Over the Easter holidays we visited my sister-in-law Sarah and her family, this week’s post comes from her lovely garden. The last time we visited was back in December, it never fails to amaze me just how different the same space can feel at different times of the year.
I always get loads of inspiration from Sarah’s garden – and usually a bit of the green-eyed monster too, she has so much space and takes such good care of it! I think a little garden envy is good though, it always gives me a prod to do a bit more back at home.
Since I last wandered around Sarah’s garden there has been one big change: the arrival of a greenhouse. Look how full it is already!
Maybe I’m a bit odd, but I love poking around in the more practical parts of gardens – the functional bits that aren’t there to look lovely. They always give me ideas and inspiration, I love how they give you another level of insight into their owner too.
Sarah is starting a cut flower garden this year so has been very busy with the seeds – verbena, geranium, cosmos, lobelia, sweet peas, snapdragons, scabious, and lots more I can’t remember are all in there. This is a project I’ve got on my list for next year so I’ll be pestering her for lots of tips! I’ve just been given this fabulous book for my birthday all about growing flowers for cutting, so I’ve got no excuse for not being prepared….
I noticed a great illustration of the difference it makes to sow your seeds thinly – I’m not very good at thinning out seedlings, it always feels like wasting plants, but here’s proof of why you should do it:
And this is an idea I’m definitely pinching – using mail order packaging as a makeshift propagator. Brilliant, it even allows for a bit of air circulation.
So much hard work has gone on here since we last visited, I suspect next time we’ll find a sea of flowers, indoors and out. Can’t wait!
Joining in with Annie’s ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ series at Mammasaurus – a rather special one this week, the centenary!
ooh that is an inspiring garden!
Very much so, always something new to discover.
I’m not surprised you love visiting this garden! Gorgeous captures too. I fantasise about having a cutting garden too.
I’ve always seen a cutting garden as a bit of a luxury but the more I think about it, the more sense it makes – it looks lovely, saves money on bought flowers and doesn’t have to take up much room. Can you tell I’m converted?!
Oh I love that greenhouse and your sister-in-laws hard work. I always feel despondent at this time of year where my untended garden boasts as many weeds as plants and it all seems an uphill struggle but then a couple of hours in the garden and I realise how a bit of work makes a huge difference!
That’s me saving all my parcel packaging now – love the look of that book, added it to my wishlist.
Thanks for joining in again lovely 🙂
It really doesn’t take much gardening time to see the effects of your efforts does it – I had to cling onto this thought yesterday as I tried to dig over rock hard earth at the allotment, got there in the end though!
I can’t believe how plants are in that greenhouse. Just shows what a lazy so-and-so I am! I couldn’t find all my clear propagation covers this year so the just sown tray of tomato seeds is being covered by a the greenhouse window that has come out!
Not lazy – just pacing yourself 😉
you had me at cherry blossoms….. so beautiful!
I completely agree 🙂
Lovely, I loved having a nose around your greenhouse. I love the staging you made, I really need some and have plants all over the polytunnel floor at the moment, they are everywhere!
It’s so hard to keep a greenhouse tidy isn’t it – those pesky plants keep getting bigger and taking up more space!
I think cherry blossom is the loveliest of all blossoms 🙂 I’m going to look up some of the cut flowers Sarah is growing for my own patch. Thinning out seedlings is hard – I want them all to live haha!
Ooh good luck with your flower patch! I know I won’t have enough time this year to do one properly so I’m trying to be sensible and wait until next year – it’s taking a lot of willpower! Looking forward to seeing yours come to life 🙂
Great pics – what an awesome greenhouse! I have one, but it’s a bit on the small side and an old rambling thing with broken windows, staging and door! Still it does the job and could be fixed up a bit 🙂 I look forward to seeing your next set of pics from your Sister-in-Laws garden. #hdygg
As long as it does the job, that’s what matters!
That’s a whopper of a greenhouse – and a beauty – I’ve greenhouse (and seedling) envy 🙂
My schizazz’s are sown and in the greenhouse and they’ve started to sprout – yay!! Beautiful pink blossom too, such a lovely time of year #hdygg
Oh I’m so glad they’re growing for you! My sweet peas have yet to sprout but I bet it won’t be long 🙂
Nothing better than nosying around a garden and like you, I love the working areas of a garden. What a spectacular space your SIL has, so tidy with the plant modules. I feel inspired to plant some seeds tomorrow.
Yes I came home and tidied up my greenhouse after visiting hers! Hope you got lots of sowing done 🙂
I have garden envy too, love the greenhouse! A cutting garden sounds amazing, perhaps creating one would prompt me to actually sow seeds properly
I’m sure some cut flowers are easier to grow than others – my plan is to start with the easier ones and get lots of advice!
would love to see the photos once the cut flowers are in bloom
So would I, hopefully I can share those in a few months.
Agreed an inspiration. I love the hellebores and euphorbias as well as the more dramatic blossom. I’m trying a cuttings garden this year too – but I only got as far as tulips in the veg patch before I plant the salad more densely.
Spring does have such variety doesn’t it, I love the fact that it all comes at once too. Good luck with your cutting garden, it seems that lots of people are having a go this year – exciting!
that is a really gorgeous spring garden and it looks like she has a good jump on summer already.
Yes you’re right – I love how with gardening you can really see the results of your hard work.