In a Vase on Monday- a peek inside my potting shed

/ karen

This week I’ve potted up some prepared hyacinths. I started them off in a cold, dark potting shed in September. The bulbs were put through a cold treatment before I bought them – to trick them into thinking they had gone through winter. Putting them in a dark cupboard for 10 weeks completes the treatment. They grow fabulous roots in the dark and form a strong flower shoot. Some hyacinths were brought on in warmer conditions to flower for Christmas. But spare bulbs have been kept cold and dry to stagger the flowering display.

I grow them individually in 3″ pots. To create a display, I simply choose bulbs that have flower spikes about the same size.

I love the green edge on these Carnegie white hyacinths and the scent cheers up the potting shed. It’s a joy to work in there at the moment.

My grandfather Ted Foulds gave me these terracotta Sankey plant pots. I love using them and always think of him. Happy memories – I had a carefree childhood. For which I’m very grateful. They were simpler times then, when we made our own entertainment. Mud pie gardens, surrounded with stones and topped with flower heads. Making gardens in a biscuit tin lid, with tin foil ponds and tiny twig “trees.” Keeping snails as pets and feeding them lettuce; and great delight when the snails produced eggs, hatching into a family of miniature baby snails with translucent shells.

Here’s some hyacinths that have been flowering in the greenhouse for several weeks. They are such great value. Below, I’ve used foliage from the garden, dogwood stems, salix catkins and hazel lambs tails, with a single pink hyacinth flower and some double snowdrops.

And finally, in my mother-in-law Joan’s posy, there’s white hellebores, and the first daffodils, surrounded with ivy, and twigs and some green foliage which is actually a weed. It’s known as shepherd’s purse, and has tiny hearts all along the stem.

Thank you to Cathy at Ramblinginthegarden for hosting this meme. Why not go over and see what Cathy and all the others are growing and using for their flower arrangements this week. As you can see, you don’t have to use a vase. Any container will do.

I hope you enjoyed a peek inside my potting shed. Get in touch and let me know what you are growing.

42 thoughts on “In a Vase on Monday- a peek inside my potting shed”

  3. That’s the place to be in this never-ending winter, Karen. No doubt you have a comfortable chair where you can enjoy tea among your flowers. Before we built our conservatory I used to do that. Have a good week 🙂

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    • Thank you Annette. Yes there’s a comfy chair in there piled high with cushions, a blanket for the cat, a kettle and toaster. And most importantly- a cake tin. Got to have our potting shed comforts 🙂 x

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  4. All your pots look wonderful, I’m not surprised you want to spend time there. But then I love a potting shed. The posy is a pure delight. My own children used to make ‘potions’ in the garden then leave them for several weeks until I tipped them out holding my nose. Happy days. x

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  5. Your potting shed looks oh so inviting Karen and must smell a treat. I’ve made a note of the name of your hyacinth. I think that the white flowered ones are the most beautiful. Do you plant them out in the garden after they have flowered?

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    • Hi Anna, thanks for your kind comments. Yes, I always plant them out. They come up next year. But much smaller. Still pretty though. I agree, white are the best. Thanks for reading x

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  6. Karen your photos are magnificent as what you photograph. I love the white hyacinth with moss in a clay pot on the sill window of the shed. I love white porcelain vases filled with yellow tulips. And the basket full of pots of hyacinths and pineapples is wonderful. The white Carnegie hyacinths are very beautiful and their perfume must be divine. I’m glad you have beautiful memories of your childhood (including baby snails) with your grandfather. How nice! No wonder you use those beautiful pots Sankey your grandfather and bring you good memories. The pink hyacinth is as beautiful as dogwood stalks, salix catkins and hazelnut tails, with snow chimes and everything wrapped in moss is beautiful and beautiful. The bouquet of your mother-in-law Joan is wonderful. The white helebores and the daffodils about to open I love them like ivy, twigs and the shepherd’s purse; and as a vase nothing more beautiful than being wrapped in burlap cloth held with green herbs. Fabulous everything you do in the Karen shed, no wonder you spend so much time in it. It’s a magic place. If with your permission I could transport myself to him I would be very happy. It’s wonderful what your hands can do. Many memories to your dear Mother. A lot of love for you. Take care. Greetings from Margarita.

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  7. As always Karen, your pot displays in your potting shed are stunning. ( I have being painting mine!) It is lovely to have pots from your grandfather, I have plants from my parents and great aunts gardens, it does make them more special.

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    • I need to paint mine still. Lovely to hear about your special plants. Quite a lot of mine are from friends and relatives. I always think of them when I walk around the garden. Thanks for your kind comments Brian. Much appreciated x

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    • Hi Christina, thanks for your kind comments. the tulips were a present from a friend. They are British grown. Very pretty with the catkins and other spring flowers. Cheering up the potting shed table.

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    • Thank you. It grows in a sheltered spot between the poly tunnel and the greenhouse. Really it’s a weed, but such a pretty one and so useful for posies. Thanks for reading and for your kind comments.

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  14. Hi Karen,
    You’re potting she’s looks more like a designer florist’s Aladdin’s cave! Wonderful!
    I too have memories of mud pies & making miniature gardens. Ahh they were wonderful times. I passed this on to my daughter who used to enter that catagory in the Abbey Park Show. Happy days. X

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    • Thank you Anne. I am setting up a little writing corner in that potting shed. I’m always drawn to being outside and the potting shed is a half-way house, so to speak. Thanks for your kind comments. Have a lovely day 🙂 xx

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  16. Oh Karen, you potting shed and greenhouse are full of treasures that you’ve so masterfully grown. I’m delighted to find your blog and look forward to reading more!

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  20. You clearly got the timing of your hyacinths right, Karen. What a bountiful potting shed you have – it is always a delight to have a peek inside – and bringing together bulbs from separate pots like this is such a good idea, one to be remembered for next year! What a treasure trove your terracotta pots are, and how lovely to have memories associated with them – and how pleased m-in-law Joan will be with her fresh and springlike posy. Thanks for sharing everything with us, as always

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    • Thank you Marian. How wonderful! I love Edgeworthia for its very pretty flowers and wonderful scent. I’ve spotted one called Red dragon that I’m trying to resist. I probably will go back for it tomorrow :)) xx

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