Many camellias are in flower now so it’s the perfect time to visit your local garden centre to see them in bloom. If you buy one in flower, you know exactly what you’re getting. Flowers may be single, semi-double or fully double, in various colours including bi-colours. Camellias are not too long-lasting in the vase but if you snip them when in bud you’ll get the most from them. Their glossy leaves are great for bulking out bouquets too. Or pick individual flowers and float them in glass bowls. [Read more...]
Plant Now: Camellias
May 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Plant for a spring fling
May 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I haven’t visited one of my favourite blogs, Saipua, for a while, but every time I go there it’s love at first site. How could you not love Sarah’s beautifully designed floral arrangements? Showing here is a profusion of spring blooms, and if you time your planting right, you can be cutting these lovely flowers from your garden in spring too. That means planting now. Last chance this month to plant anemones (the main ingredient here) and tulips, although you can, of course, buy these plants when in flower in spring (as early as winter for anemones).
Visit Saipua to see more lovely flowers and arrangements.
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Plant Now: Lavender
May 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Are these not THE most beautiful images ever? Fields of lavender and pretty flower girls with lavender head wreaths.
Now’s a good time to plant, and even transplant, lavender. Lavenders actually transplant well, but they may not flower in the first season after they’re moved. If you do wish to transplant one, snip off any flowers, cut the roots back a little then plant it in its new position. Leave Lavandula stoechas varieties until early spring.
Lavender likes a gritty, sandy loam. [Read more...]
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Loving the lilacs
May 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Lilacs are just so darn beautiful, it’s too bad I can’t grow them here in Auckland. But I can grow those fuzzy, brain-like celosia, as seen in the middle photo. It’s best to wait until spring to plant those though, otherwise they won’t survive the winter. I can also plant anemones like the sumptuous looking purple ones in the bottom photo. In fact, it’s your last chance to get these bulbs in the ground now. Get them in during the month of May and your anemones should flower for you in late winter/early spring.
These lovely images are from Design Sponge.
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Sweet Living Issue 3
May 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Sorry I haven’t posted for a while but I was mad busy putting the final touches to Issue 3 of Sweet Living. It’s now online for all to see - check it out here, and get lots of crafty ideas and delicious recipes for Mother’s Day.
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Plant Now: Pansies
April 22, 2012 By 1 Comment
If you want colour in your garden come winter, then plant pansies now. These colourful blooms show their cheerful faces even on the dullest of days. They may have short stems, but the flowers can still be picked for indoors. Or plant in small containers and bring the whole container inside as a centrepiece when entertaining. Sow seeds in trays or plant seedlings from your garden centre.
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Billy button beauty
April 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you needed any proof that billy buttons (Craspedia globosa) look striking in a bouquet, then take a peek at this. Yellow is not my favourite colour, but these golden yellow blooms look gorgeous. Even the boutonnieres are divine. Egmont Seeds sells billy buttons if you’re keen to try them, but the seeds are best sown in spring.
These beautiful images come from the website Le Frufru.
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Plant Now: Iceland Poppies
April 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Iceland poppies (Papaver nudicaule) are a beacon of brightness during the cooler months, with their yellow, orange, pink, salmon or white blooms. They’re a hardy plant, able to withstand harsh weather, so sow seeds now for a winter-long display. When planting out, position in full sun otherwise stems will twist and turn in search of the sun.
These lovely images comes from Luxe Life (top photo) and Decor8.
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Black is the new black in gardens
April 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Last year a new black petunia took the gardening world by storm, which sparked an interest in other black blooms, including the humble pansy. You can see why. Don’t these black pansies look striking planted on their own? Imagine a few of these positioned around your garden. You can buy seeds for black pansies at Kings Seeds and sometimes you’ll find seedlings at garden centres.
This photo features over at Spriggs Florist.
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Plant Now: Lobelia
April 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Lobelia erinus is an annual bedding plant that brings a splash of colour to containers, hanging baskets, borders and path edges. It’s not much of a cut flower (although it can be used in bouquets), growing only 15-30cm high, depending on the variety. Colours range from the lightest to deepest blues, pinks and purples or white. These tiny flowers grow well in warm or cool areas and can be sown now in warmer areas to flower in late winter and spring. Cold spots should leave sowing until spring. Sow in trays, just barely covering the seed, and transplant into individual pots when big enough. Seeds are available from all seed suppliers, but for a wide selection, check out Egmont Seeds.
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Birdhouse blues
April 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
When I renovated my home recently I ended up with a collection of door handles exactly like this one. Now I know what to do with them! This cute little birdhouse looks to be made entirely from recycled bits and bobs, including rustic stars cut from old iron.
This image comes from here.
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DIY hanging plant pouches
April 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Don’t throw away that ancient, threadbare sweater. Use it to make a hanging plant pouch. There’s a definite trend on at the moment to upcycle old jumpers into plant pockets. They look super cute, especially when they’re embellished with buttons and fancy stitching, like these ones made by Cynthia Shaffer. Cynthia’s provided step-by-step instructions for making your own. Check them out here.
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Rustic bouquet
April 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a gorgeous casual floral display, “perfect for an outdoor rustic, woodsy wedding with a neutral color palette,” say The Wedding Chicks. It’s also perfect for an indoor rustic table centrepiece, I’d say. The bouquet includes the blushing bride protea (Serruria florida), sedum flower heads (they’re still in bud here), the seed heads of the starball scabiosa (Scabiosa stellata) and white sweet peas, among others. For a full list of plants used, both in the bouquet and boutonniere, by its creator Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio, click through to The Wedding Chicks.
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Yellow ranunculus bouquet
April 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Such a simple bouquet but so, so striking. This arrangement uses just two colours – bright yellow, from the winter and spring flowering ranunculi, and blue-grey from the fuzzy leaves of lamb’s ears. Now’s the time to plant your ranunculi, so if you haven’t already, trot down to your local garden retailer and buy a packet of bulbs.
This lovely bouquet, by Janie Medley Flora Design, features over at Wedding Chicks.
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Plant Now: Drumstick Primula
April 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Primula denticulata ‘Red Selection’ is an easy-growing drumstick primula with spherical heads of carmine-red to pinkish-red flowers. Flowers appear in late spring on shortened stems, but the stems slowly lengthen over several weeks, carrying the flower heads atop. They’re great for picking or simply providing a lovely spring/summer display in the garden. These plants are available from Parva Plants.
