I’m definitely no florist but i do love to grow roses and am going to make a concerted effort to bring more of them indoors this year. Rain is coming, and I’ve just finished a morning of very boring cleaning, so it felt like a good time to pick a bouquet. This squat green vase is one of my favourites but tricky to use. I’ve tried a cross-cross of sticky tape to keep the blooms upright-ish. Head on over to @berrydistrictgardenclub to see the end result 🌹 #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #roses #autumngarden #inmygarden
Garlic Planting Day 🧄🧄🧄 The garlic from Poppy’s Patch over the past couple of years has been an abysmal failure 👎🏽 Following on from good crops previously, I became too fast and loose in my approach, and pretty much made every mistake in the book, like 🧄planting too early 🧄failing to crop rotate 🧄not preparing the soil 🧄overcrowding 🧄planting all the cloves, including the tiny ones (see overcrowding) 🧄overwatering (though, to be fair, this was on Mother Nature 🌨️) I could go on, but you get the picture. So, this year, I’ve chosen the fattest bulbs I could find (bog standard “Purple”, which suits this space) and a smallish Spanish Rojo Castro (because I couldn’t help being a bit fancy 😂) The plumpest cloves are being soaked in 1.9L water mixed with 2tsp seasol and 2tsp bicarb for 6hrs or so. Then I’ll dunk them in gin for 20min (since going WFPB, I rarely drink, so this seems like the best use for the Tanqueray 🍸). The soil’s been prepped with compost, and rock minerals, and I’ll space them 15cm apart, 5cm deep. It’s raining as I write this, but the process has begun, so hopefully we don’t get a rain bomb, and these babies will be off to their best start 🤞 #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #garlic #kitchengarden
Summertime in Poppy’s Patch ☀️ #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #vegetablegarden #inmygarden
Shining like beacons on such a dreary day! #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #inmygarden #rosegarden
Some of the roses are looking a bit parched and hungry (not you, Olivia), so they’re all getting fed and watered today #rosegarden #davidaustin #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #inmygarden #summertime
Libby’s @libloublue dislikes English Box. Weird, in know! Anyway she kindly gifted me a couple of unwanted cones recently. This is my first attempt at a spiral. It’s going to need a lot of refinement over time, but I can see it taking shape, and love the height at the front door. Thanks Libby! Now, to cloud prune the other one #buxus #topiary #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Getting my Christmas bake on… Fruit Loaf 150g sugar 150g raisins 150g currants 1tsp cinnamon 1tsp ginger 1tsp cloves 1/4tsp nutmeg 85g coconut oil Pinch salt 300ml water Combine and boil for 3min then let cool Stir in 300g plain flour 1tsp bicarb 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 cup mixed peel 1/2 cup walnuts Pour into loaf tin, and top with glacé cherries and walnuts. Bake at 175 deg Celsius for 60-70min #berrycottagegardener #berrynsw
To honour my garden now feeling a whole lot more cottage-y (and if you look closely, I even have the hoop plant supports to prove it) I’m going back to my Insta roots #berrycottagegardener 🌸 #berrynsw #cottagegarden #summeroutfit
🌟ONLY THREE DAYS TO GO🌟 ☀️The sun is shining 🌈The forecast is looking fabulous 🌸Our gardens are bursting to life 💚 We cannot wait to throw open the gates and welcome you back to the Berry Gardens Festival, October 13-16 📌Tickets available at all gates, we have eftpos 💞All proceeds go to charities #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #opengarden #berrygardensfestival @berrydistrictgardenclub
Hi! It’s still Basil and me, just time for a name change #berrycottagegardener 💜
Marking three years of growth. For both me and the courtyard! 💚 #berrynsw #inmygarden #berrycottagegardener #transformation #gardenmakeover
Latest crush. Cyclamen 💕 #woodlandgarden #cyclamen #cottagegarden #beerynsw #berrycottagegardener
So excited to see the first frilly flower on my newly planted passionfruit vine, as it’s an integral part of my pavlova patch! I made the mistake of planting grafted varieties around my shed when I first moved in...twelve years later, I’m still pulling up those suckers. So this is seed grown “Nelly Kelly” and I’m hoping it will be much better behaved! #passionfruit #kitchengarden #berrycottagegardener #berrynsw #inmygarden
I’m commissioning a family friend to paint portraits of Poppy and Basil 🐶 Selecting the perfect picture of my beautiful Poppy was easy, as she sat serenely in a bed of violets 💜 Basil is proving a little trickier. The artist has already rejected a couple of my proposals, saying the perspective is all wrong, as they’re looking up Basil’s nose. I’ve reviewed a few shots from this morning and, IDK, maybe she has a point 😂 #beagle #sweetbasil #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
So hectic on the roads around Berry. I’m happy to stay home sweet home 💕 #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
While my ever-growing collection of tulip bulbs are channeling a Dutch late autumn in the bottom of my fridge, these beauties are going in today. 🌷 I’m planting the dwarf iris in these cute terracotta pots, while the alliums will join the Purple Rain from last year. They will be under a cloche, as, given the price, they shall not be used by Basil as marbles 🙄 #bulbs #bulbplanting #autumngarden #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Basil, repeat after me, “This is not a hula hoop” 🙄 #topiary #gardeningwithdogs #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
The Dutch may use these trays to dry bulbs🌷 but here in Australia, they are perfect for storing macadamia nuts 🥜 These sit high up in my study, alongside my childhood teddy, as Basil would claim all as his chew toys!🐶 #macadamia #dryingtrays #vintage #treasures #homegrown #harvest #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
I’m not listening, but go on #beagle #beaglesofinstagram #sweetbasil #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Rain. Incoming. #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #windflower #japaneseanenomes
I was gifted this basket my my lovely neighbour. It’s perfect for collecting macadamia nuts and keeping them safe from Basil’s jaws 😂 #macadamia #harvest #berrynsw #homegrown #berrycottagegardener
Must remember to focus on the roses, not the stakes 😂 #standardroses #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Following an afternoon of frankly unhelpful behaviour, Basil has found his new favourite spot 🐶 #sweetbasil #beagle #beaglesofinstagram #cottagegarden #gardeningwithdogs #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
360 degree view from the breakfast bar at Violet Cottage ☕️🥞🌻 PS the crunching you may hear over the water features is not me eating vegemite on toast, it’s Basil cracking macadamia nuts 🙄 #cottagegarden #whitepicketfence #roses #buxus #gardeningaustralia #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Deadheading in thongs this afternoon. Probably not the best move, but I got out relatively unscathed #delbard #rose #flowergarden #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Today I bought two of these standard beauties 🌹 Where they’ll go, nobody knows! 🤷♀️ I think one of the big factors that’s put me off planting standard roses until now was the ugly stakes often used to support them 🙈 I managed, however, to find some beautiful iron ones in a shop display ⭐️...Now to just magic up some space... #rose #davidaustinroses #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
The roses in the morning light 🌹 I’m usually fairly underwhelmed by the autumn flush in my garden, but after a kind summer, this season is shaping up to be a good one. If they’re lucky, I may even hold off pruning until July this year ✂️✂️✂️ #roses #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Poker face #sweetbasil #beaglesofinstagram #mansbestfriend #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
I can’t look at this without seeing crown of lamb 👑 #rose #roselover #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Belle parfume...such a beautiful compact rose with an incredible fragrance. One to add to your bare root rose order 📝 #delbardrose #belleparfume #inmygarden #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
The first day of Poppy’s Patch 2.0 💫 #kitchengarden #organicgarden #harvest #growyourown #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #fruitcage #blueberry
Inspired by my friends @brown_barrel @harris.ethel , here they are...blueberries in Poppy’s Patch, Round 2! 🫐🫐🫐🫐🫐 #blueberries #kitchengarden #vegiepatch #organicgardeningmag #gardeningaustralia #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #homegrown
Good morning sunshine 🌻 I’ll be working on this front deck later today, fixing some wire across it’s front to train Nahema 🌸 #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #countrygardens #buxus #roses #countrystyle
Sometimes the front door matches the jacaranda, sometimes the foxgloves 💜 #violetcottage #weatherboardcottage #mycountryhome #countrystyle #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Because every garden needs a bit of whimsy...may I present, Spitting Frog 🐸💚🐸💚🐸 see my stories for him in all his glory 😂 #waterfeature #whimsy #frogpond #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Glorious weather...maybe not for the school holidays, but certainly for gardeners 💦💦💦 #rainyday #gardeningaustralia #rosegarden #davidaustinroses #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Rainy day views. I might actually get some housework done. Or put another coat of paint on my purple front door. Or just drink coffee and eat chocolate cake, and appreciate how different the view is out my bathroom window to this time last year... #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #towngarden #gardeningaustralia
Happy 3rd birthday to the goodest of all good boys 🎉🎉🎉 #sweetbasil #beagle #beaglesofinstagram #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Summer in my backyard...the clatter of Basil’s dinner, running water and the ubiquitous cicadas! #berrynsw #towngarden #buxusballs #cercis #berrycottagegardener
Parfum de Paris. I think the fountain and I have finally struck the right balance between flow and splash and I am happy to report all the plants in its vicinity, including the buxus, are not drowning this summer #rose #rosegarden #waterfeature #fountain #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Someone is getting excited! #christmaseve #sweetbasil #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #beagle #beaglesofinstagram #theducksofberry
Totally not my idea of “pink” as labelled, but in the interests of being more open minded, I’ll allow this aquilegia in the rose garden. For now. #aquilegia #cottagegarden #berrycottagegardener #berrynsw
The angels are lining up for Christmas 😇 #angelfacerose #berrynsw #cottagegarden #inmygarden #berrycottagegardener #summergarden
Less than three weeks out, and the halls are decked at Violet Cottage 🎄 I braved metal bunting over the entrance. I have a perfectly sensible hessian version, but I love this rusty one. Attempting hanging this always reminds me of Midsummer Murder. It’s so heavy and pointy, I’ve had a couple of nasty near misses over the years with string snapping and whatnot. Anyway, this time around I think I’ve secured it adequately. As long as no one over five foot ten pays a visit, all will be well 😬 I had a spare string of copper wire lights. For a moment there, it looked like Basil would be sporting them for the month of December, but once he was untangled, I wrapped them around the wreath, for a little extra bling 🌟 I wasn’t going to decorate this year. I feel like I could curl up on the sofa with a stiff drink for the rest of 2020, but wandering around Berry with Basil and seeing the effort people have gone to to bring some Christmas cheer inspired me to do the same. It really is the most wonderful time of the year and I hope I always take the time to celebrate the festive season ❤️💚❤️💚❤️
Taking stock after a hot and sticky day, and my perennial favourite, the Thank You rose, is sitting prettiest in the rose garden 💜 #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #floribunda #thankyourose #gardeningaustralia
Nigella looking lovely and misty in the kitchen garden #loveinthemist #nigella #kitchengarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
When they’re good, they are very very good #davidaustinroses #chaucer #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Short term pain for long term gain today. I’ve dug up all my asparagus crowns from their shady, root competitive (thank you, viburnum hedge) site. I think I originally had ten, a mix of Mary Washington and Purple Phantom, but, in a rare show of restraint, I decided to only replant four. These were the fattest, healthiest and male. The chosen ones now have plenty of room to spread their roots and the sunniest spot in m kitchen garden to bask in. It’s going to set back my home-grown asparagus consumption by a couple of years, but gardening and sustainability is always more about the long game, isn’t it? ☀️🌿💜 #asparagus #homegrown #kitchengarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Soil prep. I never skip this step of topping up with compost in between planting. Today it’s out with the cauliflower, in with the celery and soybeans 🥦🥒🥕🌽🌶 #kitchengarden #organicgardening #harvest #mygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Angel Face 😇 One of my favourite roses...such a unique colour and form, and despite her looks, will never get leggy 💃🏻 #angelface #floribunda #rosesofinstagram #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #mygarden #springtime
Rain. My very favourite water feature 💦💦💦 #rosegarden #berrynsw #rainydays #roses #berrycottagegardener
I planted three more roses in the front garden today 🌹🌹🌹 That garden visitor from a couple of years back who commented he’d never seen roses planted so close together would have a fit 😂 #cottagegarden #perennials #roses #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Despite the face, we love it 😊 See my stories for full, shaky, weird wide screen cinematography 🐳💦🐳💦🐳 #waterfeature #mygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Not long now...💦🐳💦🐳💦 #diy #waterfeature #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
If it’s October, it must be time for me to dig in a pond 🐳 Water feature #9 for Violet Cottage going in this week, and it is a beauty 💦💦💦 #waterfeature #pond #cottagegarden #gardeningwithdogs #diy #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
I’m adding some friends to my rose garden today...the start of a busy weekend of gardening 💜 See my stories for more... #rosegarden #parterre #buxus #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
My lovely new find from @berrima_village_pottery . Bought as neither a dog bed or a chew toy, but someone has other ideas 🙄 #sweetbasil #beaglesofinstagram #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
A sea of Southern European silverbeet, freshly washed 💦 #homegrown #kitchengarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #vegiepatch
The magic of water 💦 Earlier this year, the surrounds of my fishpond resembled straw, rather than lush mondo grass. A kinder winter has resulted in a much prettier picture. La Niña, you are welcome here 💃🏻 #cottagegarden #fishpond #waterfeature #beardediris #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Some beautiful things grow in mud 💜 These Louisiana irises are my back-up plan if the buxus ringing my splashy rose garden fountain drown. After a near-death experience last year, the box hedge is currently happy 🤗, so for now, the flowers get to bloom above the frog ponds 🐸 #iris #louisianairis #fulleclipse #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Protection racket in Poppy’s Patch #kitchengarden #growyourown #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
October 🥳 My favourite month of the year, holding all things good, including my birthday 🍰, a bounty of open garden festivals 🏡 (when not in a pandemic 🙄) and the opportunity for direct sowing seeds, which is my favourite kind of seed raising 🌱🌱🌱. I cleared out the brassicas yesterday, chopped them up and tossed them into the compost bins 💩 The beds have been topped with a thick layer of compost, a sprinkling of blood and bone and a blanket of lucerne 💚 And today I’ll be sowing beetroot, carrots, pak choy, soybeans, , cucumbers, corn, and whatever other goodies I find in my stash 🌽🌶🥒🥕 #kitchengarden #organicgardening #mygarden #backyardvegies #homegrown #harvest #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Alliums and Angel Face 💜 I’m looking at all the tatty leaves of spent bulbs such as jonquils, daffodils and snowflakes and am resisting the urge to cut them to the ground. Fortunately for the alliums, that threat is some way off #allium #rose #floribunda #springgarden #mygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Delbard’s Soeur Emmanuelle. I must have loved this one last season as much as I do this morning, as there’s two more bare root ones potted up in Poppy’s Patch waiting for me to figure out where I can squeeze them in...There’s a few other varieties too...I’m wondering if the electricity company would be happy with Nahema climbing a telegraph pole? 🤔 #roses #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
I had dreamed of a perennial border for my cottage, but it failed miserably (swipe right) for many reasons...too shady, too narrow, me having no idea what I was doing...Layering Duchesse de Brabant roses, bearded iris and English Box has resulted in a much happier combination #weatherboardcottage #roses #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
First aquilegia of the season bringing a pop of colour to the reject rose garden #cottagegarden #cottageplants #inmygarden #berrycottagegardener #berrynsw #springtime
Angel Face 😇 It’s a pretty special rose in my garden, that gets a bed entirely to itself, especially if you’re not an Austin or a Delbard 💜 #rose garden #cottagegarden #mygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
One of those mornings when the light was perfect for taking photos of flowers...that, and Basil’s snout was not in the road 😂 Wish I’d had more time but, you know, Mondays... 🌸🌸🌸 #hellebore #springgarden #inmygarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
Allium Purple Rain in the morning light 💜 #allium #springgarden #mygarden #cottagegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
A rather mean lady called me fat today ☹️ #sweetbasil #beaglesofinstagram #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener
The magnificent Charles de Gaulle in the house 🌹🌹🌹 #rosegarden #berrynsw #berrycottagegardener #inmygarden #springtime