Flutterby Patch

Flower language

I've had this sweet little book for several years. It was compiled in Victorian times for the many people who regularly gave each other flowers. Each flower had a special meaning and this book lists each one in alphabetical order. In those days it was considered very important to give the flowers that conveyed just the right sentiment and so a copy of 'The Language of Flowers' was to be found in many households.

These little blue forget-me-nots represent 'true love' and also 'do not forget me'. It was a very popular little bloom to give at times of parting. 

By the end of the Victorian era greetings cards were widely available and depicted many popular flowers. I have a small collection of Victorian and Edwardian greetings cards in an old scrap book so I'd like to share some with you.

The Victorians loved pansies and the meaning associated with them was 'thoughts' which was the perfect sentiment for numerous occasions.

An idyllic little scene like this one, framed by pansies, could be found on many cards

 Violets were loved also, particularly the scented variety.

Here is a little card depicting violets which represented 'faithfulness'

I don't have a card illustrating blue periwinkles ('early friendship') but have several with ivy designs.

Ivy was popular for wedding cards as it was associated with 'fidelity'.

Apple blossom represented 'preference'

I'm not sure if this is apple or almond blossom but I wanted to show you the card as its one of the prettiest in the collection. It's so delicate and I love the way it opens.

A great many Victorian and Edwardian cards depicted blue birds. I wonder why? The image makes me think of the sentimental wartime song 'There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover' and so I guess blue birds represent love and freedom. Does anyone have any other ideas?

'The Language of the Flowers' has been reprinted in hundreds of formats over the years. I have an illustrated version by Kate Greenaway which I'm very fond of (see above).
 
Pretty cards like the ones I've shown you are no longer widely available but happily many clever and creative people are producing wonderful greetings cards for us to buy for our friends and family. My blogging chum Maggie at Sweet Scarlett is producing the most gorgeous little 'Lucky Penny Books' to carry sentiments and good wishes for special occasions. They are absolutely gorgeous and available in her Etsy shop so do take a look.

Until next time
Eli

More dolls and gardening

Its been a busy week and when the sun shone I was temped into the garden (more of that in a minute). During a day of dismal drizzle I managed to finish my two little pincushion ladies. Like dolly sixpence each started life as a humble wooden peg. I sculpted little heads and arms and then dressed each lady in a softly padded, fibre-filled skirt to act as a pincushion and they've turned out really well. You will be able to find them both in my Flutterby shop.

Pincushion lady wearing pink and white

Pincushion lady in darker shades

Well, I promised you a little look at what has been going on in the garden this week so here goes...

This photo was taken this morning whilst we were sitting under a blanket of low cloud. Annoyingly it seems the rest of England was bathed in sunshine but that is the penalty we pay for living in a mountainous region.

This is one area where I've been busy working. It's the entrance to a little rocky place we call the 'fairy dell'. Because we had such a wet summer last year (and the year before) it has been left to its own devices and has consequently become very overgrown with brambles and ivy. I hacked my way through the undergrowth, on though the arch of trees and there before me I found an old friend.

Peering out from behind a rock and below an azalea bush was my friendly old gnome. I don't think he's seen a human face for a couple of years so tomorrow (weather permitting) I will take him out and spruce him up before rearranging his hiding place and making him more comfortable.

This is the view he gets from beneath the bushes.

And this is his view in the other direction. The large pink rhododendron is 'Rhododendron Loderi '. I can't begin to describe what a wonderful perfume it has. If you are considering buying just one rhododendron do please consider this one. There are several named Loderi cultivars and they are all strongly scented.

Here is a close-up view. It's pink in bud and slowly fades to white when open. We have three of these bushes and for the the next few weeks they will scent the entire garden. Wonderful!

For one reason or another we often have lengths of hose pipe snaking their way round the terrace. Sometimes they are a sign of plant irrigation during dry weather but not so today. We'll follow the hose.

One end leads to the tap and the other into a watering can.

And here is the reason...yet another path is being dug up and relayed. As you may know my husband enjoys 'fixing' paths and walls so this little project has kept him busy all week. The stone slabs had become very uneven so his hard work is much appreciated and he's doing a very good job.

My garden tour ends beside our old oak tree where a scarlet rhododendron is flowering its heart out. I'm pleased to see the oak is covered in fresh young leaves whilst the ash tree nearby has no leaves at all. Why am I pleased? Because in Britain we have old 'weather lore' sayings like this one.

Oak before ash, in for a splash.
Ash before oak, in for a soak.

I hope it proves true as we don't need another soaking summer like the last one. A 'splash' would be much more welcome.

Time to take a mug of tea to the workman laying the path!

Until next time

Eli

Sunshine and garden days

I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter. Here in England's Lake Country I'm happy to say we were blessed with blue skies and wall to wall sunshine.The garden beckoned and was a peaceful haven to spend time unwinding and make plans for the growing season ahead.

The blooms on the large magnolia tree always look wonderful against a blue April sky.

The delicate blossom on the blackthorn hides the sharp thorns on the twigs beneath. I don't like to tangle with this bush but small birds love the protection it gives them.  

We currently have carpets of wood anemones at the edge of the garden. They are also known as windflowers and sometimes 'woodland ghosts' which I think is a wonderful name. We feel very honoured to have them as they indicate that our garden was once ancient woodland.

Another delicate little flower that we treasure is the snake's head fritillary with its chequered bell shaped blooms. We have them in purple and white. This native British wild flower was once found in abundance but due to modern farming methods it is now quite rare. It likes damp places so must feel at home in our garden!

It pleases me greatly to see my daughter enjoying gardening. She has a splendid little plot of her own in the house where she lives and her plants always look healthy and well cared for. She loves to grow things from seed so when she came to spend a few days with us over Easter she brought all her trays of seedlings with her as they wouldn't have survived 'home alone'. They spent Easter on the bench in our greenhouse.

Plant pots neatly stacked are always a tell-tale sign that my daughter has spent time here. She loves to arrange things in an orderly fashion.

Floor swept and tools in a row, she's been a 'willing little helper' since being very young.

Whilst moving some old wooden boxes she found this little creature nervously hiding out of sight.

Its a baby newt that probably over-wintered in the greenhouse. He was the length of a little finger.

My daughter hurriedly fetched her camera and managed to captured the little fellow as he uncurled and set off to look for pastures new. At this point he was given a helping hand by my husband who placed him beside our garden pond near a heap of stones where he no doubt found shelter and hopefully some friends.

Sadly today the Easter skies that were the colour of these little forget-me-nots are no longer with us. The wind is chill and there's rain in the air and so I'm back indoors finishing a project I've been working on for a few weeks. Hopefully I will have something to show you next time but meanwhile I will leave you with this picture that might give you a little clue.

!!!

Until next time,
Eli