Gardener and Designer, a curation of design, plants and styling
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.
Ever the keen gardener my eyes are always peeled as I walk along surburban streets and parks alike to see what I can find. Many of my garden plants are bourne of seed pods spotted and picked in the depths of winter or cuttings from friends and families gardens. These ones shown below I spotted a few weeks ago dangling daintly from a twig like shrub devoid of all its leaves so no idea what to expect from the planted seeds found inside the pods. Watch this space……..
Spotted dangling daintily
seeds in a pod, plant in a pot
these little beauties found inside the pods wonder what joys they will bring….
the begining of a wisteria vine
It will take a few years but the wisteria vine will eventually be producing beautiful blooms like the mother plant pictured in early summer
Last years major seed haul produced two huge pots of lupins which have started to sprout already again this year. Mine looked great displayed in large tall pots on the patio or you can plant them up in the border in a sunny position. The plants also produced another yield of seeds that I have just planted to produce more blooms this year which I will be able to share with friends.
With a little thought about what you plant in your outside space it will not only look beautiful but will yield some very useful and inspirational things prompting the unleashing of the creative you. Lemon trees look great and you can grow them in a pot on your balcony or terrace (they will flourish in a sheltered area or you can take them inside if the winter is very harsh). The tree will give fruit all year round. When the blooms appear before the fruit the air is scented like a heaven send – it doesn’t get much better than this. Lemons get used lots in summer to help olive oil dress your salads or squeeze into a summer cocktail or fruit add to a fruit punch. In winter try making your own lemoncillo the perfect winter schnaps or a lemon loaf to help keep your cockles warm, entertain guests and make your kitchen smell like a kath kidson advert! The perfect pretty plant, with many uses, to grow in a big pot on your balcony or terrace. Keep your lemon tree well watered and in a sunny spot to produce big bouncy lemons!
Luverley Lemons for all year round inspirationDid my lemon tree really produce these? Lemon and lime soaps from bronnley make a delicious, zesty gift.It’s Lime before it’s a lemon
Zest your lemons (making sure you do not to include any of the white pith) Pour vokda over zest, put in an airtight jar for at least a week, shake daily, pour boiling water over sugar and disolve, then add the vodka and zest mixture that has been resting for a week and leave in the airtight jar again for a further week, shake daily, strain into bottles and add some lemon zest strands to each bottle
Some inspirational uses
Refreshing and light the perfect palate cleanser and digestive, have with tonic water as a sweet tasty refreshing drink, add to champagne, mix with a fruit juice for a delightful cocktail, drizzle on ice cream, fruit salad or fresh strawberries.
Lemoncello the perfect home made gift (or just enjoy it all to yourself!)
Well the garden is pretty quiet this time of year apart from the snowdrops dainty pretty heads bopping about, and the “how does it do it in the middle of winter” hellebore blooming it’s head off interspersed with the occassional early appearance of a primrose. It’s also an exciting time of year thinking about what lies beneath and what is to come. With winter dormancy comes a chance to clear up, trim up, think of the big picture and sort out the detail with the future envisaged. Where do those spring and summer bulbs need to be popping up from and what would look fabulous where. Sketch it, draw it, write it down for later. Next autumn is when you can get your bulbs in for the following year or pop a few ready grown bulbs where required in place for this spring.
Hellebore
Snowdrop
Plant them in until you are brave enough to go out!
read on for some magical inspiration………
In the fairy garden “If you believe in fairies then what you see here is real, If the sight of one eludes you just stop, stand still and feel the gentle breeze as it goes lapping past your eyes, the soft damp dew upon your nose, it’s fairy dust did you realise
Smell the air it’s always full of sweet perfume you know, its left behind lingering around by fairies as they go close your eyes imagine the magic they can do, then jump right up go on your way and know that you can too” fen – inspired by my little niece Isabelle 2010
Fen Ryan Plant|Design|Maintain 