Monthly Archives: June 2011

Work kind of blends from home and my own garden to my customers’ gardens at the moment.  At this time of year there’s so much to do everywhere.  And the weather always surprises me, even when its wet it still seems warm,  and of course that makes things grow, and that means work. Thank goodness I’m at my happiest when I’m out in the garden.

I’m writing lists or else I’ll forget what to do next, still things to sow in the vegetable garden, lots to cut back as the early perennials are going over and as for the weeds, well they’re loving it, then the greenhouse needs water every day, not to mention that its wedding season.  I’m quite impressed with the veggie patch though.  My second growing season but twice the size.  There’s still lots of rubbish in the ground though so I’ve got lots of potatoes again to keep clearing the ground.

This weekend I sowed some more spring onions, mixed leaves and radishes.   Love the lettuces I’m getting at the moment, they’re delicious and  we could have more broad beans than is entirely necessary.  Son isn’t exactly wild about them worst luck.

Then there are the 19 half  barrels I have littering the place.   They are an order for July and I’ve potted them all up with summer plants so they can fill out and I”m thankful for the rain we’ve had overnight lately.  Its saving me about half an hour of watering every evening.  They’re looking good but there’s a lot of ’em.

The first cucumber is almost ready to cut.   I’ve scaled down the number of plants I’ve grown this year, I think I grew 3 plants last year and I ended up pickling cucumbers and giving them away left right and centre.   However, they had such a great flavour, so much better than shop bought ones.

It sounds as though its all about veggies, but not quite.   This morning I made a corsage for myself.  A rare treat – I usually hand them over for someone else.   I was at a meeting and decided to advertise what I do by wearing it.      I think I might have to do it more often……..

Last year I cut down some sycamores and I made  a little pile of branches at the bottom of the garden promising myself that I’d turn them into rustic poles for fences, arches, who knew….lots of things.  But they sat there and sat there as things do.   However I just had to do something about the hens who could break into the flower beds no matter what I tried to keep them out.  They’d make fantastic escape artists those birds.  The final straw was the whole crew of them in the veggie plot – there were peas flying, lettuces disappearing and a big dust bath appearing in the middle of the onions.  Enough ladies, time to build a fence.

I was amazed to find that it wasn’t too difficult – and it was almost free, but very rustic.   Apart from a few screws here and there and the netting of course to fasten onto it, what a bargain.  We had to bash in the uprights which was the hardest part and it may not be here in 10 years, but it works perfectly for now.   It looks cottagey which was the plan, the hens are well and truly shut out although a bit miffed, and they still have acres to play in  and I’m happy.

I’ve planted one of my favourite roses to sramble all over it.  Veilchenblau is a ramber with prolific flowers.  Starting off quite purple it fades almost to pale grey.   It can be a bit of a monster if you let it get out of control and I suspect it may decide to take my fence with it but I’m happy to give it a go.  Its only a baby at the moment but watch this space.  And because I want mygarden to be informal I’ve planted into the side of the lawn where I’ve also put some iris to establish and some lavender.  Later I’ll put in some honeysuckle to climb over the fence from the other end and meet the rose in the middle to give a beautiful scented mix.

Here’s the first little rose that’s just come out as I’ve planted it.