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Butterflies and beautiful rescue hens
This post has some bad news about butterflies and the latest butterfly count, but also some good news too. The good news comes in the shape of six new rescue hens who will make an appearance later. So, first the bad news. The Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation declared a national ‘Butterfly Emergency’, after the results…
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Colourful dahlia beds for a beautiful summer
Time for another post featuring my dear friend, the Cosmos Queen. She has worked jolly hard on her new dahlia beds and is now reaping the rewards of all that effort. We first met under incredibly sad circumstances over five years ago. Sadly, her much loved husband had passed away. As we got to know…
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Beautiful new dahlias in our English gardens
My new post showcases some beautiful new dahlias that I have growing in my English garden this year. This post also includes some new dahlias that my fabulous friend, the Cosmos Queen, is growing this year too. If you want a reminder of the Cosmos Queen’s passion for dahlias, or have not seen this earlier…
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First beautiful dahlias, flowering in May
I thought I would share some photos of beautiful dahlias that have started flowering in May in my garden. Interestingly, almost all of them are single, anemone or collarette varieties. Therefore, they are all great for pollinators, as well as providing some beautiful colour in the garden in late Spring. I imagine that the big…
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The best flowers for fantastic pollinators
For this post, I have chosen some of my best flowers for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. We have pollinators to thank for so much of what we eat. Not only do they pollinate our food crops, they are also vital for plenty of wild plants that in turn, support so much wildlife. Naturally, we…
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The Cosmos Queen and her beautiful garden
Time for a new post featuring my lovely friend, the Cosmos Queen. She has been a busy bee, making a beautiful garden, packed with flowers. You may have met the Cosmos Queen in some earlier posts. I have added a link below, for her most recent post. The awesome power of the garden We first…
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Best summer bulbs for beautiful colour
It is time to get some summer bulbs for planting in the garden and in pots. Summer bulbs can be tubers, corms or rhizomes and all are super easy to grow. I have chosen a few of my favourite summer bulbs to share with you. Clearly, nobody will be surprised to see that one of…
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Beautiful blooms in an English garden
Time for some colourful flowers I thought. So, here is a post on some beautiful blooms in my English garden. I will concentrate on summer blooms. Primarily because I am sure we are all looking forward to a sunny summer over the wet and gloomy depths of winter. In addition, we clearly need some fabulous…
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My colourful dahlias, beautiful summers to come
Some dark and dreary days need a sprinkle of colour I thought. So, here are some of my colourful dahlias to brighten up the winter, once the Christmas tinsel has been stored away. Also, to help us look forward to a beautiful summer full of colour. I always find that looking at photos of my…
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One festive challenge, 12 Days Wild
12 Days Wild is a festive nature challenge set by the Wildlife Trust. Encouraging us to do one wild thing a day from the 25th December to the 5th January. So, could you do one wild thing for 12 days over the festive season? You may remember The Wildlife’s Trust’s 30 Days wild challenge where they asked everyone to…
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One beautiful dahlia for pollinators
I have one extra special dahlia in my garden to share with you. An absolutely fabulous dahlia for pollinators. Naturally, I have hundreds of photos of this fantastic dahlia. So many snaps of the beautiful blooms with bumble bees and butterflies having a feed. The photo above shows some hoverflies having a feed in late…
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Gardening with chickens, more fantastic fun
I thought it was time for another post featuring my beautiful rescue hens. Moreover, the girls have been posturing and posing, so they are clearly expecting to feature again, jolly soon. Such fantastic fun can be had when gardening with chickens. I must say, my girls never cease to amuse me with their cheeky antics.…
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Beautiful enchanting dahlias chosen for you
For this post I have chosen some of my favourite dahlias, including some new varieties I have grown this year. Beautiful enchanting dahlias, one and all. When autumn arrives, it is still fabulous to have so much colour in the garden. Such a boost for wellbeing. And of course, the beautiful dahlia is often the…
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Gardening for wellbeing, a beautiful beneficial boon
My opening photo for this post is a beautiful sunflower (Velvet Queen) in my garden with a bee. Gardening for wellbeing for me always includes some sunflowers. I always think that sunflowers are such a positive, happy flower to grow. Additionally, they are fabulous for wildlife. Providing nectar and pollen for our bees, butterflies and…
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Big Butterfly Count, the results are in
I expect you remember The Big Butterfly Count this year, and may well have taken part. 2023 was its 13th year, which ran from 14th July till 6th August. A UK-wide citizen science survey run by Butterfly Conservation. I always submit counts and hoped that you would too. Primarily, butterflies and moths are excellent indicators…
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The best dahlias, my dark sultry beauties
Time to show you some of my beautiful dark dahlias, the best dahlias in my garden. Although I love all of my dahlias, the dark, sultry beauties are my absolute favourites. Primarily, it is the colour I swoon over, but I also love the variety of flower shapes and sizes of the dark and sultry…
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Beautiful rescue chickens get gardening for England
After Remus Nautilus, my beautiful black cat featured in another post (link below if you missed it) my beautiful rescue chickens were clucking for their new post. And honestly, they can cluck for England. The beautiful black cat who gardens for England So, I thought I would compile a new post featuring my fabulous rescue…
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10 zingy dahlias for a truly beautiful garden
Time for some bright and zingy dahlias, so be warned and get your sunglasses at the ready! I have not grown many bright dahlias before, preferring the dark and sultry and the pale and interesting. However, this year, I have branched out into the world of bright, zingy, patterned, and oh so colourful. A new…
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The beautiful black cat who gardens for England
Remus Nautilus, my beautiful black cat is back for another post. You may have met him in this earlier post Companion planting with a beautiful cat Well here he is again. I noticed that he spends more time than ever before, posing in the garden. Clearly he is waiting for me to take some photos…
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Wonderful dahlias, stunning beauty and buzzing bees
With the nickname of Dahlia Queen, it will be pretty clear that I adore wonderful dahlias. They are unrivalled for giving a fantastic colourful display for months, from early summer through to the first frosts. In addition, there are so many varieties and such a wide choice of flower shapes and colours to choose from.…
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The fabulous positivity of beautiful plants
I have been thinking about the amazing and positive can do attitude of beautiful plants. They strive to grow, whatever fate throws at them. Take the example above. I ordered a beautiful new dahlia from Sarah Raven. This one is named Rosie Raven and is perfect for pollinators as well as being a fabulous colour.…
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10 beautiful dahlia flowers for pollinators
I absolutely adore dahlias for their beauty and the colour they bring to my garden. They flower their socks off from June or July right up till the first frosts in November or December. Who can resist a beautiful dahlia. Although I do grow some decorative and dinner plate varieties, my main passion is for…
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The awesome power of the garden
You may have met my dear friend, the Cosmos Queen, in some earlier posts. Links below if you missed them. Well, here she is again, demonstrating the awesome power of the garden. Greatest benefits of becoming a gardener The amazing benefits of gardening The Cosmos Queen’s beautiful dahlias We first met under incredibly sad circumstances…
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Wild 30 Days. The beautiful finale
Wow, what a fabulous time I have had, joining the 30 Days Wild challenge 2023. And what a Wild 30 Days I had. 30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trusts’ annual challenge where they ask everyone to do one wild thing a day throughout the month of June. My post Wild things for gardeners, bee beautiful set…
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10 beautiful dahlias chosen for you
I mainly grow beautiful dahlias for the pollinators and my first top twelve can be found in my post 12 of the best dahlias for pollinators. And here is my second post on ten more beautiful dahlias for pollinators 10 beautiful dahlia flowers for pollinators Equally important to me though is growing some of the…
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The fantastic wildness of magic week 3
My post Wild things for gardeners, bee beautiful set a challenge for June. And I looked forward to the fantastic wildness I would see in the 30 Days Wild challenge. 30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trusts’ annual challenge where they ask everyone to do one wild thing a day throughout the month of June. More details…
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The Cosmos Queen’s beautiful dahlias
Remember the Cosmos Queen? Well, read on for her interest in beautiful dahlias. We first met under incredibly sad circumstances over four years ago. Sadly, her much loved husband had passed away. As we got to know each other, I mentioned my garden, as I knew the benefits of gardening for our wellbeing. With this in…
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Let’s all help the beautiful bees
World Bee Day on 20th May The UN have designated this date every year to raise awareness of the vital importance of pollinators. Also, the threats they face and their contribution as pollinators. So let us all help the beautiful bees. I suggest we should all get involved for World Bee Day every year. Whether…
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The amazing benefits of gardening
The Cosmos Queen receives a dahlia and some amazing benefits of gardening My dear friend, the Cosmos Queen, who first appeared in the post Greatest benefits of becoming a gardener visited my garden once the pandemic lockdown had ended. Racing across to this flower, her questions rushed out……. what is this flower? How did you…
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Wonderful powers of a flower
Why growing flowers is good for your health and the wonderful powers of a flower. It is a well known fact that gardening can benefit the mind, body and soul. Therefore, we should all harness the power of gardening to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Read on to find the wonderful powers of a…
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12 of the best dahlias for pollinators
I absolutely love dahlias, especially the best dahlias for pollinators. For their sheer beauty, flamboyance, and charm, they are a fabulous choice for your garden. Out of the various flower types, the pollinators need the single flowered, the anemone, the collarette and the star dahlias (also called single orchid) for easy access to nectar. …
GARDENING WITH HARMONY
A passionate gardener, helping you achieve harmony in your garden for wildlife and your own wellbeing.