Tuesday 30 June 2015

GLASGOW'S GREEN COUNTRYSIDE

I made a trip to fetch some home brew today. I only had to drive a mile but it is a part of the surrounding area which I seldom visit... Baldernock, northeast of the city of Glasgow. These photos show the countryside one mile from where we live on the north side of the city.


The countryside is very green at the moment (including pools of water evident in low lying parts of pastures).


This is Bardowie Loch in the distance with the dinghies out for the summer sailing courses.


The weather continues to be cloudy in the west of Scotland while England and the continent are having a heat-wave. Tennis has started in Wimbledon and it is very hot on the court.



Curious lighting at 1 pm today. It was like when we had the eclipse ... a bit eerie.  But the interesting thing I notice in this photo of the garden (taken on my iPhone) ...  the colours have turned out very strong - lots of different rich, deep greens and reds.



Monday 29 June 2015

ANGELICA ARCHANGELICA

This majestic plant is very showy at the moment. It grows at the top corner of the garden next to the washing line and is in full 'bloom' (green 'flowers').


I originally got it as a small plant from a herb nursery in Argyllshire years ago and brought a bit of it from CVD. It grows robustly every year; it appears to be a perrennial but that is because ... The Royal Horticultural Society states "It is more likely to be perennial if prevented from setting seed." 



I bring big branches or sometimes just the heads in to enjoy in the house e.g.  with some current flowers from the garden.
 

I did a test this year.  There are always little plants that grow below the angelica plant but I never seem to get any baby angelica plants.  What's going on?
The leaves are very similar as shown in photo above.
 



I have now got the answer: the seeded plants below the angelica (and also absolutely everywhere else in the garden) are ground elder.  This is the little plant grown full size growing in amongst the lupins.

At the end of last year I cut the dried brown seed heads off and collected the seeds for this year.  I tried germinating them but to no avail (mind you, nothing else did either!)  I even scattered them around the garden ... nothing ... however plenty of ground elder!


  
Seedaholic.com states that angelica  "is best known for its candied stems, used as a cake decoration. The stems and seeds for use in confectionery and flavouring and the preparation of liqueurs. (e.g. Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Vermouth and Dubonnet). Angelica seeds and angelica roots are sometimes used in making absinthe."


 


This is the same photo as above only made into an arty image (using 'cutout' from Photoshop).  I think the colours would make a great fabric print.



A few days later:  seeds dropping on to a sheet of paper.

Sunday 28 June 2015

ONE CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY FLOWERS!

'Tis summer and the garden is full of bloom.  Yes, we have had a lot of rain which has helped the planting ... one just has to accept as collateral damage the bashed blooms and broken stems.

  
This is the sideboard today. Mairi and gang were in for lunch after they had been to the cinema.


Flower vase no. 1:  Clear glass vase is from Oxfam shop and is filled with blue glass beads plus a glass fish who lost his support and now sits on the bottom. The white roses and magenta dianthus are from Mairi last week. The purple flowers are from the garden andI have managed to identify as Woodland phlox.


Flower vase no. 2: Clear glass vase is (probably) IKEA and is filled with flowers from the garden. Purple irises dug originally from Anne's garden [Iris germanica, or maybe Iris sibirica?], pink flowers called Persicaria affinis 'Darjeeling Red' [Claire Austin website identifier] which is a low growing perennial common around here. Lastly the green flower in the middle is angelica 'Angleica archangelica'].  I have an enormous lush plant of it [see blog which is going to follow this one].





Wednesday 24 June 2015

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED

It is the time of year when I get the urge to put things into jars.  I love beets and so made a chutney which is Maggie's recipe using beets and apples.  It goes really well with smoked fish and/or potatoes done any sort of way.


At lunchtime a parcel came from Auntie Mary which included a letter about how hot it is in central British Columbia.  Oh I do miss the hot summer days and the Shuswap Lake!  However I was just mentioning to a young lady who has now finished secondary school that one of my memories of June was of getting up early to prepare for yet another end-of-year school exam. All that poetry that had to be memorized, theorems to have in your head, along with historical dates, biological genus and species .... phew! 



Baby Ellie was here today.  I placed the pushchair outside the window while she napped and I got on with the ironing!

  
This iris has appeared in with a group of blue ones.  I really like it ... and the raindrops pretty well sum up the general weather picture these days!



Monday 22 June 2015

ELLIE IN THE GARDEN

Ellie, now 5.5 months, and I spent a morning together today.  She loves being out in the pushchair so we had a lovely time in the garden.


It is high summer and the garden is quite lush ... it should be after all the rain we have had!


Situating the pushchair under the washing line (above left corner) is my Preferred Place for Pushchairs over the years.  The fluttering clothes on the line keep Little People amused while I potter about the place.


Is she smelling the flowers?  Not really ... it is heading straight for her mouth!
 


 A pink peony in the evening sun.



I transplanted these little rock plants this spring and they have done really well especially when everything else has been very late flowering this spring.



Monday 8 June 2015

HARRIET 2ND BIRTHDAY

Harriet is now 2 years old.  Here are some photos taken as we gathered at Mairi and John's for a bit of a celebration with some of their friends and also some of their neighbours (the ones who have youngsters).


The birthday girl


 Grandma with baby Ellie, now 5 months old.  Photo taken by John.


Harriet and her birthday cake being held by Mairi. Photo taken by John.



Monday 1 June 2015

GRANDCHILDREN: RECENT PHOTOS

Here are some recent photos of the grandchildren who are all getting bigger by the day!


Ellie 5 months


Harriet 2 years old (John's photo)


 Indy, nearly 4 years old playing in the back yard


Indy, nearly 4 years old, attending hospital for eye examination.  (No cancer cells seen.)


John and the 4 children on an orienteering expedition. Photo taken by Willing Walker Passing By.


Mairi, left, with Ellie in the middle and Alastair, right.