Welcome to my blog all about the things I love to grow and cook. You'll find a collection of seasonal gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly recipe posts, as well as a round up of my gardening throughout the year. I wish you good reading, happy cooking and perfect planting!
Hello everyone. I hope you well and that the sun has been shining wherever you are. It’s been a mixed bag here. Some sunshine, some rain, but warmer temperatures on the whole.
I have a very simple post this week. Several plants in the garden are about 2 weeks behind this year, and this has enabled me to put together a post I have wanted to do for a while but have not, until now, had the selection of colours to make it work.
Below is a compilation of flowering plants from my garden photographed this week from Midsummer’s Day on Monday through to this morning. All the colours of the rainbow plus a couple more. I hope you enjoy them.
The reds: Aquilegia; Plume thistle, and Skimmia Japonica berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The oranges: Azalea, Lupin and Pilosella (fox and cubs). Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The yellows: Sedum, Lysimachia and Day Lilies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The greens: Euphorbia, lemon Thyme, and sage. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The blues: Geranium Magnificum, Campanula and Centaurea Montana. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The violets: Lupin, trailing Campanula and Violas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The pinks: Gertrude Jekyll rose, Foxglove and Lupin. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
The whites: Hebe, Veronica and Foxglove. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
I’m heading back to the kitchen for my next post. I will see again in a few days. Until then, take care and keep safe 🙂
From the last few days of May, I think my garden looks at it’s best. There is so much colour, so many fragrant blooms, it is a real joy to be outside, and even the weeding seems less of a chore! The weather has been kind, and I have been outside more than I have been indoors. The lupins are great value in the garden; the flowers with their rich, spicy aroma, are in bloom for a long time, and once the long heads have finished, cut them off and smaller blooms appear for a second showing.
White and pink lupins. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
The last of my spring bulbs are in flower now. I planted alliums for the first time a couple of years ago, so this is their second late spring showing. I love the intricate web of tiny star-like lilac flowers that make up the globe shaped bloom.
Allium cristophii. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
It’s been a fine year for rhododendrons and azaleas. Most have past their best now, but this scarlet beauty stands at the bottom of the drive-way and is always one of the last to flower. It makes a stunning display. The later varieties are particularly sweet-smelling. The peachy-pink one below is heavily scented although sadly not quite so many blooms this year. The pure white azalea and the apple blossom-pink rhododendron, on the other hand, are almost overloaded with blooms.
Scarlet rhododendron. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
Later flowering rhododendrons and a white azalea. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
One of the finest trees in the garden is the laburnum. On a bright day, the rich yellow glow from the petals is quite dazzling, and the heavy scent is intoxicating. The flowers look particularly glorious against a blue sky. Sadly it’s not in flower for more than a few days before the petals start falling like vibrant confetti, all over the garden.
In full flower, laburnum tree. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
I have been patiently waiting for this iris to come into flower. For the first time, I split the rhizome back in the Autumn and was delighted (and relieved) when the buds started to form about a month ago. This variety is a real beauty called Iris Pallida; the pale sky blue flowers have the aroma of slightly spicy bubble-gum. It’s planted in a dry, sunny corner by the front house wall, and flowers from the top down. I believe the rhizome of this particular iris is used as a botanical in some gin varieties.
Iris pallida. Images: Kathryn Hawkins
My final image to share this month, is from a crop of plume thistles Atropupureum which are growing in the back garden. Not only popular with me, but the bees love them too 🙂
Plume thistle (Atropupureum) and bee. Image: Kathryn Hawkins
My Virtually Free-from Kitchen 