Scarf knotting * 25 ways in 5 minutes!

Scarf knotting is always problematic for me, so when I saw this video, I say big thank you thank you to the creators!
It's beautiful, funny and I could learn many new ways. Maybe you will learn too?
We need to look stylish and beautiful in the garden too, right?
*
Perfect short video for such beautiful day, which is the first day of the rest of your life... 

White containers - like it?

White containers - great new buy from yesterday. Just have a look at simple and fine lines. Designer  had really great eye. Green and red basil will look really tidy, so will my windowsills… ha…

I was looking for something to my white windowsills, that can be humble and simple enough to host basil in the winter. First frost days are coming fast – I have to hurry up, because there is only few days left with temperatures above 0C at night.

I didn’t want to have too large containers and I am sick of too many small and different containers, seeming to be too messy, especially now, after my room and windowsill are repainted.

Yesterday on the way back from great new discovered private garden, we stopped at ikea, which is sometimes great source of new findings.

I think that these white container are perfect for small, winter herb garden.  What is your opinion?  

The new private garden - mentioned at the beginning of the post - discovered and photographed yesterday will be featured soon on Ewa in the Garden.  

Trimming basil, crying basil

Basil growing in the windowsill outgrew my expectations. She gave me huge bunch and solid portion of leaves to make an Italian pesto. 

I trimmed my basil ruthlessly, leaving only 10 cm of wooden stems. It cried for 48 hours – I got scared, I felt sorry…On the other hand I made everythink to make it feel better - at the same time I changed the soil for fresh one adding lots of natural fertiliser to the bottom of the container.

Today which is 4 weeks after trimming basil, she is ready for next harvesting, no dead branches - so, don't be scared if you see big teardrops after trimming basil…     

This is how she looked this morning - almost no sign of trimming.

Organic hazelnuts first crop

I didn't expect too much hazelnuts this year. There is only one hazel (Corylus avellana) shrub in my garden that grows freely - to shadow the pond. The other 4 shrubs were cut back a lot in spring and summer - as they will move to new location soon.
Yesterday I collected one full bowl of nuts and second one is still waiting on the shrub. It grows free of pesticides and free of artificial fertilisers...  
Precious shrubs... precious produce....

Rose garden at Oxford Botanic Garden

While leaving Oxford Botanic Garden by surprise I’ve spotted hidden rose garden arranged with box beds. This type of space arrangement is very close to my heart now and I think I am the only one who has spotted that garden.

The only one from group of 40 people who traveled with me. This is the proof that you see what you want or desire or just are interested with.

If you are pregnant, you see literally ALL pregnant women around. If you dream about white car of certain brand, you see all white cars of that model and brand you wish to have. You become part of target group.

Now I am perfect target group for rose producers. I produce box by myself, so no need for that – little “baby boxes” are waiting for next season to make perfect borders in my garden.

If you are end of May of June in Oxford Botanic Garden, don’t miss this rose garden, on the right side before the entrance, hidden behind tall hedge. I hope you enjoy the photos.

House in the roses

If you see the wonderful example of house in the roses - like this one on the photos below - you think – why not? Maybe in my garden they can also grow in abundance? And no arbors and not the largest roses in the world...

But there is one problem. What to do when roses stop blooming? They don’t bloom all year round, right? Photos were taken end of May in UK, I wonder how this garden looks today. Possibly some roses are still blooming… but what about November-April?
For this reason I prefer solution roses with lavender, because lavender at least stays in color and nice shape in those dull winter and early spring months.

Aha, when we ear at the roses – little update on my rose gardening. Last week I took some cuttings from my Mary Rose old English rose. My current two Mary Rose shrubs have very undisciplined rootstock which is weakening the original plant.
I know that currently rose producers are producing roses on their own rootstock – there must be a reason. I want to see difference. I don’t hope for too much success in this season. If it doesn’t work now, repeating in May will make no harm, right? Let’s treat it as rose gardening exercise.

I wonder what do you exercise this season?

Horticultural Trade Show Warsaw, Poland 2011

This weekend if you are in Warsaw, you may see one of the most important horticultural trade shows in Poland. I have walked around today and I have not spotted any signs of crisis. Trade show got bigger and more serious than few years ago.

This year tere was more foreign companies present as well. Mainly from Holland, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. If you are interested in entering Polish market contact me - I can help, cos professionally I am providing this kind of service.Today one of the French companies - a plant producer - asked me for offer, because they are interested in finding a big distributor in Poland.

Two special guests John Stanley from Australia and Diarmuid Gavin (this year returned to Chelsea Garden Show with his "flying garden") have their lectures for professionals.  

This is one of my favourite stands. Charming combination of pink bicycle, blue basket and all-available-color Buddleja (common name Butterfly Bush).

New kind of Hydrangea arborescens The Pink Annabelle - gorgeous!

Perennial Hibiscus - do you know maybe the latin name?

New variety of cleatis was named today at the show. This fluffy, white beauty got the name "Maria Sklodowska-Curie" named after great Polish–French physicist–chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was honored with two (!!) Nobel Prizes —in physics and chemistry and Marie was the first female professor at the University of Paris.
She was the first woman to be entombed on her own merits (in 1995) in the Paris Panthéon.

Clematis Maria Sklodowska-Curie.