Clotted Cream Jasmine brings back memories of scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream teas in Cornwall

Hello there!

Being a big fan of scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream teas on holidays in Cornwall as a child  I couldn't resist this lovely climber.

I planted it last year and its doing really well. It has rich cream coloured flowers which are really special and a heavenly scent.  It flowers all summer, likes full sun and a sheltered site though its reasonably hardy. It can grow up to 16 feet tall and is a really posh looking plant!

In my garden its climbing up an iron arch I found in a skip and the idea is that it heads up the arch and into the almond tree above in a few years.

You can buy it from the Sarah Raven website.

Its also known as Devon Cream Jasmine in case you are having difficulty finding it.

Do look out for it.

Caroline
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To learn more about me and Caroline's Cottage Gardens please visit my website. https://sites.google.com/site/carolinescottagegardens/

Making a mini pond from a £1.49 washing up bowl found in Aldi- Bargain!

Hello, please excuse me for being so exited about this! Got to get pleasure where I can!

I've been looking at articles and thinking about making mini pond for ages. I've found the odd toad or frog in the garden over the years to my delight. Last year three of them were hiding under a plastic tray where I'd been watering pots for ages. They were all lined up underneath. I got quite fond of them!

I really want to encourage toads in the garden as the adults eat slugs and snails - something I have a big problem with particularly as I keep forgetting to hunt them down and relocate them!

I'd expected to have to pay quite a bit - having seen pictures of glamorous ceramic bowls.

However on my regular shopping trip to Aldi I found a rectangular washing up bowl in dark grey so cheap - about the price of a bag of frozen chips. Just the thing.

So once the snow has gone and the ground unfrozen I'll be out with my spade.

I plan to dig down so the rim is only just above the soil level. I then plant to surround it with some gravel,  stoneand cobbles I have left over from another project.

Then I need to use small logs or bricks or small rocks to build a ramp in and out of the "pond" to make sure nothing gets trapped in there such as hedgehogs.

I'll collect rainwater to fill it as apparently that is best.

I'm planning to site it in a shady border near the house which has some small shrubs in it which will provide cover. With a really small pond it can't be in full sun as it will get too hot according to my research.

Nearby I'm going to  make a toad or frog house. Apparently I need to make a hole about 30 cm deep and fill it with rocks and logs to make "corridors" for amphibians to hide in. I need to mound these up to be about 10 cm higher than the surrounding soil. I think I will then cover with something like a paving stone propped up on bricks to protect it further.

I have a shortlist of recommended plants though I can probably only fit one in. Rigid Hornwort or Water Milfoil or Marsh Marigold or Nymphae Pygmae.  Apparently these allow shade and cover and also places for emerging insects to sit.

My local garden centre sells aquatic plants but right now they all look dead and the water around them is frozen. I was advised its not the right time to buy! I tend to agree.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Take Care
Caroline
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To learn more about me and Caroline's Cottage Gardens please visit my website. https://sites.google.com/site/carolinescottagegardens/

Muscari Valerie Finnis

Hello!

Hope things are OK with you. Thanks for dropping by.

I found this beautiful pale grape hyacinth at Aldi in Huntingdon of all places. Its a delicate pale blue and highly scented. It was less than £2 too.

For the moment its in the glass cabinet in the porch but when flowering is over it will go into my Herb garden. Its a sunny spot with clay soil so as it needs to be well drained I'll mix some grit in when I plant it. It should go well with the evergreen leaves of the rosemary and lavender in early spring.

Hopefully it should spread happily there.

I really recommend it.

Love
Caroline
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To learn more about me and Caroline's Cottage Gardens please visit my website. https://sites.google.com/site/carolinescottagegardens/