My week.

This is a quite time for gardeners.

It is worth noting what activities lift your spirits.

I have some tulips in my house that are very cheering.

My lemon tree has flowers on it.

Today I took the bulbs to the Christmas sale of work at the church.

I have noticed that Gaura/ beeblossom is still out in the garden.

Next week the fence between my neighbour and I will be renovated.

We have gone for Closeboard.

The posts are in concrete and intact.

We will make sure the panels  have been treated.

If the weather is dry this is a good time for jobs like this.

Monty Don is covering The History ofGarden Design.

A welcome choice for these short days.

All good things to help us from concentrating too much on buying Christmas gifts.

www.annesmithdesigns.co.uk/gallery

 

 

 

 

 

Charities for gardeners.

This is a good time of year to think of the various charities that help gardeners.

Thrive is a national horticultural charity that supports a network of specialist projects that run horticultural activity for training and employment, therapy and health.

The Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society is a charitable organisation which has been helping disabled or retired gardeners and associated tradespersons for over 160 years.

P erennial is a charity dedicated to helping people who work in Horticulture.

Garden leave helps veterans who may have mental health problems. It uses horticultural therapy to support troubled veterans on their way to good health and transition to civilian life.

Visit:

http://www.perennial.org.uk

http://www.gardeners-grbs.org.uk

http://www.thrive.org.uk

annesmithdesigns.co.uk/gallery

 

 

William Morris-Another visit.

This time I went to a gallery in Walthamstow.

Morris was born here to well-t0-do parents.

Even after his studies he returned to London.

We know him for his connection with the Pre-Raphaelite group.

The gallery shows his various sources of inspiration from Classical figures to Nature.

The embroideries for the patterns were exceptional in their detail.

His work included textiles, wall paper and ceramics.

He was also a poet.

His wife completed the needlework with him.

His ethos was a reaction to Victorian Interior Design.

His was fluent and highly coloured art.

Queen Victoria used him.

We do not have to feel that his art cannot be replicated.

Rather we should also be content to use Nature as an inspiration for design.

We do not need to follow the dictates of rigid guidelines.

It is better to create our own style.

This is what Morris advocated.

http://www.annesmithdesigns.co.uk/gallery

Gifts for gardeners.

Now is a good time to think about gifts for Christmas.

Here are some ideas.

A) For  research.

RHS Flower Show tickets are now on sale.

Subscriptions to Garden Magazines are another good idea.

Books   are always useful.

b) tools etc.

Vintage tools make a memorable donation.

Vintage storage  boxes can be used to keep pots etc. tidy.

c) accessories.

The Garden Trading Company has become popular for anything from string to garden seats.

d) help for tired hands!

Hand cream for gardeners  will be very well received.

I hope that this gives sets you thinking.

Do something different.

Following on from my theme of exploring new interests in gardening I have been thinking of new places to visit.

The RHS is always introducing new gardens into the gardens to visit.

The Garden Magazine has a list of the RHS Shows for 2016. 

The London Plant Shows are very good.

Situated near Victoria, they are easy to get to.

Stalls with plants are numerous.

There are often talks as well.

Thinking of Holidays, RHS tours visit many super gardens here and abroad.

Brightwater Holidays do the same.

New York has the now famous Skyline.

The quiet months are a good time to reflect where you want to go with gardening.

Have a go and make 2016 the year you do something different!