What am I doing

Over the years I have taken great delight in growing things from seed, my greatest achievement is this plant, grown from a pomegranate seed, I planted this in May 2017 with loads of other, only one seed grew. I have nurtured it for years, when smaller it was always popped back into the greenhouse for the cooler months. Once put into this pot, (2022), it stays in this sunny spot outside the garage. It's never flowered, but I keep on hoping.

I purchased this cranberry plant last year, so far all I can say is I have not killed it, it did get very water logged, so for now it lives just inside my greenhouse door. There is new growth on it, so I need to consult Mr Google again to see what I need to do next. 

This is my horseradish plant, I popped it into an old chicken pellet container, again I have checked and the roots are harvest in November, when they should look like a parsnip, leave a bit of the root in the ground to grow a new root. Hubby loves horseradish sauce, I will be able to freeze it and it should hold the heat, this is another crop just for him. 

This is my only citrus left, lime plant and for the first time I have had a flower and more buds, this was not grown from pips, these days limes are more often without pips. I've had it a few years, it's not that huge, I am feeding it with citrus feed once a month.

My bougainvillea lost all it's leaves last winter, it was in my greenhouse wrapped to protect it, it looked terrible and I was going to ditch it, but decided to cut it right back, I'm glad I gave it another chance.

I do love a challenge in life and have grown loads from seeds and pips, my kiwi I got to small tree size, but as the fruits are ready from December onwards, they never ripen so I passed it on, the stem and leaves are very pretty, my avocado got to a nice size but died in my cool greenhouse over winter, again nice leaves. I got lemon and orange from pips, but never to a good size, each are shown in my list on my sidebar if you want to know more or pop to this post. 

I'm sure I will find more unusual things to grow, having said that, I have loads of things I can't grow, sweet peas, which is one of my favourite blooms, I have purchased plants, grown from seeds, in the ground in containers, never thrives. Large daisies, grow for the summer and never returns, I have replanted into large pots to over winter, without success. Little lemon clematis and chocolate cosmos, both don't like my garden, these days it's all about understanding my limitations. 

Flowers

I love Peonies, I now have 3 plants in the garden, I rarely cut flowers from the garden to bring into the house, but I do love cut flowers, I don't get fresh flowers, they become expensive. I got myself a new bunch of silk flowers, I wanted big peony blooms, I was looking for the very simple pale pink ones, these were the closest I could find and they are stunning. Not cheap but they will stay out for weeks and then be packed away for next year, I have a good selection of seasonal flowers.

I have enjoyed doing my cross stitching, I am finding it really relaxing, all the yellow is now done, only a few squares left to stitch. When I started this, it seamed really fine, but quickly my eyes have adjusted to the size and I'm not struggling at all. I have one last big piece at this small DPI left, I am forming a plan to have another mix up design, using the loads of designs I have, which I have never stitched, as always my stash is bigger than it should be.

This was a book of short stories, I'm not normally as fan of short reads, but there were a couple of stories with DI Alan Banks which filled in a few gaps, Book 46 read this year. 

Another great book, I have not read this author before, interesting start to the plot, which stayed excellent the whole way through, it deals with losing your memory, all the bits of your past life which makes you, you! I will add this author to my list. Book 47 read this year. 

I purchased this Albuca Spiralis Frizzle Sizzle back in April last year, it started to look a bit sad, I read online it's a bulb and needs a period of rest, so I tucked it in the greenhouse for the winter, below it's in flower, these photo's were taken a week ago, I thought the blooms might open more, I think this is the full flower form, I have given it a feed and will keep in in the greenhouse for a bit longer. 

A few weeks ago I purchased this Bougainvillea plant, I got it from Lidl's at a great price, once home all the blooms turned papery and fell off, I was not worried, this often happens with plants purchased from supermarkets, the leaves were healthy. I repotted it and again it's coming into bloom, I have it in the greenhouse, but soon I will be able to have it outside for the summer, I have a very sunny spot in mind for it. 

Life here has become very simple, I have done very little, I stupidly ran out of my pain relief tables last Wednesday, and have slept badly every night since, I normally take 2 at bedtime, I have nerve damage in my shoulder from an operation back in 2010, nothing can be done, so the tablets allow me to rest and sleep. 

My brother drove home on Monday morning, he lives 106 miles away in Somerset. Just hubby and myself and a fridge full of food we normally don't eat, laundry was done and dried on Monday.

I did not go to coffee morning with sign ladies on Tuesday, too uncomfortable. I have not done any more cross stich or knitting, I'm too tired to concentrate, but I have started a crochet granny stitch baby blanket, Will's teacher is pregnant and daughter asked me to make one for her. 

Back to nature

My outside table is still giving so much colour, the tulips were a birthday gift last year, how wonderful to enjoy the gift more than once. My begonia which is in a big blue pot is has started shooting, so I'm looking forward to seeing beautiful flowers here all summer. 

My tulips all around the garden have bloomed earlier than expected, I always grow them in pots, the bulbs rot in our heavy clay soil. The bulbs in my last photo here, were again a birthday gift and they have bloomed here for a couple of years, the hyacinth's have bloomed the best this year. 

My Peonies are both growing well, the smaller photo, is mum's plant and my prized thing in the garden. The 2nd was planted last year, it's 'bowl of beauty'. I am super pleased with this corner, I did loads of work here last year and finally things are growing, before it was just a bare corner. My latest Peony, is in a pot in the greenhouse, once the daffs have been allowed to die back, I will plant it in my side garden, all three colours are shades of pink and should look good together. 

I thought my trio of acers, were just 2 plants, but now all the leaves are formed, I do in fact have all 3 in one pot. My much older Acer is about to bust into colour.

This is my acorn, collected and planted with Will, I am hoping I can bonsai it, if it grows too big, I will have to find someone with a huge garden to take it on.  

Greenhouse is looking good, most of these were dug out of the garden last year, soon they will be planted back outside. 

The top level are the plants I purchased, all potted on, in a few weeks they will be huge and strong enough to be in the ground. Lower level I have again planted cornflower and poppy seed, I do want them in my back raised bed. 

Hubby went looking for a new BBQ yesterday, ours's is just too big, once we have our new one, we will pass the old one on, it has a few years useful life. Well, we were in a garden center, and I love the look of this plant, I have wanted one for ages, it's Albuca spiralis, Frizzle Sizzle,  I have read how to keep it looking good, for now it's in my office, but not on my desk. 

Betty is doing well, as is Proff, best name for a plant which looks like a brain, my new succulents also like their pot and place in the warm sun. They all sit well on my desk. 

My thoughts are now on one spot in the garden, the new BBQ will be stored in the garage, so I have an area along the neighbours fence with the low wall. This area has a concrete base, so I can't easily extend the side garden, but I do have a plan to add more flowers and colours, hubby listened to my suggestions, which include a small task for him, it is close to our gates, so I can't go too big, it a case of watch this space. 

The past week has been sunny very cold days, we did have rain overnight Sunday/Monday, which topped up the water butts, I have been watering some of my pots, the dry spell has started early this year, so much for April showers. Loads of laundry dried on the line, plenty of warm time in the greenhouse. It did rain again yesterday, most of the afternoon, so I'm happy with the promise of a couple dry weeks and warmer days. 

Our hairdresser popped in Monday morning, cut my hair and hubbies, his barbers are fully booked, she also does our neighbour across the road, we are all feeling much better. Coffee morning on Tuesday was fun, we walked to the café in village, they had their tables outside, wrapped up warm it was great to catch up with everyone, later a trip to Lidl's, top up shop, life is feeling a bit better this week. Wednesday we had George as the swimming lessons for Will have again started, both boys stayed with us whilst mummy drive daddy to an eye check up, so it was a toy, fun and laughter day. I have been reading, I got a lovely book from our charity shop on Tuesday, an I'm enjoying reading again.

Hubby has his 2nd jab on Saturday, mine is booked for next Wednesday, mine is Astra Zeneca which I'm happy to have, soon we are both sorted, still no plans to go shopping away from our village or the pub, just staying safe at home.