P.S.

Dearest Ruby,
        Well Ruby, we are coming to the end of our colourful gardening season. We are still going to continue to have so much fun in your garden as we welcome new seasons in and come up with fresh ideas. A garden never stands still and neither will we!

        It's not really a 'Goodbye' because we have shown just how much joy your garden can bring and all that we do besides. One day I will give you this record of our times shared together in the Spring and Summer of 2014. I expect your little garden will be unrecognizable in years to come as you will grow with it, and it will adapt to grow your favourite flowers and other shrubs will become established. I hope you will hold some precious memories and go on to enjoy your own creative and fun ideas.
        I won't be far behind though, encouraging you and helping you, with all those little tasks and following through with your artistic flare. We will have such fun together.
        I hope you enjoy reading all your 'Letters from Nana' in this blog, and seeing the pictures of when you were small.

 

'When you were small.'

Amazing Baby Memories

 

 

This will help you remember.

 

Love and hugs,    Nana x

    

     

Feed the Birds

Dearest Ruby,
         It's late summer now, approaching Autumn, but still with plenty of sunshine around.

There isn't so much to do out in your garden. We've been deadheading the Cosmos to keep it flowering as long as possible and the 'Ruby Rose' too.

         So, our attention has turned to looking out for the birds !

 

I found I have some bird seed...

You took some in your hand but you couldn't reach the feeder to put it in the saucer.

 



 

So you put the seed on the lid of the box instead.

 

Then I tipped it onto the saucer.

 

There we are!

We'll add a fat ball when the days get colder because really there is plenty of insects and autumn berries for them still to eat from the garden.

They will get to know it's there though.

 

Indoors we have made a pudding for your tea, Chocolate Crackolat, a good old family favourite.

 

 

Umm! Well done Ruby... one of your first attempts to feed yourself unaided. Look at Grandad sitting back so relaxed.

 

It takes some concentration...

 

to keep it on the spoon.

 

 

Pop it in....

 

...and come back for more,

 because that's a big pudding to get through.

I'll help you eat it, but I think some will find it's way home for you to guzzle later.

 

 

Love and hugs,    Nana x

 

 

 

Spring Bulbs

Dearest Ruby,
        What has Nana been up to in your garden this week?!!  All you can see are funny holes all in the lawn.

 

   Well Ruby, hopefully next spring you will be amazed at the fine display of spring flowers you will see through from February to June! I have planted all of 203 bulbs.

I've listed them here for future reference, because we will soon forget what I planted, but I will keep you guessing as to where. ;-)

 

25 single Snowdrops expected to flower February/March  4" high

60 Ruby Giant Crocus .... February/March  3"

8 fragrant dwarf Iris Reticulata 'Katherine Hodgkin' .... February/March  5"

35 Minnow Narcissi .... March/April  10"

10 Little Gem Narcissus ....March/April  8"

20 Angelique Tulips .... April/May  18"

30 Snake's Head Fritillaria .... April/May  8"

15 Purple Sensation Allium .... May/June  36"

 



 

I was particularly pleased to find the crocus' are called 'Ruby', even though they are a definite purple! No surprises here, I have planted them randomly in the lawn. You throw the bulbs out and dig each one a hole just where they land.

The grass will soon grow over the holes and then we will wait on into the new year to see the results of all that hard work.

 

 

Love and hugs,   Nana x



Nana Gwen's Posy

Dearest Ruby,
        As you know, Nana Gwen has been staying with Grandad and me over the weekend. We have had such a nice time. She loves to hear all about you and was looking forward to you coming for tea on Sunday afternoon.
        When you arrived, you and I went out into your garden to pick a posy of flowers for you to give to her.

 

You thought these marigolds would be best.

 

 

Yes, I've picked a few there...

 

Nana's put them in a little vase for me...

 

and placed them neatly by the chocolate cake, my Mummy's favourite!

 

 

I'm chatting away to Nana Gwen in the other room.

 

Later Nana put the flowers on the bookcase next to the robin, so that they could be enjoyed and appreciated all week...

and they were too!!

 

Love and hugs,   Nana x

Taking Cuttings.

Dearest Ruby,
         Today Grandad, Nana Gwen and I have been to the garden centre and bought a couple of 'end-of-season' geraniums. They were going for a song at £1 each and what better way to multiply them than to take cuttings.

 

 I have some at home growing in pots on the patio, but adding to these will give us more variety.

We have our rooting powder and potting compost at the ready to give us the best chance of this working!



Also we have a self-seeded Buddlia growing in quite the wrong place, so I've taken a couple of cuttings.

 

I'm into the swing of it now, so I've also taken some cuttings of the Lavender.

 

We've placed them in your mini-greenhouse -

All in the hope of bringing some more colour and fragrance into your garden Ruby next year.

 

Love and hugs,   Nana x

Garden Tools

Dearest Ruby,
        Today is what makes it all worthwhile, seeing you take delight in your garden and even asking to go out there, albeit very early in the morning!
        What caught your interest was a little set of garden tools, all ready for you to open out of its packaging.

 

umm, not so easy...

 

 

I need some help...

 

I'm trying again.

Nana suggests I put the tools in my bucket

 

This is a good idea.

 

 

Now out in the garden, I am inspecting the flowers first...

 

 

before getting down to real work.

 

umm, (my thoughtful look), these tools have faces on their handles!

 

Nana is teaching me how to rake up the leaves.

What is this? - a trowel.

 



        A little while ago I bought you this Ruby, a kneeler for when you are weeding. You loved the Bunny Rabbit and took great interest in his eyes and nose and mouth. Not to mention those big ears! Perhaps because we love to sing, 'Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes....'

 





 

Back in the garden...

 

See Nana, I am almost getting the hang of using it !

 

 

Here I am , digging in Grandad's soil bed. It looks like he could do with my help.

 

 

I love being out in my garden, even when I felt a spot of rain. I love digging and raking and collecting the leaves up in my bucket. But, I don't much like actually getting dirty. I brush any dirt off my hands straight away.

 

Well Ruby, the sky has come over all dark, maybe more rain on the way. Shall we go indoors again now. You have done so well.



 

Love and hugs,   Nana x

 

Nana's Notebook

Dearest Ruby,
        I wondered if you would like to see that I keep a notebook especially for anything and everything to do with your garden.

 

I keep it on my table, nearby where I work

...and if you were to take a peek you would see ideas and sketches that I scribble down

 



 

...and notes that I take to refer to later.

 

Even patterns, colour swatches and pictures from magazines could find their way into the pages to keep inspiration coming.

 

I thought I was running out of ideas until I started to jot them down and then they just kept on flowing!

 

Some things we can look forward to doing together.

 

 

Some things are what you might call 'Armchair Gardening' and have to wait for the appropriate season before we plant, sow or reap.

 

 Some things I have in mind to make for you - You might call them 'Craft Makes'

 

 

 ...but it all means that thoughts are kept fresh and alive, to take us into another week, another month or even another season.

All is kept in mind to collect for and gather materials  together.

 

So Ruby, there might be gaps in our calendar when we don't appear to be doing very much but your own special garden is never far from my mind.

I think perhaps I better go and mow the lawn now, do a bit of weeding and stop daydreaming ...

 

 

Love and hugs,   Nana x