Columbine, the cottage gardeners favourite...........
Many years ago I used to visit an elderly lady. She had a dog called Cindy.
When she became ill, I used to walk her dog. To thank me she would make me a cup of tea and produce some home made cake.
Then we would take a very slow stroll around her cottage garden.
It was a pretty garden, and at this time of year would be full of Columbine.
Whenever I see this favourite cottage garden plant, I always think of her.
She was a sweet old lady and left me with some wonderful memories :)
I have quite a few of these plants in my garden, tough old plant, pull them out cut them back and they still manage to come back every year. Some have come out a nice pale pink this year. I like the one's in the third photo, the bees like them too.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
I love it when large bumblebees enter the flowers, they look like they are wearing a hat.....hence the name Granny's bonnet.
DeleteYou have some lovely colours there. I'm coveting a pale lemon one at the moment. Most of mine are self seeded run of the mill pink and purple ones but I do have a red and yellow McKenna Hybrid which I grew from seed.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo,
DeleteI had a lovely pale lemon one a few years ago.....I believe it was called dragonfly. Sadly it has disappeared and I did not collect seeds from it :(
Your columbine colors are so much more varied than mine. The Queen of Columbines in our garden is the native. She blooms and reproduces the best. I have had other columbines over time but none reproduce or last very long other than a whimpy white one that only gets about 10" tall. It is so nice that you have pleasant memories connected with your columbines.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa,
DeleteNatives are best :) My columbines change each year. I had a white one but that has long gone. They come, they go :)
Beautiful memories.....I loved her cottage garden.
What lovely memories of another time, another garden, and a dear sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, a lovely old lady ...........
DeleteMorning Cheryl
ReplyDeleteI don't need to tell you that I love these flowers as you have seen my post - they suit my style of gardening perfectly - one year they were so prolific that they were taking over the late spring garden and I pulled a lot out - the next year the garden looked bereft without them - so I am a bit more selective now.
Love the story of the sweet old lady - I used to do the same for an old gentleman neighbour of mine and he gave me snowdrop bulbs which always remind me of him.
It is a lovely morning here so I guess it will be another gardening day - hoping to put out some of my summer containers that have been waiting patiently in the greenhouse - fingers crossed, no more frosts.
Elaine
Good Afternoon Elaine,
DeleteLove the face you have a similar story but that it relates to an elderly gent.
Gardens are made of memories :)
I would miss columbines..........they fit in perfectly here, and never cease to bring a smile.
Beautiful day......I have been gardening for a few hours now. The greenhouse is emptied, the plants must face whatever mother nature throws at them :)
Have fun !!
Should read fact....Elaine, not face :)
DeleteLovely columbines. They give us such beauty and the hummingbirds adore them.
ReplyDeleteReally, I did not know that.....interesting. I do envy you your hummingbirds,
DeleteBeautiful flowers and such lovely colours.
ReplyDeleteVery interested in reading the story too. I always think that plants/flowers and so often their different scents can make them so extra special and evoke many special memories.
Hope your week is going well - hopefully we may enjoy some sunshine this bank holiday weekend.
All the best Jan
sweet story! lovely garden! perfect post
ReplyDeletexoxo, Juliana | PJ’ Happies :)
Flowers have such power to remind us of people and places, and fragrances can take us straight back in time. Aquilegia is such a lovely old fashioned cottage garden plant. It reminds me of my grandma who always had some in her garden.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how tastes change I think the hydrangea is making a come back with some folks. I used to think it a bit boring but now as I have grown older I appreciate its beauty more and more. I bought a reduced aquilegia about two weeks ago in the reduced section at B&Q for a pound it is a lovely granny bonnet type so shiny. Do you know if it will come true from seed? I will post a picture of it soon on my blog but really the camera does not capture the intensity of colour but that's probably because I don't use my camera well enough.
ReplyDelete