Baptisia / False Indigo

Here's the blooms of the false indigo in the garden :)

Plants, Flowers, Colour

Recently we've planted a bunch of new things in the garden, some herbs, vegetables, and flowers.  One that I was looking at last season was false indigo (Baptisia).  I just added a small one to the garden last week.  It can, apparently, be used as a dye plant, like 'true' indigo, though does not produce as good a blue colour.  I will have to wait until the plant is a bunch bigger, at least 2-3 growing seasons I think, before it's big enough to try it. It's got buds on it so once the flowers come out I'll share a picture.  I've also got rhubarb, beets (not a dye plant, but maybe a good stain?), red onions, and possibly other things that might make good dyes or stains.

Also, I'm going to be changing the layout of the blog shortly, so if you notice anything that isn't working properly, let me know?  Thanks!

Busy bee!

With a family wedding on Saturday, and the events and activities surrounding it, I've been less bloggy than I would have otherwise been. It's our first very hot day of the season here, and I'm quite glad of air conditioning. On Sunday we had a little time in hand between places we had to be, so we took a little walk around Acton, and happened across a gorgeous garden. One of their neighbours said it's apparently a 90 year old gentleman who tends it.

Migration

Since the weekend, it's been rainy and dull here much of the time. Still, it's been beautiful, as it's making everything grow, green, and I like the wet earth smell.
It's also been exceptional for birdwatching. I usually see various birds in the yard from our kitchen window, and it often reminds me of my gran, who was always interested in both birds and gardening. At the moment there seems to be a greater variety - likely spring migration I would imagine - among them the grosbeaks, cowbirds, an oriole, and from my observations, at least a half dozen types of warblers; along with our regular bird species.

Source: animal.discovery.com via Teresa on

Garden

Sat outside with coffee and breakfast this morning, then took my camera for a walk around the garden.  It's great to have some flower photos around for inspiration sometimes, the shapes and colours are brilliant. 
Also took more jewellery photos, for the purposes of inventory, adding to Etsy, and possible portfolio use.
I think I came indoors just in time to avoid a sunburn.  I'll apply sunscreen before I go back outside.

Meanwhile, here's a handful of photos from the garden, and of some pieces now on Etsy.