Juggling life through a bi-polar lens. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Mostly trying to tread water in the middle. Creating a likeness to a normal life. Whatever "normal" is...

Wednesday 18 June 2008

ABC Wednesday......

V is for VERONICA

The other day I dug out around the lawn in the front garden. It had previously gone up to the front of the house and this part was hard to mow. Also, it was very bad quality here, very patchy and with lots of weeds. (The not nice weeds, not the weeds that I let grow and call "free flowers".)


I took these pic's this morning, and it is quite overcast here today....

I wasn't sure whether to plant something round the edge, or whether to just leave it "cut in" as a neat edge to the grass. (As you may have gathered, I like the back garden a bit "wild and natural" in places, for the wildlife, but I like the front garden to be a little neater!)

In the end we went off to the garden centre, with the intention of getting some small marigolds. But look what I brought home instead!


And no, not just because I knew I had to find a "V" for this week!

The common name for "Veronica" is "Speedwell". This took me back to my childhood....

I grew up on a housing estate called "Weeds Wood Estate". I walked past Speedwell Avenue on the way to school, up Yarrow Road and across Silverweed Road. School-friends lived nearby; Jo was in Myrtle Crescent and Kim was in Sedge Crescent.

It was never a luxurious place to live, but OK as council estates go: lots of trees and grass verges. But I've heard that since that time, it has gained a horrible reputation as being quite rough and a place to avoid. E.g., Buses no longer drive through the estate after 6pm, as kids attack both vehicle and driver. Wouldn't have happened in my day..... (Oh, I sound old!)

I wonder whose idea it was to call the place "Weeds Wood Estate". If they had called it "Wild Flower Estate" would it have turned out better, do you think?


I'm curious to find out how big these will get. The label said 20cm (8inches) but my book says three times that high!

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For more info ABC Wednesday posts, go to

Mrs Nesbitt's blog

where you will see info on how to join in, and a table of links to those taking part.

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15 comments:

Dragonstar said...

Your Veronica is lovely. I hope it grows really tall and lush.

How are the ducklings doing?

Anonymous said...

A very colourful choice.

Bear Naked said...

Thank you for visiting my blog.
I have never heard of s Veronica plant before, I always thought that Veronica was just a girl's name.
Who knew?

Daryl said...

Nice .. I saw some of this growing in San Francisco around some pipes and I thought it looked very interesting but never thought to ask what it was called!

And thanks for stopping by and commenting my Toon .. I do a new Husbandism Toon every Tuesday .. Husbands are such great fodder!

:-Daryl

Kyanite said...

Am very curious - looks like no Speedwell I remember but pretty never the less.

Blue

Katney said...

It looks very nice and reminds me that I need to go out and mow the lawn.

Jane Hards Photography said...

I have seen many floral today but not veronica, so well done.

Gardens need birds, so yes, not overmowing is fine by me. Love the owl on the hand from someone who has has a siskin and a chaffinch on hers.

I can't believe have not come across your blog before. Will have to come back and peruse further, especially the artwork.

mrsnesbitt said...

Love the way you feature your garden.
I think I will focus on our village and village life for round 3, it will get Wilma and I out of the house.

Powell River Books said...

I love marigolds, but your veronicas are really special. In a way they remind me of my giant lupine. You can see one of the big plants that volunteered in front of my cabin on my blog. For V I chose V is for vegetables from my floating garden. I invite you to come see. -- Margy

Petunia said...

Veronica:) Nice! It is a beautiful name and a beautiful flower:)

Petunia's ABC

CherryPie said...

Lovely pictures. From what I can see your garden looks very pretty :-)

Stacey Olson said...

Great V post. I love the "free flowers" I have lots of those here.. thanks for stopping by and your comment about venison cracked me up.. wish I would have thought of it sooner.. LOL thanks so much

Mrs Mac said...

Thanks for all your messages!!!

The ducklings are still fine, and we should have new film of them tomorrow!

:^)

kml said...

Ahh - I recognized the Speedwell - good to know another name for it as well!

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Lovely flowers! (Our local estate is nicknamed 'baked bean island!)