Lunch al fresco

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.