Between the weeds

Snowy Jan

2010-01-17T04:33:00.000-06:00

Star for June

2009-06-16T15:02:00.002-06:00

These beauts are Ixia. Bought a pack of 10 from Wilkinson's for £1. They are on the deck and look great next to my (as yet) uneaten Hosta. They look even better now I've removed the nettle that was growing through them - I must have some iffy compost as I've got nettles coming up all over and never had them before.

At last

2009-06-15T15:14:00.001-06:00

It's been a long wait for the strawberry patch to get going - three years I think. This is our second picking so we're actually eating bowlfuls this year. Strawberrytastic.

Painted up

2009-05-24T15:36:00.003-06:00

Trying to decide on a colour took more time than building. It was going to be silver birch, then black, then red (like the Swedish ones). When it was built and we saw the pale colour it seemed wrong to go dark so we opted for stone with autumn red for the windows. This is a funny plastic sort of paint that I'm hoping won't peel off. We have a summerhouse.

Roof goes on

2009-05-23T15:36:00.004-06:00

We left the summerhouse without a roof overnight as the weather was looking good. Getting the two roof panels on went much smoother than we thought. A bit scary as Chris had to lift them on his own while I pretended to be helping from the inside.

This is the view from the inside. Good to see the garden from a new angle.

Windows in

2009-05-22T15:37:00.001-06:00

The windows go in as the walls get a bit taller.

More exciting than the base

2009-05-22T15:32:00.003-06:00

Seeing the walls start to grow (after we had resolved the issue of walls not fixing together due to the base problems). It was really hot.

The base

2009-05-15T15:27:00.002-06:00

Dry weather has returned so onwards with the base. It was really flimsy (really flimsy) so we've reinforced it with extra wood. It came in three parts and was hard to fix together as it wasn't quite square. This gave us (Chris) a few headaches later on. Not much we could do about it.

Not travelling light

2009-05-14T09:38:00.003-06:00

After a total mix-up with the builders merchant we finally get 2 tons of gravel delivered, craned up and over our front wall. This gravel still has some ground to cover...200 feet away. Fingers crossed our old wonky wheel barrow is up to the task. Oh, and that Chris is too.

Part of the route (crossing our neighbours ground a bit):

The sky is turning grey and sees the end of our sunny spell. Bad news for project work.

Big cover up

2009-05-13T09:47:00.005-06:00

The area is gravel-boarded to contain the gravel but we use thick membrane to stop the dreaded weeds from invading.

Tis pic shows how much ground we had to excavate to get the levels right. Our garden was dropping a foot over 11 feet:

It's gone

2009-05-12T09:34:00.002-06:00

A lot of barrows later and the weedy mound has gone. Can't wait to extend the bed down here...haven't had a new area to plant for a few months.

Turf's up

2009-05-11T09:05:00.004-06:00

Thick, heavy, horrid turf. Even though it's the best in the garden, still nice to see it go (less mowing too).

Here's the view up the garden:

Getting organised

2009-05-10T09:07:00.001-06:00

This is the very end of our garden, about 275 feet from the house. It had become a bit messy as we (meaning I) tend to empty barrows and throw grass (weed) clippings here. As we started lifting the turf we realised we'd have to clear up this area to make room for the additional turf. We spent the best part of a day clearing the rubbish out, leveling the pile and pulling up a rampant jasmine that had been planted for the arch but had decided the claim the area as its own.

We did manage to save a good few barrows of compost which will come in handy for the spuds that need earthing up. The plan is to get hold of some palettes to create a big bay that will be our slow compost pile.

Work begins

2009-05-09T08:59:00.001-06:00

Work has started at the end of the garden. The big project for 2009. Turf is coming up and that big tump is about to be tackled...

Birthday blooms

2009-05-01T15:25:00.000-06:00

Gorgous flowers from work.

Big splash

2009-04-15T01:39:00.000-06:00

Oh how totally fab.

Snow victim

2009-04-08T01:23:00.000-06:00

This doesn't look good for my Rosemary hedge. I was a bit slow in brushing off the snow we had. See how it looked in 2007, smaller but healthier. I'll have to take some new cuttings in the summer and begin the patient process of patching it up.

Spring colours

2009-04-06T03:18:00.001-06:00

A new Heuchera (Plum Pudding) is looking great with Euphorbia Robbiae and some Grape Hyacinths. I love it when it works out by accident.

Paint job

2009-04-06T01:13:00.000-06:00

I forgot to take the before picture here. You'll have to take my word for it that this used to be a rather sad-looking faded green pot. Some nice, bright satin paint is going to complement the alpine strawberries (from my mum) a treat. This is an anti snail/insect/other creature attempt to actually get some un-nibbled strawberries: I'll be moving the pot to the deck.

Bad idea

2009-04-05T01:09:00.001-06:00

Monty said if you make piles of upturned turves they rot down into lovely loam. This doesn't work when you have 80% weed, 20% grass in your turves; you just get a bindweedy pile of weeds that look rubbish. It's going to be hard work, but the pile must be moved. I can't say Chris is excited about the prospect.

Broadies are up

2009-04-04T01:06:00.001-06:00

My spring-sown broad beans are now showing. Trouble is, the supporting sticks that are holding the string are also sprouting.

Lunch al fresco

2009-03-19T12:50:00.001-06:00

Homemade (not home-grown) spicy tom and lentil soup. Tasty. Good place to admire the new pot (a bargain at £10 due to a chip on the rim).

Star for March

2009-03-19T12:47:00.004-06:00

I think this is a Primula veris but the label's gone awol. Better than daffs, it doesn't turn away so I can see it from the house.

New curve

2009-03-15T07:47:00.001-06:00

This bed's not much of a looker right now but I'm hoping it will be. The bit in front of the shed was separate so I've joined it up to the main bed to make mowing easier. The bare plant is a Hibiscus; I have three, all in different spots and none grow very well for me. There's some Coreopsis Verticulata next to it and then a Sage I grew from a cutting. I've forgotten that this place was reserved for my new Lupin, currently in my cold frame. Maybe I can crowbar it in...

Strawberries

2009-03-15T07:44:00.002-06:00

Strawberries. Hmmm. I like the idea (and the consumption bit) but never get to them quick enough. I don't know if its snails, birds or something larger. Rather than dig up the bed that is well-established and should probably be moved, I've opted for taking off runners to pot up on the patio. These can be moved to the deck, out of harm's way when they are about to fruit. That's my plan. Will keep you posted.

Getting organised

2009-03-14T07:45:00.000-06:00

Well...not really (and not as much as my mum). Things have been dug up for moving then left sitting in buckets. They never seem to care, things are hardier than you might think. Today I'll try to give them more permanent homes.

Next bed

2009-03-14T07:41:00.001-06:00

This is my task for today - tidying up this bed next to the patio. It's got the usual bindweed all through it but the Helennium seem to have roots that look identical so it's hard to remove them. The trouble starts when you try to pull off the bindweed: it rips off the Helennium leaves making it look forlorn and scraggy.

I'm planning on softening the edge (which you can't quite see here) and planting in the adjoining gravel. I've a Sedum to move here and Alcehmilla Mollis (Lady's mantle) which should both work together; it's a nice sunny spot.

I'm going to interplant the Helennium with Solidago as they are supposed to be good partners. So it's all planned but I realise I haven't really addressed the lack of flowering in early summer - all these are late season. maybe I can squeeze in some bulbs.

Rose

2009-03-14T07:40:00.001-06:00

I bought this rose in an impatient mood (overpriced in an expensive garden centre) and I've only had one flower on it in the last four years. It got cramped by some trellis, fighting for light between a Clematis and a Honeysuckle (not ideal). Then I read you aren't supposed to prune it in the first couple of years (oops) and that branches should be tied horizontally to encourage flowering (oh). It's my first rose so I didn't know this stuff.

I've brutally moved it (might have lost a few roots during dig-up) to this open sunny spot. I'm going to get some bright climbing rope to tie around the stakes to make it look a bit jazzy. The rose is a tea/yellow colour. What are my chances of it flowing this year?

The Rosemary edging looks rather frayed after the snow. I hope it recovers to look as good as it has in previous years.

Broad beans - second sowing

2009-03-10T07:43:00.003-06:00

I was glad when I read that Carol Klein's autumn-sown broadies had been washed away as well. I've sown a second lot, so fingers crossed.

Central zone

2009-03-09T07:42:00.001-06:00

This is my central bed in the veg plot. Bulbs have been planted and there's a small bay in the middle (looks a bit poorly - I rescued it from a pot of mixed herbs where it wasn't happy). I'm going to sow some annuals here in summer for a bit of a formal show piece. It won't be that grand though. I'll call it my informal formal bit. Chris will be confused.

Bulbous growth

2009-03-09T07:19:00.000-06:00

These are new bulbs (tulips and others I can't remember) outside the old shed. I'm planning Californian poppies for the summer to replace them - good where you don't mind if they tumble over the edge (no grass to mow here and horrid cracked concrete to cover).

Mystery seedlings

2009-03-08T07:13:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when you feed lazy birds that don't clear up after themselves. Do I give up and create a wild bit? This is growing through a Penstemon that'll soon need its annual prune. I prefer the Penstemon to this lot. Can't say the birds would agree though.

Death by snow

2009-03-07T07:05:00.000-06:00

My brother gave me three Echium cuttings. I nursed them in the early days but completely forgot to cover them when the frosts and snow came. Now I have three dead Echiums and a big gap into the neighbour's garden. The good news is that I have been promised three replacments.

Snow sculpture 2

2009-02-04T07:03:00.000-06:00

Chris is more talented. A snow pooch.

Snow sculpture

2009-02-03T07:01:00.000-06:00

Ena Sharples?

Super snow

2009-02-02T09:31:00.003-06:00

The snow has come at last. Looks great, especially this view (below) over the valley.

Big foot

2009-01-17T09:28:00.001-06:00

Oh how dainty am I?

Cheeky pheasant

2009-01-06T09:26:00.004-06:00

We saw this pheasant in the garden this morning - only the second I've ever seen here. He's interested in the seeds that have dropped from the feeder above. He had a good nose around before sauntering back down the path home. The picture is taken through the window so there's a bit of reflection.

Winter feeding

2009-01-05T19:20:00.000-06:00

We've seen a lot of birds feeding in the garden recently due to the frosts we've had. This family of chaffinches used to visit a lot but we haven't seen them all summer. They don't use the feeders but seem to prefer seeds I scatter on the ground. There are a couple more in this group (outside of frame).

New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T09:18:00.002-06:00

This laurel provides a nice bit of lush green at this time of year. The frost has stayed around and we've even had a few of those rare winter sunny days. Staring out of the window has been a major occupation of late.

Getting frosty

2008-12-28T09:09:00.000-06:00

This is a eucalyptus leaf; the frost really shows off its colour and leaves no damage. The back garden has been looking exceptionally pretty in the frost.

Santa on high

2008-12-21T04:14:00.002-06:00

This year is our first try with a rooted tree. After Christmas it's going outside to recover and get all healthy for next year. That's the plan, anyway.

Star for December

2008-12-12T02:35:00.000-06:00

This little shrub is looking great right now. I don't know what it is. It's at the back of the border so I need to move it towards the front by about two feet. That's planning for you.

Best broadies

2008-12-02T04:39:00.003-06:00

Broad beans - the best and easiest things to grow. You can totally ignore them after sowing; they may collapse and not look very neat but they still produce. No appeal for slugs either which makes them more appealing for me. I've sown two triangle's worth in my new veg plot. Seeing new growth now is the best thing to get through the barren winter ahead. The netting is cat-proofing, by the way.

Hanging on

2008-11-24T03:27:00.002-06:00

There are very few Field Maple leaves left. Unfortunately when these disappear we are back looking at next door. Roll on May...

By the way, I've made leaving comments easier so if you feel the urge, please let me know if you're reading (I need incentives this time of year).

All alone

2008-11-22T10:49:00.003-06:00

This clematis, Ville de Lyon, is holding on despite quite a few heavy frosts. Can't quite remember when it started flowering but it's early days (only second year) and I didn't prune it last year. Have just read it's in pruning group three so I need to hard-prune it in late winter (mid-Feb) by cutting all stems back to 25cm above ground level. Each pruned stem needs at least one good pair of buds on it. So hopefully I'll now remember to do this (will write on the calendar).

Fruity

2008-11-22T10:42:00.002-06:00

I've finally decided what to plant along the fence by the new improved veg plot. Autumn fruiting raspberries, Autumn Bliss. I already have some of these and this year they have been tasty stuff. I've also planted some Guilder Rose whips at the far end. I'm big keen on these, see how they look in spring.

Looking sharp

2008-10-15T10:47:00.000-06:00

The front of our shed gets the worst of the west's weather. Chris gave it some armoury to help it through another winter.

Progress

2008-09-13T04:06:00.005-06:00

Back in March 2006 I had a big plan for a nice mixed hedge.

By September the hedge had really established.

But this year, things are more how I like them.

Veg explosion

2008-09-12T03:30:00.000-06:00

This was how my very neglected veg beds looked in July. Everything had gone to seed, the borage had self-seeded everywhere and the paths were overgrown and very weedy. The area just wasn't working so needed some rethinking.
I started by lifting the gravel paths and clearing the area. I decided to keep the pretty variegated sage, the golden oregano and the parsley (which was grown from seed and has been one of the few things that have been great this year),
After lots of mulling, I came up with a design and started to lay it out with canes.
And this is how things look now, not quite finished. I ditched the golden oregano in the end - spreads too much and I never use it in cooking. Felt a bit ruthless. I recycled the tiles from our shed (now dry with a nice-looking green roof) to create the beds (the sticks are cat-proofing), put membrane down over the new paths and used the old gravel to start covering them (need a bit more). I'm pleased so far and looking forward to planting.

I'm planning to sow some autumn broad beans and then have spring bulbs in the circular bed followed by annual flowers in the summer. I've up-ended some tiles against the fence to stop the grass invading (a constant battle) but am planning a small hedge all along this area. It might be a living willow screen or guilder roses. I haven't quite decided yet - my next autumn project.

Things that work

2008-09-03T04:16:00.001-06:00

This isn't a great photo but I wanted to show this combination of plants that I really like. Not at all planned so a bit of a flook but that just makes it sweeter. You can just about make out a year one clematis on the left of the pittosporum. I'm going to train it further into the shrub so next year this should be quite dazzling.

Things that change

2008-09-01T04:21:00.001-06:00

This has always been known (to me anyway) as my problem bed. It's taken me ages to get it right but I think it's looking the best it has. Shame about next door's goal, I'm working on a screen to hide it.

Early on, it looked like this. Too angular.

And then this. Not so terrible really, but the catmint turned into a mistake when the neighbours introduced two kittens so it had to go. The penstemon was nice but was never going to get any taller; I replaced it with a red-stemmed dogwood that provides more height. It's also a rapid grower so has done the job. The catmint was replaced by a bay; slow growing but it will be great when it gets taller and it's done so well this year, I am happy to be patient.

Big yellow splash

2008-07-16T07:57:00.000-06:00

I had to wait a year for my coreopsis, grown from seed, to flower. Top show.

Pah!

2008-06-10T15:24:00.000-06:00

Hmmm...said I was a bit concerned about those seedlings (see how this looked in April). This will shift the post holiday feta-belly.

Spring growth

2008-06-05T15:13:00.001-06:00

Three weeks away in May seemed like a good idea. Think the garden got a bit carried away.

Lovely spuds

2008-06-03T14:55:00.003-06:00

I've opted for the quick and easy route with spuds this year. I've done five big tubs, different varieties (they were labelled but unsure now what's what). Hadn't planned on how they would look here but am really pleased with the result - they add a nice touch of green next to the deck.

Splendid woodruff

2008-05-12T15:00:00.001-06:00

I seem to have woodruff all over now, under my shrubs. So easy to dig a patch up and move it along. It looks its best now. Good stuff indeed.

New box

2008-05-10T14:38:00.000-06:00

My mum gave me six wee box. I hadn't planted them so when she came to visit she dug this mini border and interplanted them with some Veronicas that I'd grown from seed. Should be good in a couple of years.

Stars for May

2008-05-02T00:28:00.001-06:00

Birthdays in May are the best. New friends come in fancy dress.

Herb pot

2008-05-01T15:15:00.000-06:00

I never really have much success with herbs in pots. The Bay here is very yellow, the Greek Oregano has disappeared and I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do with the Welsh onions. Still, Mrs Jessops' Upright Rosemary and the common thyme are doing well.

Spring clean

2008-04-20T15:20:00.002-06:00

This is the new bed for this year (remember how it looked back in January). Some willow whips at the back (to hide the compost area), a Red Robin moved from another bed, couple of baby Choisias and a handful of sticks as cat deterrant. I'm a bit concerned about all the seedlings that have appeared. Not sure what they are but I suppose digging around here has spread them around good and proper.

Lone star

2008-04-08T06:54:00.002-06:00

We don't have many daffodils in the garden. Any that we do have always face into next door's garden so we just get to see the back of them. This one looks good below the bare Field Maple hedge.

Spring snow

2008-04-06T07:13:00.000-06:00

My sweet peas made it through the snow (this isn't them). The snow lasted all of two hours until the sun saw it off.

Pricking out

2008-03-31T07:09:00.000-06:00

I think I've overdone it with the Verbena - well they all came up. Sowed a whole packet and as I can never bear to through any away, have to pot them all up. Nice job on one of the warmer spring days. Think I'll have to hand out to friends and family - the cold frames are going to be a bit crowded...

Star for March

2008-03-24T07:15:00.000-06:00

This quince looks excellent next to the ever-expanding Euphorbia I have (shame that photo didn't work out). Spring means lots of star turns...but will they be the same as last year (I seem to have completely forgotten what was new in)?

New friends

2008-02-19T03:52:00.000-06:00

We made a new bird feeder from a hefty old branch and put it just beyond the deck so we can see it from the back door. These Goldfinches are regular visitors and are learning to stand up to the bullying bombing blue tits. The niger seed definitely attracts smaller birds; we've seen Chaffinch, Pied Wagtails and Goldfinch. It's better than watching the telly.

Spring seedlings

2008-02-12T03:45:00.000-06:00

I sowed these Echinacea two weeks ago and they are already out of the propagator and in the windowsill. I'm going to put them in a bed with Bergamort (sown at the same time) and my purple elder (which needs to be moved - third time lucky) into its permanent home.

Gooseberries

2008-01-15T06:52:00.000-06:00

This is the third attempt at locating these two gooseberry bushes. They were an impulse buy from my local Co-op. Every time I move them my mum says, 'You know gooseberries don't like to be moved'. They survived the last move so fingers crossed. If they survive, I promise I won't move them again.

Next project

2008-01-10T06:55:00.000-06:00

I've ventured out this week for the first time in ages and it feels good to be back in the mud. I've already moved a couple of things around as we've had a lot of rain lately and not much frost. The ground is all soft, just a bit sticky for digging.

This is the next area to be tackled. I was going to get some whips (not sure what though) to put here but, on reflection, I might have enough things in pots to fill the space. The area is packed full of acquilegia that have been happily self-seeding here long before I arrived on the scene. There's a good mix of colours so I will probably dig them all out to get at the brambles and weeds then put them all back in again. The area looks good every spring but then fails after that when the weeds take over. I need colour for July onwards so I'm planning to grow some perennials from seed so that I can have lots of the same thing. I'm big on drifts of colour at the moment.

Plugging the gaps

2008-01-07T07:03:00.002-06:00

This isn't the greatest of photos but the subject isn't too good this time of year. As you can see, the Eucalyptus has grown up high, taking its crown with it. This has left a gaping hole into next door - grim. It's not so bad when the quince (on the right) comes into leaf but for now I have moved a Potato vine that was hidden behind some hedging further along. I'm really not sure it's going to take as the main root was just like a dandelion - heading vertically down into the heavy clay. Being a foolish thing I lopped it off. Fingers crossed.

New year sprouts

2008-01-07T06:49:00.000-06:00

Now then, this is more like it - new growth in the middle of winter.

Happy New Yew

2007-12-30T11:28:00.000-06:00

I had a gap that I didn't like and couldn't help myself when I saw this little fella. The idea is that he creats a bit of winter structure where I have a lot of deciduous plants and some balance as I have a lot of dark evergreens the other side of the path. I'm thinking nice little dome shape next year.

Frosty morn

2007-12-11T02:45:00.001-06:00

We've already had a few frosty mornings but today's is the first that I've been able to take any shots of (well I had to go out and check the broad beans were okay - they are). This is golden oregano.

Winter warmer

2007-12-04T11:26:00.000-06:00

I haven't pruned these dogwoods at all but they are still pretty young so full of colour. I have a yellow one in this area too but, like everything else, they need to beef up a bit more to hide the fence. I hope I am not still writing this next year.

Bulbs in waiting

2007-11-27T11:22:00.001-06:00

I've been behind with autumn gardening this year so missed out on planting bulbs in the beds. I bought a few packs that were left in a garden centre and popped them into a couple of pots. This one has (I think) Iris Gipsy Beauty and Tulip Golden Apeldoorn. The other pot has tulips Elegant Lady and Black Hero. I've given up on daffs as they always face into our neighbours garden or away from the house (we are north facing). Tulips are much more rounded individuals.

Trimmed budleia

2007-11-27T11:18:00.001-06:00

I saw a budleia that had been trimmed like this when I was walking around the village and thought it was a good idea. I have three in a row that we inherited with the garden. I'm not a big fan but they cover a nasty wall (well, mostly) and the butterflies they attract really are amazing. I didn't have the heart to remove them so just keep this one, that was forever overtaking the patio, neatly trimmed in shape. It doesn't flower (the others do) but it does keep its leaves over the winter which is a bonus.

Autumn broadies

2007-11-27T11:14:00.001-06:00

I think I sowed these broad beans in October (seed packet missing) and didn't really expect them to be showing so soon but I think it's okay. I'm not planning on covering them with fleece although my local garden centre said I could throw some newspaper over them if we have a hard frost. I'm not sure I'll remember this. So great to see new growth at this time of year.

Not all blown away

2007-11-27T11:07:00.001-06:00

There are still a few pretty-looking stragglers on this field maple. I missed most of them when we were away earlier in the month. This time next year, I'm hoping I won't be able to see through the branches to the rotten fence behind. I'm going to do what Carol Klein did and knit together the branches by bending them down and through its neighbours. This is supposed to produce lateral shoots that head upward making the whole hedge thicker.

Pumpkin post

2007-11-02T03:28:00.000-06:00

No, I didn't grow it, but I am dead proud of it.

Lonely star

2007-10-21T09:44:00.001-06:00

I seem to have California poppies all over the garden now. I don't think I'll be sowing any next year as they seem to be self-seeding. This is rather a lonely-looking fella, tucked up in a sunless area amidst the Euphorbia (good colour against them).

Spring greens

2007-10-21T09:42:00.001-06:00

I've come to the conclusion that the deck is the only place the slugs haven't found out about - unless I am blessed with slugs with vertigo. These are getting too big for the pot but I might try using the leaves in salads and seeing if they keep on coming. I'm going to do more on-deck growing next year.

Rosemary hedging

2007-10-21T09:38:00.001-06:00

Oh how chuffed am I with my dwarf rosemary hedge. I grew all of these from heal cuttings and now they have just begun to join up looking like a proper tasty hedge.

Little sprout

2007-10-21T09:35:00.001-06:00

I only put some onion sets in a couple of weeks ago and already they are sprouting. The birds successfully rearranged them for me about a day after I'd put them in neat rows (one red, one brown - I'm trying to make things look more interesting). I've covered the whole area in heavy duty netting - bit too heavy, tends to collapse after a bit of rain. Anyway, the onions are back in neat rows and looking good for it.

Full of holes

2007-10-21T09:17:00.000-06:00

The Pak Choi I grew from seed (Joi Choi) are doing pretty well (see them a month ago) but there isn't one leaf without a few holes. My fault - been a bit lazy on the slug patrol. Might have to start a new offensive tonight...

Dew drips

2007-09-19T13:44:00.001-06:00

I can't help but love seeing the dew on the Euphorbia leaves. That makes me as drippy as they are.

September star

2007-09-19T13:38:00.000-06:00

This is Sedum 'Matrona', one of three I bought last year after seeing them on Gardeners' World. I was lacking colour at this time of year (though have made up for that with my aster, Helenium, Evening Primrose, Lavender (Alexandra), Penstemons and various shrubs). My gaps now are after the spring bulbs when the garden is really lacking colour. Good excuse for a shopping trip.

Autumn harvest

2007-09-19T13:31:00.001-06:00

We are picking tomatoes every day now (and keeping an eye on the forecast for the first frosts, hopefully not anytime soon). I've lost a couple of plants to blight but it's not spread. My beetroot just didn't come up this year, despite a few separate sowings. All I had were about four or five beets, very poor compared to last year. I bought some smaller seedlings which I planted a few weeks ago but I'm not sure if it's all too late for them now (weatherwise). There's plenty of lettuce; been great this year. The ones I sowed directly into the veg beds failed (eaten) but I sowed into pots (Mr Fothergill's organic salad bowl red and green), harvested small leaves and when the plants got bigger moved them into a bed. Turned into whoppers and keep producing leaves - I just take what we need, it's great.

Autumn in the veg plot

2007-09-19T13:27:00.001-06:00

My mum helped me plant out the Pak Choi (Joi Choi) and Spring Greens (Mastergreen) that I have grown from seed. They all look a bit limp at the moment but I'm hoping a few days acclimatisation will see them beef up and stand upright. I also sowed some more spinach - my first sowing got half eaten. Slug duty is back as a priority.

View from the door

2007-09-19T13:23:00.001-06:00

The border beyond the deck is looking much fuller this year. I moved the variegated grass from a pot into the ground just by the pyracantha and it's doing exactly what I wanted - hiding the base and providing good contrast in colour and leaf. Of-course it's completely grown over the two small skimmias I put in - both on the list for moving this autumn.

2007-08-28T04:50:00.001-06:00

I've been looking back at old photos to see how much growth we've had this year. The curvy long border hasn't done bad (this is the first time the grass has been cut and the edges done at the same time - doesn't always look this neat). Things aren't quite covering the wall as I'd hoped. I think I need to feed everything in this border so next year it has more of a growth spurt. Or maybe I'm just impatient.

Balloons over Bath

2007-08-27T02:32:00.000-06:00

It's been a really sunny bank holiday weekend and the balloons have been out and about over the valley we look into. They come up over the house really close (we hear the burners). This was taken yesterday at about 7pm. The tree on the far right is the ash at the bottom of our garden.

Planted up

2007-08-22T13:51:00.001-06:00

I finally got around to planting up the new bed in our shady zone (see the project's progress: stage 1 stage 2 stage 3 ). I'm pretty pleased with how it's looking but we've run out of wine bottles for the edging (work in progress). I planted the ten coreopsis grown from seed (not sure I'm going to see any flowers on them this year), three astilbe (£1 each in the (almost) dead plant zone in the garden centre) and three achillea (£1 each as well, I do like a bargain). The larger shrubs at the back were birthday presents: two shrub lilacs and a viburnum (see my May entry). The sparks of colour are gladioli and crocosmia - almost finished now.

We've had one ace barbie on our beach but so far the weather's not been right (and now the local farmers have been spraying so the garden is rather smelly - not very conducive for munching a veggie burger).

Another star

2007-08-20T04:02:00.001-06:00

I've been waiting a long time for this Aster frikartii Monch to flower. It was a plant on my list so when I found it in a garden cetnre it had to be bought. I'd read it's the best aster but can't remember now who said that. It's planted with red Helenium which is quite a colourful combo but seems to work. I dug up the Helenium in the spring and divided one plant into about six (it was overdue for splitting) and tried to remove the bindweed that smothers it in summer. It didn't work (I discovered helenium and bindweed have v. similar looking roots), and the bindweed is back. Oh well.

Star in august

2007-08-20T03:58:00.001-06:00

I tried taking a photo of this Japanese aneneme the other day but it was so windy I was just getting a lot of blurred images. Today is really still so I had another go. I've got the white variety too - both were hidden under the gloom of the overgrown budleia when we arrived but I make sure they have a bit more light these days and every year they beef up a little more. I like seeing them flower but it does always feel like the end of the season. They seem to be the freshest thing around at this time of year.

Tumbler full

2007-08-16T11:42:00.001-06:00

My tumbler toms are getting red. First time I've tried them, dead easy it seems. I put them in our homemade planter on the patio. I'm going to wait, along with the basil, until they are really red and ripe. Here's hoping for a sunny weekend to rosy them up.

Job done

2007-08-16T11:39:00.001-06:00

Chris has done another star turn and painted the rusty old gate at the front. Now it's nice and shiney and doesn't clatter so much when I bang it closed (hope he doesn't read this).

Autumn in august...no!

2007-08-16T11:37:00.001-06:00

My Forsythia seems to think that autumn has arrived. I'm in denial - it just cannot be. Not yet. Please.

Brilliant sweetcorn

2007-08-09T07:19:00.001-06:00

My sweetcorn have suddenly taken to the skies with the recent spot of sun we've had. They looked rather stunted before but had survived the rain and wind really well. I grew about eight from seed and since they went out, I really haven't done a thing to them: no staking, weeding or feeding (I'm really bad at feeding). Tough old things.

Ver-bee-na

2007-08-09T07:15:00.001-06:00

I always think verbena is a really summery flower. I bought two a couple of years ago and thought I had lost both in frosts but they seem to have self-seeded (when I bought them someone in the garden centre said they had really spread) - I've found them in various parts of the garden - I guess because they are so tall the seeds go quite a distance. Good news for me in my 275ft garden.

Eaten again

2007-08-06T04:07:00.001-06:00

These were healthy-looking mange tout (Norli). Healthy until they got eaten by those slimey things. Been a bad year for beans and peas on the veg plot (although the broad beans were brill - will do more for next year).