I’m starting this post having finished breakfast, read some other blog posts and emails while all the time listening to the birds, which seem to be particularly noisy today. I’ve already seen a couple of bees and as I type these words, a noisy tui has just stopped for a moment on the camellia. It kind of makes you feel all is good in the world after all. Our bread has been delivered, so all that remains now is for me to get ready to go to Pilates in an hour. Anyway, thanks to The Propagator who encourages us to share what is going on in our gardens in all parts of the world. Check out the participant guide if you want to join in. Photos taken on Wednesday, Friday and early Saturday morning.
First up, dahlia news. The one that flowered last year for months, is showing signs of spring growth, an after a trip to the garden centre for more pots, I got three new ones planted out. All fingers and toes crossed….wish me luck!
Also at the garden centre, I picked up a new parsley plant to eventually replace the one that is about to go to seed, a lemon bergamot and a ‘thyme lemon variegated’ as it says on the label. Let’s see how these do.
It is now early afternoon…and over to the wild strawberry, where there are lots of flowers and also some fruits – I’ll be watching them eagle-eyed to try to get them before the birds! Actually, I bought the first ‘ordinary’ strawberries of the season today for a special treat.
So from new herbs to old herbs, with the sage and chive flowers still going strong (using the latter in salads), first flowers on the oregano (will use later for flavoured vinegar), and new growth on the leggy lemon verbena. I got the rue repotted, and now need to do something about the curry plants and a couple of others needing some care and attention.
What I call the second lavender bush which I bought at the end of last season, is now in full bloom. It has filled the pot, so might need moving soon. In the meantime, the gorgeous scented flowers are attracting bees, which can only be a good thing.
Finally, we came home at lunch time to find a new plant in the garden, the nigrum cattus. A plant that needs regular feeding, it is usually to be found curled up on a sofa.
Notes: yes that is a broken chair in the background, waiting to be disposed of, and yes that tall rosemary does need a new pot, a task for Sunday if the weather holds.
And now it is evening….and as usual, I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s beautiful gardens in other parts of the world. Hope you are all well and enjoying your gardens in whatever the season is with you.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. As for Twitter….am totally inactive these days. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com
Thistles and Kiwis 
Fingers are crossed for the dahlias. The foliage of the thyme is very pretty.
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I bought the thyme for exactly that reason!
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Your dahlias wake up when I lifted mine up the day before yesterday to overwinter them… do you usually take advantage of wild strawberries to eat a few? ( Love the new plant nigrum cattus 😂 ! )
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Yes I do try to eat the wild strawberries…but sometimes I get beaten to it! Nigrum cattus has decided to move indoors….
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Love the Cat in the Pot!
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I loved reading about your garden, and the care you give to plants.
I possible, please look at my blog and the posts Spring and Summer Im My Garden and Do Plants Have Intelligence?
Thank you.
Joanna
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Wish we still had a cattus in our garden! They are good value, in both summer and winter 😉
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Yes they are good value…if sometimes a little needy…
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Lovely herbs and unusual lavender. Don’t try watering your nigrum cattus, it won’t like it. 😉🤭
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No…we haven’t watered the nigrum cats…. 😀
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Love the cat! I used to have a black and white cat who, when young, loved to curl up in a pot – perhaps the soil was nice and warm. You should cut your tall rosemary back to make it bush out and also use the cuttings for new plants, they seem to propagate easily.
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I think a pot is just the right size and shape for a cat to curl up in. I will take your advice re the rosemary. Might even have a go today!
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Your cattus is pretty cute.
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We think so too!
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The kitty in the pot! A good crop there. Such a lovely herb tour. Thank you!
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and thank you for stopping by!
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Love the kitty. Lemon thyme is my favorite – never seen varigated?
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I’d never seen variegated lemon thyme either so thought I would give it a go.
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I had a chuckle over your new ‘plant’. Cats make themselves comfortable in the most amazing spaces. Lovely new herbs, particularly the variegated lemon thyme. It is lovely! Hope the dahlias thrive.
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Yes cats know exactly where they want to sleep! The thyme is really pretty so hope it and the dahlias thrive.
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Lovely to see Dahlias coming into growth just as I’m waiting for frost to see mine off. Hope it’s a good Dahlia year for you. 🤞
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Thanks!
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Good stuff You look prepared
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Believe in Laughter
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