May Bank Holiday In The Bluebells

Welcome May! As a gardener this month fills me with equal joy and panic, as it's all about to get extremely busy in the garden! The soil is finally warm enough (and in my case, un-waterlogged) to get planting out all those seedlings of flowers, fruit and veggie's we've been planning! I am sticking to a reliable repertoire in the vegetable plot this year: french beans, courgettes, tumbling tomatoes, beetroot and a mixture of lettuce. Flower-wise I just want self-seeding wild varieties as I have given up the hope of structured flower borders in my heavy clay flood-risk soil!

Over the Bank Holiday Mia and I took several beautiful sunny walks in our local bluebell woods. I could never tire of such a magical time, surely one of England's extroidinary natural sights! Blue is such a rare colour in nature and the scent when the sunshine hits is so heady, to me it's the pure essence of springtime.

I managed to get spring cleaning the shepherds hut at last, only a few cobwebs and a lot of ladybirds sheltering, so it's ready for any guests! I'm dreaming of summer entertaining and many garden parties, so I better get my act in gear and get it looking beautiful!

What are your garden plans this year? Any new plants or crops you're trying out? I'd love to know!

Thank you for popping by,

Katie

Bank Holiday Bluebells

I was thrilled to have the whole May Bank Holiday free - working in retail this isn't a given! And as the weather was no where near as dismal as they had predicted, I was happy to be able to head outside to wander and garden. The woodland where I walk Mollie every day was full of bluebells and wild flowers, is there a more beautiful sight during the UK Springtime? The bluebell woods are such a magical, fairytale sight to look forward too every year, I know the actual English species of bluebell is becoming scarse but never the less, the sudden splash of that deep blue is a real treat. There were also flowers like this delicate Greater Stitchwort (Why can the nicest flowers have the ugliest names?!) and the prongs of ferns are beginning to unfurl - May, you are beautiful!

This is just a quick check in, I've just finished packing for my trip to Cornwall, I dare say I will be back with just a few snaps to share ;) Hope you've had a great weekend! Katie x

My Easter Weekend

Well I can honestly say that was the nicest Easter Bank Holiday i've had in many years! I was quite happy pottering around the garden on the Saturday, swapping eggs with the family on Sunday, followed by the Easter Feast and sleepily settling down to watch David Copperfield. It was a shame to have such soggy weather on Sunday, but then again, I was too busy in the kitchen to have gone outside!

For me, Easter is all about family, flowers and of course, food. I gave into my inner child and whipped up the classic chocolate nest cakes (luckily. narrowly avoiding the UK Mini Eggs shortage!) and cooked traditional Lamb for the dinner, recipe from the Yeo Valley Farmhouse Cookbook that I would highly recommend, it was a winner! 

I did try and get some seasonal easter decorations throughout the house, I was very pleased to spot the Victorian Easter Card at my local antiques centre, I used to have a rabbit just like that! I was sad to see the last bunches of daffodils until next year, but I'm very glad it's now bluebell season instead. My local woodland has wild english bluebells....but I'm afraid I have naughty spanish ones in my garden - they weren't planted on purpose I promise, but whilst they're here, I will enjoy them! 

Mum&I had a rule not to buy each other easter eggs, so I was very excited to receive my first cup of tea in my 'Insead-Of' easter present, a new Emma Bridgewater indeed! I did brave the rain to pick fresh chard and kale for the Sunday Lunch, after chopping back the kale to the bare stems after the butterfly massacre of '13, it's bounced back to life and very tasty it is too!

Hope your weekend was a good one! Let's try and carry that Springtime Easter joy in our hearts through to the end of the week, roll on the weekend!

Katie