Monday, May 12, 2008

dreaming...

I am a bit of a dreamer. I like to muse over things and always have ideas bobbing around in my head of things i am planning or the seeds of new creations. This past week i have been musing about flowers for the garden. I mainly grow herbs and veg with a bit of fruit but really fancy introducing a bit more colour and tartiness to the garden. On Friday i treated myself to a little wander around our local garden centre with only myself and my thoughts to accompany me. I wandered around for ages. It's a good time to go to see the variety of plants available and to get ideas. I wasn't intending to purchase anything but something wouldn't let me leave empty handed. After coveting a beautiful heuchera, a replacement eucalyptus (yes mine died) and a nostalgic hydrangea (fond memories of visiting my granddad's house with a lilac hydrangea to the right of his front door), i came away with two dramatic 'gallery' dahlias (art nouveau) and 3 blue trailing verbenas. I wasn't even sure were i would put them. It wasn't until i got home that i realised my chosen plants reflected the exact colours i was wearing.


Have you ever done that? Deep pink really does seem to be a favourite just now....

my gardening gloves...



... and my new tulips are a similar colour.


Later that day i sat outside with all my gardening books dreaming of flowers and sowing my new seeds. Early that evening i started digging up a bit more lawn to make a bit more planting space.




My favourite flowers are echinacea or 'cone flower'. My clever youngest daughter discovered this and brought me two types of echinacea seeds for my birthday. They were sown a few weeks ago in a heated propagator and are doing well, so fingers crossed that they will be successfully potted on.


I also have studio progress to report...

The old purple wooden door was removed and a huge hole in the end of the building appeared late on Saturday afternoon.




The idea was to reuse the window we took out last week and put it where the old door was. This is a south east facing aspect so it made perfect sense put a window here to allow more light into the room.




The windows were originally recycled from an house near my father in law's some 7 years ago. Much as i hate UPVC i would rather reuse them than for them to go into landfill. Why buy new when you can recycle? You can see from this picture all the crates of fabric and stock piled up inside. Not long now before i can start to unpack.




My good man worked late into the evening to finish off the block work. He was able to reuse some of the original blocks which we discovered were actually sandstone. Unfortunately they had been painted a shitty brown colour so we hadn't realised . I had over painted them 'fly blue' some time ago... this was his first ever bit of wall building i might add. It's taking shape now. We covered it with a tarpaulin for the night just in case of rain....


and on Sunday morning the window went in, much easier than we had anticipated. So now the new shell is complete and it's just two more interior walls to finish. We sat outside last night drinking beer and marveling at what had been achieved. I want to move in now, but it'll be a few more weeks at least... so i shall continue dreaming for the time being....

14 comments:

Kitty said...

Gosh, isn't your man clever?! That's going to be a wonderful studio - can't wait to see all the things you create in there.

And the plants are beautiful. x

Tracy said...

Everything about this post I very much relate to! And your studio is shaping up terrific! Happy Days ((HUGS))

Pipany said...

I love spending time with my gardening books and as for dreaming...hmm, bit of an expert at that!

Lovely post Ginny and how exciting that your studio is so nearly done - go dream about where you'll put everything xx

Jane said...

I just love that feeling of sitting down in the garden with a drink after a busy day and looking at what has been done and dreaming of what will be done.
And look what has been done! Raise a glass to the men that can actually do things!
I love that photo of the beavering after dark.
J
x

this is my patch said...

I'd choose the hot pinks for in the garden, they look great against would you believe red, and blue coloured flowers. I am sure you already know but watch out for earwigs and slugs around your dahlias. Your studio space is going to be fantastic, how creative are you going to be, once you set foot in there! I have just spotted your book cover on the sidebar, very nice, only wish I could sew! x

carolyn said...

Lovely dreams and lovely to see them coming to fuition.

A Saucerful Of Secrets said...

Hi there!good to hear from you.Cant wait to see how your workroom turns out, it's exciting isn't it? I can't wait to start work in my new workspace,it's been long awaited.We've got great men! Best wishes from Annie x

Gigibird said...

I can't look at dahlias without thinking of earwigs as they always fell out of any cut flowers that were brought into our house when I was growing up....saying that I haven't seen an earwig in years...
Great to re use the windows - you can paint them you know?

Sal said...

A lovely choice of plants..I would have chosen exactly the same colours! Your studio is coming on well. Sal;-)

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

Lovely post...I have been spending to much time just woundering around the garden centre this week...love the colours your into at the moment and how exciting is your studio!!!

Ragged Roses said...

Ginny your studio is looking fab! Snap I have those gardening gloves and tulips, no surprise that deep pink is one of my favourite colours. Hope you managed to have lots of time gardening this week
Kimx

Anonymous said...

Hi, your studio is coming on really well...I bet you can't wait till it's ready to use. I agree about the recycling...very sensible.
Margaret and Noreen

Unknown said...

How exciting, a new space for you.
I've been perusing my gardening books too. I'm currently reading Kim Wilds book - simple & straightforward info. Plus she sounds like me as I can often be found gardening in the most impractical clothing such as pj's and slippers :)

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

You are perfectly co-ordinated Ginny!
It is so exciting planning a garden and I lose count of the number of times I gaze out of my bedroom window at our garden .. planning my next planting.
I love echinacea's too.. though mine were not so successful last year.. any tips?
I am v envious of your shed.. I would have a battle on my hands if we had one.. who gets ownership!!
Enjoy your new plants .. they will reward you with lots of blooms..
Michelexx
P.s I am off to Wisley this Sunday.. can't wait .. despite the weather forecast!