Wednesday 27 May 2020

In the Garden

As well as going out for many walks and picnics in the local area, the warm sunny weather has meant I've also been spending much of my time in the garden. Recent restrictions have made me realise just how fortunate I am to have this little plot and I can't begin to tell you how much I have come to appreciate it, especially during recent weeks.

In the damp winter months I can feel quite resentful of what I feel is wasted space. Being so wet and muddy it rarely gets used during this time of year and aside from clearing up the leaves and repairing any storm damage I tend not to give it too much attention. Instead, I allow my mind to wander to thoughts of a house extension, surely it would be much more beneficial,  and how wonderful it would be to have that large dining kitchen I've always hankered after. I get  like this every year, so you would think I'd know better by now. Oh well, I can always dream.

Recently, however, I couldn't imagine not having this precious little patch of earth. Whether I'm sowing seeds, being able to grab a handful of spinach to enjoy in a sandwich, pegging out the laundry, or simply enjoying sitting in the sunshine with a cup of tea. As long as I don't have the dilapidated shed in my field of vision I am quite content. And I am hopeful even that might  get replaced before the end of the summer. I also must not forget the importance of this space for digging, making mud pies and poking worms, the opportunities for making a mess are endless.

Anyway, here is a little glimpse as to what is out there just now.


The Sweet Peas are doing well. I planted these using harvested seeds from last years plants. There is some new growth on the Lavender and I am keeping the mint in a pot from now on after it all went a bit wild last year. There are Sunflowers and Rosemary in the background. Just out of shot are eight tiny chilli seedlings.


Beetroot.


Sunflowers. I plant these up against the fence so they are supported as they grow. There are twelve of them at the moment. Some are from the seeds I got for Lily's birthday last year and the rest are a smaller variety which I think are red in colour. Some more Lavender.


Strawberries. It  looks as though there will be a plentiful supply this year.


Tomatoes. I was later to sow these this year but it looks like they are beginning to grow a little faster now.


There are also some carrots and spinach in the vegetable patch, and each morning I take these little pots outside to sit in the sun. Lily and I have planted some apple and lemon seeds. They've grown even more since I took this photograph just the other day and I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress.

As the temperatures are set to rise, the garden will have another purpose this week. We're setting up the new paddling pool!

J. X

64 comments:

  1. Your veggie growing is putting ours to shame! We've only got potatoes, onions, beetroot and peas. Nothing in the greenhouse this year; we'd normally have toms, peppers, snack cucumbers and butterhead lettuce. The garden is very dry here and the grass is quite dead. The water butts are almost empty. Much as we're enjoying the sunny weather, we could do with a good shower of rain. Enjoy your paddling pool, Lily :) Best, Jane x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The grass is quite dry here too, although most of it is covered by the paddling pool now, so it doesn't really matter. It usually recovers quite quickly. X

      Delete
  2. I love looking at all the garden pictures, and how the seedlings are popping up through the soil, never ceases to amaze me. Lovely Garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels quite reassuring to see signs of growth. X

      Delete
  3. Lily will love the paddling pool and I suspect it will be used to cool some tired feet. Your plants look very healthy, mine are still playing catch up after using some horrible compost.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope your plants recover quickly. I'm looking forward to cooling off in the pool later. X

      Delete
  4. It all looks brilliant - well done.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Joy. The tomatoes have quite a way to catch up with yours but I hope they will start to grow a bit faster now. X

      Delete
  5. Wow, what a wonderful space and impressive with the wonderful growth of all your fruit and veg. Like you I am so thankful for our garden, my heart goes out to all those living in tower blocks and such in these very strange times. A paddling pool sounds like fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel very fortunate to have this little garden. I can't imagine the difficulties faced by those who have little or no outdoor space, especially now. X

      Delete
  6. Outdoor space has been a real blessing here too. Just a change of scene and some fresh air has made all the difference. One of the things that made me angry was when some parks were closed down. Not everybody has a garden and pounding the streets isn't quite the same as walking in green space. Thankfully that particular brainwave didn't last long.

    You've got a nice selection of plants and I'm quite envious of your sweet peas. They're one of my favourite flowers and I'd have planted some myself but I thought we'd be back at the van buy now, and I know they need a lot of watering. Lily reminds me of Amy. She used to bring worms and snails into the house to keep as pets! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't imagine how frustrating it must have been to go for a walk to discover the parks had been closed. Thank goodness that didn't last. It makes me realise just how lucky I am to have this space.
      There aren't any worms in the house so far - not that I am aware of anyway :D

      Delete
  7. It's lovely to be able to sit out in our garden when the sun shines and enjoy the space. Especially nice for you to enjoy picking your home grown produce. I bought two mint plants on my recent visit to the garden centre and am growing them in a pot, never grown mint before and hadn't realised it goes wild.
    I do hope you can have your garden shed replaced and just hang on to the dream that one day you will have that house extension and kitchen/diner you desire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm still pulling some mint out of the soil where it was planted a few years ago, that's why I'm keeping it in a pot from now on.
      The extension is just a dream really, I think it is more likely to be a house move in the future. X

      Delete
  8. I really feel for those without a garden at the moment, especially those who have children, though at least we're allowed to visit parks now and have picnics. It's really no substitute for a garden though, we really are very lucky having a bit of outside space. It looks as though you'll be eating well come harvest time, there's no better tasting veggies than home grown. The weather's beautiful again, Lily will enjoy cooling off in her paddling pool.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be for those without any accessible outdoor space, so I feel very fortunate to have this little garden. It might only be small but we grow what we can in the space available. X

      Delete
  9. A garden is a joy that nothing can replace. Other years, I have been grateful to be able to have an area to grow flowers and vegetables. This year, I started my seeds in mid-March and I know having life happen before me, got me through the hardest of times. I have a plaque above the door I use to go out in my yard. On it is written, “Where Flowers Bloom, So Does Hope.”. (Eleanor Roosevelt)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a really lovely quote, and very fitting just now. Spending time in the garden is very therapeutic and the benefits should never be underestimated. There is a sense of achievement in growing something from seed.
      Stay well, Arleen. X

      Delete
  10. Your garden looks great! Everything looks so healthy and you will enjoy the results when everything ripens! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ellen. The spinach has already been put to good use and I need to sow some more this week. I'm especially looking forward to some strawberries. X

      Delete
  11. You have a garden! I have wondered, about some of your Country-Women... Who only use their back garden (here, we call it a yard, and only spots growing food or flowers, is the "garden") for flowers. I wondered why they don't have a food plot? -smile-

    They get an Allotment, which sounds as if, it can be hard to do. So.... Why not in their own yard? Yes, I will have to ask them!!!

    Hooray for the paddling pool!!!!!!

    Open up, USA!
    With safety measures!
    Compromised people
    Stay home!
    ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many gardens here, much like the houses, can be quite small, and in some areas don't have the benefit of sunlight all day long, much like my own. An allotment can provide a large open plot for those who wish to grow their own but would otherwise lack the available space to do so.
      Alys Fowler used to present an interesting gardening programme in which she showed how to grow vegetables in between flowering plants and make the most of a smaller plot, but even that garden was large compared to many. X

      Delete
  12. One thing I never take for granted is my garden. It's nothing special but I didn't have one at all before I moved here - I even appreciate the weeds! The paddling pool sounds like a great idea but I'll pass on the worm poking, I don't like slimy things! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels a privilege to have a garden just now and I hope I don't take it for granted ever again. I don't appreciate the weeds, however. :D

      Delete
  13. We too have spent more time in the garden this year. Its an easy garden, light friable soil but very dry, but we have a very nice raised bed, beans and a lot of tomatoes.. as well as new flowers all grown from seed inside on window sills as we don't have a green house here. You have quite a lot growing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's all about making the most of the space available. I'm forever moving pots around to get the most of the sunshine. The only flowers I have sown from seed are Sunflowers and the Sweet Peas, but they seem to be growing well. X

      Delete
  14. Your garden and planting is looking good.

    Good for you for setting up the new paddling pool.
    Our youngest grandson has been in his these past few days having a wonderful time :)

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your garden is growing so well! Look at all those baby strawberries! Everything looks to nice and healthy and well cared for! Not a single weed to be seen! Enjoy your garden. But, maybe you can bump out your kitchen just a little bit and still preserve some growing space?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm really looking forward to the strawberries this year. It looks as though we will have a plentiful supply. X

      Delete
  16. Yes that mint certainly needs holding in with a firm corset...beautiful though. x

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have quite a big plot and lots of stuff coming up. Well worth the effort!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's really only small, Chris, but I try to make the most of the available space. X

      Delete
  18. I love this little insight into your garden! Jon's just asked me to ask you if you started your beetroot in a greenhouse or if you planted the seeds in the gorund like we did as yours is way ahead of ours and he's jealous!
    If you don't fancy removing and replacing that delapidated shed try painting it black - we've done that with ours and they almost disappear! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can tell Jon I sowed the beetroot seed directly into the ground. It's grown quite a bit more this last week, but it's definitely down to good fortune rather than anything I've done, as I really don't know much about gardening.
      Thank you for the suggestion about painting the shed, but it's really gone far beyond that. If I leave it a little longer it will fall down on it's own and won't need dismantling! X

      Delete
  19. We have done so much in our garden this year because we have been at home more - the problem will come when we have to start our journeys again and will need someone to water all the pots and boxes of veg. Everything looks wonderful in yours x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Viv. I'm having to keep everything well watered in this hot sunny weather. X

      Delete
  20. So beautiful!!!
    Thanks for sharing.
    I have one pretty plant that I keep forgetting to water.
    Have a cozy evening!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. I'm having to remember to water the plants each evening while the weather is hot and sunny. X

      Delete
  21. You've both got green fingers, everything looks lovely.
    We have our first sweet pea flower opened today, I was excited beyond belief when I smelled it....how silly!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish! No green fingers here, in fact they're a bubble gum pink just now :)
      Sweet Peas are lovely aren't they. I'm looking forward to mine flowering. X

      Delete
  22. It's good to see all your vegetables. I sat having a coffee this afternoon contemplating a way of getting the needed shelter to enable vegetables to grow. Some things are possible. A few years ago I had the most magnificent kale crop only to discover that it's a green that I'm not really very fond of. I love sprouts and they used to be a very important croft crop but I only know one person who grows them now.

    However, I have got plenty of flowers on the way and apart from my delphinium which has had some very bad wind damage most things have survived - just.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a fan of kale either, I much prefer sprouts or broccoli. Would they be robust enough to survive your weather?
      I was hoping to introduce more flowering plants to the garden this year but that got side lined when the restrictions were introduced. I'm happy to wait. X

      Delete
    2. I am so glad to see you both say that . . . a couple of years ago I grew a decent crop of kale having enjoyed some Black Kale I’d purchased

      My stuff? It was foul: regardless of how much of a superfood it is meant to be - I ended up composting the lot!

      Delete
    3. At least it didn't go to waste :)

      Delete
  23. All the pots are looking good

    Julie xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  24. It must be lovely going into warmer weather and being able to plant Summer vegetables and have a paddling pool. We are at the end of Autumn here in New Zealand and have just grown some Winter veggies from seed. The weather is still holding up (18 C today) so hopefully my plants will have a chance over Winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's forecast to be lovely and warm over the weekend, so the paddling pool will be getting plenty of use.
      I hope your plants will be OK. X

      Delete
  25. It is wonderful to be able to spend so much time in our gardens isn't it and marvel at the wonder of nature, the tiny seeds which hold the key to so much hope in the future. Your tomato plants are much bigger than mine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't imagine not having a garden, especially just now and it's all looking quite promising out there at the moment. Lily is checking each day to see if the strawberries are ripening. X

      Delete
  26. Everything is looking nice and healthy. Lovely photos. I'm so grateful for my garden. My garden shed has seen better days and we were going to replace it but bought patio furniture instead, so it will have to do for another year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is always something needing replacing isn't there. I felt sure the shed would collapse during our winter storms but it's still holding out. X

      Delete
  27. How exciting, Jules. Your garden looks amazing. You have a very green thumb. I am also busy growing food. It's exciting and rewarding. Never have I been so thankful for my garden, healthy soil, and land.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It feels so satisfying feeling being able to grow my own vegetables. Although I don't grow much, I try and make the most of the space I have available. X

      Delete
  28. Gosh Jules, you are doing brilliantly. Your plants look so healthy and many are much further on than mine. Well done. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's definitely down to good fortune, Jayne and it's all grown so much more during the last week. X

      Delete
  29. You have a nice variety of plants, Jules and they all look so nice and healthy. Your sunflowers are way ahead of mine. I did sow them rather late, but they are getting cracking now. Something I think of doing every year and never get round to is sweet peas and I do love them so! Next year I’m going to put a bit of trellis around the compost bin and grow them there to disguise the ‘attractive’ bin.
    I think I would have gone stir crazy not having a bit of my own outdoor space, during this time. I feel very fortunate:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ann. The plants all appear to be thriving in this sunny weather. Just this morning I have noticed some strawberries are showing signs of ripening. We grow sunflowers each year, they are Lily's favourite. X

      Delete
  30. All looking wonderful in your little patch.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hello Jules. I hope you are doing well. Your plants are coming so nicely. Your strawberries are going to be ripe and delicious before you know it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We've enjoyed some of the strawberries already. They are delicous. X

      Delete