My garden in May

May’s a great month, and not only because it’s my birthday month, but it’s the month that usually brings sun - and this year was no different, though since then it’s been a bit AWOL. But it’s good to look back over my pictures from the month and see the blue skies and enjoy the blooms from the Gertrude Jekyll rose which had plenty of flowers this month. And to marvel that our well known for its late flowering camellia, was still going strong this month - its latest ever, and no doubt a knock on from the peculiar weather in previous months.

IMG_0737.jpeg
IMG_0750.jpeg

The bluebells and sedums also enjoyed the month and looked good with a layer of camellia petal confetti among their greenery too. The rear of the garden was filled with the scent of lilac, and while we didn’t have many flowers on the tree, what we did have was powerful - and pretty.

IMG_4579.jpeg
IMG_4800.jpeg

May was also a windy month and we had at least three branches down, some of them bigger than others and some managing to balance themselves precariously on the fence, but just in a spot we couldn’t quite reach.

IMG_4807.jpeg

On the patio the border was full of greenery and the new additions of three stone spheres were almost, but not quite swallowed by it all. The alliums rose above it all and provided spheres of colour at a higher level, I think they’re increasing each year but it’s a slow process.

IMG_4827.jpeg
IMG_4830.jpeg

In other developments we did hang our new garden lights. After trying many types of lighting and approaches, this time we’ve gone for battery powered strings of lights across the garden, and they’re fab. I’m hoping we get much use out of them this year.

IMG_4861.jpeg

So that’s my May in the garden, how was yours?

My mustard campfire granny

This crochet project has been on our last two breaks, so it’s already well travelled. I took it with me to the Lake District but didn’t get around to starting it, and then took it with us to Ticehurst with the intention of sewing in the ends. That didn’t happen either, but I did get to use it while sitting outside on the deck of an evening, and I couldn’t resist photographing it with the woods as a backdrop.

You’ll have to excuse the threads, but I think you’ll agree the photos are pretty special.

IMG_5990.jpeg

The blanket is a simple continuous granny square and the colours have worked out well. Originally, in my head the constant colour was going to be cream and I planned to use up wool that I had for the contrast colours. But the cream wool I had was heavier than the double knit of the contrast colours, and as they were the main reason for starting this throw I had a rethink.

IMG_5986.jpeg

I had a couple of balls of the mustard, which I’d bought because I liked the colour and I think I spent most of our Lake District holiday talking myself into using it and wondering how it would work. As it turned out I’m glad I did.

IMG_5988.jpeg

I had a rainbow of colours to use but again didn’t really have a plan, so before starting I spent some time working out a rough colour progression. I knew that I had more of the pinks, reds and oranges so it made sense to leave those for the outer rows.

IMG_5993.jpeg

I’m really pleased with how it turned out and am even more pleased with the photo backdrop too. For something that didn’t start with much of a plan I can see this being well used, and I think I’ll be making another with a navy main colour, but not just yet, as I’ll need to accumulate some more contrast colours first.

IMG_5996.jpeg

My unplanned plan

Hook size 4mm, using a mixture of double knit wool - from the centre:

  • Hobbycraft: Knitcraft mustard cotton blend (main colour)

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Blackberry Sorbet

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Image of You

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre One (green)

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Blue Raspberry

  • Hobbycraft: WI Soft and Cuddly green/yellow mix

  • Drops Cotton Light: Mint

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Potion

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre Four (green)

  • Drops Cotton Light: Ice Blue

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Senecio

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre Five (green)

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre Two (blue)

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre Four (lilac)

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ethel

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Claude

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Ombre Five (pink)

  • Hobbycraft: Knitcraft pink cotton blend

  • Vikki Brown Designs: Seeing Red

  • Hobbycraft: Knitcraft coral cotton blend

  • Hobbycraft: Knitcraft orange cotton blend

Now, to sew in those ends!

Post Comment Love 23-25 July

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

Thanks for your good wishes last week, we had the most idyllic long weekend away - and the weather played its part too. It was so warm that it slowed us down, but in reality that was no bad thing. The cabin was great and had complete privacy. There were four other cabins on the site but each was private. We spent evenings on the deck and woke to the best sunrises - as you can tell from this week’s photo.

IMG_5981.jpeg

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter