Gardening & in the Greenhouse

The Gardening season.

I get so excited about watching the progress of my carefully planted seeds sprouting from bare earth into tiny green shoots. I like to go out early in the morning and check to see if anything has changed or grown since the night before. Its so much fun to watch the seedlings grow through their different stages into ripened fruit & vegetables. It's such a rewarding feeling when the fresh produce is ready to pick and enjoy!


  This morning I was hoping for the heatwave to continue in order to ripen my tomatoes, they are forming beautifully although not turning the lovely sweet orange colour just yet

The sooner you eat a ripe Tomato after it has been picked the better it will taste. The leafy tops are a good sign of freshness, they should be perky rather than wilted. Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant Lycopene .

Other vegetables growing in my garden at the moment and looking delicious

Little Gem lettuces 

Peas or Mange-tout if you wish to pick these early

Spinach

Spinach is well know for it's nutritional qualities and has been always regarded as a plant with remarkable abilities to restore energy, increase vitality and improve the quality of the blood.

Growing your own 5 a day has many health benefits

* It helps you eat more fresh fruit & vegetables

*You decide what kind of fertilizers & pesticides come in contact with your food

*It lets you control when to harvest your food. Vegetables that ripen in the garden have more nutrients than some shop brought vegetables that must be picked early.

I have got to add another photo of my roses are they are looking lovely in full summer bloom and the scent down the garden path is exquisite! 

David Austin Roses

The smell?

There are five English rose fragrances, according to David Austin Roses.

 http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/advanced.asp

 A summary:

Myrrh: An aromatic, aniselike scent; among roses it's found almost exclusively in English roses.

Fruity: Because the rose is related to apricots, pears, apples, strawberries and others, fruity notes often surface.

Musk: A romantic scent, it often comes from the flower's stamens. People are especially sensitive to the scent.

Old rose: The classic rose fragrance, it's found almost exclusively in pink and red roses.

Tea rose: A strong scent — like that of fresh tea — that often dominates a flower. Other fragrances can become evident over time.

Thank you x