I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few weeks now but spare time seems to be elusive and this handful of images, that I took in the last days of March, have been sitting on my camera waiting to see the light of day.
And actually, since taking these photographs, the garden has changed beyond all recognition.
Little buds have turned into fully formed flowers and when I went to put the chickens away last night — and actually took a minute to look around and spend a few minutes observing — it almost looks a million miles away from these images.
I love this time of year.
The garden is waking from it’s winter slumber and everything is stretching and yawning. The plants are really starting to come alive again.
Over the winter, you could be forgiven for thinking that a lot of them are dead. Then little by little, tiny green shoots begin to appear — amidst all the rotted, brown vegetation — and within (what feels like) days it’s a riot of colour.
Last year, around this time, I created a rainbow of colour using the plants that I found in our garden. We’re lucky enough that some clever soul had really put a lot of time and effort onto the planting in our garden.
A green-fingered owner or a gardener perhaps?
We’ve taken the mantle, with great delight, and are certainly endeavouring to preserve what we’ve inherited, whilst also making our own mark and adding to the mix.
I had planned, at the beginning of the year, to create a series of posts for our garden.
Almost to serve as a reminder, of what flowers when etc — a gardening calendar if you will — but as ever time speeds on, we’re a third of the way through the year and I’m only just sharing the photos I took more than a month ago.
But hey. I’ve finally done it. And the next update will — hopefully — be sooner rather than later.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
What a beautiful post full o f gorgeous photos! Sounds like you’re doing an amazing job with your garden (love the chickens’ names btw) and like you I love Spring when everything starts to wake up at The Barn too. Congrats on being shortlisted for the BiBs – you’ve got my vote! #HomeEtc
Thanks so much gorgeous girl — I’m SO happy that we seem to have turned a corner and spring seems to *finally* have given winter it’s marching orders. Incredible to think that we had snow here last week!! Hurray for sunshine!!!
PS — and thank you SO much!!!! You too lovely — the very best of luck. Will be holding thumbs for you xxxx
May is such a good month for beautiful flowers! Your garden is looking lovely. Thank you for including my instagram photo in this weeks link up too!
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Aah I totally agree — I LOVE this time of year! I used to be a massive fan of summer but I think spring is my very favourite season these days. I love all the new life — so beautiful :)
Beautiful pictures!
And I’m totally guilty of the same – snapping pictures and then them being almost out of date by the time I get around to doing anything with them. Ooops!
Karen x
#HomeETC
It’s SO annoying isn’t it?! My phone and camera are FULL of photos that I ‘forgot’!! Note to self: must try harder!! ;) x
I wish I could be green fingered. My talent lies in killing anything I ever try to grow! Beautiful colours. #homeetc
Haha!! You’re just like my best — she is RUBBISH with plants. I bought her a fake orchid a few years ago and she *almost* killed that ;)
Beautiful! I love the bluebell photos and the ones of the chickens! When we first moved to our home, I planned to photograph the garden from the same few spots every week so we could see what was and wasn’t working. Needless to say, life took over, and I didn’t do it! Monthly seems more achievable though. #HomeEtc
Maybe we should do it Naomi?! A monthly garden round up on HomeEtc?! That way I’d be more inclined to stick to my plan and write my garden updates more regularly! ;)
OK, you’re on! At least, I think I could do the summer months – hopefully we’ll get some sunshine and flowers!
Agree!! Let’s do it!! At least if I have someone to chivy me along, I’m more likely to do it!!! ;)
Gorgeous photos Caro! You certainly do have some beautiful plants, and hens too. I’d love if you did a series of posts to see more of your garden. Finding the time is tough though, isn’t it?
Aah I’ve been meaning do do a garden series for blooming AGES but never seem to have time. When my garden building is finished maybe ;)
What lovely pictures of your garden, and what a lovely garden to have to take these pictures! Looking forward to seeing your next update. Love the chickens, and their names. X #HomeEtc
Aaah thanks so much Jo. It’s the thing that really sold this house to us — so lovely to have a little garden to potter around in :)
You have such a lovely garden Caro and it has obviously been looked after for years before you moved in as it seems to have lots of nice established plants! Love catkins and bluebells, they remind me of being little. xx
Thanks chickie. It’s definitely what sold the house to us — how could I resist my very own secret garden? I always LOVED that book :)
Aww, lovely post. What fabulous pictures. I know exactly what you mean about the time just disappearing like that. Like you, I am planning to post a few little garden posts this year too, sort of like a little homage to my late mother in law, who I must admit, my garden is thoroughly missing also. She helped us turn our garden into something a little more than than the previous owners had, so it’s our wish to continue that on for her. But your garden sounds amazing, ours is pretty much just a modern square lawn with some borders, so I bet your beautiful cottage garden is looking amazing right now. Steph xxx
Thanks so much chickie. I had such good intentions for the new year but am struggling to complete every day tasks at the moment!! The garden is looking unkempt at the mo — although it still looks beautiful in an overgrown kind of way!! :)
These are such beautiful photos, Caro! I love signs of Spring – it is probably my favourite season. I particularly love the flower photos – they are stunning! What an incredible garden you must have :)
Mine too Sara — I absolutely love it. I’m a massive sun worshiper but I LOVE the new life and growth that spring brings us. It’s a magical season :) xx
You’re so lucky to take over an established garden. Ours was mud up until last year and we made a tentative step to plant a touch of colour. We really need to revisit it but, like you, time is so scarce at the mo and I’m not sure I have the energy for another project, this year.
Yep — I know, I’m so grateful for that — although it needs so much upkeep. At least with a patch of mud you don’t have anything to tend to!! Ours is looking so unkempt at the mo, as soon as this shed is built/finished the garden is next on the list for a bit of TLC! :)
Your garden is coming along so nicely. You will have to come and sort mine out for me when you are finished, I am not at all green fingered!! All I seem to manage to grow are weeds!! xxx
Thanks so much Kerry! You’re like one of my bests — she’s not green-fingered either! She’d kill a fake plant given half the chance ;)
Pearl and Sassy look lovely chicks, and the garden’s pretty fab too. Thanks for hosting #homeetc xx
Aaah they’re so lovely — sadly we lost Sass since those pics were taken :( She was fairly old — we think she’d got cancer. Poor old chook xx
Gorgeous garden and such an amazing variety and abundance of plants and life! Looks so pretty and I bet you love being in it :) Jess xx
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It’s really, really beautiful. I wish I had more time to dedicate to it at the mo!! Too much to do and so little time xx
Gorgeous pictures. I love this time of the year, the gardens always look great. I am not very green fingered but I love seeing all the variety of flowers growing on mine
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Thanks Elena — I must remember to get round to taking some pics for this month! We’re more than halfway through already!!
Such an inspiring post, I am the least green-fingered person ever but realise we are very fortunate to have a decent-sized garden space in London and I should make more of it. Love the pictures of your chickens too!! Xx
Thanks so much lovely!
Beautiful post, the photos you take are amazing! Thanks for sharing
Aah thanks so much Kyron!