April and early May have been full of glorious growth in the garden. However, many of the early blooms are now gone, including these Tulips:
Bluebells
Bluebells and albino Bluebells have flowered and are now sleeping until next year:
Personal Favourites
Among my favourite spring flowers is Bleeding Heart, with its little pendants which hold a special place in my heart:
Another favourite is this Magnolia stellata, with its pristine white petals showcased to perfection against the turquoise fence:
The Pond Revamp
My pond was badly in need of a new liner, so I took the opportunity to give it a revamp and added a little stony beach to allow minibeasts to access the water.
I shall purchase some new pond plants soon to keep the water fresh.
Can you spot the fairies among the Primroses?
Apple Blossom
The apple trees blossomed early, and I hope to get another terrific crop of apples. I gave them a good mulch with homemade compost, and they seem very happy.
Sowing Seeds
In late April, I sowed several packets of seeds direct, including Verbena rigida, Poppy somniferum and Scabious “Tall Double Mix.”
I waited until the soil seemed sufficiently warm, before scattering them in random fashion.
I think they will enhance the Cottage Garden theme.
The “Cottage Garden Mix” has been scattered under my Birch tree, while I have followed advice and planted the Dahlia and Wallflower in trays, to be transplanted later.
Watching the Daisies
My feline friends Coco and Buster like relaxing among the flowers. I have several species of Daisy in the garden. These white ones are one of many varieties of Marguerite.
Aquilegia
I have a growing collection of Aquilegia in a variety of hues. I love their traditional name of Grannies Bonnets.
Allium
I also love the Allium family, and have several species coming into flower. I particularly like this little corner which has both white and purple thriving amongst the silver leaves of Lambs Ears, the dark purple of Heuchera, a blue Aquilegia and the orange flowers of Calendula.
Weeding
May is an optimum time for growth, including the weeds. Although I have completed most of my planting, weeding keeps me on my toes!
Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.
Welcome back, Brigid. Your garden is gorgeous. There are so many beautiful flowers. I have some apple blossoms. My plum trees have hundreds of plums growing. Roses and other flowers started blooming a month ago. Thank you for this wonderful post. 🙂
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Thank you Miriam. Gardening sure is good for the Soul. I am glad everything is blooming with you too.
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You’re welcome, Brigid. After the winter rain stopped, I had a chance to do more gardening. It’s not hot yet. I planted new flowers and hope they grow before the heat.
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The garden is stunning. My bleeding heart did grow this year. Nevertheless my bleeding heart is not as specatcular as yours. Do daisy’s grow every year by themselves? I want plant plants that need no special effort from me and grow every year. The pond looks great and i just about spotted the fairies.
I havent made it out into my garden as yet since Easter. But i need to.
Thanks for inspiring me.
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Thank you Bella. Your Bleeding Heart will grow bigger year on year. It loves a shady spot. The Marguerites grow every year. The foliage did not die back during winter. Shasta and Ox Eye Daisies will come up year on year. However, Ox Eye Daisies self seed everywhere!
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Thank you for the help
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With daisys what spot do they need, shade or sun? I am no good with latin flower names, a bit clueless
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The Marguerites are in quite a sunny spot Bella.
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Ohhh wow…what a beautiful garden you have Bridgid….it must really be wonderful being in that kind of home and enviro ment..
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Thank you Mich. It is my therapy. I can’t imagine life without a garden now.
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Wow and wow, Brigid and welcome to WordPress. Your garden is awesome and beautiful and so nice to see the little pond with the fairies sitting in between the flowers. Loved your little cat she is soaking in the atmosphere of beauty that is all around her. Thanks for the awesome presentation of your garden.
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Thank you Kamal. It was good to take a break. I am catching up slowly with everyone’s posts. I am never short of feline company when I go outside.
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Great to hear that, Brigid. Welcome always.
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You garden is looking amazing, Brigid. You are a green wizard. Nice to see a post from you.
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Thank you Robbie. It’s good to be back. I am recharged again.
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How beautiful. We have these albums – nectsroscordum having looked it up – which are lovely and so different to the Pom Pom varieties. Have you seen them
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Thank you Geoff. Yes, I have a few Allium nectarascordum. One is about to open amongst the Heuchera and Calendula. I have more in the front garden. I do like all the varieties though.
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Oh, how beautiful Bridget. I think I saw the fairies in your pond.
I love the names of the flowers especially bleeding heart and lamb’s ears. A Daisy called Marguerite wow.
Brightened my day and hope you are well 🧚♀️❤️☘️🌿🌼
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Thank you Margaret. The faeries were a birthday gift from my sister. They love the pond! I love the flower names too especially the old fashioned ones. x
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Your pond and your fairies look so inviting. Like a miniature woods where one can relax.
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Thank you. I love sitting beside the pond watching the insects skimming its surface. It helps me relax.
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What an absolute beautiful garden! Such a wonderful place to spend time.
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Thank you Lisa. I am getting outside more and more these days as the weather gets warmer. x
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A wonderful early start!
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Thank you Jay. I love this time of year in the garden.
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Everything is looking lovely, especially those bleeding hearts.
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Thank you. I wish they were in flower for longer.
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Daisies are such a happy flower…especially when planted and blooming en masse. No wonder kitties love laying around them!
Enjoy your gardening season and I look forward to your garden updates.
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Thank you Laura. The kitties visit every day and make themselves at home. I look forward to their visits.
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What a lovely garden you have. Being in my yard, listening to the birds with my hands in the soil is one of the most healing places I have found.
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Thank you Ali. There is no better therapy for sure. Good for the Soul.
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Wow Bridget, what a beautiful gardens it makes my heart smile too. Those bleeding hearts 🥰
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Thank you Elaine. They are all such perfect little flowers. Calling over to your bedside next. x
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Gorgeous Brigid. This time of year is food for the soul, been worn down by the throat of winter. Pxx
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Thank you Paul. I hope you feel better soon. Gardening is the best therapy for sure. xx
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Wow! Absolutely beautiful 😍
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Thank you Alice.
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Beautiful garden! Your bleeding heart is lovely. I have a few in my garden too.
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Thank you Correne. They are such special little flowers.
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I love dicentra too. Your garden is looking lovely. I love your selection of seeds – beautiful colour combinations!
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Thank you Ali. It was you who inspired me to check out Sarah Raven. I used to see her on TV but her website is very inspiring.
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Here we have several thriving bleeding hearts, one of my favorites too. Daisies are one of my delights and I used them for my wedding. Our soil isn’t warm enough for direct seeding until June, so my annuals go in then.
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Thank you Elizabeth. These are both special flowers. Happy gardening.
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Thanks. It looks as if spring has finally come to New England.
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Beautiful. I especially like seeing the cats enjoying the garden!
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Thank you. Me too! They love to visit and make me smile with their antics.
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There’s nothing better than pets! Two labs and two cats will be joining us at Foxy Pond later this summer.
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Beautiful, Brigid. Spring has arrived in your yard in full force. 🙂
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Thank you Diana. Everything is well ahead after a mild winter. Hoping for another terrific summer but we also need plenty of rain!
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Yes, I spotted the fairies… and the cats… and the pond… and all those pretty flowers! Well done!
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Great. The faeries were a gift from my sister. I think they are happy by the pond.
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Bleeding Hearts are one of my favorites too.
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They are rather special for sure. Perfection.
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Beautiful bleeding hearts and I like the way you have surrounded your pond.
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Thank you. Everything is bursting ahead this week.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
It will be a while until our garden looks like this amazing one in Donegal, created and nurtured by Brigid Gallagher… beautiful..
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Great style! Can you wrap in the garden, and send to me. Lol Best wishes, Michael
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Off to the post office Michael. It’s on its way!
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😊😊 Thanks!
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Sorry, Wp.com denies the buttons again. ;-( Will revisit later!
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What a beautiful and peaceful garden! I’m afraid it will be quite some time until I can enjoy mine.
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Thank you. It just takes time. Mine has been 9 years in the making, from a patch of long grass.
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Beautiful!!! 💐
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Thank you Alexis. x
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This is so soothing and peaceful, Brigid. The apple blossoms bring me back to my youth. We had a tree in the middle of our garden. I looked forward to seeing them bloom every year. Thanks so much for sharing your garden with us. Solace for the soul. XO
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Thank you Natalie. What a lovely memory. I love smelling the blossom and apple pie is a favourite. I made a lot last year! x
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Such pretty flowers, your garden is beautiful! I never realised those pink ones were called Bleeding Hearts, I’ve always quite liked those 🙂
Caz xx
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Thank you Caz. The Bleeding Hearts are rather special but I guess all flowers are special in their own way. xx
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Your garden is looking absolutely gorgeous Brigid! Everything is so bright and cheery-looking. Your bleeding hearts are beautiful. I’ve been thinking of planting some, and seeing yours has encouraged me to go ahead and get some. Thanks for sharing your lovely garden with us.
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Thank you Terri. The Bleeding Hearts are well worth planting. Mine seem to enjoy their shady corner so I would check out the best place to plant them first.
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We have a shady spot we’ve been trying to find something for, and I thought they’d probably do well there. Knowing yours do well in the shade makes me think even more that they’d do well there. 😊
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What a gorgeous garden Brigid! That is almost a full time job to manage, lol. I also love Bleeding Hearts. 🙂 x
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Thank you Debby. It is all planned for easy maintenance, but at this time of year it takes a bit of extra time with weeding until the flowers get big enough to smother them! x
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Oh yes, the weeding, the most time consuming and tedious, lol 😉 x
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Lovely, Brigid… Oh, the glories of spring! ❤
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Thank you Bette. There is so much to look forward to and such growth. x
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What a delightful walk around your garden Brigid!
Bless you, 😀
Jennifer
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Hi Jennifer. Thank you. I hope to get outside later and catch up on the weeding. x
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Brigid, your retreat continues in this haven of a garden! It is heavenly! 😀 Bleding hearts are one of my favourites and your magnolia against the fence reminded me of Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom paintings! Sublime! Oh yes, now is the time of weeds but a wonderful satisfying task as the glory of the flowers are allowed to stand unhindered!
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Thank you Annika. The weeds are thriving at the moment. Going out this afternoon to dig them out. Happy weekend. x
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Bleeding hearts are one of my favorite too. Your garden makes me SMILE. xo
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Thank you Pamela. It makes me smile too. x
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Brilliant. That Lamprocapnos is a real stunner. I wish mine would grow like that (it has always remained the size it was when I planted it). I won’t say you are lucky to have such an uplifting garden, rather that you clearly have worked hard to make it so. Though you *are* lucky to have two such well-behaved cats. Mine would never think of curling up anywhere other than on top of a plant!
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Thank you John. I guess the cats knew it was a photo opportunity! Buster has been sitting on my poor wee spinach plants.
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You have your own little “Princess Garden”, Brigid. I love the bleeding hearts too and the daisy garden is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us. I hope you’re enjoying your Mother’s Day weekend! ❤ xo
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Thank you Vashti. I hope to get outside this afternoon. The weather is warming up nicely. xx
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I love your beautiful garden . . and that calico cat!
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Thank you Michele. Coco calls in daily to chat with her buddy Buster. They always give my spirits a boost with their antics.
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Such a lovely garden! The magnolia flowers in front of the blue fence look like a painting. I also have a fondness for bleeding hearts and yours are beautiful. Happy May!
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Thank you Jen. Sadly, the Magnolia only flowers for a short while but the Bleeding Hearts are still flowering.
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What a lovely garden!
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Thank you Laurie. I plan to sit out there today.
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So lovely. I loved seeing all the beautiful flowers, Brigit. Almost looks enchanted
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Thank you. Everything is springing up nicely. It is such a joyful time in the garden.
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This is a beautiful post. Enjoyed it very much!
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Thank you. My garden is my therapy.
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Soooo lovely! ❤️
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Thank you. Gardening is my therapy…
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Welcome back, Bridgid, you have lovely garden, the magnolias are beautiful.
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Thank you Georgina. There is so much growth at the moment. It fills my heart with joy.
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I am so happy for you 🙂 fruits of your labour of love xx
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What a lovely garden, Brigid! Those beautiful cats look so peaceful and happy among your favourite flowers…
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Thank you Kimberlee. The cats seem to enjoy visiting, and I love watching their antics.
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They look very content…
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What a beautiful garden (and cats). Thank you! I now know what my mysterious but exquisite flowers are. Granny left her bonnets in my garden 🙂
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Thank you Eilidh. Grannies Bonnets are one of my favourites.
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I absolutely love your daisies. They are the most beautiful flower of all. I have dabbled in a bit of gardening and your post inspires me to make my yard better.
Thanks
http://randommusings.blog
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