

and what a stunning time of the year when the trees are exploding with such beautiful colours.

If you would like to join me on my walk, we will start from 

La Petite Maison 

Our summer visitors have gone. the vine has been trimmed

                         but it still looks inviting with the lovely red leaves on the Virginia Creeper.

During my recuperation time I sat most days on our terrace 

and sketched this view of the ruined barn 

Now the Berberis is looking at its best, so many shades of red.

  

We could take this lane.

But I think we'll go  this way.

 We will walk the  'Le Route Forrestier' 

 I haven't taken this pathway for quite some time as it was too hilly for me, but now I'm able to walk much further again, it's the best route for views.  We will be able to see the many species of trees which grow in our region  some of them are already bare and others are still showing off  their colourful robes. This particular day started with heavy showers then the sun came out which lit up the trees making their colours even more beautiful, 

I climbed the first hill to see the lovely big Oak tree

 which stands alone in the field where the Limousin cows feed,

 This oak always look splendid whatever the season, it hangs onto

it's leaves almost until the new Spring leaves begin to appear.

 I stopped and turned around so that you could have a glimpse of my home through the bare trees.

I can see lots of  dark clouds beginning to gather so before it starts to rain again.

I think we'll take a little detour,  I don't think you'll be disappointed.

it's this winding path which has lots of ferns along the edge of the path

Look at the lovely shades of rust of these ferns, 

I'll be cutting them soon and taking them to use as a winter coat for my fragile Fuchsias.

I learnt that tip from an old man in the village where we lived when we first arrived in France.

If you'd like to read some of my happenings in that village take a peep    here

I'm so glad I took the detour even though it didn't rain

We would have missed seeing these trees.

Aren't they beautiful ?

When it snows and I write about the snow plough never passing our house, you can see why. 

         I'll be able to show you the ruined house near to where I live.which is so over grown now

We are now back, to where we started our walk.

I hope you enjoyed the beautiful colours I'm seeing at the moment.

This year we still haven't had any frost, so we're still enjoying our Autumn.

 Now for a little insight of my preparation before I actually make a post. 

I say it so many times I am not technically minded.

I forget how to do things, so have to write it down, especially doing a link.

That's why I don't join in with Link posts but I do read the blogs you all link to.

I'd never get anything done I'd still be sitting at my laptop struggling.

Oh believe me sometimes it takes me ages.

However I have managed to put two links in this post.

When I first started writing on my blog I used to get Mr France to take the photos.

But since then  I've learnt such a lot about taking photos and I'm still learning, 

Here I'm preparing for a photo shoot I wanted to show you 

the last three stems of Lavender I found this morning.

Most of the photos I take are with my aim & shoot camera,  I can master that.

It's still not right. but was the best of all that I took.

This stone jar I found buried in the barn under all the hay at our first house.

I fiddled about adding a few more bits and pieces.

I've just made some Lavender sachets as extra little gifts for Christmas

and I thought it would fit in with the theme.

But too many shadows. 

I hope you enjoyed my special post.

à bientôt

Barbara Lilian