I'm looking forward to all the plantings you have done for your Mum, Neil! Interstingly, I am a new fan of geraniums... I never liked them as a kid (they always reminded me of cemetary plantings, which my Mom did and still does).

But I love them now, as they are hardy, and bloom all season, and are actually very happy plants!

Neil, I hope you will show us a photo of the needlework when it's done!

Neil, Your Mother's garden sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see the photos. I also agree that we want to see photos of the needlework garden.

Dear Tami a lot of my mothers work is on Sharon's cubit which is at http://cubits.org/sewingideas/...
Anything with Eileen or my name on it is her work, there is a lot of remarkable work there.
Have a look and you will see the spring garden she made for me, my Tiger, the steam train for my father the list is endless.
Strangely enough the Royal School of Needlework is at Hampton Court Palace, my mother went to the Royal School of Needlework when it was at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
There is even some of my wife's work there.
Regards.
Neil.

Hi Neil! I finally was able to get on here after trying several different times, & different days--- it kept telling me I had to use the Same password, & I didn't even remember what it was!... on Cubits, it just came on when I clicked it, without using a password... well, I kept waiting for a reply when I emailed Help! & finally after several days, I had the thought that maybe it went to my Junk Mail folder, and ... There it was--- ATP--- in with all the junk mail! And I know--- it isn't Junk!! What does a computer know anyway??!
But no time to talk or hang out now--- John is having surgery tomorrow morning, & we have to leave in about an hour, since we have to go out-of-town for it! But I'll be back in a few days, and will try to catch-up with everything! Oh, I like your new British plant site here! Looks great! Take Care everyone~

Dear Connie, so lovely to have you back! Hope you see my Article on here, you would like that. Hope John is OK and see you soon.
Regards.
Neil.

Dear all, Part 2 of my Article on Hampton Court is at http://garden.org/articles/vie...
Regards.
Neil.

REad it I was number one la di da di da di. I read it first....................

brag, brag, brag. Loved the different pictures.

Dear Lucy, I am glad you liked the pictures I did try in the rain. I wish more people would put a comment on the Article, i know Cherie did but then she had something to brag about!
Doris and Charleen have put comments on the Article and a few more. Nancy says she will look at it when she recovers form her cruise and eating scones, jam and clotted cream.
Part 3 will be different although still with some plants of course, but other garden things as well!
Hope you are well.
Regards.
Neil.

Sometimes people are so impressed, they don't know what to say. 'I'm impressed' might be nice.

Dear Lucy, I am so sorry there were no Irises there for you. Seems we have had a bad year for them all round. Even in the Vicarage garden they have not done a thing, have to get the Vicar to put a good word in for them!
I look most days as I go past but nothing. Too much constant rain and no sun!
I am pleased that Lucy 2 is OK and I saw her new avatar thing with the fifth place on it!
Regards.
Neil.

I am told by a friend that all the irises bloomed early this yr. She said that Claire Austin had to use peonies.

Nice change of L's photo. Taken last weekend, replacing the one of jumping her dartmoor pony when she was 14.

Dear Lucy, I have seen a few in the spring but even at Chelsea which normally has a lot of them there were very few! Shame as I love them, but such is the weather!
For instance, next door to me there are hollyhocks out, a Magnolia in full bloom, Ribes or flowering blackcurrant, a Japanese ornamental quince and three Daffodils! I cannot work that one out at all. Can you?
Regards.
Neil.

Neil,

I enjoyed reading part 2 of your article and the photos. The beauty of all those flowers are breathtaking. I also enjoyed looking at all your Mother's needlework. It is hard to pick a favorite. I like the flowers, cats and steam engines the most She is very talented.

Dear Tami, she has done it all her life! She went to the Royal School of Needlework and the stuff she produced was amazing. Even now at nearly eighty years old she is still making these marvelous things, and why not?
She loves her gardening and her plants, and of course cooking and sewing! Pity the youngsters are not interested in it at all anymore, it is I am afraid a dying art, and that is a most terrible shame!
I have done it and my wife is red hot at cross stitch, and both of us enjoy it when we get the time.
I personally think there is nothing better than to get a Hand sewn Birthday/Anniversary/Christmas card, of a plant you love.
Regards.
Neil.

I agree there is nothing better than a handmade gift.

Dear Tami. I make handmade chutneys form the vegetables I grow, and dry off the herbs to do oils with for Christmas presents. People love them as they are different and not shop\store bought.
The only problem is they ask for more! You can only make so much!
I will one day come to America, and show them how a cream tea should be done. Scones, homemade strawberry jam, and clotted cream, with a teapot and fine bone chine tea cups. That is a real English treat to us!

Neil.

Sounds divine!

I love troughs of any kind, but this one was particularly wonderful to me!
Regards.
Neil.