Author: Fen

tinybloomingplaces was set up by Fen, designer of sustainable and naturalistic small outside spaces, to spark your imagination and inspire you to get stuck into the garden to create your very own piece of paradise giving you endless hours of therapy, pleasure and escapism from the pressures of modern life in a big city. The ongoing legacy of a beautifully designed garden will be yours to enjoy for a lifetime. Discover the healing power of nature. If you don't know where to start and just get in touch, I offer full design service and design your own garden workshops. The important thing is somehow to begin. Full design, plan and build service available.

Transformation without the perspiration

The Vision

When my small front patch was a pile of rubble of mud a few years ago it was hard to believe that it would ever become the space that only existed in my head. Although I had drawn a rough plan of how it would be I knew that my image of the finished, matured project would take time coming and would evolve on the way. There is still the maturing of the two small bay trees, that I added, to come but apart from that the wild flowers have certainly settled into the space and have helped create a feeling that the garden has always existed as a space in time. Although I have done my best to photograph the space (it’ a new camera and am still learning about exposure 🙂 ) I always think that spaces are for feeling and there is no better way to view a garden than to walk amongst it – although you can get pleasure from viewing a garden – it’s real true sense only becomes apparent when you get in there!

from this

to this

The choice of natural stone fitted in well as it instantly gives a feeling of age – the laurels and the bays take the space back to its Edwardian roots

in two easy years

The structuring and planting took less than a week and the naturalising of the flowers settled into a feeling of “I’ve lived here a lifetime” in two years.

I love the way the moss has naturally over time created a base for it all and the stepping stones sit happily amongst it all.

The space is cyclical and seasonal – the laurel backdrop feature wall and moss carpet interspersed with natural stepping stones and planted with bays and evergreen ferns create all year round interest and greenery

Spring gently announces itself with the some pretty yellow narcissi and purple muscari, swiftly followed by a burst of forget-me-nots and bluebells, getting it all in the full swing

As summer arrives so do the yellow and orange and yellow poppies, dancing in the sunshine

The yearly work is done by nature – now that is a true gardeners paradise – all of the beauty and none of the back ache

As the spring fest fades the arrival of beautiful tall white flowers around the birdbath is anticipated and coupled with an overflowing hanging basket of white trailing Bacopa and geraniums the summer look will be complete

Now all that is left is for me to enjoy on a daily basis being greeted with a delicious feast for the senses as I walk in and out of the house every day. Oh the joys of nature – how could we live without it!

A bird in a bath is worth two in a bush

Now that the weather is warming up the birds are back busily about feeding and bathing, delighting us all. We all plant to encourage wildlife into the garden so why not get creative and add decorative interest whilst you are at it for any creatures that will benefit? There is nothing more delightful than watching birds have a drink and a wash from various vessels that I have distributed about the garden – it gives a real chance to connect with and enjoy nature at it’s best. Encourage and enjoy wildlife in your outside space any which way you can. Below are some ideas how to do just that.

When the birds are not bathing the petals are floating!

The birds love to have a drink and and a wash from this small decorative wall hanging vessel. It is placed close to the back door so I can watch them close up from inside

This free standing bird bath makes a great centrepiece or can add mysterious interest tucked away in a corner. Mine is placed underneath a climbing jasmine which likes to collect and prettily float the falling flowers as the summer grooves on.

The stone birdbath sits amongst the woodland and ferns providing a shady and quiet spot at the end of the garden for the birds to bathe.

The stone becomes more naturalised over time gathering moss

This decorative bowl provides another source for the birds to wash and drink

The rustic hand made bird box filled with seeds provides food and a place for birds to nest

If left undisturbed and placed in a high up sheltered spot the birds will move in over time

Des Res – who wouldn’t love to live here!

Cut out a coconut shell and fill it with seeds. This one is hanging in a tree by my bedroom window it is a delightful to watch the birds feed and the singing is second to none

Adding a bug box will give the bugs have an undisturbed home and existence amongst all the reorganising and spring cleaning on the patio as well ad adding colour and decorative interest.

The Alliums Have Landed

The shift in seasons has meant that everything in the garden is blooming about a month later than usual. But thankfully this year they are all still doing their thing. Last year during March it was so wet and soggy and lacking in sunshine that the alliums (which are from the onion family and prefer dryer conditions) didn’t even bloom at all. However this year they have come back in full force and whilst their usual habit is to bloom at the end of April early May, they didn’t bloom until end of May and are still in bloom even though it is nearly mid June.

The Bluebells came and went in April

the forget me nots are still lingering on well into June – insisting not to be forgotten

The orange lillies under the apple tree which have bloomed the first week of June every year like clockwork since I planted them there 10 years ago, still don’t look like they are anyway nearly ready to come into bloom – another couple of weeks perhaps? So the general feel for everything is the blooming time has shifted forward by about a month.

The Poppies seem to be enjoying themselves though and are flowering abundantly and prolifically for the past month with no signs of fading just yet

Yellow and Orange Poppies

Golden Wonders bringing in a ray of sunshine even on dull summer days

The unseasonally cold weather for this year might be keeping us all indoors but I am happy to say that it has not stopped the flowers in the garden coming out to play and cheering me up no end. It might not feel like summer outside but when I look out into the garden it is giving me hope it might arrive any day soon!

Party on Plants!

Plant with Passion

Whether you have an expansive football pitch or a tiny terrace plant it with passion. Planting an evergreen backdrop and a rotation of perennials (plants that will relentlessly pop up every year) for each season will ensure your space has colour and vibrancy all year round. It is a formula that will work in most spaces. Planting en mass is always an eye catcher and keeping your selection of specimens to a minimum will ensure your space looks relaxed and natural and doesn’t end up looking like a mismatched patchwork. Keeping the colour palate simple will also help make sure that plants will make maximum impact with minimum effort. Start simply – it always easier to add on afterwards if the desired effect hasn’t been achieved first time round.

An expanse of tulips interspersed with primroses would make an equal impact on a small patio planted in containers, troughs or window boxes.

For early spring a simlar effect could be achieved using narcissi interspersed with snowdrops and muscari or for late spring try planting bluebells and primroses. Forget-me-nots are also a useful self seeder that look great with all the spring flowers. The combination of colours and plants is yours to choose.

May Peace Be With You

White Tulips and Chrysanthemum

White Tulips and chrysanthemums

Pretty in Pink –

Tulips and Wallflowers

Feeling Hot Hot Hot

Yellow Tulips and Orange Wallflowers

Spring is the visible beginning of the gardening year and a good time to excite your interest for the rest of the year. Mark your calender for next autumn to remind you to plant some spring bulbs for next spring or get some ready grown ones in for this year before it is too late. The daffodils are already beginning to fade but this can only mean they are making room for the tulips and bluebells to have their proud moment on stage.

Don’t be afraid to pack them in!

Happy Spring Planting

The Show Must Go On

ahoy me hearties

It’s a long time coming – Spring. The unseasonally harsh cold weather has kept the blooms at bay, which is probably a good thing as in previous springs that have burst forth early in all their glory, blooms have been nipped in the bud days after their splendour has arrived depriving us of the crown, the many more blooming weeks that should have been to come. So far it is really only the primroses and daffodils that have been brave enough to poke their pretty heads through in the garden. The muscari are trying hard and heres hoping that before long they will make it through, which may be a sign that we can all thaw out and enjoy some warm spring sunshine. Winter may not have left us left but nature is still doing it’s thing albeit at a lot slower pace than usual.

“Break on through to the other side”

The daffodils have made it!

Pop a daffodil bowl on the patio table

The narcissi have now naturalised around my garden – truly making it feel like Easter even if the uncharacteristic cold weather isn’t

This planted up Easter window box of polyanthus at the back of my garden is just about surviving the long cold snap, some of the blooms are looking a bit frost bitten (so were my hands when I quickly planted them last week!)

whilst this pale of the wild primroses that pop up every year seem to be standing up to it all with a smile on their face

The muscari which have naturalised in the garden are struggling through with frost bitten leaves, whilst the ones in the window boxes have decided not to brave it at all yet. Usually by now they are giving a spectacular display alongside the narcissus

Did you speak?

Nature is not giving up as the drake chats up Ms duck

Neither should we

It’s never too cold for a chat and a stroll, with the lovely Asheebee

A Place to Ponder

One of my many passions in life is to travel the world and explore new places and with holidays being scarce when you work full time I always like to try and venture to new territories for new explorations. Apart from my home country of Ireland, that has entrenched in me an unbreakable bond, there is one place that keeps drawing me back for visits over the years. A trip during the summer just gone confirmed to me that this is the sort of place I could grow old in. It is the pristine white hilltop town of Vejer de la frontera, built by the Moors and preserved by the Spanish. With flowers a plenty blooming in every street, every courtyard and roof terrace, in bright vibrant colours, coupled with the beautiful white backdrop of the town, it is like waking up on a movie set every day. A great inspiration for urbanisation – fill it with flowers and the heart will blossom. Here people do not have gardens but they make use of every available space to create a town full of tiny blooming places, people together enhancing the majestic town. There is a lot to learn from Spain where living in apartment in an urban environment does not have to mean dank and grey. Vejer is a town united, where tiny blooming places gel together to make one of the prettiest places I have ever visited. It is not just contained to this particularly picturesque town in Spain, nearby towns in the Cadiz region like Conil bloom as well as the larger city of Seville to the north, where apartment living does not mean a life without a blooming outside space.

If you look behind and above the blooming rose to the forefront (insert smiley face here) you will see tiny balconies filled with flowers – no place is too small

Where there is a balcony there is a pot and even where there is not!

If you have a verge outside – fill it with pots

Never mind deck the halls – deck the streets

Behind closed doors – You would never expect it but most open up to little havens of flower filled courtyards

Plants cascade down from roof terraces to meet up with the potted plants below creating a flowing, fluid flowering facade

Plant it – it will grow. Tiny terraces planted with big blooming plants

With the plants come the wildlife – this little fella was spotted wandering freely around our flower filled patio

In nearby Conil this pretty flower fronted bar was beckoning for me to come and sit for a drink

Tiny spot blooming beautifully

In Seville tiny balconies were packed with flowers – urban doesn’t have to mean concrete only!

Fill it with Flowers

Wandering around Seville to see what I can find

Found it! My city pad

A beautiful ornate balcony to fill with flowers

Urbanites be inspired

Hope Springs Eternal Youth

Looking around outside most days seem dark, dank, bleak and the plants in nature are dormant and quietly slumbering. But on closer inspection I realise all is not lost. The snowdrops are starting to bloom. Alongside, and well on their way, are the first narcissus of spring and just beginning to appear are the sprouting bluebells. The beginning of the regeneration of the spring garden. Hope once more swells within.

If you haven’t been organised enough to pre-plant bulbs in autumn, now is a good time to buy some sprouting bulbs to plant up in containers and window boxes to herald some spring cheer to your space over the coming months.

I’ve been fortunate enough to leave my slowly awakening blooming winter garden here in England to head to more temperate climes where winter means temperatures in the late twenties and upwards and winter blooms take on a whole new meaning

At a glance it might look like an artificial silk flower but no these huge flowers were blooming abundantly in a city park in Saigon

These beauties, which judging by their leaves and stamen I am guessing are from the lily family, were abundantly blooming in parks and gardens. With their tall stems and multi flowering heads they would make an ideal accompaniment to the wild grasses with seed heads like ears of corn, spotted growing along the roadsides. Placed in a long slim vase together they would make a million dollar flower display.

I can’t help but admire the unique topiary of south east Asia

Who is the fairest fruit of them all? Growing abundantly the dragon fruit makes a refreshing snack but who could bear to peel a fruit as pretty as this?

Fresh greens were being grown and sold and added to every dish by the bucket full adding flavour and the unique taste of Vietnam to many of the dishes sampled during my travels. (Coriander, mint, basil, and leafy greens similar to spinach and bok choi)

When travelling I always like to pick out my city dwelling (just in case the path of life should take me to live there). I loved these tiny blooming places and couldn’t help but image getting my hands on one and really making it sparkle! (in fact I’d take on the whole block if they’d let me)

Back in England Spring is beckoning …………….

Time for a good clear out and a shape up

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

As we prepare for Christmas in a frenzy let’s not forget to add Christmas cheer to our gardens and patios which deserve to be loved all year round. Decorating outside with seasonal plants not only continues to bring the outside in during the festive season it also guarantees you that the glamour will remain long after the last Christmas chocolate has been scoffed. Extend the “look ” by decorating with seasonal plants indoors as well. Planted pots will last longer than any cut stems, keeping your spirits high until the delight of all delights appear – the first blooming spring bulbs – heralding the re-birth of another year of non stop blooms in the garden. Remember gardens are not just for Summer! There is something for every season and there is nothing prettier than a winter plant inspired patio or porch. It is the festive season after all – pump it up.

The bright orange berries of the solanum – nature’s answer to christmas baubles – hanging outside in these lovely christmassy pots help extend the festive feel to the garden

Nature adding it’s own seasonal decorative touch to the bay tree last week when the siberian winds headed this way bringing with them a frost like none other seen in a long time. It certainly looked like Jack Frost had been busy the night before!

Nature sprinkles the bay tree with a seasonal dusting of frost

Frosty Cobwebs – only nature could produce something as beautiful as this

It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter………….

For the days when Jack Frost fails to deliver plant up some seasonal cyclamen – they give a lovely wintry feel here planted under the potted bay.

Cyclamen planted under a potted bay tree

The magic of nature – fuschia bells chiming. Unusual for this time of year and adding a great seasonal touch to the garden with colour and structure

One of the many reasons I am always late for work!

White Heather – still in bloom, taking a little piece of the season outside to create a festive feel inside

Forage anything you can find and decorate – holly, ivy, fir trees are all abundant and blooming this time of year

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

The Holly and The Ivy

Glitz up the Garden, add some baubles to a potted plant ,

’tis the season to be jolly

Baubled up bay tree

Baubles hanging from a pot of ivy

decorated lemon tree

Pussy Willow and baubles

Collect Twigs and seeds heads from the garden – sprayed with silver they make a glittering, natural display

sparkle, sparkle

The glittering twigs remind me of stags antlers (well then I do have a vivid imagination!)

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Silver Sprayed Card Cut Outs – truly entering the festive fever

oh and don’t forget the candles

Teracotta tealight holder

Large Teracotta candle holder

Starry Starry Night

mmmmmm I’m luvin’ it……………….

Winter Warmers

Just like some people there are lots of plants that don’t like the cold harsh Winters. Some tend to die back underground in the depths of it all and reappear in Springtime. There are others who have less chance to survive that way, so to keep them going I have acquired for them a special house of their own and placed it in the garden in a spot that will get any winter sun that happens to be about. Endlesss pots of geraniums and mint are amongst those who have sought refuge as well as various pots of bulbs that have been under squirrel attack.

The mini greenhouse also has a top that opens up separately which will be ideal for starting off seedlings for next year. It will help keep the seedlings free from any late spring frosts that can sometimes unexpectedly appear and sabotage young seedlings. mmmmmmmmmmm cosy!

It’s also time for the lemon tree to come inside as the risk of freezing night temperatures become more of a reality. The tree has now grown so big and it could not be housed by the mini greenhouse – so I brought it inside to the conservatory for winter protection.

The lemon tree won't survive freezing temperatures so safer to take it inside as the temperatures plumet — The lemon tree won’t survive freezing temperatures so safer to take it inside as the temperatures plummet

Meanwhile in the garden……………………..

The pretty heathers are still sweetly blooming, and the joy of all joys, the hellebore , is just beginning it’s flowering season and popping out generous numbers of beautiful white blooms. Last Springs primroses are also “having a go” at adding some winter colour alongst the landscape.

winter blooming hellebore raises it's head — winter blooming hellebore raises it’s head – hellebore rules!

White heather in an old terracotta pot sets the perfect winter scene on the patio

Succumbing to the festive season surge I purchased some giant baubles at Petersham Nurseries the other day

The lantern with star cut out casts a starry night over the mirrored table once it turns to dusk. Anything with stars equals christmas in my book! — Also I could not resist the lantern with star cut outs which casts a starry night over the glass topped table once it turns to dusk. Anything with stars equals Christmas in my book!

Just back from a trip to Ireland and judging by what I saw blooming about over there they seem to be having a pretty mild Winter so far. (or are the plants getting hardier??) There was a giant fuschia in my mums garden, keeling over with flowers, blooming like it was mid summer. It was coupled with the deep red fading heads of a huge hydrangea bush opposite . True poetry in motion. (note to self get some cuttings for my garden when the time is right!).

Fuschia blooming in early December

The blooms were so bright and vivid and the colours were so seasonal it was almost as if the celebration birthday cake (made by me and a friend) which was topped with pommegranate was specially commissioned to work hand-in hand with the garden. A beautiful blend and celebration of food and nature befitting a queen!

Smaller of the two celebration cakes made with my master chef friend. The marscapone, lemon and vanilla frosting was borne as the perfect fusion with pommegranite — Smaller of the two celebration cakes made with my master chef friend for my mums birthday. The marscapone, lemon and vanilla frosting was borne as the perfect fusion with pommegranate

Happy 80th birthday mum

JINGLE BELLS

I have now finally given up on resistance – let the festive season commence

Haul in the Harvest

Bag up any seeds that you collect from fading flower heads this time of year. Store them in a dark dry place. You will then have an abundance to hand ready to plant early next spring

Autumn is a great time for harvesting seeds to help you get your annual planting pots in full bloom for next year or for increasing your stock of all ready existing perennenials such as the lupin. It is a natural by product of an end of summer clear up essential in all gardens, to refresh for the autumn blooms yet to come. Collect the seeds now and plant in a cold frame frame in late winter or early spring for a beautiful blooms in late spring and summer.

Amongst the favourites I am collecting from the garden this year are

Lupins

The stems where the flower heads have faded and died have now dried out and left behind the seed pods

Pick each pod from the stem and split open

The seeds will spill out from the split seed pod

Each seed will produce a new plant for next year

All of these seeds were collected from one faded flower head and will produce many plants for next year. Plant them in some moist compost early spring and water regularly once they start sprouting

When the seedlings are big enough transplant them into large deep pots or straight into a semi shady spot in the garden (beware! protect them as slugs love them too)

Await the joys to behold in the summer

The lupin in bloom

Marigolds

The seeds can be pulled from fading flower heads, each one containing multiple seeds.

If you look closely, individually the seeds look like tiny little paint brushes. To think each seed will produce a plant if it grows to fruition, you could grow yourself a field of marigolds from just one plant! Plant the seeds in some compost early spring , keep them watered and grow them on for flowering plants in the summer.

The fruits of your labour will be evident throughout next summer and fall

The last of the summer apples got picked this week, and I’ve still got room in my tum for some more apple crumble

I “heart” apples

All this gardening is making me thirsty – cuppa cha?

Still al fresco – for how much longer I ponder

Indulge while you can

and it’s not even my birthday yet! Well you know what they say all work and no play…..

Thanks to our visitors from Paris and yes they do taste as good as they look!

Think I will be spilling over some recipe books after this little lot have been demolished……..

What’s in the box – the winter warmer inspired window box

If your window boxes are looking a bit sketchy and you are wondering what should I do next, how about getting in some hardy herbs that will keep on going throughout winter and will inspire you to get in the kitchen cooking up some winter warmers as the evenings draw in and cosying up seems like an attractive alternative to a night on the tiles. As I plant up the window boxes I am dreaming of casseroles, stews, soups, roasts and all those lovely dishes that warm our cockles on a cold winters day. Rosemary, thyme, bay and sage are all strong on flavour, taste and aroma. Best of all they are hardy so will last throughout the UK winter. So why not get planting and get cooking – aaahhhh the smell of it!

and now just a little something to help get your creative juices flowing – happy planting, happy cooking and happy eating

ham hock white beans

Smoked ham hock with white beans

1 large smoked ham hock
250g white beans, soaked
1 tsp vegetable oil
2 carrots, peeled and cut in three
1 large onion, peeled and diced
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1 bouquet garni
1 bunch fresh thyme
A couple of bay leaves
1 litre chicken stock

A day ahead, soak the ham in cold water for 24 hours to reduce its saltiness, changing the water a few times. Soak the beans in cold water overnight, or for at least 12 hours.

Next day, heat the oil in a pot big enough to hold the ham. Fry the carrots until caramelised, then add the onion and garlic, and cook for six or seven minutes until translucent. Add the herbs, ham and drained beans, pour in the stock, cover and cook on a medium heat until the beans have absorbed most of the stock and are very soft, and the ham is tender. Remove the bouquet garni.

This is a rustic dish, so serve it as it comes in deep bowls with some crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Smoked ham hock with white beans

Share this: