Lace of Northern Russia

Do you like lace? I think it is so delicate and beautiful. The art of lace was born in Italy and the Netherlands and has gradually spread to many countries. In the 17th century, lace making also appeared in Russia. Together with the fashion for European dresses, lace was in demand in all classes of Russian society. It began to be used to decorate various types of clothes.

By the beginning of the 19th century several lace centers with original and diverse patterns appeared in Russia. Lacy craft developed in the city of Vologda. Local women, imitating the fashion of Italy and the Netherlands, began to decorate dresses and underwear of wealthy men and women with delicate linen threads.

Lace makers weaved small and large things: bedspreads, kerchiefs, scarves made of silk threads of black, white and golden colors. In 19th century they fulfilled orders from St. Petersburg for dresses and  blouses.
Currently, lace patterns retain old patterns typical of northern Russia, such as snowflakes, plants, flowers, birds, trees. 
I have one pretty lace collar made many years ago. 
Do you have any lace at home? Would you like to have it? 

Here is my video about 
 

Spring Growing Plan

I love the time of the end of winter, when I plan what to grow to decorate the garden. This year is no exception, I've already received the first order, these are packs with flower seeds. 

This spring I decided to grow seedlings of Brachycome (above), because it turns out much cheaper than buying an already grown plant. Brachycome is a very graceful, highly branched, annual plant of 15-25 cm tall. 

It blooms profusely from mid-June about 75-90 days with numerous small inflorescence. I bought the seeds of white and blue Brachcome. I hope I could grow seedlings, although seeds are small.

Many of you know well these Sunflowers (Helianthus). I've never planted them in the garden, I’m still not sure that they will like the garden soil.

Although on the Internet they say that Sunflowers are undemanding flowers. These are two varieties: Teddy Bear and Ice Cream. Teddy is yellow and fluffy, and Ice Cream has a dark center.

I used to grow seedlings of my favorite Chinese Asters (Callistephus) every year, plant them in large tubs in May. Asters wonderfully bloomed in different colors from mid-July to autumn last summer. 

I've bought a pack of a mixture of Aster varieties. It’s a pity that I can’t have my own seeds of Aster because the summer is short and they don't have time to ripen.
A package of Garden Impatiens is next to Asters. This is a variety of high Impatiens with a pyramidal shape and many double flowers. I have not planted this Impatiens for about 10 years. 
I want to plant them near the patio between Golden globe thujas. 
Do you plan new flowers for your garden or a balcony? What are they?

Clivia Has Bloomed

When Clivia begins to bloom this means that spring is coming. Warm days will come soon and the snow will melt.

This makes me to look more often at catalogs of flowers and seeds, choose new varieties for tubs and hanging pots.
I also want to grow new varieties of tomatoes and peppers, a lot of greens for salad.
These plans appeared when Clivia had bloomed.
What are your plans for spring?