Thursday, February 12, 2009

Roses white spots






It's always interesting to earwig on conversations at a flower show, you can't really help it when there are so many visitors, and everyone's got their own ideas as to what makes a great show garden or exhibit. One comment I hear time and time again is how inspiring the gardens are and how they're going to try to copy 'that' colour scheme or 'this' style of planting. The thing that I'm going to take away and copy from this years show is not plants but paths. thyme_path.jpgThe back to back gardens are very good for hard landscaping ideas and I spotted a brick edged path in-filled with pebbles stuck into concrete, much like a mosaic. Or, there's a stone path with grass instead of mortar and something more contemporary, a metal grid suspended over a bog garden - almost like a bridge. However, the one that I'm going to copy at home is the path in 'The Garden for Bees'. It's a gravel path planted with an informal drift of thyme, which smells as good as it looks. The good news for me is that I've already got a gravel path, all I have to do is add the 'thyme' and once the flower show is over, I'll have the 'time' to do it.

A poppy is about to bloom.

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flowers - flowers.jpg



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Crocus - the first flowers of spring 2008

Daisy

Flower

Bright yellow flower

Bright yellow flower


pollen-flowers posted a photo

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gorgeous vintage silver stemmed vases with our vintage candle stands to complement the stunning ballroom at Buxted park - 087.jpg


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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Garden wall murals






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A brief definition of water lily vs lotus flower.

When common language differs from scientific language, then I prefer common people's language.

Some of the lotus photos shown are well defined lotus flowers, while others may also be called water lilies by some, specially by scientists.

In the peopleŝmind and heart often all are lotus flowers. However there is a small difference. As a general rule those lotus flowers having seeds / fruits are quiet generally agreed to be lotus. Those without the seeds are often also called water lilies. From a spiritual point of view there is far less difference between the spiritual nature of both. Hence I may call water lilies also lotus.

The lotus bears fruits - nut like and delicious, but has far less nectar. In exchange for missing fruits the water lily has a daily high volume of sweetest nectar.

How confusing the naming policy of lotus / water lily is may be seen across the www and seen on examples such as image captions like "Lotus Flower In Lilly Pond" so what is it a lotus flower in lotus pond or a lily in lily pond ...

I love a and use to call both lotus!

But to satisfy both searches and both naming-"fans" - the one searching for lotus, meaning lotus and the one searching for lotus but meaning "water lily" I may name it for all searchers of this beautiful exotic and blossoming water plant.
In album Lotus flower photo - Lotus blossom images - Lotus pond photos
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Starting your first garden





Kingdom of lily ponds and lotus ponds - Cambodia is a paradise for water lover and lovers of all kinds of aquatic life and flowers. Millions of water lilies small or large and lotus flowers all across Cambodia.
In album Lotus flower photo - Lotus blossom images - Lotus pond photos

Crocus - the first flowers of spring 2008

Daffodils in late April


atheana

atheana's photo

Flower

Asim Shah posted a photo:

yellow


beetography

beetography's photo

When showing and take a while look to this photo, then one name comes up, peacock !!!, yes you right :) except this fanlike with yellow colour. Actually a little flower, but when take to macro mode, it's becomes more fun, and showing totally different.


Asim Shah posted a photo:

the basket


Blue

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Blue

Asim Shah posted a photo:

bee



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DSC00477.jpg


Asim Shah posted a photo:

bee


John, my engineer, and I had an early start on Thursday - we arrived at the showground at half past 5, so that we could get BBC Radio Merseyside on air at 6. john_reynolds_in_van.jpgClaire 'Minty' Minter did her travel reports from the flower show for Tony Snell's Breakfast programme, as well as chatting to anyone else she could find at that time in the morning - it felt like we were the only people about but she did manage to track down one or two stalwarts, including Show Manager, Kris Hulewicz. Later, we were joined by BBC Radio Lancashire's, John 'Gilly' Gilmore. Gilly was on air all afternoon and boy, was it hot! Luckily for Gilly, he'd brought his producer, Sue Hendey, who ensured he was covered in Factor 50 an d had plenty of water. However, there's not much shade and they were both wilting by 4 o'clock. So, if Minty's early starts and Gilly's sunstroke haven't put you off and you think you can give Wogan a run for his money, get yourself a nickname...
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Plants elrmentary





High resolution lotus wallpaper 1600x1200px - Pink lotus of Cambodia.
In album Lotus flower photo - Lotus blossom images - Lotus pond photos
We got a silver-gilt medal which we are very pleased with, we're really pleased because it's our first Tatton. The judges did say that they'd like us to do a larger stand and that our plants would really suit a larger exhibit. One of the reasons why we create a display of this size is because it fills one lorry! We never know how the plants will go down when we come to a new show and especially one in a different climatic area, but so far so good. Next week we're going to the Taunton flower show where we're exhibiting our own plants and planting a garden, then Rob and I are off for three days to an undisclosed, secret location to reflect on the last few months and plan for the year ahead.

Asim Shah posted a photo:

the basket


atheana

atheana's photo


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Nice violete flowers

Nice violete flowers



Nectar production ends, life ends for the blossom and a life cycle is soon completed. Another day or two. See next pictures for the completion of the lotus flower life cycle.
In album Lotus flower photo - Lotus blossom images - Lotus pond photos


After taking this flower, i wonder what is look like, and yes, i can see it's ear look like rabbit ear. So cute, and somehow, it's funny how the flower shaped and look like the other living creature.


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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Potted ivy plants




pollen-flowers posted a photo

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new bay trees on the way to Pollen - latestpicturesgallery028.jpg



Winter Berries
Show gardens at flower shows are always very subjective, the judges are looking for one thing, the gardening press another, and very often the public are just looking for something they can recreate in their own garden. All too often they don't agree on which should be the winner. beardshaw_300x150.jpg At Tatton Chris Beardshaw's garden, 'Cheshire's Year of Gardens 08', pleased all three and it's easy to see why it was awarded the Best in Show title. Recreating a classic english country house garden with bold herbaceous borders on both sides was a sure fire winner. I loved the predominantly pastel planting and highlights of gold added by the Catalpa at the end. I'm told there are subtle elements from at least 12 Cheshire gardens incorporated into the design, including the famous double borders at Arley Hall. If you're visiting the show and you know your Cheshire gardens see if you can spot them. east_west_300x150.jpg According to my colleague Louise I have 'Boy tastes'when it comes to gardens and some of the other designs i liked typified this. The 'East Meets West' garden (Gold) was created by combining the traditional elements of a relaxing Japanese Zen garden with a contemporary seating area and blocky water feature. adlington_300x150.jpg Angular water features were in evidence in several other gardens i liked, including the 'Adlington Relax and Reflect Garden'(Silver-Gilt), with white walls, red containers and interesting grassy planing scheme and 'Always There' (Silver-Gilt) a garden created to promote the work of the Samaritans. This was just my cup of tea, with green the predominant colour and plants chosen to complement perfectly the stonework and rusted steel used within the design. samaritan_300x150.jpg The judges awarded just two gold medals and four silver gilt at Tatton this year and I'd completely agree with their decision. A number of gardens featured heavy stonework waterfalls including 'Go with the Flow' (Silver), My Little Piece of the Lakes (Bronze) and Natural Distinction (Silver-gilt) and I think all of them could have done with a bit more planting to soften the hard landscaping. brett_300x150.jpg Elsewhere 'Real Life by Brett' (Silver-gilt) brought the traditional northern back garden into the 21st century and was definitely drawing interest from the crowds. 'Hot Dry Days' (Bronze) took a more Mediterranean approach and showed how we can adapt our gardens to the changing climate. Who knows, if the weather continues to be as hot and sunny here as it has been this week maybe bananas will soon catch on in Manchester?
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