Monday 6 June 2016

Belatedly into June!



Hello folks, I'm typing this in the garden and it's almost too hot to be out here. Yes, I really did say that!  We had a quite lovely early May then we had two weeks of dull skies and rain and COLD! on this (east) side of the country, and feeling a little put out (not really) when my friends in Ireland, Wales and the west of England were talking about their glorious sunshine and heat! So feel entitled to feel a little smug as I slap on the factor 50 and put on my sunhat.


No textiles this post, it's all about the garden. Still some way to go, but it is looking particularly lovely this morning I have to say. So, no more chat, just photos and a few explanations. Enjoy!


In the tin bath I have some swiss chard growing, some mint, chives and coriander. Around the bath are a selection of thymes and sages, and in the trug are coriander plants grown from seed.


Up on the little terrace, the "whimsical Corner" . Two mosaics and the fisherman's clock which had pride of place in Jim's Fishing Lodge (the shed) which is permanently set to 5 because it's always "Five o'clock Somewhere!"


 Yes the water needs a clean out! Love these tiny poppies growing in the gravel - Oh! it was a job cutting the membrane and getting them in the soil beneath, but well worth the effect. I wonder if any seeds will actually grow in the bare gravel?


The chook's corner - I love my white picket fence. It's only short but I was determined to have one somewhere!


OK so he's not a 'proper' Green Man, Jim bought him for me to paint YEARS ago when I was poorly at some point. Waiting to find a really nice  Green Man to put in some little nook somewhere.


The raised beds and potatoes in sacks. I keep meaning to to call it The Pottager! Everything is growing away like mad, and I'm harvesting radish, rocket, spinach, chard, all kinds of salad leaves, and re-sowing. I have to be reminded at times or find things in books and magazines which keep me on my toes, because it is all new to me. But I'm SO enjoying growing stuff.


The little patch in front of the summer house is coming along beautifully. I'm really impressed with the ranunculus, I sowed loads more and they are coming up now and into the garden with them. The second stepping stone is getting its mosaic treatment, but I've not finished it yet.


I really love this view. So glad we took up the lawn which was never used. There's so much going on here now, and it's somewhere where we sit when the sun is on it. I've planted lots of herbs and creeping plants which I hope will eventually spread all over the gravel.


Ah! My little pond. No signs of frogs yet, but it is feeding the wildlife and there are a couple of wriggly things in there!


Jim's side, the Serious Veggie Growing Area. There's more to the right of the bean supports too. I'm cropping the guerrilla salad which is growing among the parsley on the left of the netting tunnel. I planted out the remains of a supermarket salad box… and it is all re-growing!


The new little bed outside the kitchen. Jim took up a row of paving slabs and concreted in the edging, so I have cavolo nero, bulb fennel, broad leaf sorrel, winter savoury, and leaf fennel growing happily here. Also tarragon, coriander and chives in the old sink at the back. The loveage is growing away like mad as it does each year- I've chopped it twice already! Ah well, it all makes excellent compost.

Well that's it folks, sorry it's been such an age getting this out, and I WILL now check out YOUR blogs too - I feel too guilty to go into Blogger when I haven't posted so I get all behind with your news. Soon to be rectified, I promise.

Well, it'll be lunch outdoors today, Jim's just put up the sunshade for me (It's MUCH too tall for me to get the thing opened!) Off into the kitchen I go to prepare lunch. I hope the sun is shining on you too!

18 comments:

  1. I am happy to hear that you are finally getting some sun, I have been busy in the garden but the heat means that it is an early in the day job. By 11 it is too hot so Ben and I retreat indoors and I sew or knit while he snores.

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    1. I was burning by lunch time, Pam! It was lovely… we went form November to August overnight, really weird!

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  2. All looking great, welsh poppies should fit in somewhere very nicely. Just sent you an email, hope you get it!

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    1. Hi Dc looking forward to meeting up - loads of space for more poppies! Thanks!

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  3. Super garden, Love those chickens!

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    1. Aren't they just something! We saw all this tin stuff in New Zealand, had never come across them before in the UK- but then, we'd never gone looking for them. Lx

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  4. There you are! Love that you can get poppies even in gravel. I can't get them going with plants or seeds! I am waiting for my sweet peas to bloom with crossed fingers. Oh your salads sound wonderful ....so tasty.

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    1. Yes, I'm back again, Linda! I'm terrible at posting these days! The stuff "growing" in the gravel is actually growing in the soil beneath the gravel , as I slashed the seed repelling membrane under the gravel and planted, then covered it over again. But I'd love to know if seeds dropped right onto the gravel would grow without soil - some say the minerals in the gravel is accessed by plants when the rain washes the minerals out. We shall see! Lxx

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  5. love your garden ,it has everything you need, gave me some idesa to , thanks for posting. Val

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    1. Hello Val, lovely that you passed this way, thanks for commenting! Are you a fiddle player, by any chance? (Or perhaps a violinist! ;) )

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  6. OMG Lynne, this is all looking seriously fab...you've gone and got yourself some green fingers! Love your gravel garden, I'd have had one on our top garden but Otto would just dig it up! Well done :) xxx

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    1. Not bad is it? I'm really chuffed with it. Need to keep on top of it as we head into Autumn though, always a dejected time for our garden! Yes, I've LONGED for a gravel garden, and as we don't use the little lawn it made sense to get rid of it. Jim gave the lawn mower to the Sally Army so everyone was pleased! Lxx

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  7. Lynne, I hope that you haven't been blogging because you are having a marvelous summer . . . and do not have the time for computing. You are one of my favorite people in blog-land and I miss your enthusiasm and gusto.
    Please know that you are truly missed.
    Connie :)

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    1. Thank you my friend! Another post arriving shortly! xxxxx

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  8. Your garden is beautiful! I hope you enjoy the new season ahead ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

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    1. I certainly did, and thanks for posting - a new post will be along shortly! ;)

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  9. I miss you . . . it has been so long since you've posted. I hope it is because you are having a marvelous summer, with no time for the computer. Anyway, thought I would just let you know that you are in my thoughts, best wishes,
    Connie :)

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    1. Dear, dear Connie Thank you so much for caring! Nothing dramatic, just a chronic attack of the ennui and boredom and ….reluctance! I am REALLY about to get another roost sorted! I PROMISE!!!!! xxxxx

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