Yesterday afternoon I was late for the school run. My usual 3pm amble along the canal side turned literally into a run as I attempted to condense the 12 minute journey into 7 minutes. I ended up arriving at the school gates just as the first children were coming out so I wasn't technically unforgivably late, but I was very red in the face and knackered, and felt bad all the same.
And the reason for my lateness?? Violas that's what.
To be more specific, Viola Magnifico, the most delightful, cheery little five petalled flowers that ever existed. Just look at that prettiness, that cuteness, the sheer downright cheekiness of that little flower face! It had me so enraptured I lost track of time.
Yes, yesterday afternoon saw me doing a spot of gardening, and thoroughly enjoyable it was too. Nothing too arduous you understand, just a little pottering around in the afternoon sunshine, playing with flowers and moss and compost.
I decided that the time had finally come to tackle the Hanging Baskets at the front of the house. They were a total, utter disgrace. Put it this way :: if J comments on how bad something looks (and he has a reputation for never noticing anything gardeny), then I know they are really, really bad. They were bad when we moved in to the Attic24 house last winter. I distinctly remember noticing them when we viewed the house, thinking how uncared for they looked. And then when we bought the house and they became my hanging baskets, I had all sorts of plans to pretty them up. But typical of me, it only ever got so far as the planning stage. I failed to plant them in the spring with the intended pretty bulbs and then failed again in the summer to fill them with colourful summer annuals.
So during the past few days when I've been shopping, I've accompanied my fruit and veg buying with pots of pretty violas, cyclamen and ivy. I already had the moss and compost, purchased in the Spring when Good Intentions were rife.
I'm almost too embarrassed to show you the baskets that have been adorning house number 24 for the past 10 months.
Please don't think bad of me if I show you?
Ok, here goes ::
Well what can I say, except that they were the work of the previous house owner.
And I should never have left them hanging there looking so forlorn and sad for so long.
And now I fully intend to have seasonal hanging baskets to be proud of.
Wanna see how it turned out?
Quite cute eh?
And this poor, sad, neglected wall basket with a few straggly nasturtiums in it, looked over by White Bird....
....now prettied for Autumn.
And this is the third basket hanging right at eye level next to the front door. This morning I really enjoyed the surprise of seeing it when I stepped out, as I had temporarily forgotten my gardening efforts of yesterday. My memory is seriously shot through I tell you.
I just love those violas so much.
Love 'em to bits.
ps. before I forget to mention :: I LOVED all the shopping trolley opinions yesterday, oh I really loved reading your comments so very very much. Thank you for taking the time and effort to let me know your thoughts. Seems the opinion is overwhelmingly in favour, so I could soon be TRoLLiEd, I'll keep you posted!
xxxx
Love your hanging baskets, very pretty x
Posted by: Cathy | April 05, 2017 at 04:58 PM
Be careful with Morning Glory pet, they look lovely but look them up on internet, they are apparently poisonous.
Posted by: Pam Richardson | November 07, 2013 at 09:44 PM
Even in autumn, your flowers are still fascinating to the eyes, especially the violas and the hanging variants. I'd love to pick some of them and put them in our garden to spread the purple magic.
Posted by: Jamie Keifer | January 12, 2012 at 01:19 PM
Hey Lucy,awesome autumn flowers and your garden.You are working very hard for your garden.Keep good work and keep us updated.
Posted by: Hydroponic Gardening | June 17, 2011 at 07:00 AM
those flowers are really gorgeous!i like the blue color of the second picture,the dark blue color around it's petal,the white and yellowish color of it,they are created perfect!nice shots,I like your post!
chris
Posted by: Flower shops Philippines | August 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Awesome pictures !! I love autumn flowers.
Posted by: Bob Wheat | October 22, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Yes a fun w/end and come and join me in the fab 40s its fantastic :-) I have spent all morning doing my back garden mowing weeding etc and tom is the fun part doing winter flowers ahhhh wonderful. anyway happy birthday hunnie xxx
Posted by: Lisa | October 10, 2008 at 12:15 PM
oh Happy Birthday for Sunday as well !! make it a good one :-)
Lesley x
Posted by: Lesley | October 10, 2008 at 10:16 AM
thanks for your comment - your beauty regime works well for you - you look gorgeous on that post with your picture on it :-) just shows less is more :-) I have just spent a ridiculous amount of money on hanging baskets and the wrought iron hangers to put them on because of your post yesterday LOL. I did cheat though and get ready done ones !
Lesley x
Posted by: Lesley | October 10, 2008 at 10:14 AM
O what magnificent violas. They are almost translucent in their colouring. Our creator is truly the master painter! Cherrie
Posted by: cherrie | October 09, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Wonderful photos.
Wonderful flowers.
Love them
Posted by: Sandie | October 09, 2008 at 08:02 PM
oh what lovely baskets well done :-) i love cyclamen flowers. Lesley x
Posted by: Lesley | October 09, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Beautiful flowers.
Posted by: Daisy Steiner | October 09, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Really shouldn't be commenting on here at tea-time but it's been one of *those* days....just wanted to say love your baskets.
Mine never look right so I cheated and bought a nice autumnal one from Homebase (in my defence it worked out cheaper and was on sale...).
Thanks for all your lovely comments on my blog yesterday, that's where I'm a Lazy Blogger, it's usually all I can manage to write and upload let alone comment..(obviously trying to mend my ways!).
Posted by: Mrs Be | October 09, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Oh, Lucy, you did a fabulous job with those flowers. My gardening heart loves those closeup photos of the violas. They are breathtakingly beautiful!
Posted by: cathleen | October 09, 2008 at 05:13 PM