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Tuesday 7 July 2015

Button and flowers....



Sorry, but I just love seeing the flowers in my garden!  It's fairly buzzing with bees and insects now, and the swallows swoop low to catch them too!  I haven't been able to do as much weeding this last week as I've had a sore back.  But everything is so exuberant after such a slow start.



This is a new bed, doing well in it's first year!  The lupins were from the garden of a friend so were quite large and well established.  The fennel has been there a while too. But all the rest are new this year.  This was the old strawberry patch.



Ahem, see what I mean about being a bit out of control!


Ooooh but I love the scabious! It's SO pretty and delicate!


And the big blousy poppies



And Jacob's ladder in blue AND white.


And a few photos of Madam Button.... here she is on a mission - time for lunch!


And here she is on the compost heap, heat from below and heat from above!  And yes she IS sticking her tongue out at us!  Ha!


And on the bench.  She's modelling a new tail (not really but there's a bit of old pipe on the bench that appears to be her tail!)


And this year is a good year for the rhubarb!  I have half a freezer full! No time to make jam or chutney at the moment...hopefully soon....


30 comments:

  1. Your garden is prolific ... a beautiful cottage garden, complete with Buttons in charge:)

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    1. Well bits of it are ok! Now I'm back from holiday a lot has "gone over" and it's looking a bit "messy". But the birds, bees and insects love it so that's fine then :-)

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  2. Oh just look how beautifully that's filled out! Looking fabulous - well done you!

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    1. Lots have "gone over" now but pleased how it's coming along generally! I need green-fingered Fay here tough!

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  3. Your garden looks amazing, considering it was just a rubble-filled square of grass when you arrived! Congratulations!

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    1. I have to keep reminding myself of that! I'm not a very patient gardener!!

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  4. You really have done a great job, its looking wonderful. I have a load of rhubarb in the freezer too I am saving mine for the winter months I am quite partial to a rhubarb crumble.

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    1. Ooooh yes I LOVE rhubarb crumble....rhubarb and ginger crumble especially!

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  5. Your gardens are beautiful. You must really enjoy just looking at the blooms. I know I would. Enjoy!

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    1. Thanks Bonnie. It's still very "bitty" but I am just thrilled ANYTHING grows, especially this year when it's been so cold and wet...

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  6. I love your out of control flowers. Thanks for sharing on your blog. It is a treasure.

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    1. Thanks Marjorie and thanks for commenting! Yes I go for free range gardening, much like my hens really....oh and button too of course. Ha! I have no control over anything ;-)

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  7. Your garden is looking so beautiful. Megs has been doing the Wellington Winter version of the heat from above and below - snoozing on top of the laptop where she gets full on heat from the heatpump. Button's version looks to be less disruptive to her human's day.

    Enjoy!

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    1. Thankfully Button has yet to discover the heat from the laptop. I suspect if I turn the underfloor heating off in winter though she would soon find it!

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    1. Thanks Bev! Still a bit scrappy but better than it was!

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  9. I really enjoy your photos of your chickens, flowers, and of course, Button. Lovely...
    Lorrain

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    1. Thanks Lorrain! And thanks for taking time to comment!

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  10. Your flowers are just wonderful, Sian - Button too, of course as always! I am hoping to return to Orkney in spring, inspired by your posts and various Orkney folk I follow on Twitter. Just been reminded as Nick Wray, aka @LifeAfloat, has just kayaked past Graemsay, headings for RNLI Stromness. So many memories are flooding back so I better get planning! Hope you are well, I know the weather hasn't been great but your photos are always so bright & cheerful. Jo x

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    1. Oooh get in touch if you are planning to visit. My email is on my blog profile. I saw photos in the local paper of Nick Wray! Amazing achievement for him. I'm fine - summer is a disappointment but I think it's been like that over most of the UK (and further afield) this year. I just try and make the best of it!

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    2. I will definitely be in touch, Sian, hoping to visit in late April. Glad you had such a lovely holiday. Enjoy the rest of the summer - it has to make an appearance sometime!

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    1. Thank you! And thanks for taking time to comment!

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  12. I love your seaside garden and am always very happy when Button appears in some of your photos. Charlie and the chickens seem to co-exist quite well. I live on an island too, in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA. Life is a little easier though with a bridge to the mainland. Still there is something very special about the feel of an island. Always enjoy reading your blog and enjoying the photos. Jacquie

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    1. Oh I love islands and love hearing about other people's lives on them. Thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoy the photos. I suspect Button likes to know she has a "fan club"....sigh...

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  13. Hello! just come upon your lovely blog and was instantly attracted by the photos! Life in Orkney looks wonderful!

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    1. Thanks Caudia, and thanks for commenting! Yes I love life in Orkney. It doesn't suit everyone, but I've been very happy here for over 15 years now :-)

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  14. Hello - my wife and I visited Graemsay last Wednesday (15th July) and were completely swept away by your island. Had a good chat with your postman as he was doing his rounds. The fields of buttercups and shining blue waters made for wonderful photos. We bought cards and postcards in the waiting room to boost the local economy as well! Will be back next time we visit Orkney!

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    1. Sorry to have missed you! Mich has a blog too www.graemsay.org.uk and has a webcam of the pier etc. The buttercups have been beautiful this year. Thanks for buying some of the postcards and cards. The local ladies craft club (Graemsay Fat Cats" will be delighted!

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    2. I'd love to see any Graemsay photos you have. You probably got to bits I don't go to very often!! My email address is sian.thomas@btinternet.com

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