The Gardens of Delargo Towers - December.

Well here we are me dears. Christmas is over, December is all but over and a new year is about to dawn.
There is still a bit of colour in the garden but are thoughts are with the Spring.

We are so pleased with the Violas, they really cheer up a damp grey old day.

The wallflowers have settled in and daffs are already starting to poke their heads through the soil

While at the back, a few of the 200 spring bulbs are starting to stir too.

While most of the bed is fairly dormant.

Fingers crossed on the Asarina getting through Jan and Feb.

We have not had a frost yet so some things are struggling on.

There are not that many flowers on the Fuchsias but they're still a joy.

and the Pelargoniums as well.

Most of the pots are sheltering in a corner hoping to beat the frosts to come.

The Lilies have been replanted in Hils' fab terracotta pots. The second one has Violas on top which are refusing to do anything, let alone flower.

The cuttings are snug in the plastic green house.

'Doncaster Donny' is over the moon with the seeds that have just arrived in the post:

Limnanthes douglasii

Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels'

Tropaeolum peregrinum

Linaria maroccana 'Northern Lights Mixed

Tropaeolum speciosum

Nasturtium 'Whirlybird Mixed'

Geranium pratense 'Purple Haze'

Godetia 'Lady In Blue'

Stock 'Night Scented'

Nicotiana mutabilis 'Marshmallow'

Sweet Pea 'Sugar n Spice'™

Now then, me dears, I think I might have got carried away placing the order and been a tad over-ambitious - especially with the Tropaeolum speciosum. They were all but £1 a seed, and are almost impossible to germinate. Even if I manage to get them to grow it will be five years before they flower if at all. 

Hey ho

A busy Spring, methinks!

ttfn

On me Walkman this week - Jo Stafford

Hello me dears,

As you may know we have new smart phones which we hate with a vengeance. Be that as it may, it does have a fab camera and a Walkman app thing. The latter, together with a pair of headphones, has made my very tedious journey to and from work more bearable.

As a result I thought I would do a series of posts on what I am playing, starting with the adorable Jo Stafford.

After training as an opera singer she left classical music to follow a career in popular music - which spanned from the 30s through to the 80s. By 1955 she had achieved more worldwide record sales than any other female artist. She was also the first female artist to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart.

...with this - You Belong To Me:

Her talents and personality didn't stop there. She also turned herself into the wonderful "Cinderella G Stump" and half of the iconic husband and wife duo "Jonathan and Darlene Edwards". Both adored favourites here at 'Delargo Towers' Check out my other half's blog - Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle - click here.

Here she is as Cinderella G. Stump with Red Ingle and the all time classic Tim-Tay-Shun:

and as half of Jonathan and Darlene Edwards - The Last Time I Saw Paris:

So, from the ridiculous to the sublime...

Jo Stafford - Blue Moon:

Jo Stafford - Fools Rush In:

...and to end with, Jo Stafford and Ella Fitzgerald!

Read more on Wikipedia

Hope you have enjoyed my little flight of fancy.

Next? Well... who knows?

ttfn