New life

My pomegranate is coming back to life, I love the colours of these new leaves, hopefully I may get a few flowers on it this summer, I moved the pot last summer and it does seam happy, no signs of any distress, before I kept it trimmed to a lower height, now I will let it grow, it will make a nice backdrop for the seating area, along with my herbs. This plant I grew from a seed, started back in 2017.

I mixed loads of flower seeds and sprinkled them into these two bags, I used these for cut flowers last year, I also have freesias in here as well, most of the seeds should do well it's a warm sunny spot. This for me is proving a successful way to start seeds, the bags protect them from the worse of the weather and snails.

I removed six lupins seedlings from the above bags, I love to grow them, sadly they never return after their first year, these will be useful to fill gaps. The tray at the bottom of photo I have completely forgot what seeds I have sown, I checked with Lens, it can't make it's mind up, could be forget-me-nots or cornflowers, its a case of wait and see.

I also planted some bulbs, liatris spicata, they have tiny flowers on stalks, I put two packs in the back of my square bed last year and nothing grew, so once these are bigger they can go out.

My hubby purchased a plant for our garden, it was market day on Wednesday, the plant stall is good. I made comment I loved these bottlebrush plants and one would go in my pot, which is in a sunny sheltered spot, I had just popped my astilbe in it, but I can place it elsewhere in the garden. As I was deciding hubby paid the man, I'm happy with my latest addition. 

I have been out most days looking for snails, I know where they hide, catching them early helps my crops, I do have beer traps I can use, for now I search by hand, there are not many weeds, I have them under control for the moment. My cucumber plants is growing well, I have 4 tomato plants, hoping for a good harvest this year and loads of lettuce plants at various stages.

I have also purchased another astrantia, it's a pink flower, I do love these plants, I want to dig out my penstemon, it's too big for the spot, plus last year there were hardly any blooms, I also got 20 french marigold plants from B&Q, my own seeds failed germinate. It's truly naughty to purchase more plants, I have plenty growing in the greenhouse. 

It's been a quiet few days, I have hurt my left shoulder, I've had problems since 2010, when an operation left me with nerve damage and a weakness, all I can do is rest, which is not so bad with the sunshine, I do wish the very cool wind would drop, it's nice to work outside but still cool to sit for too long. Today they have promised the wind will disappear, I have high hopes, I have a few jobs to sort in the square flower bed.

Thank you for your kind comments regarding our garden, whilst I do most of the work these days, it's a space for both of us, our refit back in 2023, was the final stage, ensuring its a much easier after 17 years we have done all the hard work, we know what grows here, I am an organic gardener, I use no chemicals anywhere, watching the wildlife gives us as much pleasure as seeing the blooms. I don't regard anything here as work, I'm happiest with a set of snipps in my hand, either deadheading or keeping things in shape.

My peaceful place

 April is a great month, so much new growth to be seen on all the trees in garden surrounding ours, making a colourful backdrop, our Magnolia is now filling out, I adore this tree, happy we keep it smaller. My red acer had a hug dead spot on the top right had side, I have cut all the dried wood away, it now looks lopped sided, I'm trying to convince hubby it needs a huge trim. 

My fleabane daisies are coming into flower, I have been tucking all the bulb leaves under the new growth, I won't cut them back as they are mainly hidden. My astilbe in the middle is growing back, I have popped the rusty frame around it, it's not really needed, I just love the look. I have 4 aquilegia's along the back, they will show soon.

My square bed is all sorted in the back section, my forsythia is thriving in this new spot and fills the corner, in the other corner I have planted my Chinese witch hazel, it was potbound, a neighbour has hers in the ground and its doing well. I do have space at the front for other plants, this bed again is how I wanted it. I put an astilbe in the big pot, I purchased it as a tiny plant, its now a good size.

My side bed is still full of bulb leaves, I will leave this bed for a few more weeks, I can see loads of plants returning, soon summer plants will dominate, for now I can let the bulbs die back and gain strength for next year. My bunting is years old, it's faded and dirty, I will remove it, I can't decide if I should make another lot to go up, I have had coloured lights here, they never last too long, humm, might look good bare.

There is almost nothing to do in this ornamental front section, it is how we like it, this is going to be a year of enjoying the space together, my greenhouse is full of plants, not sure where I can put them all. I can get dirty finger nails in the veg/fruit section, with the bonus of loads of lovely fruit and veg and of course my greenhouse. I did pop some spring pots under the red acer, something has been digging in them, so I will move them to the back section of the garden, I still have some space there. 

Since one of the huge elderflower trees has shifted in our neighbours garden, ours is now getting more sunshine, it is making a huge difference to the space, in time it will grow back and cast a huge shadow, the others are taller than our own magnolia tree.

Sunday we did nothing, it was another dry sunny day still with a cool breeze, we ate lunch outside, I did water the pots, again they were bone dry, I sat and did cross stitching for a few hours, such a restful day, the little ones played in their own garden so daughter got some relaxing done as well. Monday I did some housework and then outside again, enjoying the lovely weather.

The mornings and evenings are still cooler here, the days full of sunshine is very welcome, it's been a long wet winter, and I am more then ready for summer, even if I have to water often.

In my hands

32 pattern rows completed, I'm still enjoying knitting this blanket, first row is my mixed coloured yarns, second row is plain coloured yarns, I've kept going in the cycle. The bottom still curls, hope I can sort that. I'm getting to the length I require if it is going to be used as a lap blanket, it's not wide enough for anything else.

My yarn stash is shrinking, this container is not so packed, I've been using all my small hand dyed shanks, this was the point of making this design. I'm still on my first 100grms of black yarn, all 4ply. The paper separates the yarns used in each row, ensuring I spread the colours throughout my knitting. 

There are loads of ends to sew in, I use a tiny rug latch hook, much easier and quicker, no threading yarn through needle eyes.

I have felt something was missing from my days, I do enjoy knitting and reading, my real passion is for cross stitch, last year I found a huge piece of linen, which I had forgotten about. I won't stitch it all, plans are forming for another mash up of designs, I love the challenge mixing everything up gives me, as always my starting plans are very loose, I adore this edging design, I already have made some changes to incorporate the flower motif I love, it will form the outer border, maybe a bit bigger that the original design and then have fun filling the middle. The original design can be seen here. 

I love this author, so far every book I have read has been great, a very different plot, she wakes up in a strange room, trying to piece the past few days, except to everyone else she is in a coma after an accident. I adore how she gives you all the answers in plain sight, and not until the end does all the bits fall into place. Book 31 read this year

I've had a couple of quiet days, I sat with the boys on Friday after school, whilst Molly had her swimming lesson, later daughter went out for tea with a few old work mates, both little ones went to bed and settled quickly. Saturday we had a day at home together, I did a bit in the garden, keeping on top of everything, later we both drove to daughters and shared a Chinese for tea, all three children ate well. Later at home another relaxing evening. Today I'm  doing nothing.

I'm in hubby's bad books, do you remember the fun the little ones had with the confetti balloons, they loved them when they popped over the Easter weekend, it's rained since then and now we have predominantly red and blue dots on the paving. Me saying I thought it looked pretty did not help at all, I suppose they should fade in time.

Day trip to London

Neither of us had been to Canary Wharf, in it's heart it's a modern space so many huge buildings, walking along the water edge was very peaceful, loads of places to sit and enjoy the space, other spots had original buildings, the Dockland museum, which we did not enter this time was lovely red brick. Everywhere you went there were sculpture of all kinds, a beautiful fountain with a seating area and very few cars.

Just a few landmarks, the top two are sculptures made from discarded stuff, one from electrical circuit boards, the whale from household plastic bits. The silver thingy caught my eye and the big yellow duck, just because I liked it.

We walked through the Crossrail place roof garden, it was much bigger than we expected, we both loved it, such a peaceful place to be, loads of places to sit, I did love seeing the tops of the buildings through the roof, which was open in places.

The weather gods were good to us, the sky darken a few times, but no rain, it was warm enough to wear a light jacket, a perfect day for walking, hubby recorded over 14,000 steps, so a good workout for our knees, today I do ache a bit, it's worth it to have such a fun day out. 

George loved talking to me on his bedtime call, Nana on a bus, he was so excited.

We had been chatting regarding another visit, hubby suggested we try a day trip using National Express (coaches), so we caught the 8.30am bus and the 6.30pm return journey. We sat reading for journey, about 2.30 hours, the coaches are very comfortable, and much cheaper than the trains, which often are cancelled and replaced by bus journeys. Our route stops at Portsmouth and Gilford, by passing loads of towns, sadly on the return journey they changed the route not going into Gilford but calling into both terminals at Heathrow, putting 40 minutes on our journey. Next time we book we will have to check which route preferring to take the shorter journey.

We both agreed we would do a day trip again, we had our early evening meal near to Victoria coach station, in a small Italian restaurant, we found it last year on our trip, worth the second visit, and handy to relax so close to where we needed to be, we both prefer to visit smaller independent places to eat.

Veg

 My broad-beans do not look as good as in previous years, I am hoping more shoots will form and then flowers and beans, I will dig out the leeks, which again are small, I have plans for this bed, I want to cover the ground to warm it up. Another free potato plant in the front corner, every year I have managed to leave a tiny spud behind.

This bed has done better over the winter months, I harvested carrots and cabbages, the onions will stay again for at least 6 to 8 weeks. I already have my plans for the summer in both beds, runner beans, peas, tomatoes and a cucumber plant.

I have earthed up my first early potatoes in these two bags, and I have planted my second earlies in another two bags, I have carrots in two large pots and shallots in a huge tub, I hope to start another bag of carrots soon.

I am having success with my peanuts in the greenhouse, I have 3 small plants in each bag, I still have 5 more smaller plants and in the square pot Molly's are growing. These bags will stay here they require heat and light all through their growing season. I am going to try to grow a couple plants outside as well.

I have lettuce started in my raised outside bed and under cover in the greenhouse, I have spring onions and radishes coming through. I have started two different tomato plants as well. My runner-beans and peas won't be started for a few weeks, unless the weather becomes warm again. I aim to grow more salad leaves this year, my neighbour won't accept payment for her fresh hens eggs, I am planning to provide her hens with fresh greens every week whilst I can. 

My winter veg was very mixed this time, I won't grow leeks again as hubby does not use them so much in his cooking, just for soups. Brassicas take up too much room in my small garden, I will still grow a few, so far I try and keep these beds full through the cooler months. 

I can't wait to be growing in the veg beds, the rest of the garden is full, I have a few more grow bags to utilise, its a good start to the new season.

Tulips

 I fell back in love with tulips a couple years ago, I do grow them in tubs and love them, pops of colour. These were the first to flower and were new last year.

These were new this year and stunning.

I did not plant many bulbs last year, I have plans for a bigger display next spring, so far the wind has not caused too much damage, they are not playing to well, the flowers are popping up one at a time, so no big burst of colour here. 

The tulips in this pot are blind again, not one flower bud, its a shame as they were lovely frilly colourful blooms, the giant snowdrops looked good and soon the fleabane daisies will flower, so all is not lost.

These are special and a few years old, all fake, I do love a display inside to cheer us.

In the past couple of years I have only purchased 'named' brands of bulbs mainly from garden centres, but it does not seam to make any difference, my failure rate is still high, especially in the second year blooms, I am aware tulips blooms often fail to return in following years, also often I get a completely different colour than on labels. This year I will purchase from a different suppliers, if you have any trusted sites please share them with me.

Daughter came with children on Sunday, Molly is a lot better still not eating or drinking much, she did join in playing with George, she has missed the start of the new school term, and will be off a few more days. She has suffered eczema, rashes and sore patches all her life, she can't have any traces of dairy products, she is still under hospital care trying to sort all her allergies. Thank you for your kind comments on my last post, it was scary to see her so poorly, it was the worse attack she has ever had. 

We have a busy week ahead, so I'm resting when I can, not much to do in garden, the greenhouse is full, all doing well, I plan to sow more next week.

Nana on call

Just another view of my side bed, so full of blue, the camassia blooms whilst pretty don't last too long, there are two yellow rose bushes just about showing, and loads of other plants starting to regrow. 

 George has new glasses which he is now wears all the time, his first pair was a specific design to help children cope with wearing glasses for the first time and rather expensive. These are a standard design, he is very happy with them.

Daughter called me at 5.30am on Friday to come and sit with boys whilst Molly was checked out at A&E, at first they tested for sepsis, thankfully it was negative, she has not been well for a couple of days, it was confirmed it was a severe reaction, no way of knowing to what. This photo was taken late afternoon when the rash was settling, the earlier photo is too horrible to post.

I've spent days at daughters house, Thursday morning looking after the children whilst daughter and hubby took a trip to IKEA, Will now has his new bedroom, hubby got a few small bits for us, I got the better part of the deal. In the evening I went to WI, it was a relaxing music evening, which was well attended.

Friday I was out early, both boys were still in bed, so first hour was very quiet, George and I had a couple hours together. Once home Molly was very subdued she listened to her favourite music most of the day, she is still unwell. I had planned a sleepover which helped daughter as they were all tired.

Saturday was an early start, George woke at 6.50am, we snuggled on the sofa for an hour, Molly looked better, but is still unwell, she is not eating much which probably helps her, I really hate to see any of them sick. I stayed until mid afternoon, it was a lazy time, loads of cuddles. Back home I did nothing just rested, we both had an early night.

Today we woke up to cloudy blue skies, it blew like mad last night and lots of rain, the wind died back a bit, it was warmer than previous days, but still cool, daughter is due to visit, they had not been out in days, George had been poorly before Molly. We did consider a BBQ, but decided best to wait a bit longer, doing the children's favourite food for lunch

Going Blue

 Another new author to me, this being a very light read, a good plot, just not enough of it, book 28 read this year.

A favourite author, hubby popped this book on my kindle, brilliant story, spoilt only by it being 48 pages long. Book 29 read this year.

Another favourite author, a husband goes missing his famous actress wife has to find her way through this horror, her back story runs along side, her very alternative childhood, just brilliant. Book 30 read this year.

The garden is changing again the yellow and white blooms have faded and it's time for blue to shine, I have bluebells all around the garden and a few clumps camassia's, which are also blue, both had self-seeded, so the bed is full of blues, you can get white blooms as well. This side bed always has a great start to the growing year. 

I have camassia's in the centre of this bed as well, I love the way their height gives an extra level to the bed and then like all the other bulbs they disappear until the next spring. My fleabane daises have loads of tiny flowers forming, my summer bed returning. 

It's been a glorious few days, the breeze has been cool and I have avoided working in the shade, we have had coffee and cake outside, I have pottered doing small tweaks around the garden, I cleaned behind the garage, loads of tiny leaves everywhere, I have put away most of my spring pots in their summer protected spot, out of view in the garden. I sold some of my ceramic pots, the rest have been packed away gor now.

I have also sat more and just enjoyed our view, it's now an easy garden to keep how we like it. Football is being played, my poor plants are under threat, luckily they do not kick the ball very hard, I have also watered everywhere on Tuesday evening, I was only going to do my pots, but our ground is just so dry. 

We did pop to our favourite garden centre just for a few bits, I did not spend much and came away with just what I required, which must be a first for me, I have also purchased 4 strips of bedding plants from our local pet shop, these will be grown on and planted out in a few weeks once much bigger.  

Easter weekend

The children had so much fun hunting for everything, again Molly and George did their hunt together, Molly does love to include George, here finding new soft bunnies rather than too much chocolate. Will had to search in the veg section, the little ones can't have dairy, so separate hunts are necessary. 

Daughter, Molly and myself, 3 generations, its a photo we often take.

A family photos, perfect memories. 

After lunch the boys were given a Fifa 2026 world cup folder each, Will is collecting cards, we thought George would like the same, he does not understand the concept of collecting cards, but he likes to be treated the same as his big brother, Molly had Bluey, which she loves, the cards are a good treat not too expensive for when they are being good.

 

Sunday was a cooler day, very breezy, cloudy, we did have a couple short bouts of rain, not enough to say it was a storm. The children played outside we had a few balloons with confetti in, they loved them once they popped, and were covered in coloured spots. Everyone enjoyed lunch, a turkey roast, followers by chocolate brownies made with coconut oil, so little ones could eat some. Later we had a quiet evening together, a perfect day for everyone 

Monday was a day at home, we had not done much this holiday, George was very poorly on Friday and Saturday, he does get ill quickly, luckily he bounced back quick, mummy kept them home where they played outside. Again no plans to be on the roads, our area is always busy on sunny days, so many nice water front spaces and of course Portchester Castle at the other end of the village.

Storm Dave skirted to the north of us, it was very breezy, no rain, we were lucky to miss it, we have had enough rain to sort my dry pots and everywhere given a good soak, hubbies brother in Newcastle lost his garden wall, the wind was relentless.

School holidays

 The schools are off for a couple of weeks, so visits from little people are most welcome, the garden once again is full of squeals, laughter and football. Note Molly's outfit, she was a shimmer in pink all day, her frilly dress suited her happy mood.

Molly checked her peanuts, three had white roots, they had been on wet kitchen towel on my sunny window-sill, so we decided to pot them up, she did most of the work, she is very good at following instructions, the pot is in my greenhouse for now. 

Both George and Molly checked the wildlife pond, I am loving they are interested in nature and what lives in the water, which is still very clear, so we can see things including 3 huge water snails and newts swimming. Will came and checked it as well, sadly we could not see if the frog was still in residence. 

We collected our painted mugs, these will be used for our breakfast drinks, mine is all bit busy, which is OK, I'm no artist as you can see. I do need to realise less is better, my flowers are huge, I do like my colourwash for the sky.

Tuesday was a very unexpected warm sunny day, we spent ages outside, children playing, us chatting to daughter, I am so pleased how well our garden works on family days, plenty of room for toys, football and scooters. Both George and Molly helped sort my second early potatoes, they popped three in each bag and then sprinkled compost on top. They checked my first early bags and was happy to see the green leaves. They saw seedlings in two flower bags and a single shallot top in another bag, both wanted to do more, but accepted not yet, with a promise they can help next visit.

Wednesday was a day at home, dull and cold again, Thursday we took the bus to town collected our mugs, had a look in the few shops left in town, Will is collecting Fifa world cup football cards, so we got him the album, and another for George, Molly got a Bluey album, nothing else required, hubby got a new pair of trousers. We had lunch in town, later I mouched around the garden and did a bit of knitting.

Friday morning arrived with overnight rain, a good soak for a change and breezy, nothing like storm Dave in the north, I hope everyone is secure, warm and dry, terrible start to the Easter weekend, another quiet day planned here.