It has been a week of VERY mixed weather, with the past couple of days seeing glorious sunshine…while little flakes of snow gently drift down from above. Beautiful but c-c-c-cold. So I’ve been wrapping up some of my tender plants or bringing in those in pots which I’ve been hardening off, like geraniums and fuschia.Continue reading “Sunshine and snow”
Category Archives: flowers
Lobelia learning curve
I sowed lobelia last year, directly into the raised bed I used to grow cut flowers* and they did quite well, but flowered fairly late in the season and are not really great for cutting, they’re better for baskets or pots. So this year I sowed early under cover, with the aim of using theContinue reading “Lobelia learning curve”
Too many seedlings?
…or is there no such thing?! I am busy trying to pot up some of the seedlings which are getting taller by the day, including about two dozen French Marigolds. I don’t really know how many seeds you’re ‘supposed’ to sow but I seem to have a lot of marigolds here. I don’t think they’llContinue reading “Too many seedlings?”
Mr Smith
As promised in my previous post, just a few hours ago, I grabbed the opportunity to get out into the garden and I’m pleased to say it was a productive afternoon and evening. I had to dodge a few showers but I managed to plant out pea seedlings, as well as sowing new pea seeds.Continue reading “Mr Smith”
Scarifying!
Scarifying has been the main aim of today. Recently I was enjoying a cup of coffee in the garden and surveying the back lawn, when I realised that it was looking decidedly mossy – in fact it was starting to take over. The blades of grass were poking up sporadically between large patches of spongyContinue reading “Scarifying!”
Wee pea shoots
Great excitement – the first shoots are emerging from my peas! I reckon it really doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or your hundredth time planting seeds and watching them grow – those first little nubs of green pushing their way through the soil always give you a little rush of excitement; a senseContinue reading “Wee pea shoots”
A whole day in the garden
A WHOLE DAY. This almost never happens, thanks to a combination of family responsibilities, weather, a job and various other demands which crop up on a daily or weekly basis. But I have a very rare week off work, promised since last year, and it’s allowed me the luxury of time to write, garden, walkContinue reading “A whole day in the garden”
Mild March?
It’s March! And when I walked out of the door this morning it was much milder than I expected – about 6 or 7 degrees (which for my corner of the earth IS mild at this time of year!), prompting me to break out my New Spring Coat, which is lighter and brighter and itContinue reading “Mild March?”
Sorting and planning
Is there any better way to spend a snowy Saturday morning than sorting out your seed packets?! I spent a very satisfying hour this weekend disposing of the old packets, rediscovering ones which I had bought some time ago (I bought dozens out of season in Lidl for 15p each!!) and then planning my sowing/plantingContinue reading “Sorting and planning”
2015…a summary
These pics display the best of the vegetable beds for 2015 – a poor show I’m afraid and I’m not sure if that’s more to do with my lack of expertise, the quality of the soil or the fact that this summer’s weather was frankly pretty rubbish. Nearby fellow gardeners with a great deal moreContinue reading “2015…a summary”
The Thrifty Gardener
Aldi is my friend! I have been in need of a few bedding plants to fill some spare pots and was very keen to add some bulbs to the garden after a fairly poor showing last year. However I’m also trying not to overspend after a month which saw a few extra payments leave theContinue reading “The Thrifty Gardener”
Spring is doing its thing
I’m finding it really exhilarating to watch Spring unfolding in our garden for the first time. Trees and bushes are budding and blossoming and little green shoots are appearing in unexpected places, so that I’m wondering what plants are hiding under there that I didn’t even know I had! Among these surprises are dozens ofContinue reading “Spring is doing its thing”
Snakes head fritillary
A number of these have popped up in the last few days. I love them because their name is so appropriate – with their scaly little heads and arched necks – I almost expect to see a little forked tongue flicker in and out…
Julianne Robertson 