| Featurette above – Herb mixes, Nasturtiums, Clary Sage, Rosemary, Marigolds and Lobelia Main Image – Apricot Nasturtium |
| Doin’ The Dirt was a gardening series that ran in my first blog, ‘ A Guy Called Bloke, from 2018 to 2022, when the blog closed. Willow Garden is a series exclusive to the Earthly Comforts blog only. |
| Some of you may recall this series when it was in the Guy blog, and if you do, you may well remember that l was hyperfocused on having a lot of colour in the Willow Garden for this year. I purchased earlier in the spring; you may also recall a considerable number of seedlings to plant for this season’s garden for a bounty of colour. Sadly, that didn’t run to plan or schedule, and the reason was that the blue tits and crows were stealing the lining to the hanging baskets not long after l had made them up and sown the seedlings in. Even with the netting provided to the seedlings, the birds still managed to decimate the inner content by pulling from the sides. I should have bought pre-lined wicker close-sided baskets instead of the recyclable plastic baskets that l have hanging in the garden today. It’s not that l don’t have any colour in Willow Garden; l do. It’s just that l don’t have a colourful garden this year. Again! Suze believes next year we should have. Today’s garden is very green. This is not a bad thing. It’s just not a colour thing. I also wanted to have more wilding in the garden, and to a degree, this is present, but with a lack of wildlifing colour in so far as a distinct lack of flowers, that too will have to wait. So, the joys l had for watching coloured flowers spill over the sides of the baskets, the cunningness of two basket predators thwarted that this summer! Oh well. However, some of the plants sown later last year and late this spring will see flowers later this year and next spring and summer too. Still, l have some nice colours in the garden so far, and l know the bees are pleased with what is present, so that’s excellent news. There have been some decent results, though, or small wins pending upon each interpretation … no, l don’t have baskets filled with colourful flowers … atypically, to my luck. But l do have flowers in the baskets, just not lots. It also didn’t help that once more. The nursery l bought from promised the seedlings would arrive ‘over time, yet they all arrived at once!? I will not bother buying seedlings again and instead grow my own. At least l can grade the growing experience. |
| Willow Garden – Episode 2# – Willow Garden in June See Directory for More Episodes |
| You can see with the galleries that the garden is still looking good, though. In the next episode, l’ll tell you in a bit more detail about what is growing. Till then, l’ll see you next time in Willow Garden. Thanks for visiting and reading. Rory |
Earthly Comforts 
Yay Bee Butts! 🐝 The bees love the rosemary flowers around here, and the sage too. Do you only have the white roses? I can’t remember. I can’t wait to see the roses climbing and exploding with their beauty.
More color would be nice, but live and learn eh? The birds and bugs and critters will take what they want.
It used to drive me bonkers how the bugs would have a bit of every strawberry. Never an entire one, just bits out of almost all of them. No perfect strawberries for us humans.🤪
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We also have the pink roses here, they are just starting to start on their second season of the year. The middle section above the worms will now not see anything trailing, complications always complications.
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Funny how folks (or maybe it’s just me) have likes and irrational dislikes of flowers and plants. I think I inherited some of mine
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That’s just the way of the world Grace.
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Everything looks so happy and healthy, Rory! It must be so pleasant to go out in the morning and tend to it. I always enjoyed the taste of Nasturtiums in a salad. So nice… and pretty, too! 😊 Have you ever eaten them? The flavor is similar to water cress.
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Hey Betty, l used to enjoy nasturtiums in my slad they had a spicy taste to them. A bit like rocket, sadly however l can’t digest either of them anymore 😦
The garden’s great, l love being able to interact with the birds the most.
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Oh, too bad! I do hope you are able to find a way to heal your digestion somehow, Rory!
I would enjoy the birds, too. It’s so amazing when you get to know the individuals and can began to notice their unique personalities. 😊
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Yes very much so, little Robbie Robin is always around when l am in the garden. This afterboon, he was so comfortable he was standing on my boot toes 🙂
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Wow! That’s amazing! 😊
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It looks like a very happy garden and a sweet place to while away some time watching the wildlife and the flowers. Beautiful! ☺️
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Interestingly enough l probably spend more time relaxing in it when l am busy in it as opposed to Suzanne who spends more time in the kitchen [leading to the back garden] and therefore is always gazing on it 🙂
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I understand that ☺️. I think that’s the way I enjoy the garden too.
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