I’m sharing this gallery of English roses in shades of orange and apricot in response to the weekly photo challenge: orange. The roses featured are Continue reading “Gallery of orange English roses”
Gallery of orange English roses
Bliss in a bottle
I’m writing this with a shiny face. My mother has some unusual allergies (including to blue dye) and I’ve inherited enough skin sensitivity to be cautious. So don’t buy me expensive formulas of soap, shower gel or bath stuff – I’m a Simple girl in more ways than one.
If I fancy a blissful, relaxing bath, I often swirl in a few drops of natural essential oils before stepping in – perhaps rose or neroli, which is made from the flowers of Seville oranges.
This kind of bliss isn’t just for girls – my initially highly skeptical sweetheart now loves this kind of pampering (though he prefers jasmine, sometimes called the King of Essential Oils).
These three natural perfumes are luxury purchases but I enjoy having this small way to harness the natural healing and soothing power of plants.
The garden is more of a miracle than we know. Continue reading “Bliss in a bottle”
Impressions: river at night
A night view from The American Queen Steamboat of the place where two rivers meet. Continue reading “Impressions: river at night”
Haworth: home of the Brontës
I’m starting this occasional series on writers and writing by sharing some photos that help place the most romantic literary siblings England has ever produced, Emily, Anne and Charlotte Brontë, in their Yorkshire town, Haworth. Continue reading “Haworth: home of the Brontës”
Rode Hall and Gardens | Snowdrop Walk
My reward for waiting for finer weather? A blissful walk among some late February snowdrops, dancing on the wind at Rode Hall in Cheshire, North West England.
Weird Image Wednesday: pitchfork bottle tree
There are many community events on WordPress – some established, others being added all the time. Events can be fun, inspiring, thought-provoking or scary – they almost always prompt you to do something slightly out of your comfort zone.
Continue reading “Weird Image Wednesday: pitchfork bottle tree”
Recipe for a Traditional English Cottage Garden
Described by the British Cottage Garden Society as an informal, abundant, diverse planting, this well-loved gardening style is always in fashion with ’real’ gardeners. If you’d like to create a cottage garden at home, follow this recipe. Add an extra dimension by including as many highly fragrant cultivars as you can from the plant lists below. Your challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to have no soil visible from year three onwards. Simple!
Essentials
- Patch of earth (ideally cultivated and enriched for hundred years, though it’s never too late to start)
- Some form of enclosure: hedge, stone walls, wooden fence
- Path, winding
- Garden gate
Continue reading “Recipe for a Traditional English Cottage Garden”
Susan Rushton 