Among the comments received on my last post there were a few remarks about the Whale photo that I use as the header photograph on my blog.
I do understand that because my blog is called Crafty in the Med that seeing a whale in the sea photo as the heading image it would be perfectly normal and logical for bloggers to think that the photo was taken in the Mediterranean. For those of you who have read my last post you will now know it wasn't. I assure you all those years ago when I set up my blog in 2011 I really didn't think about that at all. I just wanted to add a sea theme for the header image. However,I have to admit that I also really wanted to show off this wonderful photograph that I took myself. I am not great at taking photos at all so it was pure magic I got this one and I will probably never ever in my lifetime take another photo like that again. I am afraid I shall continue to brag about it even though daughter Nº 1 tells me at times " Hooray for the gardens:
Once again I am thoroughly enjoying visiting and strolling through, via my armchair, the beautiful gardens that are on display throughout our blog world... an abundance of lovely blooms,foliage and masses of colour! Wonderful productive veggie/fruit gardens which have begun to produce scrumptious crops! Gardens that are exceptionally gorgeous at this time of the year. I would like to give a few mentions here of some of the blogs that I follow who have recently posted about their gardens:
🌿Cherie at North Yorkshire Craft Guru
🌿Joy at Diary of a (retired) teacher
and there are more!
On a sad note there is one particular garden that I shall greatly miss. Teresa loved her garden and she delighted us frequently with posts throughout each year about her ever-changing garden.
I haven't got my own garden but the gardens in the apartment complex are really lovely at this time of the year too. The complex is surrounded throughout by this decorative hedge. I took this snapshot yesterday. This was after a rather ferocious storm and when the sun came out.
As I said I haven't got a traditional garden but I do have my balcony garden and it is doing better this year now that I am at home more and can dedicate time to it. I have taken a couple of photos of some of my plants
My Peace Lily. A surprising recuperation! A few months back it looked as if it was near the end of its existence. It looked quite soggy and poorly and I suspected a victim of over watering. Who could have done that I wonder? I remember tucking it away behind another plant for it to dry out and hoped it would sort itself out. Yesterday I caught a glimpse of white among the branches and leaves of the other plant I had put it behind. Lo and behold it has a flower and it looks decidedly better. A little bit brown/yellow around some of the leaves so I have sprinkled tea leaves around the top and given it a little water and brought it out into the light.
My Fern. It was a tiny little thing when I brought it just after moving into the apartment 30 odd years ago. It has been in the same place all those years! I have just kept changing the pot as it grows and throwing water at it when I remembered to. It is now in a large clay urn and I think I am going to have to cut it back quite a lot and dig it out of the pot, renew the soil and it will go back in there and will continue to remind me of the woodlands at home in Somerset.
My Devil's Ivy
It is like a weed . I keep having to cut it back. It being up there high in a corner I often forget to water it but I have noticed it has a guardian as I see Sr P waters it sometimes.
There is much more but I am trying to rearrange the balcony garden and bring in some plant stands so the rest is a bit of a mess at the moment.
"Life begins the day you start a garden. – Chinese proverb"
The end of it!
I have my second jab this morning! Sr P wasn't very well after his second one I wonder if that is because it was Pfizer . Mine is Moderna so hopefully I don't get any side effects!
Before I forget again I would like to thank all bloggers who responded to my "Tidy-up" blog post about reciprocal blogging relationships. Lots of interesting perspectives which are certainly worth mulling over. Thank you 😊
Happy Blogging
Amanda :-)
I took a photo of London Bridge in the sunset once, it was brilliant but I have no idea how I did it, lol
ReplyDeleteI'm not good at taking photo's normally, just point and shoot.
I do love all kinds of lilies but with the cats it's too risky as they can be poison to them.
Briony
x
Well we are two of a kind then Briony! I do the samejust point my mobile and hope for the best! I didn't know peace lilies were poisonous for cats good job I didn't have any when Willie was with us. I must tell my daughter about this just in case. A x
DeleteThanks for the shout out. Plants bring so much joy, don't they, whether you have a big garden, a small one, a balcony or just a pot. I would be lost without my garden.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Ellie
it was a pleasure Ellie and thank you for the delightful flower and garden posts. :-) A x
DeleteThat is such an impressive photo that you took of the whale and so wonderful that you got to see it. The garden in all its guises bring so much joy. I used to grow all sorts of fruit and veg in containers in my last house. I used to marvel how little space was needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorraine for calling in :-). I am inclined to think that experience I had whale watching was one of the most marvellous days out I have ever had! Now I have time I hope to make the balcony garden into a little extra outdoor space I can go to have breakfast and also to read away from the noise of the TV.😊 A x
DeleteThat photo is stunning you have a right to be proud. The garden is what is capturing my interest now that we are having some decent weather, it's lovely to be able to sit out there when the sun is shining. I didn't have a garden when I lived in Syria but like you has lots of pots on the balcony and dozens of houseplants too. I used to love watering them in the evening and sitting amongst them and smelling the fragrance as the weather cooled down the best part of the day. Fingers crossed you don't have any side affects from the vaccine, I did for the second one but it only lasted a day. Have a great week. xx
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely big garden Linda! I can quite understand that you making the most of it now you have good weather. That comment of yours about when you lived in Syria is just what I do too :-) I don't have so much success with house plants though! I unfortunately had 3 days of second vaccine side effects! tch! Better that though than no vaccine at all :-)
DeleteYour plants are beautiful-this is the first time I can remember since the '70s that I didn't have a hugs veggie garden for freezing and canning, and dehydrating. I think once our sewer project is complete I will think about where I can plant bulbs for flowers, more herbs too. and hoping this fall I can work on my outdoor kitchen area-a spot for my charcoal grills and my cast iron dutch ovens-I miss not having a spot for them.
ReplyDeleteI was always curious why you had the whale for header-now I know-hugs
Hi kathy, I do like the sound of a herb garden but I haven't had much success growing herbs in pots. Mind you I didn't really take care of them before so I might try again. I think an outside grill a brilliant idea especially if you try out all those delicious recipes that you have posted about on your blog. A x
DeleteThat hedge is just stunning Amanda - & your plants look so happy & healthy there. I hope your 2nd jab goes okay with no side effects.
ReplyDeleteThank you for calling in Julie. I have to admit I am pleased that my balcony garden is looking happier. It was obviously sad looking before due to lack of care. A x PS: I have received a "reply to my comments on your June at last post email" from you. Thank you :-)
DeleteI love a container garden and your header photo is stunning - small wonder you are proud of it. I would be too. :-) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Joy, The family dont think the same though LOL! A x
DeleteI'm not surprised that you're pleased with the stunning photo of the whale and blue sea. A favourite photo looks good for your header. So glad that you have a communal garden as I expect many apartments do. The hedge is beautiful. Your indoor plants are flourishing. When the leaves of my peace lilies in pots start to droop I give them a watering and when they produce flowers I'm happy. Best wishes to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, Thanks :-) I am pleased to say we do have a very big communal garden and it is very well cared. It is like living over a park and what with the new boulavard park right in front of our apartment complex we do have large green areas all around. One of the important things is now there is a public park in front of our building then no one can build on that piece of land. A x
DeleteOh my goodness. I didn't realise that you had taken that header photo, it's fabulous. I'd love to have seen that whale. Thanks for the mention. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Cherie :-) It was a fabulous experience and breathtaking I assure you. I am glad my niece convinced me to go with her. A x
DeleteYour whale photo really is stunning and yes, you should be proud of it. I miss Teresa's posts too. She loved her garden and it always looked so healthy and interesting. Your house plants are looking good. I have an uncanny ability of killing house plants. I stick to outdoor plants (where I also have an uncanny ability to grow magnificent weeds!😂) Hope you don't get any side effects after jab #2. xx
ReplyDeleteHello HH, thanks :-) Unfortunately I did get side effects and was laid up for three days hence not having been able to keep my blog as up to date as I would like. A x
DeleteHello Amanda and yes I love your whale pic and would brag forever ❤ Loved seeing your plants and they look healthy. Here I try in our garden but mostly herbs 😀😀 So miss Teresa's garden and her 🙁🙁 But she would love how much we talk about her and still revisit her blog ❤❤
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy. Thank you for popping in here :-). Thank you also for your last email dated 11th June. I would very much like to have a little corner of herbs growing too but I have tried and they don't like it on my balcony. Totally agree with your comment about Teresa...she would be delighted :-) A x
Deletehello Eva,thank you for visiting my blog... A.
ReplyDeleteThe whale photo is amazing and you should be proud of it.
ReplyDeleteYour plants look so healthy, and I'm very impressed by your fern - mine all seem to end up brown at the edges and I've given up trying to grow them. Might have another go at growing a Devil's Ivy - I love the marbled leaves.
I have a reasonably sized garden, but it's very Mediterranean - just tile and gravel. Originally laid when we had three very energetic fairly large dogs, who loved to hare around at top speed. Most of the plants have been grown for hedging - Bougainvillea, Oleander, Hibiscus, Viburnum etc, and they have matured well over the 20 years since they were planted. Two years ago I planted a Passiflora with pink flowers, which has bolted away and been an absolute pleasure - so much so that a bird has nested and raised her chicks amongst the foliage!
Hi CG My family is really fed-up to with my whale photo or rather my constant bragging about it LOL! I think I have just been lucky with my fern I found just the right spot and as it loves water in all seasons I give it that! I would love to see a photo of the bird & chicks nesting among the Passiflora foliage. Food for thought I wonder if a Passiflora would do well on a balcony. I do need to get more flowers to grow there. A x
DeleteSadly I didn't take any photos of the bird and her chicks, I didn't want to disturb them, or the foliage, to get a better look. They've flown the nest now, and I'll leave it in place in the hope she might return next year.
DeleteThe Passiflora is beautiful but it's rampant - so I'd not really recommend it as a pot plant for your balcony.
Your whale photo is indeed amazing and it is truly a once in a life time photo. I love your plants, they make a great garden that takes a lot less time to tend to. Happy Weekend.
ReplyDeleteHello Mere, Thanks :-) The balcony garden isnt a real garden though! I would dearly like to have a little proper garden to sit in. :-) Thoroughly enjoyed your last post Mere! A x
DeleteGood Monday Morning! I'm a bit late to this post. I can't comment on my iPad, only the computer for some reason so I'm trying to catch up a bit this morning between unpacking boxes. It also gives my back a rest. Our house is a disaster area again with boxes everywhere. :-) Your plants are truly lovely. I also have a Peace Lilly that my sister just gave me. It's good to know I have to watch the watering. I tend to over-water too. I also have a Devil's Ivy, but I didn't know that was it's name!
ReplyDeleteI hope you were well after your second shot of vaccine. It's good to know that you're fully vaccinated and ready to go.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
Hi Amanda, thanks for sharing your garden and plants within us, think you can claim it as your garden even if a complex
ReplyDeleteI smiled at the last two, here in Oz I’m always pulling out the rush one fern as well as other it grows with, and the devils ivy has a bad mate here too. Things you grow in pots totally take over here.
Love your header and to think you took it on your Oz visit.
Thanks for Sharing, God bless and keep you safe, and all those you love, hugs Shaz in Oz.x
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Rush one = Fishbone fern. Strange things happen I you type.
DeleteHello Shaz, Thank you for calling in :-) I remember being amazed at the size of my sister's plants in her patio in Hervey Bay. I was also amazed at the size of the crows too. Everything seems to be so much bigger there. I love OZ! A x
Delete