October Mood Board

Hello November

'The Star Coins' by Viktor Paul Mohn

In true Plain Jane tradition here is my two days late mood board for October.

The weather has delivered it's best and it's worst. Bright blue skies followed by howling winds and flooding. But nature has remained determined and on cue has delivered some of the most beautiful colours of the year.

Our 'mast' year has provided an abundance of berries

And the very last flower in my garden is still optimistically budding

Of course now we are on the countdown to the holly and the ivy but lets savour the last of this most beautiful Autumn while we can.

Jane

x

P.S. Take a look at Bee's board over at The Linen Cloud and Caroline at Scraps of Us

P.S. I have been making things - I really, really have - I'll show and tell soon!

September Sunday

When Big Sis was younger she was in a band. They wrote their own songs and the hot favourite was a gorgeous poppy tune called 'September Sunday'. They did well but life being such as it is they are now spread across the country pursuing their dreams. So to all four of you I dedicate my September mood board!

There's really nothing new to see. Only the golden heuchera and cyclamen (which to be honest were a recent purchase from the local supermarket). Looking back on my old boards though it confirms the cyclical nature of the seasons. The berries are prolific this year in time for the birds to fill up for the long cold winter ahead. They will remain part of our landscape now during the months where the rest of the flowers are taking a rest.

The few flowers I have left have got a richness to their colour - small but jewel like.

A closer look.

The bright leaves of the heuchera stand out as the rest of the foliage is fading.

And this is my very last dog rose  - having provided me with one of my favourite scents throughout the summer.

So there it is. Not many more flowers to come. I'm looking forward to the changing colours of the leaves now. The weather around here has been glorious and the towpath is busy with cyclists, walkers and barges. I'll leave you with some posies and the happy words of those girls

'It's September

It's meant to be grey

It's meant to be raining

But the sun is shining

How I'll remember September Sunday!'

P.S. For Charlotte, Jasmine, Zoe and Amber

P.P.S. Joining in with Karin and Asa' s wonderful mood board series

P.P.P.S. I am actually making things - more to follow!

August Mood Board

I've really got to read my instruction manual. It was a gloriously sunny day as I proudly looked down upon the last of my Summer flowers - each one with it's own vibrancy and form. And yet when I looked back at the photos they had turned into this

Okay there are a few colours there but the centre has morphed into a mangled muddle. So in a somewhat vain attempt to redeem myself I'll show it from some different angles.

Not great either. Let's concentrate on some close ups.

That's better

And those berries

Autumn on a stick!

And I couldn't resist this little chap (although I think he may be responsible for some rather nasty bites about my person)

I'm sure with the passage of time (i.e. over the next week) I'll look back at these shots and think 'What? Tooo sunny to take a good shot?' But for now I'll sigh and drink in the last of summer's bounty whilst thinking ahead to drinking in the first of the blackberry gin.

Joining in with Karin and Asa (although I think they have read their manuals).

Jane

x

Where Have All The Flowers Gone ...

...Long time passing

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time agoooooo .....

Well I'll tell you what Ms Baez (surely the best version?) they ain't been 'round these parts - this month's mood board is proving a tricky 'un.

Had I got fed up half an hour ago I could have presented you with this

But no, that would have been churlish, so in other plans I though I could maybe post this and claim it as my own

but I think some of you might recognise it as the Klimt adorning my kitchen wall and accuse me of cheating.

So after getting very wet and rather tetchy I found these. Now before I show you I would like to say each month I have tried to post something new, something that hasn't been seen before, but blow me if I could find anything different - last month's boom has been followed by this months bust (ooerr madam!)

Ahem. Here goes. Actually it doesn't look too bad.

And yes that wisteria has snuck (is that a word?) back in but it has just started it's second flush.

We've got sprays

Fennel, marjoram, tansy, dill

Scents

Honeysuckle

Buddleia

Shapes

Shaggy shastas

                                                  (not quite sure what this is but it makes for a lovely close up)

And annual visitors

Fuchsia

Petunia

But the roses are between flushes, the rosemary and sage are on strike, and no way was I going to pick my courgette flower ( yes - just the one - and we are very excited about our harvest). 

So from a rather soggy Staffordshire I bid you adieu.

Happy gardening!

Jane 

x

Flaming June

Okay not quite flaming but the fact that we have actually had a bit of warm weather this month has allowed the garden to flourish. 

My June mood board

Iceberg and dog roses, mock orange, loosestrife, geraniums, peony, cotoneaster, fennel, alchemilla mollis, lemon balm, marjoram, saxifraga, petunia, honeysuckle, pansy, lavender, 

comfrey

There was no foraging around this time, the garden was very generous. It's this time of year that all comes good and you remember why you fell in love with it in the first place. I only have time for a few photos this month as today has seen me going on a mysterious mooch - more on that next time - so with a fond farewell it's goodbye to June.

Roll on July!

Jane

x

The Scent of May

It's been a long time coming but boy when it does it lifts the soul!

Wisteria, lilac, bugle, geum, lily of the valley, knotweed, maple, clematis montana, auricula, pansy, London pride, candytuft, geranium

My garden moodboard for May.

It's hard to describe the scent that is filling the room as I am sitting here. According to my gardener's journal this time of year I'm usually gathering lupins and stock to dot around the house. This year we are enjoying the delicious scent of wisteria, lilac and lily of the valley. The front of the house is dripping with flowers and to have the windows open allows the fragrance to permeate the air.

The pastel yellows and blues are now starting to give way to the more definite colours of Summer

(although the brightness of these blooms was the devil itself to capture on a sunny day!)

The profusions of tiny florets will soon give way to larger bolder flowers but for now they quietly get on, attracting the insects and helping the garden spring back to life.

Good old May - we knew you'd get here eventually!

Jane

x

(Hello to my new friends - look I'm waving - it's lovely to have you here!)