As I’ve mentioned before Beryl, my Granny, and her love for flowers and gardening has been a huge influence…
My Grandpa, Jim, was an expert lawn mower, tomato grower and pond maintainer, and as he had also trained as a carpenter, he made everything from Beryl’s shed to the bird table…as well as the tortoise hut!
Today I was rearranging the top of my wardrobe and spotted this book…a gift from Beryl to Jim in Easter 1941.
These cups and saucers were also theirs; ‘Beryl’ by Woodsware…the extra large cup was always Jim’s, the saucer was often filled for Barker; their smooth haired fox terrier…
This was such a reminder of two people at the beginning of their gardening journey, during wartime, and who now seem to be accompanying me in the middle of mine…
When I decided to try growing a Clematis a few years ago, the only one I had really heard of was Nelly Moser…Beryl must have had one in the garden and I always liked the name, and as Nelly Moser is good for shady spots I thought it would suit my teeny North facing garden…
They are always so delicate and often only last a couple of days if there’s a bad storm, but if they stay attached for a few weeks they are stunning…
( I’m too small to get a good overhead shot…and yes, that is another snail on that petal! )
even when they’ve been snailed they still look pretty…
and the stems and seed heads have a real art nouveau feel to them…
Also out front, and loving the shade, are my neighbour’s amazing Arum lilies… ( they have 4 of these massive clumps! )
but loads of them completely collapsed after heavy rain yesterday…
however due to neighbourly generosity, the collapsed beauties are now standing proudly on my mantlepiece!
