Springtime in my Garden - 11

What a difference 12 days makes!



Here we see three of my tomato plants on 31 May - just 12 days since the young plants were transferred to the grow bags, and 9 weeks since the seeds were sown on Good Friday. They are already 2 feet tall - but have a further 5 feet to grow before the plants are stopped from growing any taller. Already the first sets of flower buds are forming. They are such wonderful plants to grow!

Lord, in Thy Name Thy servants plead,
And Thou hast sworn to hear;
Thine is the harvest, Thine the seed,
The fresh and fading year.

Our hope, when autumn winds blew wild,
We trusted, Lord, with Thee:
And still, now spring has on us smiled,
We wait on Thy decree.

The former and the latter rain,
The summer sun and air,
The green ear and the golden grain,
All Thine, are ours by prayer.

Thine too by right and ours by grace,
The wondrous growth unseen,
The hopes that soothe, the fears that brace,
The love that shines serene.

So grant the precious things brought forth
By sun and moon below,
That Thee in Thy new heav’n and earth
We never may forgo.

Springtime in my Garden - 10

Here we see my plum tree - it was planted just 4 years ago, and my word, is it growing!



Britain's best known plum and undoubtedly the nation’s favourite. This reliable British bred garden variety produces heavy crops of egg shaped, medium sized fruits that are ideal for both culinary and dessert use. ‘Victoria’ Plums make delicious pies and jams, or simply eat them straight from the tree in late August.

Grafted onto a semi-dwarfing rootstock, to produce a compact, productive tree. Plum ‘Victoria’ is self-fertile and therefore does not require a pollination companion.

Maiden Tree - Height and spread: 2.5m (8’). Rootstock: St. Julien A.

I fear the fruit might not set if we don't sing the well-known hymn by Edward Plumptre.

Thy hand, O God, has guided
thy flock, from age to age;
their wondrous tale is written,
full clear, on every page;
thy people owned thy goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both of this bear witness;
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

Thy heralds brought glad tidings
to greatest as to least;
they bade men rise, and hasten
to share the great King's feast;
and this was all their teaching,
in every deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

When shadows thick were falling,
and all seemed sunk in night,
thou, Lord, didst send thy servants,
thy chosen sons of light.
On them and on thy people
thy plenteous grace was poured,
and this was still their message,
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

Through many a day of darkness,
through many a scene of strife,
the faithful few fought bravely,
to guard the nation's life.
Their gospel of redemption,
sin pardoned, man restored,
was all in this enfolded:
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

And we, shall we be faithless?
shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
shall we evade the conflict,
and cast away our crown?
Not so: in God's deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.

Thy mercy will not fail us,
nor leave thy work undone;
with thy right hand to help us,
thy victory shall be won;
and then, by all creation,
thy name shall be adored,
and this shall be their anthem:
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.



Of your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Euan Fraser, whose funeral will be held in Inverness Cathedral at 1.00 pm today.

Feast of Corpus Christi

Here we see Bishop Mark Strange carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession along the streets of Inverness on the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is a glorious sight!



We hail thy Presence glorious,
O Christ our great high Priest,
O'er sin and death victorious,
At thy thanksgiving feast:
As thou art interceding
For us in heaven above,
Thy Church on earth is pleading
Thy perfect work of love.

Through thee in every nation
Thine own their hearts upraise,
Offering one pure Oblation,
One Sacrifice of praise:
With thee in blest communion
The living and the dead
Are joined in closest union,
One Body with one Head.

O living Bread from heaven,
Jesu, our Saviour good,
Who thine own self hast given
To be our souls' true food;
For us thy body broken
Hung on the Cross of shame:
This Bread its hallowed token
We break in thy dear name.

O stream of love unending,
Poured from the one true Vine,
With our weak nature blending
The strength of life divine;
Our thankful faith confessing
In thy life-blood outpoured,
We drink this Cup of blessing
And praise thy name, O Lord.

May we thy word believing
Thee through thy gifts receive,
That, thou within us living,
We all to God may live;
Draw us from earth to heaven
Till sin and sorrow cease,
Forgiving and forgiven,
In love and joy and peace.



Happy Feast!

Springtime in my Garden - 9

Here we see one of my favourite features in the garden - the Tree Lilies!



Tree lilies® are the breathtaking result of years of painstaking breeding; these incredible varieties of oriental lily can grow as tall as 2.5m (8ft) in as little as two years. One single Tree Lily® bulb can produce up to thirty 20cm (8”) trumpet blooms and will take on a shrub-like appearance over the years.

The sturdy stalks are almost 5cm (2”) thick, so they won't need supporting and the foliage remains lush all season. It couldn't be easier. Grow them through shrubs in borders, against walls and fences, or in large pots for the patio, and let them look after themselves. Height: 2.5m (8’). Spread: 60cm (24”).

I planted these bulbs in 2009 and this is going to be their 5th year of flowering. They are truly amazing! I use the old stalks as bio-fuel in my woodburning stove.

Springtime in my Garden - 8

You may well be wondering what exactly is hidden inside this odd looking container? Well let me tell you, they are runner beans!



The variety I am growing this year is called 'Achievement Merit' - yes, it has won an RHS Award of Garden Merit! It is a British re-selection that gives improved form of the ever popular Achievement. Heavy yields of long, smooth, slender, straight pods that have exquisite flavour are produced in abundance over a long season. Red flowered variety, particularly attractive in the garden.

I sowed 32 seeds on 19 May, and the strongest 14 plants will be selected for growing up my two wigwams. At the time of writing (27 May), 8 seeds have germinated. As usual, the seeds were supplied by Thompson & Morgan.

STOP PRESS! By 10.00 am today, 16 seeds had germinated. By 8.00 pm, 27 seeds had germinated.

Springtime in my Garden - 7

The two smaller seed trays on the right contain more infant petunia plants - the two larger seed trays on the left contain antirrhinums.



The antirrhinums are majus 'Madame Butterfly' F1 Hybrid. Awarded an All American Selection medal for its unusual azalea-shaped snapdragon flowers, Antirrhinum ‘Madame Butterfly’ creates a riot of colour throughout summer. The unique, double snapdragon petals prevent insects from pollinating the flowers, so they last much longer than single-flowered varieties. Perfect for a long-lasting display in cottage garden beds, borders and containers. This award winning variety also makes a superb cut flower. Height: 65cm (26"). Spread: 45cm (18")

Trinity Sunday

Today we adore The Holy Trinity.



Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy sceptre claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee;
Infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
While in essence only One,
Undivided God we claim Thee;
And adoring bend the knee,
While we own the mystery.



Happy Sunday!