For anyone out there who’s feeling blue today. Remember, the Perennial charity gives help and support. Contact them on 0800 093 8543. E mail at services@perennial.org.uk. It’s the first step- but it might make all the difference. Don’t keep problems to yourself. Someone will be able to help.
I found this iris flowering by the front doorstep today. It’s early this year. Iris Unguicularis , or Algerian iris, flowers on and off right through the winter. It grows in gravel at the base of a south facing wall. I try to plant flowers for winter cheer. We all need as much of that as we can get.
I wrote about Perennial earlier in the summer at https://bramblegarden.com/2017/07/04/rhshampton-Perennial-charity-sanctuary-garden- If you need help, contact them Here. And support their work, if you can.
Sending you all my best wishes and love today. x
Bramble Garden 
I haven’t heard of Perennial before but what a wonderful charity to highlight on World Mental Health Day. I clicked the link to the website and also the link to your previous post where you wrote about Tom Massey’s RHS show garden. I think we’ve come a long way in recognising and talking about mental health and supporting those in need, but there’s still a long way to go, so charities such as this one are so important.
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Hello Jo. I must admit, I’ve only known about Perennial for the past few years. Since then, I’ve been a firm fan of everything they do, and promote their work wherever I go. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about Perennial. I believe in ripples. I tell one person, and they tell two, and they pass it on. Thanks again. Much appreciated. Karen x
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Next year, I’ll have to find out more about this. Iris reticulata are my favourite but we have to wait till spring for them.
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I’m just planting my iris reticulata Harmony and George for spring. Such a treat to look forward to. Amazed to see the Algerian iris in flower now. Usually it’s Jan/ Feb here. Today there are six flowers. Slugs love them, so I’ve picked them for a posy for my MIL. Thanks for reading and getting in touch, Lucy. How’s things going where you are? xx
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Here? Slugs rampant! Autumn encroaching. Leaf colours spectacular. Wondering if by moving north I’ll have snow for the first time in a long time.
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Karen in Spain Mental Health is still a taboo subject and one who suffers from one of his illnesses is marked as different from the others. When I had a serious work accident that almost left me in a wheelchair, but I fight and fight and it has not been that way, although my back is very bad and many pains, but I continue with my gardening although it is not as perfect as before the accident I had anxiety and stress in the hospital where I had been hospitalized for a long time, because I had surgery to put plaques holding vertebrae and another in the femur. And then the rehabilitation that was very hard and cried of despair. All that happened and I healed myself. Now I can understand people with mental illnesses and are diseases like others: do not label them. Karen, I am very proud that she is also linked to Perenne. As for her Iris is beautiful and I hope she is in flower all winter to encourage her garden. Memories to his Mother. Have a happy week :). Greetings from Margarita.
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Dear Margarita, I am so very sorry to hear about your terrible accident and your painful path to recovery. Like you, I understand people with such illnesses and I’ll always help and support them in any way I can. It is so sad the subject is still taboo in Spain. I pray that changes one day. You were very brave to tell us about your accident and your fight back to health. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story. I hope that it gives strength to others. Greetings – and love from Karen and Mum. I hope your garden continues to bring much solace and healing- as it does for me, with mine. xx
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Karen thank you very much for your love and your Mother’s. For me it is left behind as an example of how everything can be overcome. The garden is forbidden by doctors because I can not do physical force or sudden movements. But I do not care, the joy and peace that gives me the garden are much more important than spending a day or two in bed for back and leg pains for the effort. The garden is my joy when I sit in it quietly to see the birds on three gigantic Canine Roses (wild bushes) that I have as background to the flowers and hear their songs. Surely he also heals his wounds and those of all because we all have wounds to heal. Many thanks, Karen. Much affection for your Mother and for you. Greetings from Margarita.
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That is so true, Margarita. You are an example of that. Gardens do give us such joy and peace and I love spending time in my garden, and sharing it on here with others. I am glad to hear your garden is your joy. I too have giant wild rose bushes all around the perimeter of the garden. The rosehips are glorious at the moment and they will feed the birds until Christmas. Much love in return – karen – and Mum xx
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I’ve contacted perennial twice in the past few years for two very different issues and on both occasions they have been friendly and helpful. They’re marvellous and they should be treasured.
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Thank you Stephen. That’s good to know. I’m a firm fan of their work and will do all I can to support them. Thanks for reading and for getting in touch. All the best. Karen
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I totally agree with you Karen (as usual), mental health issues touch us all in one way or another. Perennial are a wonderful charity. Well done for promoting them.
The iris is lovely and yes, rather early, keeping us on our toes!
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Thank you Gill. Thinking about it, I know so many people, friends, work colleagues etc who have suffered depression and mental illness in varying degrees. Like you say, it touches us all in one way or another. I am a firm fan of Perennial . They literally keep roofs over heads. A life raft to so many. Thanks so much for reading – and for your kind support- which is much needed and appreciated – as ever. Xx
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Mental health problems affect so many of us. Me included in the past. To talk about it is one of the most important things you can do. The little blue iris looks like a blast of colour on a cold, grey day. To study and appreciate the beauty of nature is part of the healing process. 🌻
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I’ve watched people dear to me suffering and felt utterly helpless. Luckily there’s less of a stigma now and people talk openly about their problems. Talking helps. I think, as does gardening. I believe gardening is a form of therapy. People feel better when they are outdoors. Growing something is investing in the future. Gives you something to care about.Thanks for reading and for your comments. All the best . Karen x
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Your flower’s a beautiful colour. It’s good that mental health is less of a taboo subject, and people are more aware, but too few sufferers are able to access the particular kind of support they need. So difficult to know how to help…. xx
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Just by reading this and making your comment, I am sure it will help someone. People will know that you care. Thank you x
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Good for you for supporting World Mental Health Day and Perennial. xx
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Thank you Mike. Good to see so many people talking about this heartbreaking subject. So many people suffering in silence. Every bit of support counts. Thanks again for your support on here and on twitter. Always appreciated x
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Lovely post and flower! Thanks for sharing and wishing you peace and love today as well!
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Thank you. Wishing you the very same thing. Love Karen xx
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A peaceful post 💜
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Thank you x
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