Thursday 18 October 2012

Autumnal gardening

We really are in autumn now, a lot of my more tender annual plants are dying off and my beans and tomatoes have finished fruiting. All the trees are showing off their gorgeous golden and red hues and there are plenty of ripening berries appearing, like the holly below, ready to feed the birds for the winter months to come.

 It was time at the weekend to have a clear up in my tiny garden and get some new plants into my pots to give me some autumn and winter colour. It was also the time to get my bulbs planted into their compost blankets and tucked up to see the time through until next spring.



As you know my favourite flowers are daffodils so I bought some of these and also some parrot tulips. I also plan to plant some hyacinths which I hope I can force into flower by Christmas.














I have a fun glass holder which I fill with water and pop a hyacinth bulb on and then keep in the dark until a shoot appears.  I love watching the roots pushing their way as a tangled white mass into the water. I also put one into compost this year to see what it does.














Other "must haves" for me are violas and winter flowering pansies. Their little "faces" are just so cheerful to see in the garden. I also find they are so hardy and even with the harshest frosts or deepest snow they carrying on flowering bravely. These are unusual trailing violas and they have a very sweet scent to them.









I also found some frilled pansies in some gorgeous colours.









So I emptied and washed some of my pots, filled them with bulbs and plants and stood them in the sunshine.





I then found places to put them on the walls of my patio.


















And all this time you can imagine "You know Who" was busy "helping".




















I'm not really sure I could describe it as help, more like being very nosey.....














But Billy certainly loves to be involved with all the decisions made regarding his garden ;0) It was good to be out in the sunshine. We have not had our first frost yet here in the South but I am sure it is on it's way as the North of England certainly has. I am pleased that my pots are ready to face the elements and my little bulbs can snooze away until spring time.

My card challenge today is inspired by the holly berries in my first photo and the thoughts of winter and Christmas. How the days are racing by now. This little sweetie below seems quite relaxed about the whole thing ;0)

Again I have used my one of my favourite Lili of the Valley stamps, Moonlight Wishes, but this time I had used the more traditional colours of Christmas. I coloured the stamp using my trusty Promarkers and highlighted using Prismacolor  pencils. I hand punched the holly leaf embellies and used red pearls as berries. The sentiment is LOTV too. She sold very quickly in my Etsy shop but there are other traditional coloured Christmas cards for sale there. Can I ask what most people like? Do you prefer the traditional golds/greens/reds? What do you think of the blues/pinks I have used on other cards? I used to be very much a traditional girl but I have had such fun with other colours that I think I have changed my mind!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;
Totally Gorjuss Traditional Christmas colours #153
I love Promarkers Anything Goes #139
ABC Christmas "U for up to You" 
Bearly Mine Anything Goes #57
Fashionista Anything Goes #8
Holly Jolly Photo inspiration I was inspired by the snow and the traditional colours.
My Mum's Craft Shop Sketch #80
Lili's Little Fairies anything goes


Today is my day off work and I am going to be busy getting ready for my annual jewellery Open House this Sunday. This is such a fun occasion and there is lots of tea and coffee drinking too. I also have a few commissions, both cards and jewellery, that I am working on so this is keeping me super busy outside of work. I shall be beavering away in my garden studio...how I love days like this ;0)

Happy Thursday everyone, thanks for all your kind comments about my earrings in my last post. I will try to get another post up soon showing more of my recent creations from my silversmithing class.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

43 comments:

  1. Cats just have to be the nosiest animals on the planet!!! They can't help themselves, can they!! :)
    I love the idea of the bulbs being wrapped up in a compost blanket! The frilly pansy is very pretty.
    The little carol and music on your card is such a lovely touch. :)
    Oh and before I go you mentioned 'winter monthS' at the start of your post. Remember Jane according to the GRD calender there is only one month in winter then we move into pre-spring. One month is quite enough!!!! ;)
    Happy Thursday and enjoy your open house this weekend,
    Vivienne xxxxxxxxxxx

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  2. Ooo first to post a comment on your blog Jane! That is a first too! I love parrot tulips, and I must sort out my garden this weekend, I made a start, but that is as far as I got, my veggie beds need attending for the winter so they are ready for spring and planting, something I didn't do this year. I love the pic of Billy, the last one, so regal, I did chuckle. ~Gorgeous card as always and good luck with the jewellery party. Laney x

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  3. Bother, I was beaten into second place by greenrabbitdesigns!

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  4. Good afternoon Vivienne, I am having a late lunch, just emerging from my studio to eat. Cats are fun aren't they ;0)I do love your GR calendar, you should get it printed up. Happy Thursday,
    Jane x

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  5. Hi Laney....LOL re your first comment. Always fun to see you here. The parrot tulips I grew this year were stunning, I hope these do as well. I have just ordered some more beads from you..hope you got the email. Speak soon,
    Jane x

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  6. Jane, your'e putting me to shame! I desperately need to get into my garden before the frosts set in hard - we've already had a good ground frost here in North Wales! It has been very neglected this year, partly due to other commitments and partly because of the record breaking wettest Summer we had! Love the look of all your spring bulbs (especially the daffies, of course!) and I'm sure they'll give you a spectacular display, just when you need it most after a long British winter!

    Really like your traditionally coloured Christmas card using that sweet LOTV image again and the paper you have used is lovely, too! Lisa x

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  7. Hi Lisa, it has been a truly dreadful summer weather wise hasn't it. It was such a busy year for me with my daughter's wedding that my garden got neglected and actually this year it didn't really matter! I hope I get a good display from these bulbs. Roll on Spring!
    Jane x

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  8. Hi Jane,
    If you could pop over to my blog and send me your postal address for my Autumn frame, Lisa x

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  9. Beautiful Christmas card. Great coloring and layout. thank you for joining us at Holly Jolly this week.

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  10. According to my Dad, lots of berries means a hard winter and looking around here there are abundance of them.

    A lovely rich coloured Christmas card Jane, I really need to get on with mine.

    B x

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  11. I'm on my way Lisa...so excited!
    Jane x

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  12. I've heard that too Brenda...we will have to see ;0) Thanks for visiting and your kind comment,
    Jane x

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  13. You are so industrious! I like the idea of putting out some pansies for winter. I adore their sweet little faces. Did I tell you that I signed up for a precious metal class in November? I'm excited! Have a great time at your open studio!
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  14. Pansies are such happy flowers aren't they Teresa. How exciting re the PMC class can't wait to see what you get up to.
    Jane x

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  15. Hi Jane! That is such a nice job in autumn to fix the pots! Great Billy is keeping you company! I love violas and pansies - too bad we don't find them here in winter. Now your card has really lovely Christmas feeling!
    From yesterday we collect things from outside and fix the store because we are waiting rain and now there are clouds.
    Happy weekend to you and Billy! x Teje

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  16. wow... I love your Garden with beautifully flowers bloom.
    Your card so gorgeous with beautiful coloring and design. Thanks for joining us at Fashionista Challenge,
    and good luck.

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  17. I feel ready for winter now Teje. You are also awaiting your rain...you must actually be looking forward to it after such a long hot season ;0) Have a lovely weekend,
    Jane x

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  18. Thank you Christy I do love my little garden.
    Jane x

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  19. I loved seeing all your new plants and bulbs today. (You have reminded me that I have still to plant some bulbs which have been waiting for the last two weekends!) The frilly pansy you found is very pretty...and so is your sweet little card. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the open house.
    Helen x

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  20. Gorgeous card, love the image and your colours, thanks for joining our sketch challenge at My mum's craft shop, Gaynor x

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  21. Gorgeous card Jane :-)lovely details and the colours and details are fab :-)

    thanks for joining us on Lili's Little Fairies Challenge :-)
    luv
    Lols x x x

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  22. I hope you manage to beat the rain and get your pots planted up Helen,enjoy your weekend,
    Jane x

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  23. Thanks Lorraine, I just love this LOTV stamp,
    Jane x

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  24. Billy is quite rightly keeping an eye on his kingdom Jane...making sure everything is just how he likes it!
    I remember you planting your bulbs last year...my how time does fly by...
    Your Open House sounds such fun..I hope you have a great day!
    Your latest card is so lovely and I only hope I can be as laid back as your little lady there as Xmas approaches..I do love traditional colours but over recent years I also like aqua's replacing greens and turquoise with deeper colors...really pretty for a change!
    Happy weekend,
    Susan x

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  25. The year has flown by hasn't it Susan but so much fun was packed into it. Billy is currently asleep on the sofa as it has been a dismal wet day and he is a fair weather cat ;0) Thanks for your kind comments about my card. Happy weekend too,
    Jane x

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  26. Pretty, pretty, pretty. You're making me feel kind of garden lazy, but not enough to do anything about it. I really like this week's card!

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  27. Thank you so much Linda. Happy weekend,
    Jane x

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  28. This is just adorable! I love this alot!

    Thank you for joining the Fashionista's this challenge...it is wonderful to have you and hope you will join us again!

    DT Coordinator~~ Rina

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  29. Thank you so much Rina,
    Jane x

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  30. Lovely card Jane. Wonderful image and great colours and emblishments. Thanks for sharing with us this week at Holly Jolly. Regards Meighan

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  31. Thanks Meighan . I do love Christmas so very much.
    Jane x

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  32. Beautiful card Jane, I love the colours and papers, and of course the image! Very well done. Your cat is gorgeous too!

    Thanks for joining us at MMCS Challenge Blog :)

    Tanya xx

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  33. Gorgeous Jane, love the LO too, thanks for joining us at I ♥ ProMarkers.
    xx

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  34. I adore this image! Such a stunning card! Thank you so much for joining us at Holly Jolly!

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  35. Thanks Tanya and Billy is a very special and much loved cat :-)
    Jane x

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  36. Thanks Karen lovely to see you here.
    Jane x

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  37. Thanks Paige she is such a gorgeous stamp to colour up.
    Jane x

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  38. Fabulous card - love the traditional colours!
    Thanks for playing at the ABC Christmas Challenge!
    Helen x

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  39. What a wonderful post for autumn, Jane, it's amazing see all those flowers and that green in October! We've had -degrees in many nights (and some days too), and there's no flowers or anything green left...But Billy-boy cheered me up, he's just a perfect inspector in gardening/cards/jewelry/cooking... you name it :)!

    Lovely day, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  40. Beautiful card, adore the sweet image!
    Thank you for playing at ABC Christmas :)
    Kelly.x

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Jane x