Grasslands

 These grasses should fill the back corner behind my pond, and stand out they won't grow too big, I like their sharp pointy stems, they will make a good contrast in the bed.

I always thought Purdy was a nosey cat, Lilly is even noisier, everything has to be checked by her, these have passed after a good sniff.

All in place, I did a good tidy up of this corner, I moved two existing grasses back so they dont flop into the water, for a gardener who did not like grasses I have loads here. I don't grown them elsewhere in the garden. The pond needs a good clean lots of soil fell in, I have a couple of airstones to pop in to help keep it clear.

The forsythia is in the back corner of the square bed, it should shine out against the acer. To balance the back corners I moved the chinese witch hazel still in its pot, it needs acidic soil to thrive, next spring I will need to get a few tall plants for the middle back, I have scattered loads of the big poppy seeds.

A couple smaller pots got moved as well, just to balance this section of the garden, the plant in the middle has started to grow and will fill the space, it's slightly off centre, I have a peony on the right side which needs a bit more space, it's now a case of wait until next spring and see what grows.

We had rain overnight, Monday has been breezy and dull from the start, a day full of showers, nothing as bad as in the north. Daughter came with Will and George, we walked to our local bistro for lunch, a nice treat, it been ages since Will had been there, both boys were good. The afternoon was spent playing inside, Lilly close to George, later I have been reading, I do feel much better today, hopefully the fog is beginning to lift, it's hung around for far too long. Tomorrow hubby and I will take the bus to town, he's taking me out for lunch,  nowhere posh, just a change in routine. 

Families

Sunday I was outside for a while, I planted a small conifer from hubby's garden into a spare pot, it won't grow big, he is changing part of his conifer garden, we popped to our favourite garden centre and hubby got the grasses he wanted, shock horror, I got nothing for my garden. Hubby has space for a couple more plants, he's talking about getting some alpines, as they would suit the front of his bed.

With George starting school soon, life is going to be very different for him, unlike Will who comes out of school full of energy, we expect George to be tired, and therefore less likely to be able to go to the local parks. They had a slide in their garden, which was small and it cracked, so hubby and I decided they need something in their own garden. With daughter help with choices, this climbing frame with slide arrived last weekend. We have three happy grand children.

End of a era for George, last time at preschool nursery, and ready for school, with all the local support, his school have been fantastic, daughter is not as worried about him going to school. All we have to hope is his first week goes well, he is not great with too many changes all at once, he knows his 1to1 support person, and has been in the classroom a few times. 

We spent the weekend at home, daughter and children popped over on Saturday for a couple of hours, both Molly and George were asking to see us, I had a day not doing anything in the garden, I read and rested as did hubby, I have been making notes in my garden journal, noting each bed, what was growing, a couple of plants I am moving. 

September is a month of celebrations, hubby's birthday was on Monday, we had a quiet day home with a Chinese takeaway for tea and a glass of red wine. Daughter and Will popped in for cake and give hubby cards and gift, George and Molly were at nursery, Will was very animated, normally he's out done by his younger siblings. He wanted to check my wildlife pond, I was told its a good habitat, he was very happy with everything, I also got a huge compliment, he said our garden looked like a flower shop, he also raided the raspberries and blackberries, some things never change.

Today is wet and dull again, hubby has to pop out this morning for an hour, I'm staying in, not much to do, hubby wants some fleabane daisies for his front garden, he thinks they will soften the front wall, so I am going to take loads of cuttings for him.  

Wildlife pond

 Moving the bigger plants, both agapanthus and dogwood, has given me more space here, being smaller one end does present issues, the bed was raised by previous owners, so digging down was not too bad, the hardest part was sieving all the soil, the previous owners had stones on all this back garden, which I took most away, but there were loads left in the soil, if I'm doing this area, I might as well do a good job.

All of the plants I already had, just moved them here, I did purchase a couple of big flat stones and the drift wood, hubby cut a spare paver into a basking stone, there is a hollow underneath for things to hide, I am much happier with this area now, there is more clear water to be seen, leaving the round container as a shallow pond makes it interesting. I have filled the bottom of the oblong container with loads of smooth stones and gravel, it looks natural as we can't see any plastic, the round tub has a different pale coloured grit.

I could not get a small lily, wrong end of the season, we got a plastic flower, just to give shade, but I don't like it, strange how something looks good in the shop and naff when you bring it home, I've used a different plant I already had in the middle. The water has cleared, it's filled with rain water, I'm hoping the bottom will become more like a river bed. The top back corner is slightly higher, so any excess water can run from the front corner, I don't want water disturbing the raised flower bed foundations. The plants should grow and cover most of the rim of the bigger pond.

My agapanthus has been split and put into a tub, where it has plenty of room to grow, two smaller plants are in tubs in daughters front garden. The tub can stay in this space under the Magnolia tree, plenty of room and I won't have to squeeze past when the blooms are out. I managed to get loads of fresh compost in, so it should thrive, they do like their roots to be confined.

It took a whole day to dig out the area, my agapanthus had been there for years and was huge and very stubborn to move, hubby dug out some more of the old willow tree root, removing everything gave me a lovely bigger space, I did not want the pond to fit neatly, I wanted an angle to create planting spaces. The second day saw me popping everything back, with a few different grasses, stones and other bits, including my green plastic frog (thanks Maggie). Today I will sort out all the tubs and tidy the veg section. 

The big pond has a few escape routes, I have piles stones and gravel in the back corner, they are to the top of the container, the drift wood has two points above the water level, and the plant  in the middle have leaves floating on the water. In the round container I have a wooden ladder for escape.

I am happy the big agapanthus is gone from this space, it looked good but it spilled over the path, not too bad until it bloomed and then I struggled to get by. I won't plant trailing plants next year in the raised bed behind, so no petals falling into pond, I am happy to wait for the grasses to grow and fill the surrounding garden.

Another job done, I do love a challenge and hard work never bothers me, I desperately want to see more wildlife in this back section of the garden, a frog or toad would be delightful and useful as pest control. We have noticed a few dragon flies this summer with the water features we already have. Our Magnolia tree shades this spot every morning, but is far enough away, so the leaves don't fall in the pond, it's not in full sun until later in the day. 

When sat in my chair, I can see right through the garden to this pond area, which is very satisfying, we have had a good rain storm which has bedded all the moved plants in.

Not blue

Kirt has new hair  he is looking much better it's not the same grass as before, the light does look good through it, I thought he would like a change, we all play about with our hair. I have popped the old plant at the back of the garden so the birds can steal more dried grass.

I have purchased a white lavender plant, I was pleased telling hubby I had taken loads of cuttings for new plants when he said the lavender is blue, I checked back through my posts and indeed the plant is blue, so once this is settled, I will take cuttings. This plant cost £12, and we would need six, so I'm happy to wait a year before changing the tubs by our entrance door.

As we were wondering around a garden centre looking for the above plants, hubby said, 'I like that', pointing to a green parasol, we both loved the design, we had been discussing getting a new one, they had different colours so the blue one came home with us. It's been a bit breezy and the base is holding it firm, so a great addition, I love the spokes, it's really pretty and holds steady. It won't fit through the hole in the middle of the table, and hubby can't make the lower hole any bigger, so we will keep moving it until we find the best spot.

I got some simple warm lights for our bunting, our garden does not get any light at night and this fence section is dark. I rest my case on the fact I'm a woman of certain age and I love loads of lights, these are solar, and static, they could flash, but I don't like flashing lights.

So a simple coffee one morning with friends, became expensive, but most of the things we needed, using the garden in the new layout, is working, the parasol gives loads of shade around the table. Hubby put the pergola on our local Facebook page for a good price and it has sold, another step towards our new garden layout. I have not added the cost of the parasol to my stash and garden list, big things always come out of the household budget, especially if hubby wants it as well.  

I did not watch Chelsea this year, I was happier sitting in my own garden, than watching perfection on TV. I have gone off Monty Don, I'm not watching Gardeners World, I loved his garden, but I now feel its just the same each year, I want realism, and more about plants, their history, their native habitat, and more detailed care. 

I have done more of my cross stitch, no other sewing, I don't have a knitting project, and I'm not reading much, We are in our garden most of the day, the sun is hot, the breeze cool, so together it's pleasant, just little bit's to do, mainly weeding and dead heading. We are walking more, trips around our local park most days, chatting to dog walkers, it's a social place. 

On a sunny day

My trio of Acers are stunning, the colours, they blend and clash in equal measures, and fill this area and are a joy to see. I do trim these back to keep them smaller and neat, I use the steps to my greenhouse daily. The red acer is the faster growing plant, but I do try and keep it smaller, so the better colours of the other two shine. 

This Acer tree planted a couple years ago is also looking good, this is next to our decked seating area, it's a nice size and shape, it was the perfect decision where to place it, we thought for a long time to ensure it had space to grow. We now see more small brown birds in this area, the tree gives them cover, so they are braver and come closer. 

I have 3 peony's this year, mums is as old as me and has lots of buds, the bowl of beauty has it's first bud, it's been in the ground four years, and the pale pink one I moved has leaves growing. This is pleasing, as these will stay where they are and give blooms each early summer. 

Kirt's hair is dead, I think the pot got water logged and the cold snap finished it off, two of the grasses in my sink are also gone, the black one in the front and the blood grass in the back are both still OK. The grasses always struggle in the sink over winter, but normally they come back. I am not a grass lover, but I do like these smaller ones.

My Camelia has another flower, and loads of buds, it's happy in this tub in a sunny sheltered spot, it is in shade later in the afternoon and evening. We can see this tub from the sitting room, so the blooms make a scruffy section look beautiful. 

 

My mind is full of gardening, I have bedding plants in the greenhouse, I have marigold seeds under a cloche in the garden, if they don't grow I will get bedding plants, hubby loves them. My alpine plants have perked up and will be ready to go out soon. Nothing much else to do in the garden, except sit and enjoy it, once plants from the greenhouse are outside I will give the greenhouse a good clean and sort all my nasties. But for now we sit and watch the rain showers and enjoy the sunshine in between. 

We had Molly and George on Friday morning for a few hours, they are so full of fun and laughter, they both fell asleep in the car on the way home, I sat and did some more cross stitching most of the afternoon and evening.

Saturday I had a delivery from Ikea, daughter gave me a storage unit with 2 big containers, I ordered 2 medium and 2 small containers, most of the books, games and toys are now packed away, the 2 existing big units and popped them under the stairs, all very neat and tidy. The storage unit will be handy once we stop keeping toys, it's all very sturdy.

Sunday I removed everything from the spare bedroom, we are having a new carpet fitted today, it's the last part of redecorating the room, I have loads to put back into the room, the bed has two huge storage drawers, one we keep spare bedding in, the other games, which we do not play and lap blankets. Hubby wants me to pass on the games, but I'm not sure, will we play them when we are less active, there is room for them. I also want to put less back in the wardrobe and drawers, it's a dumping place for things which we use, but has no real home. Plenty to do today. 

Garden delights

What is going on outside, so much colour everywhere, this raised bed outside my backdoor has fuchsias in, summer plants, the blooms are stunning. 

In the side bed, the salvia hotlips have gone mad, I did cut them back, but this mild wet weather is perfect growing conditions, there are bedding plants along the front still in bloom. My nerines are not so good, I think adding mulch to the soil has left them a bit too deep to grow well, a few have come through. 

Outside the greenhouse, this begonia has been stunning for weeks, the small tub, I though was going over, but again loads of new growth. 

By the steps to the greenhouse along the garage wall, my grasses are doing well in the sink, the geranium I moved from my small raised bed to a huge pot is loving this position, the trio of acers, I have trimmed back as I don't want them to grow too huge. 

In the corner of my big raised bed, in front of the greenhouse, again another fuchsia doing well tumbling over the front, the plant at the back, another fuchsia, I have just moved from a pot to here, in hope it fills this corner, this plant grows up higher than the front plant, should be colourful next year. 

Even in my rose bed, summer plants have new flowers, the bed is full of leaves dropping from the jungle next door. 

The star of the garden is my acer, it is doing so well in this spot, the leaves are such a beautiful mix of colours, and not dropping yet.

On my metal table outside the patio doors just 2 pots, but plenty of colour. The solar lights are still lighting each night.

This is a tender plant, it's Cape gooseberry, it had completely died back and suddenly loads of new growth. Its a truly weird season, in a good way.

We are loving all the colour outside, hubby is picking up leaves every other day, our Magnolia tree is not dropping leaves yet, hubby did cut loads off the top, the tree looks much better, all the bits have been shredded and in one of my mulch bins, which is almost full. My compost bin is full again, I will need to dig out the bottom, I don't have much commercial compost left, I hope to not have to purchase any next year. We have had loads of rain, the ground is wet but not water logged, even on our heavy clay the water soaks down, our area does not flood often, so everywhere dries quickly. 

The house was full of toys on Wednesday, Molly emptied the two toy buckets and the book box, Will played cars and soldiers , George was at nursery. Once they all went home and the toys picked up there was very little mess, we were both extremely tired and had an early night. I popped to daughters house to see George on Thursday, just an hour of play and cuddles, and loads of kisses.

Today I have yet another blood test, the doctor is unwilling to say all is well with me, I'm not feeling ill, but I don't feel right, I just wish we could work out the issue. Later if it's dry I intend to sort a few big pots outside, nothing feels better than working outside.

Autumn, not yet

I have plenty of stitching time, I'm not in the mood to read at this moment, so sewing is filling the gap. I can only stitch in natural daylight, these holes are just too small to see in any other light. Plans are forming for what to stitch next, it's almost as much fun planning as stitching.

This geranium I dug out of the raised bed by the back door is doing well, it's a beautiful plant, I quite like it in this 'pot', it's a square washing up bowl with handles. I purchased 3 last year, much cheaper than garden pots. They look good, are light and really easy to move about.

I'm not a huge lover of grasses, but I do like these smaller ones, the blood grass in the back right hand corner is a very slow grower, I have another small clump in the big pot by the green house. I am trying to have more texture and form in the garden, coming away from loads of bedding plants.

The Olive tree is looking good, I have been watering it, I would be devastated if I lost it, earlier in the year it was full of blossom, but sadly there are only a few olives growing. I've never had a harvest, whatever grows are left for the birds.

So it's September already, the evenings are darker, I've started using the light on the stairs again, the solar lights in the garden are now on by 8pm, it's still warm, our patio doors are open until after 8pm, we mainly shut them to stop the bugs coming in once the inside lights are on. 

Hubby had another birthday on Friday, 73, how did that happen, I got him a small simple gift, which he wanted, we did not go out, I was babysitting that evening. We had a day together, no birthday cake as requested. Mummy popped over with George and Molly, Will was back to school, he enjoyed his first day in a new class, with a new teacher and different friends, he was very chatty all evening.

I have started watching TV again, lots of new series back on again, I am loving Chateau DIY, I love watching these beautiful old buildings coming back to life, I don't always agree with all the choices, but it's always interesting to see buildings saved. All that glitters is another favourite and of course bake off and strictly will be back soon.

Plans for the next week is get the red rose bed sorted, and move pots, it will soon be time to cut back the raspberries, they started well, but the heat killed off loads of fruits. The blackberry bush which I cut back last year, has given rich huge swollen berries, we have had loads more then expected.

I've had another blood test, I'm still not feeling well, the anti biotics are all finished, should speak to the doctor once all the results are back, hopefully something can be done to raise my energy levels and get me back to normal. 

Bottom of the garden

The greenhouse was emptied recently, I have english marigolds growing in the long pot, and loads of black hellebores on the shelf below. Everything else has been planted. It was given a big clean out in here when hubby replaced my glass, so everywhere is looking tidy. 

Both tomato plants have flowers, but one plant is not looking too healthy, there are a few flowers on the cucumber, my cut and come again salad leaves are in full harvest. This should be a productive space. 

My spring pots have been tucked along by the composter, these can't be seen from the house, they will stay here all summer. Plenty of room to walk, to compost all the garden waste, the path should now stay clear.

Out side the greenhouse along the back fence, my blueberries have loads of flowers forming, I have cut it back, so the crop won't be as good this year. The flower tubs look good, the white daisy shows and can been seen from the house. 

These steps I do like to keep clear, I am up this area a few times each day, the plants along the garage wall are all healthy, the butlers sink has my smaller grasses in, the trio of acers are still beautiful, the smaller one in the front pot has grown loads. 

I have sorted the centre of my shed, it's clear and I can get to everything inside, but I do want to pull things out and give it a good clean, there is no rush, I like it done once a year. In my photo above you can see a rusty hanging stake, I forgot to bin it. These few dull days are helping my new bedding plants as they can settle in and not dry out, I am watering the garden a couple times a week, having so many pots always ensures I have to water, but I don't mind I find it relaxing.

Our plan to save money with the composter and shredder, is a long term plan, the cost of the composter would take 2 years saving on council waste system, so beginning of 2023 will see us in savings, the shredder is almost 4 years, so we should be saving money from 2027. Gardening is never a quick fix, but the bonus is we deal with all our waste here, no trips to the tip, and no extra big dustbin. Plus we get free compost and leaf mulch each year. 

Both grandchildren are much better, we are just hoping they stay that way, last week was really frightening, how quick they both became ill, they both have fallen over in the last couple of days, as they both become mobile accidents will happen. We have not done much in the last couple of days, reading and knitting, lovely simple calm days. Hubby's eldest son is visiting tonight, he has motor biked it over from southern Ireland, he and hubby are heading off for a few days, they will meet younger son and travel around Devon and Dorset, hubby should be home on Monday. So I am planning a crafty weekend, top of my list is making bunting, I have everything I need. 

Still playing

The arbour is in place with a temporary net to stop the birds feasting on my fruits, after the fruits are finished I will get some new nets and cover each side and the top with a permanent wall of net, it won't notice too much. I will then make a weighted front, which will be removable when not required. It's a posh fruit cage. 

I did move the sink with my grasses to the front and the other blueberry tub to the back, I feel it looks neater. I can extend the net to cover this bush next year. My blackberry is now in a trellis, I will let the plant grow through, but it will keep the main stems together. I have seen a hedgehog sleeping in the broken pot, so that can stay here, it's much neater.

Hubby liked a railing here at the front of the decking, it makes this corner look tidy, we did not like them across the whole front of the decking, we often walk on the lawn and did not want to block our path, or the view from our sitting room. 

Another looks nice here behind the small bed by our back door, it's a good way to add height to this garden, giving interest to a plain wall, I will hang my slate butterfly here as well. 

Thank you for your comments on my last post, it seems as if we all love a good bargain. My sister said I was lucky, but it was a case of checking the selling site until I found what I wanted, I have spent too much time on my phone in the past few weeks, I'm pleased to now be free from it. 

Hubby did not like the 2 railings in his front garden, so we used them around the decking, both of us agreed they looked better here. I popped the 4 poles in my side garden, they add height and interest. The other 2 railings will go in my raised bed, with cheap plain posts, not that you can notice any difference they just disappear. We have rats again at the bottom of the garden, so hubby needs access to the boundary fence behind the raised bed. 

I was asked to participate in a government test, so yesterday I sent back my covis test and did a large questionnaire on line, it's now a case of wait and see if there is any more to do. I have indicated I will be willing to do more. 

Monday was a lovely day, sunshine and warm, I spent most of the time outside, it was good to tidy along the garage at the back of the garden. I dug out the sink to move it, it's heavy even when empty, I was surprised how much soil went back into the sink. Lots of dead heading, which is keeping the blooms coming, this is the best the garden has looked in 11 years in this house. 

I had 2 sleep overs with daughter, Will and George, over the past few days, daddy was away with work, so it was perfect for me to do the bedtime and morning routines. Her bump looks beautiful, she is blooming, just wants baby to arrive. We are having boys extra this week, George all day Wednesday so mummy and Will can go out for lunch and the park together and Will on Friday, he asked to have a play day with us, these could change if their sibling decides to enter our world. 

Today some of us are meeting for sign classes, I'm not sure there is much more we can learn, it's more about using sign language rather than studying images. Hubby is having Will and George whilst mummy goes to see her midwife. Nothing else planned, it's a case of waiting..... 

Bottom view

The back of our garden is my working area, the raised section was already done, hubby offered to dig it out when we moved in, but I decided to leave it as it was, the extra height makes it perfect for my greenhouse. All the planting I have added as I have said before the previous owners did not like gardening, the Magnolia tree was the only thing in the garden when we moved in. 

The garage door has always been blocked off, so I have this flat section by the steps, I have popped my succulent glass jar here for now, it's in part shade in the day, so not too hot. I do love my tall old chimney pot here and the baskets of pebbles.

I did some work in this area, adding more grit to the top of the big Acer pot, I love the look here, I have a few pebbles and a black iron candle holder, which looks like a tea room. It's not something many people notice, but I know it's there and it finishes the Oriental look. 

I have redone this sink, I have moved 2 Heuchera plants elsewhere in the garden, planted in the front they had become too huge for this spot. the variegated grass was lost at the back, again it was a case of wrongly planted spot for a small grass. I last planted this sink back in June 2019, seen here, I split my Japanese blood red grass from kirt, and the black grass from in front of my greenhouse. I have used the last of the mixed stones from my old raised bed. I also split the bright green grass, another plant for my sister. 

2 tomato plants, always place them in front of the greenhouse, they catch loads of sun to ripening them, we already have harvest loads. . 

My shed is tucked behind the garage, before this was a wasted space, I love having my gardening storage space so close to my greenhouse. I have trained my cultivated blackberries on an arch, I keep loads of pots in this area, my hosta's love the shade. 

This corner for a while was scruffy, now I have a few pots and it looks better, the back fence has a jasmine growing up it for extra colour.  My Acers are new this year, I have them here, I can see them from the garden, I just need to decide if I will keep them all together or separate them into 2 pots, but until I decide here is a good spot. 

The greenhouse is in a perfect spot, in full sun most of the day, higher than the rest of the garden, and full of lovely plants, cutting and seedlings. I have had my tower pots here outside the greenhouse for years and the Ivy beside it.

I have planted a small white daisy in this pot, I had loads of ideas, even thinking I could make a small water feature, but in the end planting won out, this daisy was in my side bed and not doing to well, so I hope, soon this pot will be full of flowers.

Every garden needs a working area, and I have slowly over the years changed mine to look nicer, I am making full use of every bit of space. Whilst the tomato plants are growing, the garden waste bag sits in front of my shed door, it can't be seen from the seating area, I would like a composter, there is just one spot but it would mean digging out the raised bed, twisting it around, cutting it smaller and refilling, but the top of the composer would be seen from the garden and it would be next to the fence and I already have issues with weeds coming through from next door. 

This year has been a perfect year for gardens, we all have had more time at home, and our summer has flipped from hot and sunny to wet, allowing all the plants to have great growing conditions. We have enjoyed a lovely few days mostly out of the sunshine, my cold is much better, I do love long relaxing days like these. 

I hope you enjoyed the close views from my working area.