Sarah Rajkotwala's Blog, page 30

Enchanting Gardens – Today We Visit Rosie and Her English Garden

Enchanting Gardens: Today We Visit Series Host Rosie and Her English Garden

 I’ve decided to turn the tables and interview the interviewer! I know I am very curious as to what the garden is like of very active Six on Saturday member Rosie Amber. So, for an end of year treat, let’s learn a little about Rosie and her garden!

 Where is your garden and what are the
gardening conditions there?

My house is semi-detached and is on the edge of a continually growing town in North Hampshire (England). We’ve lived here for four and a half years. The houses were built in the 1970s when plots came with large garden (We have around 0.8 of an acre). The soil is acidic and sandy. It is fast draining and I describe it as heathland. (Here’s a picture of the front garden; I have a yellow rose that trails over the porch.)

  How old is your garden here?

When we bought the house the previous owners had changed it twice. At one time it had a small orchard and a pond. First they wanted a large grassy area, then they completely overhauled it and laid down a large expanse of artificial grass with landscaped flower /shrub beds around the edges with a large patio and paving areas. The artificial grass didn’t bother us as my husband builds synthetic sports playing areas and at first we were content with just the larger size of the house and garden. During the 2020 lockdowns the large garden was very useful, but I got thinking about growing edible plants and I’ve been making changes each year since then. I am lucky to have inherited a good range of established plants with the house, but there is always room for more! (Below are some of my roses).

What style is your garden?

I don’t intentionally have a style, I’m an ‘anything goes’ type of gal. But I do like cottage style plants and it all gets thrown in together. (Below are some successfully grown Anemone – I love the deep blue).

 What are your garden influences? Do you
visit local open gardens or have a favourite aunt that gardens?

We are from farming families so we have ‘green fingers’ in our genes. My mum is in her 80s and is still a keen gardener, she has always grown almost all the family fruit and vegetables. All my grandparents grew food in their gardens and so it continues. My mum doesn’t ‘do’ flowers though, so I am a bit of a puzzle to her. I grow flowers and food. Another influencer was my husband’s aunt, she was a garden tour guide at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire. However, she liked formal gardens and topiary which really isn’t me, but we could still talked about gardening.
(Here’s a photo of our Aunt from one of her gardening trips to France). 

What are your favourite plants that you
grow in your garden?

My favourites are always changing, but I do like Hollyhocks, Sunflowers and pollinator friendly flowers like Foxgloves. I enjoy hearing the buzz of happy insects on my flowers throughout the summer months. 

Do you have any future garden project
ambitions?

We have been clearing the garden of our late aunt so I now have some garden benches and I’ve dug some new garden beds. I plan to get some arches to go over the benches where I will plant trailing roses or Clematis. I am currently trying to propagate some rose cuttings from our Aunt’s garden. So fingers crossed. I would also like a larger greenhouse, but that is for another day. (Below are photos of the garden a year apart). 

 

You have a new greenhouse, what did you
grow in it this year?

Currently I grow tomatoes, cucumbers and melons. Next year I want to try butternut squash as the melons haven’t been very successful. The greenhouse gets a bit too much shadow from surrounding trees, but when I got it the positioning was the best compromise with the rest of the family. 

What were your standout garden successes
this year?

To be honest, I’m chuffed when anything grows! But I do like to grow plants from seeds and cuttings. I get great satisfaction when they take off and grow into plants. Last year I wanted to try Nasturtiums and I got really keen to get them under way. I had a mixed variety jumbo pack – 6 different ones – and about 15 seeds per pack. I planted the lot in February indoors and about 95% of them germinated in 4 days! I then had to keep them alive until I could plant them out in May. 

Where to from here? What do you think you
will grow more of next year?

I have decided that this year will be my Tulip year. It began when I took a trip to RHS Wisley in August. They had a pick ‘n’ mix set up in their shop; you could choose a bag
size and fill it up. I challenged my friend to see how many bulbs we could get in our bag. We had a good giggle and amazed ourselves with how many we got for our money. Then Aldi had Tulips at knockdown prices and of course Suttons seeds had a bulb sale and just like that I had a lot of Tulips! Did I mention that a whole load of Alliums sneaked in as well? Oh well it will be a Tulip and Allium spring if the squirrel doesn’t eat them all before then.

 How does your garden improve your quality
of life?

I love being outside in nature and my garden is one of my go-to places. If I need some alone time or space from life, I head out into the garden. It also helps to keep me fit; sweeping up leaves and debris from all the Astro grass takes ages! I do have an electric leaf blower but I prefer the physical work.

 Thank you, Sarah, for inviting me to talk
about my own garden and share it with your readers. 

Many thanks, to Rosie for all her kindness and for including so many beautiful gardens of the ‘Six on Saturday’ gardeners in her ‘Enchanting Gardens’ blog posts this year. I know I certainly enjoyed virtually visiting your gardens via these posts! 

 – Sarah Rajkotwala fellow ‘Six on Saturday’ garden blogger.

Read more about Rosie on her blog.
You can also follower her on Twitter / X
and Instagram.      

Use Your Feelings To Access Your Heart’s Words

Your feelings are always connected to the wisdom of God.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

You Are Eternally Loved

There is never a time when you aren’t wrapped in the arms of the Divine.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Kindness Is An Investment In Grace

When you are kind to others and even to you, you are always right.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

This Christmas Try To Make The Goodwill Last A Little Longer

Spread the love a little bit longer.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Today’s Thoughts Are A Preview Of Your Future

So make them good. Everything starts first with a thought and you have control of what you think about.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Your Plants Have Lots To Say To You

Your garden is conscious and able to communicate with you, via it’s fairies! It makes the act of gardening a walk with friends.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Be Thankful For Blessings That Are Coming Your Way

The more thankful you are, the more blessings keep on coming to you door.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realizing everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Intuition Is Free

One of your most precious resources as a human is being able to listen to your Divine guidance via your own intuition. And above all it is free, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! No matter what country you live in, rich or poor it is available free of charge. When you listen to and follow your intuition your life runs smoother and more joyfully.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/

Joy Is The Answer

Joy is a hight vibrational emotion, of pure enjoyment and love in action. It is the best state to be in to draw success and good things to you via the law of attraction. Joy creates more for you to enjoy in your life.

Find more about following your heart in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles ‘ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Words & photos by Sarah Rajkotwala spiritual author & teacher ¨`•✿¸.• •✿

Find out more about the benefit of realising everything moves towards you good in my spiritual book ‘Fairy Sparkles’ available from Amazon and all good bookstores.

Also find more about attracting more good in my weekly spiritual classes for those near the Barossa SA.

My Books are available through these links –

The Year of Talking to Plants https://books2read.com/u/brveYA

Fairy Sparkles https://books2read.com/u/4Az2X0

Conversations With My Vegetable Garden https://books2read.com/u/3R8A0v

My website : https://petalsandbuds.wordpress.com/

My writing blog : https://rosegardenconversation.wordpress.com/