Stone Crucible Planter

As I make little stone pots, troughs and planters, I am always on the lookout for new planting ideas to show them off in interesting and different ways.  In the May issue of Gardens Illustrated magazine they have a feature 'Perfect Pots' - long lasting plant combinations that will keep your containers looking fantastic from spring to summer.

When I next make a large planter I am going to try their grasses planting with little deep purple black viola.  I was also intrigued by the crucible, the oval taper of the pot and the sempervivum planting looked lovely.  Here's my version.

Stone Crucible pots - © Jennifer Tetlow

Plants do seem to like stone pots and thrive in them, so these houseleeks will soon be established, romping over the edges and throwing out little babies.

I'm hoping they'll last longer than just to summer though - as with time and the seasons,  the pots begin to show signs of beautiful weathering, with lichen mottling and soft colour variations.  I love the way stone mellows and ages.

Stone Crucible pots - © Jennifer Tetlow

Set in Stone

So to speak - now the vows have been made.  I wish them all happiness together.

I loved the trees in Westminster Abbey - seasonal British trees Field Maple and Hornbeam, underplanted with lily of the valley.  I also like the idea that they will be taken back to Highgrove gardens and planted.

Image Sky News

Craftsmen at Highgrove made containers for the trees, which they painted to match the colour of the stone in the Abbey.  I would have made real stone planters for them if they'd just said!

Quarry Visit

I love going to the quarry - such expectancy, excitement, energy. I feel at home there, in heaven there

The visit is to select a piece of stone for a commission I have for carving a Barn Owl - the stone is perfect - it is Tadcaster Limestone and is buttery yellow with charcoal coloured speckling, with a light veining. It is quite daunting when I arrive - there are so many blocks of stone to choose from and I’m tempted to buy large quantities, and lumps much bigger than I need.

I exercise restraint and find some lovely pieces for stock, but continue to search for my Owl piece. I’m handling pieces, turning them and arranging them as if they were the completed sculpture - where does (will) the colour appear, is the speckling spattered in the right way (like owl feathers). In handling, the pieces talk to me and some feel kind, and they are lifted onto my trailer. Finally, I select a lump - it is larger than I need, but the colour and markings are beautiful.

The enormous hole of the quarry is awe-inspiring, I stand against and hug the vast wall of stone and press my back to it, I'm standing on a block as huge, it is damp and smells good and I ask its favour and explain my desires. It gives me strength.

The journey home is a dream - I keep glancing at the stone following me in the trailer, and talk to it and carve it in my mind - working out exactly where the tail and wings will be, and the beak. I enjoy unloading, a clean pallet awaits and the blocks are neatly stacked - my owl piece is hauled onto my workbench.

I handle it, admire it, draw on it and chisel it.

Happy Easter

Wishing all a Happy Easter.

Things that have already made mine super happy!

Beautiful apple blossom.  I planted this tree last year, and it looked a very sorry twig after the winter, but is now divine with fresh growth and flower.

My first seeds to germinate in the greenhouse - courgette.

Goslings - their first day out in the big wide world, with good mother goose guidance.

Each year I have Pied Wagtails nesting at my work sheds, and I love the bobbing chirrupy company.  This is the male, on guard and tending to his female now on the nest.  He does a fluttery undulating flight from the roof to the fence each morning when I arrive and chatters constantly in rich warbly trills. Big happy making little bird.

And I have to give some credit to the blissful weather - so sunny today - with periods of deep rumbling thunder and oppressive heat rising to a crashing storm at supper time.  Huge rain splashing in a heavy downpour, and heavier still, with spectacular lightening and thunder and big rain drops turned to hail bouncing and dancing then swept away by the deluge of water.   A smell of earth refreshed.

What a good Friday

I was greeted this morning with the sweetest peeping.

There are three, one egg remains and I'm not sure if this will hatch, perhaps it was not fertile, or maybe there will be another fluffy yellow by this evening!

They are all wobbly legs and eager - a joy to watch.  I'm going to do some sketching this afternoon, and see if I can capture some of that day one delight.  (Goose sculpture incubating?).

Here's proud Dad.

Gander - pencil sketch - © Jennifer Tetlow