Menu

Skip to content

Home
Blog
Workshops 2019
sweetbabyveg
- The Kitchen Garden in Summer
- The Living Larder
Flower Shed Vintage
Recipes
About

Dartmoor Flower Shed

Growing and Sewing all things Floral

test bed

blog link here if you are interested.

Share this:

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Enter your comment here...

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Email (required) (Address never made public)

Name (required)

Website

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Notify me of new comments via email.

Notify me of new posts via email.

Search

Karen B

I am a Cottage Gardener with a passion for Cornflowers. Poppies and Delphiniums. I grow and sell old-fashioned, often scented flowers from a little blue shed. I also run creative Workshops. Why not come and colour, stitch or craft yourself happy in my studio which is full of vintage treasures, haberdashery and treasured finds?

View Full Profile →

Instagram

Even if the skies are grey, a visit to my little greenhouse to see the Winter salad leaves growing in old terracotta pots, always brings me cheer. A variety of mixed seeds are available for growing under glass at this time of year. In addition to these I also like to plant Chervil, Coriander, Lamb’s Lettuce and Rocket. I appreciate being able to pick baby leaves in the Winter months far more than I do in the Summer when salad is more readily available. And these plants are less likely to bolt in the cold weather. It’s also a great way to impress your friends when you invite them round for supper on a dark Winters night, serve them the tastiest, baby leaves and then announce that you grew them! #inmygardentoday #salad #saladleaves #eatyourgreens #wintersalad #greenhouse #greenhousegardening #terracotta #terracottapots #autumnstories #creativepreneur #myquietbeauty #alittlebeautyeveryday #pocketcolours #fiveaday #gardengathered #containerplanting #countryliving #growyourownfood

A soft and gentle start to the week for me should always begin with flowers. But as their blooms fade in my garden here the focus is on another of my passions- vintage millinery flowers. Surrounded by freshly picked blooms, this delicate Poppy with its pretty centre seems perfectly at home taking centre stage. But look carefully at the frayed edges...this beauty would once have decorated a pretty hat. Have a lovely day wherever you are. #ayearinflowers #styleathome #autumnstories #houseandhome #flowermagic #gardenersofig #flowerseverywhere #flowerseveryday #flowerfriends #localflowers #flowerstories #floralstories #myeverydaymagic #gardengathered #flowersfromthegarden #collectandstyle #simplystyled #simplystyledflowers #still_life_gallery #vintagemillineryflowers #millineryflowers #poppies #whitepoppies #whitepoppiesforpeace

The rain I needed for my garden in the Spring has decided to drop by later in the year and is making my big Autumn clear up impossible to achieve. With Wallflowers and Sweet Williams desperate to be planted in the ground and Annuals needing to be pulled up to make room for them, I just had to do something. So I went out yesterday when the sky was blue. Within moments the air temperature changed and showers so heavy sent me seeking shelter in the greenhouse. This pattern of heavy showers got stuck on repeat, until I just stopped running for shelter and embraced the mud and rain. I did my planting and was rewarded by the feeling of contentment I get when I realise that these little plants have escaped their trays of compost which are exhausted of nutrients and can now spread out their roots and grow! Then, still wet but happy, I looked up and saw my big bed of ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ Dahlias, just blooming their hearts out. These flowers, grown from seed this Spring have endured gales, weeks without rain and now monsoon conditions without complaint. So this photo shows what’s happening in my garden right now and it’s just a little more cheerful than showing you all the weeds and dead Annuals 😊 Have a lovely day 💐 #inmygardentoday #inmygarden #dahliasofinstagram #autumn #floralmoments #amomentintime #my_creative_square #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #wildforflowers #flowergram #flowersmakemehappy #inspiredbypetals #botanicalpickmeup #still_life_gallery #slowfloralstyle #justbefloral #flowersandotherstories #petalsandprops #underthefloralspell #floralphotography #exceptional_pictures #flowers #floristsofinstagram #flowerpower #flowerstagram #cottagegardenflowers #flowersfromthefarm #macrophotography

A soothing Sunday #shelfie before some slow stitching. Have a lovely day everyone! #sundayshelfie #shelfiesunday #shelf #vintagelovers #vintagechina #mystyle #still_life_gallery #countrylivingmagazine #frenchfurniture #paintedfurniturelove

Cosy on a fleece blanket with tails tucked comfortingly under their paws, my Cats sleep or play their days away in blissful comfort. After a difficult start in life where they both knew extremely hard times I now try to give them safety and peace. But sometimes I think the damage and cruelty these vulnerable animals experienced was just too deep. Daisy-Mae has been poorly with a badly ulcerated eye and then Cystitis. My dear, kind, gentle and caring Vet told me that in Daisy’s case, that both these conditions are caused by the Herpes virus which is triggered by stress. And that ironically, my frequent visits to the Veterinary Hospital to diagnose and treat her symptoms, were a factor in causing her more stress. So he suggested that we monitor her from home. She is slowly improving and sleeps with her pal Harry at the bottom of my bed each night. I do know from experience that there is no more comforting feeling in the world than cuddling up with Harry, so I hope that he helps Daisy to feel better soon. Happy Caturday! #cats #catsofinstagram #cats_of_instagram #catstagram #cats_of_day #catsagram #rescuecatsofinstagram #rescuecats #tabbycat #tabbycats #tigercatsofinstagram #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsrock #blackcat #blackcats #catlady

After days and days of rain and mist, the sun returned yesterday. And I tried to do weeks of gardening work in a few hours. I rushed around at first, panicking, quite honestly, when I saw how much I had to do. Then I settled on some weeding- removing weeds from my gravel drive with a fork because I don’t want to use weed killer. A Flanders Poppy had self-seeded there, so I gave it a little @plantbelles support. And slowly, slowly the rhythmic removal of weeds calmed me down. Soon, my garden Robin joined me, looking for worms. And just in time, I spotted this beauty and moved him to safety. This Caterpillar, to me, was like finding treasure. For this is the Caterpillar of the Buff Tip Moth and one of my absolute favourites. Just look at what this stunning caterpillar grows into! I saw this Moth years ago and really thought that I was looking at a piece of wood! Finding one is stored in my memory of very special moments in my life. I think you will agree that this was a most magical find and a fabulous reward for my weeding 😊 #moths #mothsofinstagram #inmygarden #inmygardentoday #poppies #gardentherapy #floralmoments #amomentintime #inmygardentoday #my_creative_square #inmygarden #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #weeding #naturephotography #nature #caterpillars #botanicalpickmeup #getoutsidemore #getoutside #gardeningisgoodforthesoul #exceptional_pictures #macrophotography

My porch blew down in a storm. Because it was here when I moved in, over 40 years ago, it meant a great deal to me. I have always valued any connection to the history of this house and am always keen to preserve it. Staying in tune with those voices of the people in my home’s past seems important and respectful and I try to honour them. So my first plan was to rebuild the porch using sections of the original materials. Builders were called in and everyone shook their heads and would only take on the project if I agreed to build totally from new materials. Eventually, I found one lovely man who would do the job. But he was an undertaker as well as a carpenter and was so busy with his other profession that he warned me that I might have to wait a while. That was 6 years ago. But this weekend I had an idea to make a screen from the little porch doors. Hinges were added, a couple of door knobs and the panels were papered with some wallpaper samples I had. It shows signs of its past life in its uneven sides and its ancient putty, but I still have a little part of my original porch and I absolutely love it! #upcycledfurniture #upcycle #upcycling #recycle #recycled #screen #interiordesign #interior #interiordecoratingideas #wallpaper #sandersonwallpaper #myvintagehome #myvintage #mystyle #myhome #countrylivingmagazine #roomdivider

Bringing the outside in is one way of holding onto the beauty of Summer flowers. The memory of flamboyant Poppy petals in extravagant shades of Pink is all held inside these exotic looking seed heads. This is Papaver ‘Hens and Chickens’. Their curved and restful shapes sitting on a @designersguild fabric brings all their colour and vitality back to life. Have a fabulous Saturday! #designersguild #poppies #carmen #floralmoments #amomentintime #inmygardentoday #my_creative_square #inmygarden #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #wildforflowers #flowergram #flowersmakemehappy #inspiredbypetals #botanicalpickmeup #still_life_gallery #slowfloralstyle #justbefloral #flowersandotherstories #petalsandprops #underthefloralspell #floralphotography #exceptional_pictures #flowers #floristsofinstagram #flowerpower #flowerstagram #cottagegardenflowers #flowersfromthefarm #macrophotography

Here’s my friend the Hedgehog, enjoying his regular supper of a bowl of tasty Cat food. I think if you could look into many of the back gardens in my village tonight you would see the same sight. For so many people have been so happy to tell me recently that once again they have Hedgehogs in their gardens. We are all delighted and we all are doing our best to help them thrive. #hedgehogsofinstagram #hedgehogs #inmygarden #wildlife #mygardentoday #lovehedgehog #hedgehoglover

Stormy weather has hit Dartmoor. But before it did, I gathered up precious blooms to save them from the wind and rain and brought them inside. Soon these flowers will bloom no more until next year. So I didn’t want to put them in a vase- I wanted to make something which captured their beauty, movement and grace and which was a celebration of the flowers I love so much. So I tied a little raffia onto each bloom and suspended it from a vintage metal, candle chandelier, which I hung from a beam in my Studio. It took quite a while to get this far and interestingly, each stem had to be carefully chosen for its place. It was exactly the same as creating a hand-tied posy in that respect. It took many flowers and I did not have enough for the back, so will pick more when the rain stops and add to it. This photo was taken on day 2 of my little Flower Installation. It has brought a sense of beauty into the room and totally altered the space in a truly exciting way. #flowerinstallation #floralmoments #amomentintime #inmygardentoday #my_creative_square #inmygarden #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #wildforflowers #flowergram #flowersmakemehappy #inspiredbypetals #botanicalpickmeup #still_life_gallery #slowfloralstyle #justbefloral #flowersandotherstories #petalsandprops #underthefloralspell #floralphotography #exceptional_pictures #flowers #floristsofinstagram #flowerpower #flowerstagram #cottagegardenflowers #flowersfromthefarm #macrophotographyforus

Dahlia love is special. It embraces every shape and colour. And somehow, however you mix it up the colours always blend together to create a pretty petalled, Dahlia dream. Have a great day and Spread the Love! #dahlia #dahliasofinstagram #floralmoments #amomentintime #inmygardentoday #my_creative_square #inmygarden #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #wildforflowers #flowergram #flowersmakemehappy #inspiredbypetals #botanicalpickmeup #still_life_gallery #slowfloralstyle #justbefloral #flowersandotherstories #petalsandprops #underthefloralspell #floralphotography #exceptional_pictures #flowers #floristsofinstagram #flowerpower #flowerstagram #cottagegardenflowers #flowersfromthefarm #macrophotography

Each perfect gardening day here starts with a wander. I don’t decide where I am going for as soon as I open one little garden gate I fall into a rhythm where something in my body takes over and leads me. Gardening is like that, it helps to switch off the part of the mind where cares and worries are stored. Being close to the earth and working the soil is just so good for the mind and the body. Two more gates and I am in The Meadow Garden. It takes longer to get there than expected because Bertie the Cat has now joined me and he pads softly, gently and slowly behind me. I have to hold each gate open so that he can take the time he needs to come through. We stand on a new patch of land with nothing but bare earth and a bed of Rudbeckia and Sunflowers. Bertie lies on the warm earth whilst I pick flowers and place them in my new florists bucket which I bought from @alittlegiftcompany . So happy am I with the bucket of flowers that I take them in as a gift for Michelle who owns the shop. Giving flowers is the most wonderful way of spreading joy and saying thank you. I love Michele’s little shop where every item she sells is so thoughtfully chosen and displayed. I think she liked them because she is going to use them in her Autumn window display. #autumnflowers #actsofkindness #floralmoments #amomentintime #inmygardentoday #my_creative_square #inmygarden #stylingtheseasons #dartmoor #wildforflowers #flowergram #flowersmakemehappy #inspiredbypetals #botanicalpickmeup #still_life_gallery #slowfloralstyle #justbefloral #flowersandotherstories #petalsandprops #underthefloralspell #floralphotography #exceptional_pictures #flowers #floristsofinstagram #flowerpower #flowerstagram #cottagegardenflowers #flowersfromthefarm #macrophotography

Follow Dartmoor Flower Shed on WordPress.com

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 322 other followers

The Dartmoor Flower Shed on Facebook

The Dartmoor Flower Shed on Facebook

Liebster Award

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Top Posts & Pages

Recent Posts

I Went Missing (but I was only in the Garden).
Meet the Dartmoor Flower Shed!
Two Little Cats …….
Has anyone seen Karen?
Goodbye dear, Gentle Josef….

Recent Comments

	ameleat on I Went Missing (but I was only…
	Cynthia Reyes on I Went Missing (but I was only…
	janjoy52 on I Went Missing (but I was only…
	Karen B on I Went Missing (but I was only…
	janjoy52 on I Went Missing (but I was only…

Archives

Categories

Meta

Register
Log in
Entries feed
Comments feed
WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Post to

Cancel

%d bloggers like this: