Morning Gardening & Afternoon Walk to Ventnor Botanical Garden.

I was out in the garden by 7.30 am this morning as I wanted to get some work done before it got too hot.

I decided to tackle by the summer house as I hadn't been up there for a while.  It is not really usable as it is pretty dilapidated so that is part of the reason why it ended up so overgrown.  We will eventually replace it - that is the long term plan anyway as the views from up here are fabulous.  

I had had plans to paint up here, and store my painting supplies, but well with the easel boards being lost by the removal company I have nothing to use on my easel frame, and it has just kind of put me off the whole idea.

Wheelbarrow full of weeds and what I have pruned from various plants.

The round bin is full too.  I actually did a couple of wheelbarrow loads.

Much clearer.  Still needs work, but it started to get too hot, so I moved to the orchard.

The views from the summer house.

You can see my cherry trees with the netting on the two branches.

I spent some time in the orchard, clearing ivy off some of the apple trees along the back and also cutting away grass and weeds from around their trunks.

One of the original labels that the owners previous to the ones we bought the property off put on the trees.  A shame all the other labels seem to have gone missing.  

After lunch I decided to go for a walk to Ventnor Botanical Gardnens.

A lovely walk along the coastal path

The gardens were looking fabulous.

These are Agave plants like the one I got the other day.  She grew it from seed she got from the Botanical gardens.

I sat for a while on this bench in the shade

and just took in the view.

I left a little Kiwi Rock to hopefully bring a smile to someone's face.

So many beautiful flowers of such vibrant colours.

A helicopter flew overhead on my walk home.  

Thankful Thursday - in part!

The not thankful part, which I will get out of the way first is that my tooth repair has broken off - quite a big chunk leaving the whole side of the back tooth exposed.  Just hoping that the protective layer is still in situ. 

Now for the thankful.  I am thankful I have hobbies to keep me occupied, which distract me to some extent from the pain in my body.  Two more bears were made today, both of which were inspired by  the roses and poppies in my garden.

This first was made with some vintage fabric I had.

A soft velveteen bear.

The garden was looking so pretty. 

Love that the bees are busy on the flowers.

While I was stitching early this morning I saw a large Cruise Ship go past.

This one is the Marella Explorer, probably going to join her sister ships which are moored near Sandown Bay.

I saw the buzzard flying over the garden several times today, and also saw a crow chasing it off.

I love that I have one of these growing in the garden - the name currently escapes me.

The garden is really vibrant with colours.

It is a bit like a continuous surprise, as I discover different flowering plants.

Beside the driveway.

This is the bed that I have sowed with some radish and salad leaves outside the kitchen door on the decking.

The lavender I planted back in March is starting to bud.

Up in the raised beds, the spinach is chard is growing well.

As are the salad leaves - they are rather tasty too!

My Dalmatian Beans are growing.

I planted out some brussels today. 

I forgot to post this photo yesterday of an army helicopter flying overhead. 

I went on a shorter walk today, because I just want to keep moving if I can.

Now I have never seen these in the water before, and I look out at it often enough on my walk.  

Not quite sure what they are marking - perhaps fisherman's lines or crab pots?

The sea looked gorgeous again.

I love this Fritillary Butterfly...just not quite sure which specific one it is.

This was tiny this little flower, but so pretty.

This poor peacock butterfly looks like it has had a hard time of things.

Not quite sure which species of Blue this one is, but it was so delicate and pretty.

A few flowers

There is so much beautiful colour in nature.  It really is something to be thankful for.