OUR GARDEN IN BLOOM ON FLOWER FRIDAY

Just after 7.30 this morning, we WhatsApped our son, who is at present on holiday in Japan, to sing Happy Birthday to him - they are 8 hours ahead over there, so we didn't have to worry that we would wake him up!  

I had quite a busy morning doing some cooking, and then we both had a wander around our garden just before lunch, when I found lots of flowers in bloom.  We had our lunch sitting outside in the sunshine looking out over the garden, so I thought I would just do a quick collage, before I start the packing.

From the top left, and going round clockwise are five Aquilegias, most of which Mr. HCB grew from seed.  Then there is one of our new plants - a beautiful Lithodora : Blue Star, which used to be called Lithospermum, which is really striking.  Next to that is Mr. HCB’s Mum’s gorgeous Peony, brought from her garden after she died, over 25 years ago, and which blooms for us every year.  

Then there is a strange flower, which has yet to come out - but it’s on a Sage bush, some of which has broken off from the rest of the bush, but which seems to be coping well.  Next to that is a little Geum, which is rather pretty, and at the bottom left are two little Bleeding Hearts - Lamprocapnos spectabilis - formerly known as Dicentra spectabilis.

Above with dark red/pink leaves is a Loropetalum : Chinese Fire Dance, another of our new plants and last, but not least, is another gorgeous Aquilegia, purple with a white edging. 

In pride of place in the middle is an Iris, which is standing tall in our tiny pond;  I believe this is the first time it’s flowered, so we are thrilled to see that before we go away.  We realise that many of our flowers may bloom and die whilst we are gone, but at least we have this record of them.

And now...I really must go and do the packing - Mr. HCB has gone out to get petrol, so we are almost there.  

As I said yesterday, we have no wifi at the flat, but in some ways that’s a good thing - we can catch up with our reading and we understand from the owners, who are friends of friends, that there are plenty of games and puzzles on the mezzanine above, so I’m sure we won’t be bored and of course, we will be visiting the local hostelries! 

Have a great weekend, whatever you’re doing - I have just been reminded by J H Ted that the Silly Saturday Gang are also looking forward to going on holiday, so watch this space!