April (snow) showers

April 13, 2024April 13, 2024 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ Leave a comment

Scottish_Snowy_garden_early_April_2024 — Spring snow. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello again. This was the scene here at the beginning of the week. A bit of an unexpected start to the new month. I’m happy to report that the snow was quickly washed away by rain and none of the spring flowers appear to have been damaged by this wintry blast. You can just make out the pale pink Rhododendron behind the seat in the picture above, and below is the same plant taken yesterday, alongside a pinker variety from the front garden 🙂

Scottish_pink_Rhododendron_bushes_April_2024 — Rhododendrons in the pink. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

April and May are two of the most colourful months in the garden, and I never tire of the different flowers around at this time of the year. From the golden yellow Daffodils, Forsythias and Primroses, to the cool blue Muscari and Chionodoxa, with plenty of shades in between.

Scottish_garden_April_Daffodils — Delightful Daffodils. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Forsythia_flowers_April_2024 — Golden Forsythia. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Scottish_garden_primroses_April_2024 — New season garden primroses. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

April_24_Muscari_and_Chionodoxa — Spring blues. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

One of my all time Spring favourites is the exotic looking Snakeshead Fritillary. There are a few dotted around the garden, and this is the first one to “hatch” its wonderous mottled petals.

April_2024_single Snakeshead_Fritillary — My Spring favourite. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The Camellia bushes don’t usually produce that many flowers and often get affected by the weather. I managed to capture these blooms before anything happens to them. I love their waxy-looking petals, and I hope they stay around for a while longer.

Scottish_garden_Camellias_April_2024 — Multi-petaled magnificence. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

There are two plants in the garden that have the most delicious aromas at this time of the year. The first is Skimmia Japonica with its spicy, floral scent, and the other is Ribes Sanguineum which has a fruity and peppery fragrance. It is a real pleasure to work in the parts of the garden where these two grow.

Skimmia_japonica_April_2024 — Skimmia Japonica with its very fragrant flowers. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

RRbes_Sanguineum_April_2024 — More fragrant flowers in bloom. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

To round off my post this week, the first signs of garden produce are on the horizon with the bursting of a few buds from the Morello Cherry tree. I can see lots of buds on the pear and plum trees as well, so it looks like the bees will have plenty more pollen to collect very soon.

Early_April_Morello_cherry_blossom — The first cherry blossoms. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

I’ll be back in the kitchen at the end of the month, so I look forward to seeing you again in a couple of weeks. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

Midsummer rainbow garden

June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 3 Comments

Midsummer_in_a_Scottish_garden — Midsummer garden. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

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.

Deep_red_Aquilegia_plume_thistle_and_Skimmia_Japonica_berries — The reds: Aquilegia; Plume thistle, and Skimmia Japonica berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Peachy-red_Azalea_orange-yellow_lupin_and_Pilosella — The oranges: Azalea, Lupin and Pilosella (fox and cubs). Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Yellow_flowering_Sedum_Lysimachia_and_Day_Lilies. — The yellows: Sedum, Lysimachia and Day Lilies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Green_Euphorbia_flowers_lemon_thyme_and_fresh_sage_plants — The greens: Euphorbia, lemon Thyme, and sage. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Geranium_Magnificum_nlue_Campanula_and_Centaurea_Montana — The blues: Geranium Magnificum, Campanula and Centaurea Montana. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Purple_lupin_trailing_Campanula_and_deep_violet_violas — The violets: Lupin, trailing Campanula and Violas. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Gertrude_Jekyll_rose_deep_pink_Foxglove_and_white_and_pink_lupin — The pinks: Gertrude Jekyll rose, Foxglove and Lupin. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

White_hebe_flowers_white_Veronica_and_white_foxglove — 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 🙂

End of December garden

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 2 Comments

Snowy_Perthshire_landscape_under_blue_sky — First snowfall of Winter. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Hello everyone. I hope you are well and have enjoyed whatever the festive season brought your way. Like so many, I had a quiet one at home, unable to travel to see my family. Hogmanay and New Year celebrations are also cancelled. There has been plenty of time to reflect on what has happened this year, and also to think about new projects for the year ahead.

Late_December_sunrises_over_a_Perthshire_garden — Three glorious morning views. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

We have been treated to some bright, crisp days here in central Scotland this year end, with some spectacular sunrises, and the first snow of the winter falling a couple of days after Christmas.

Garden_seat_covered_in_snow — Snow-covered seat. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

It seems like a long time ago since I was able to take a rest on my favourite seat and enjoy the peace, quiet and colours of a spring and summer garden, but even now there are some signs of new growth to gladden the soul. I took these images on Boxing Day of a primrose and one of my rhubarb plants. The poor things must have had a bit of a shock waking up the next day to a covering of snow.

December_primrose_buds_and_new_rhubarb_shoots — New shoots. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Back in September, once the cucumbers had ceased fruiting, I cleared some space in one of the greenhouse beds and planted 6 seed potatoes. It was an experiment to see if I could harvest fresh new potatoes for Christmas. I’m delighted with the results. All 6 plants produced, and I was able to enjoy freshly dug Maris Peer potatoes over Christmas, with a second harvest for the new year. At the same time, I sowed some carrot seeds, but these are much slower to grow, and I am beginning to doubt that they will ever root properly, but you never know. I will report back if they do develop to an edible size.

Maris_Peer_new_potatoes_harvested_in_late_December — Christmas new potatoes. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

2_trench_pots_of_late_planted_carrot_seedlings — Late planted greenhouse carrots. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

There were lots of berries in the garden over Autumn and early Winter this year, but by now, most of them have been eaten by the birds. However, our feathered friends never seems to dine out on Cotoneaster or Skimmia berries, so I am grateful to be left with these festive colours to admire.

Cotoneaster_hedge_and_Skimmia_bush_covered_in_red_berries — Festive berries. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

Like so many, I am looking forward to a fresh start in a brand new year. I am ever hopeful that we will be able to return to some semblance of normality in the not too distant future. Until then, thank you for following my blog for another year, and I send you my very best wishes for the year ahead. Stay safe and healthy, and a Happy New Year to you all 🙂

Early_reddish-pink_Rhododendron — Early flowering Rhododendron. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

Early winter garden

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 ~ My virtually free-from kitchen ~ 5 Comments

Old_apple_tree_bare_branches_except_for_a_few_apples — Just a few apples left for the birds. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I think it’s safe to say that Autumn is over now, at least it is here in central Scotland. A couple of weeks ago it was still mild and dry, but last week it felt like there was a definite season change. The last of the leaves came off the trees in heavy rain, the temperature dropped, and the daylight hours have dwindled significantly. The garden looks quite sad now. All things told, it certainly feels like December is just round the corner.

Scottish_garden_with_morning_frost — A frosty November morning. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

It’s not all doom and gloom though. There are signs of life amongst the fading foliage and fallen leaves. Spring bulbs are shooting up everywhere: in containers, borders and flowerbeds; they seem more advanced than usual.

Barrel_planter_of_bulbs_and_daffodil_bulbs sprouting_in_flower-bed — Sprouting bulbs. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

The late flowering heather is just coming into bloom. Such a pretty colour and delicate flower for this time of year.

Pink_winter_heather — Just beginning to flower, Winter flowering heather. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

As a reminder of the forthcoming festivities less than a month away (I can hardly believe it!), the Santa-red Skimmia berries and the glacial-white snowberry, give seasonal cheer.

Red_Skimmia_berries_and_pure_white_snowberries — Seasonal berries, Skimmia and Snowberry

And, here is the most regular visitor to the garden at the moment. He seems to appear whenever I go outside, and chirps away from first light. This is his regular perch, in the hollow of a large conifer, not too far from the back door.

Robin_in_the_middle_of_a_conifer_tree — Master of all he surveys. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

And so to my final image. This Salvia was planted back in late spring and has been in flower ever since. A truly great value plant. Have a good week 🙂