Art · Flowers · Garden · Mixed-media · Nature

Our Spring Garden

Christine

Here, in Napier, the gardens are blooming with spring loveliness. We have had an interesting medley of weather these past few weeks, with frosts, rain, thunder, lightning, and hail storms, as well as some glorious sunshine and gentle spring breezes.

Our flower garden is a profusion of colour with poppies and anemones making a welcome return.

The old-fashioned Sweet William in the planter box outside the studio has the most divine scent.

Forget-me-nots have self-seeded everywhere.

The osteospermums or African daisies flower for much of the year and do well beneath the trees.

Our veggie garden is providing us with plenty of greens (spinach, chard, and kale), carrots, spring onions, broccoli and lettuce.

 

Seeds have been growing in the greenhouse, and potatoes, carrots, and pumpkins have gone into the ground. It will be another two or three weeks before danger of frosts has passed and we can plant tomatoes and other tender seedlings. We have planted a berry patch this year with raspberries, boysenberries, and strawberries. I’m not too sure whether it will get enough sun down the side fence beside the citrus trees, but am looking forward to seeing what it produces.

Calendulas self-seed throughout the veggie garden. I dry the flowers and use them to make a herbal-infused oil for use in calendula lotion. I use the lotion recipe in Jan Berry’s book 101 Easy Homemade Products for your Skin, Health & Home. It makes a lovely creamy lotion. I only make a small amount at a time as I don’t put preservative in it.

I love to press flowers from the garden to use in my art, and there are plenty to pick at this time of the year. This little mixed-media painting was created using watercolour paints, washi tape, stitching, and pressed flowers.

Little House on the Hill

Published by Christine

I am a nature lover who enjoys organic gardening, cooking, art and crafts, and writing stories.

9 thoughts on “Our Spring Garden”

  2. Hi Christine! Wow, so many flowers in bloom already! I’ve never seen poppies and anemones blooming in the same period. That really tells me that you are in a much warmer climate than we are here in the Netherlands. Fascinating. I love all the flowers you are showing. Gorgeous colours, all of them. Especially that Dianthus is so beautiful. And what a sweet little watercolour painting you made. Love the little house on the prairie 😀 I hope you will have a wonderful summer season this year! We are starting to get ready for winter. Amazing those differences 😀

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  3. Wow, your garden is looking amazing! The flowers and colours look so beautiful, I always love springtime and watching the garden grow with new life 😀. It looks like your veggie patch is going to be packed full of goodies again, such fun! Your painting is gorgeous too, the pressed flowers add such magic to the scene – stunning! Wishing you a wonderful week! Hugs, Jo x

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  4. Hi Christine! I just wanted to wish you a very Happy New Year! All the best of the best for 2020. May you have a year filled with many blessings, good health and happiness! I also wanted to let you know that I managed to find your book ‘The air that I breathe’! I will get it tomorrow. I can’t wait to read it. Again, blessings and stay safe!

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    1. Hi Ingeborg! Thank you for your good wishes! Happy New Year to you too. I hope it’s a happy, peaceful one for you. I’m so happy that you’re going to read my book and hope that you enjoy it! I have been away from social media for a while, but hope to get back into it again soon. Here’s to lots of gardening, crafting and creating in 2020! xx

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      1. You’re so welcome Christine! I am enjoying the book. It is as if i’m reading about my own life!! I will treasure it, i’m sure. I have only read 3 chapters so far, but it’s already such a journey! I’m sure it came into my life for a reason. I’m so happy I was able to order it now from my online bookstore! It’s a miracle it came on my path. Anyway….. thank you again and I hope you can create a lot of beauty surrounding you! That’s what life is all about, isn’t it! Stay well and safe! Big hug from another fairy 😉

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