25 meter hedge of Black Currant and Lilacs

Today it was a gorgeous and pleasant morning after a really freezing night.

Here is a view over my garden from the second floor, closest the "formal" garden with perennial flower beds and the little Cherry tree, to the left behind the barn are the half-shadow flowerbeds, mid-right is the Veggie paths and the border to the neighbor (to north east)

To protect the kitchen garden from the north-east winds did I decide to plant a tight Black Currant hedge (to also get the Berries off course).

Also to mark that it is a Kitchen garden with eatable plants, I already have Raspberries on the north border.

Putting down a line as a guidance and then it's just to start to dig! And Dig!

Rocks, Slagstone, Bricks, Roof tiles, Animal bones, China, Rusty nails, where to be taken up of this previous landfill and garbage dump. As it was in the old days, no communal garbage pick up, just dig it down!

36 Black Currant Plants down

and 48 Lilac plants along the rest of the border, from the kitchen garden and up to the furthest north border.

I discovered from above that there is more space for veggie paths to the right for next year :D

I'm happy with todays achievement

Cost: Nothing!

Black Currant cuttings from my own and others bushes

Lilac cuttings from our summer cottage

The last days the first Pelargonium flowers coming, always a special feeling after taking care of the plants over the winter

And first out is one of my absolute favorites, with no name. I bought it for many years ago as a regular Zonal Pelargonium from the nice flower people on Stor Torget in Gävle, Levins. So I simply call it the "Levin Pelargonium"

I love the colours, from pale green-cream over to brush strokes of peach-pink.

And is blooms forever, it's really a strong one

and so beautiful

Thank You all for checking in!

Have a great one, Per!

Back in My Garden for the Spring

Dear Friends, I'm back home in Sweden and my garden in the region of Uppland!

After 3 months working in the sun I was excited to see how far the spring had come in my garden :)

There is still snow around even if it's disappear quickly in warmish degrees and rain. Could be deceiving though, it's actually a month early, at least!

My Street is still having some snow, but I feel the excitement over the spring seeing green patches here and there

The entrance to my house are snowfree more or less

 My stream are open and it will be exciting to see how high the water will go in the spring since I plan to plant  some Lillies along the edge and don't want to do it too far down

The "New Dawn" Rose is too early and need some more covering, also to be protected from the coming strong "Spring sun"

Also the "Ilse Krohn" Rose need more protection

Here is the "Barn" looking towards the upcoming Shadow Garden & Kitchen Garden, in front is the new Perennial flower bed I made in the late fall

My Perennial flower bed is full of Spring bulbs, some of them eager to come up

 In the Shadow flower bed under my kitchen window The Japanese Mahonia Fern never lost it's green under the snow, fascinating

In my Kitchen garden the Garlic from Gourmetgarage surprised me, probaly will need covering as well

It's now easier to see and plan my Shadow Garden when the entrance isn't covered with Nettles

The Shadow Garden is a long haul project that will take years, but it's good to see where the water comes in the spring, so I can see where the different plants could go.

Seeing this, I also realize where the Mosqitos will thrive :(

My view from the kitchen window (where the beautiful Orchid I got as a moving in gift from my parents survived 3 months without water ;D )

Up in the Guest room, now serving as a overwintering room for my Geraniums, Fuschias, Olive tree, Walnut tree & more, getting bright light from the skylights towards north and a temperature of +8-10C

Today all the stored mail came from the post office, I ripped up the Garden Magazine and brewed fresh coffee for my favorite moment: FIKA

On the way home to Sweden did I pass through Amsterdam Airport and took the oportunity to stock up on bulbs and seeds :D

The "White Elegance" selection contained: Dahlia Playa Blanca, Liatris floristan Alba, Freesia Single White, Anemone Bride & Gladiolus White Prosperity

The Blue "Mix&Match" Collection have: Dahlia Blue Boy, Ranunculus White, Gladiolus Blue Frost & Anemone Coronaria Mr Fokker (haha)

I also found seeds for a favorite, the Architectural Eryngium "Miss Willmotts Ghost.

An exciting time is coming up, and I'm so glad to live in a area where the spring is very long and fun :D

Enjoy, I do!

Pondering a Pond

Back home at Leufsta 3 South after my trip to New York!

Since I did visit my friend Hannu Sarenström's beautiful garden last year have I got fascinated by Grove Gardens in Swedish called LUND! With this in mind have I ogled towards north in my garden where there is a djungle of Nettles/Brännässlor, and beyond them a little meadow.

The neighbor told me that the meadow sometimes floods in the spring, and I started to Pondering a Pond, with a surrounding Grove Garden off course :D

It will not happen anytime soon, I will leave it a year to see how the area behaves during the summer.

In the lower right is the beginning of my Kitchen garden and beyond the jungle of Nettles are the Grove.

Beyond those Nettles is a beautiful shaddow area, and next summer will I keep those Nettles down with a Brush Cutter to be able to study the behaviour of the area.

Looking back at my house / I made a path to the lower area

Down in the Grove, I have been dumping excess Maple leafs there

Looking back at my house, I love that shaddow under the tree

Under the tree I will probably put a bench where one can sit in the shadow and look back at the house, barn and garden.

Here shown now, and a couple of weeks ago, check those Nettles out

The green evidence of some wet ground looks promising for maybe a natural pond in the future

Evidence of less fun nature, the previous renter of the property have been feeding the Venisons in the area during the winter. There is still a Salt Stone here and a feeding table.

The Venison have been decreasing due to the increase of Lynx in the area, so it is a great thought, but not so fun for mine and others gardens in the area. It has to go!

Tomorrow I will show photos I took in Hannu's Grove Garden/Lund last year and You will understand my excitement!

Now I'm off to enjoy the fantastic unusual sunny and warm autumn weather with my camera, have a great day, Per!

Speedy delivery & Luxury Hotel for Pelargoniums

WOW, I ordered Red Garlic from Anna at GourmetGarage yesterday, and less than 24 hours later they are in the soil :D

Time to prepare winter for the Pelargoniums/Geraniums and other plants! I have a beautiful guestroom with skylights that I will not use this winter, so that will be their hotel for the winter, with the heater turned off it will be perfect!

Thank You Anna :D

Another Veggie patch fixed, again in the size of a pallet collar, my Kitchen garden extending :D

Red Garlic in the ground :D

My Olive tree have had it's necessary frost and are ready to come in for the winter, as well as all my Pelargoniums/Geraniums and the Walnut tree.

I prepared the guest room for them, with no heat this winter and it will keep +5-10C and the skylights will give them light (northfacing).

Since all flower have to be picked off, did I put them in blue vases in my kitchen window

Have a great day/evening, Per!

The last plant in the soil, but not the last leaf on the ground

So it was high time to put the last plant in the soil before the frost are here next week, and it's another favorite: Black Currant!

Something seems to never end, the falling of leaves from my Maple for example!

So, it's time to extend my "Kitchen" garden. Next to yesterdays Rhubarbs did I make a same size patch (Pallet Collar/Pallkrage size).

One small Patch equal One bucket of Rocks. Lot of them in this part of the garden.

This will be the place of my Black Currant "Polar Ribes" a extra hardy and healty sort.

And down :D

It's always time for Fika/Coffee break, so I bought a large Pump thermos, in that way I don't need to go in to the house for coffee :D

Remember my stunning Maple by the entrance a couple of days ago?

Today it looks like this, still beautiful, but where are the leaves?

It's here! On my Driveway, again. I already took it away twice!

3rd time is a charm, and this is hopefully the last time for this year!

Check out the neighbor in the end of the road, not a leaf! I saw them go and handpick them with a little bucket today, their property is spotless, I have a feeling that my garden never will look like that.

Have a great day/evening, Per!