Inside out

 Way back in 2009 I first showed my red Acer on my blog here, I had purchased it the previous year as a tiny plant for 99p, the leaves had fallen off and the shop wanted to get rid of it. As it grew hubby made a lovely wooden container for it in 2019, I added to the base to give Japanese vibes. It was planted into the ground in 2021, at hubby's suggestion, I was not sure, I want to pass it on and replace it with a smaller one, in a small garden to have a second tree was not the best use of space. I do love it in the ground, it's in a perfect spot. It needs a trim at the base, and along the flower bed side, I snip at it as and when it needs it.

I did replace the acer with a triple acer, purchased in 2021, which sits along the wall of the garage, I pass them every time I go to my greenhouse, composter or water but. These I trim every year, I really don't want them to grow too large, they fill this space with colour, they only get sunshine in the mornings, and they are sheltered from the wind. I love the three shades together, they brighten this spot.

I have been given the most perfect gate to my veg plot, it's real life was a fire guard, I could have got a gate to match my fence, but it was a bit wide and would be obstacle and I could see me catching my clothes as I walked through. George understands if the gate is closed he can't through, and stays away, I don't close it when Molly is here, she knows the veg section is not a play area. 

When in town last week ,we popped to Pound Savers for a few Easter bits, I always look around the garden section, I picked up 2 packs of summer bulbs, just a pound per pack, which had 1 bulb in. I popped them straight into the ground, I was going to get two plants, using bulbs has worked out much cheaper, I've not grown them before.

We had been considering purchasing a dwarf apple tree, which would go with our other fruits, we even found a spot for it, but realistically we don't need one, I eat Braeburns, which can be used for cooking, so we always have them here. If we were successful in growing our own apples, we would then have to find storage space.

We had some rain on Saturday night, and again last night, I would have liked more, I think any rain in the coming days will miss our area, we might get just a couple of light showers.

Monday hubby decided it was time to decorate our bedroom and en-suite, we have been putting it off for months, he is starting in our shower room. I keep out of his way, he is a master of perfection, and I'm not required, he controls it all. On a trip to B&Q I got 4 bags of top soil, I had asked locally if anyone had any top soil I could have, just one reply which stated it was full of gravel, so I declined. I'm hoping to sort my 5 new growing bags in the coming days. 

Flower colours

 I spent £5 on these tulips, I rarely get cut flowers, I never cut flowers from my garden, these are colourful and brighten our sitting room. My two pots of tulips are starting to bloom, can't wait, I chose some bright colours this year. 

A few of my other flowers around the garden.

The big acer came to life in these warm sunny days, soon all the leaves will fill out. My trio kept at the back of the garden, 2 are coming back to full leaf, the red leaf is a bit behind.

The garden is already looking good, we sit outside most days, both hubby and I can find a few bits to do, before enjoying the sunny weather. Our magnolia tree is still barren, we haven't had many blooms, leaves are beginning to form, hopefully soon it will look less bare, we are not surprised, as it has been cut back hard before.

I love to see so many different colours in my flower beds, it does feel as if the growing season has arrived, but I'm wary as night time temperatures are still a bit low, my greenhouse is still full. I potted up my spare strawberry plants into a nice tall pot, I have put them in a sunny spot, these should give us a slightly earlier harvest. I have ordered some small bags to pop over the fruit as they form, rather than making a net frame for the strawberry tower, it should make harvesting much easier.

Monday after doing the downstairs housework, which was overdue, I spent the afternoon in the garden, Lilly was close by all day. On Sunday she got stuck in our nice neighbours garden, Pauline had a cuddle before handing her back, Lilly is climbing our magnolia tree all the time, a couple times she has landed awkward, I'm hoping she will learn a lesson and stop climbing, she is still not happy using the cat flap, so we are keeping her in over night.

Tuesday was a cloudy day, not so warm, I spent a good hour in the greenhouse, I also dug up two roots from flowering plants in my garden to make new plants, I have loads of new plants coming along. We popped to Lidl for a small shop, mainly salad, fresh fruit and veg, our bill just over £70, are prices ever going to settle down, everything has gone crazy. 

Grey days,

I have done my walk around the garden, it's too wet to do anything outside, this acer is looking good, it has alot of wind damage, but still the autumnal colours are shinning, this small tree gives us so much. 

My trio of acers have already started to lose their leaves, still enough colour to enjoy, this little spot works hard almost all of the year, the azalea below stays green all year. 

I don't often show this corner, I have a rose growing in the gap between the fence and the garage, in front is my pomegranate plant, it's leaves are turning colour and soon will drop, this was grown from a pip many years ago. I've never had a fruit, which is OK as I love the plant.

My begonias in the greenhouse are blooming again, I adore this plant, the ones in the black pot by my shed are still blooming, which they will do until the frost gets to them.  

I popped my pepper plant into the plastic greenhouse inside my big glass greenhouse, and in the past week more peppers are growing, I am hoping I get these to a size worth harvesting, I also have some herbs growing well.

I do love to see the trees without leaves, I love their shape, the trunks different colours and textures, our Magnolia becomes a perch for tiny birds going to the feeders, the different heights gives interest all through the cooler months. Now it's all about collecting the leaves to make my own mulch, I have used mine made last year on my veg beds.

I think I may have post holiday blues, or grey as the sky every day, we haven't done much, the laundry is done, we did a big shop at Lidl, the heating is now on everyday. The rain is back, not heavy but enough to keep me out of the garden, I do have a few jobs to do, I hope to get a dry morning sometime soon. On the positive side, I did not put on any weight when away, we averaged over 10,000 steps everyday, something we fail to do when home. 

We did not bring much back from Spain, just a few treats which we can't get here, I was taken to the biggest fabric shop I have ever seen, packed with materials over two huge floors, and again to the round square, where there are haberdashery stalls packed with everything you could wish for. 

Another week

 If I was asked about tulips, I would have said, I'm not fond of them, they rot in our heavy clay soil, last year I got a few packs for different tubs and I have really enjoyed their colour this spring, these in my cider jar have still to open, I have forgot what colour they are, a nice surprise to come. So maybe later this year more will be purchased to add colour to the garden next spring. 

I adore the colours in this trio of acers, I trim them each year so they don't get huge, I love them in this big tub, it's a perfect spot in the garden for them. They can be seen from the house and add colour here at the back of the garden. My bird bath alpine plants have started to come back, tiny flowers soon. The azalea below is also about to bloom.

This is my success story, purchased as a twig many years ago for 99p, it sat in a pot where my trio live, when it outgrew the pot, we decided to give it a space in the garden, not an easy choice in a small garden. We love it here, again I am learning and I have trimmed it last year, it's nicer kept smaller. 

Spring is showing itself in the flowers in bloom, I love snakes-head fritillary, these in this pot will be placed in the ground soon, bluebells are just starting to flower and the lovely camassia, another blue flower, I do also have some white flowers, finally a bleeding heart, I forgot where I had planted it, it's beside the hellebore, it's doing OK, so I'm not going to move it. 

It's been a strange week, most days I've been to our local hospital, so daughter gets to have a lunch, do some shopping, even get a shower, the children's ward caters for their parents as well. I can see loads of improvement in George, his chest sounds much better, and hopefully the medication will sort the virus which he has as well as the chest infection. 

Thursday we had dentists, I needed a bit of work, we both booked hygienist and had to pay 50% up front, not a cheap morning, even with our NHS practice. I have some huge decisions to make, the damage to my gums caused by chemo back in 2010, when  all my teeth became loose, is now pressing me to decide the way forward, I'm pleased with myself as I was told in 2011 my teeth would not last, implants at over £7,000, is not an option not only the cost, but also my the gum damage, makes the option not viable, for now I can manage, but soon.

Friday George came home, he still has alot of healing to do, I had not planed to visit but daughter called, it was lovely to see Will and Molly, I did finally manage a good night's sleep, I had been worried for George and not sleeping. It was a dry and sunny day, I did get an hour outside in the garden, just sweeping and sorting, the seeds are not doing as well as I wanted in the greenhouse. 

No plans for the weekend, it's promised windy, dry and warm, no sun, I would be happy with dry, normally at this time of year I am starting to wear sandals, but no chance yet, still in warm clothes. I hate to wish the days away, but some warm dry sunny days would be super nice. 

Another week

On my desk these three pots of succulents are all doing well, the back triple pot have been grown in the greenhouse, I'm hoping they survive in here. The front two were tiny when I got them over two years ago, they have just been watered, so looking plump.

I have shown this Albuca sprialis frizzle sizzle many times, again plenty of new growth, I do love to have plants on my desk, it's a sunny spot. Behind is my new poppy, it's huge and catches the light, it's leaded glass and made locally. 

My thanksgiving cactus is getting busy again, loads of buds, I had a few flowers not so long ago, so I'm really happy to see it's about to bloom again, this sits on my bathroom window sill, a sunny spot, but not necessary a warm spot.  

Our beautiful acer, everyday the colour improves, I don't think it has ever looked this good, normally by now the tree should be bare, the warm wet autumn has ment its kept it leaves, and the colour is the best ever.

Wednesday was very wet, it rained all morning until mid afternoon, I worked for the morning in the craft shop, it's market day in the village, I think the weather kept all the people at home, Sarah got loads of paperwork done, which is the point of me working. Later I did more of my blanket squares, I am enjoying knitting them, but I must pick up my green cardigan again. Hubby did another trip to the tip, he had the wood which made up the smaller planter by our back door, he does love to see everywhere clean and tidy. 

Thursday a day at home, much needed housework was done, a neighbour popped in for coffee and a chat, and then knitting, I do live an exciting life, not! but I'm happy. Hubby made a delicious lemon drizzle cake, which will last us ages.

Christmas cakes have had their first drink of brandy, the house smelt of brandy, so I had to light a candle, can't have people thinking I am a morning drinker. George's book arrived and we are very pleased with it, he has a couple of other small items, all ready for his birthday soon. Everything is ticking along nicely, I had my annual blood test for my pre-diabetic check up, will have results next week.  

Thank you for all my birthday wishes, I am truly blessed with a loving family and great friends, and never forgetting my darling hubby, who after 39 years together, still makes me laugh and surprises me, and never runs away when I say 'I have and idea'.

Autumn colours

Strawberries in November, I'd like to say this is unusual, but it happens most years, they won't get much bigger or ripen, but it's always nice to see flowers. My tower is in it's temporary home beside the garage at the end of the path, it's in our way, but once everything is sorted, it will go to it's final home, sad fact is as yet I have no idea where to put it, best spot is next to the fence where we have had rats come into our garden, so not there. 

I always think the blueberry bushes are stunning at this time of year, the leaves always give so much colour, there are two plants in here, they fruit one early and one later, giving us a longer season, and no glut. I have cut back a third of the plant, all old wood, the berries grow an second years growth. 

I love this trio of acers, they work well here, each plant has a different colour leaf, they are inter wound together, and makes a wonderful display, this spot suits them very well, sunshine up to mid afternoon, and total shade from the wind. Next spring I will trim them back in hope I can keep them in this spot for longer, they all grow at about the same rate. 

This small tree is amazing, it's years old, it was a twig when I purchased it, now it's almost to the top of the 6 foot fence, I love the way it has branches and leaves to the very bottom, this photo does not show all the true shades of red and green, when the breeze moves the leaves it's breathtaking. This marks the end of our garden and the start of the paving along the boundary fence, we love seeing this area from the sitting room. 

The garden is looking good for November, I'm picking up leaves most days, nothing much else to do. The veg beds are doing good, I cut back the gladiola leaves from the flower bed in front, so now we can see through to the veg beds, I am loving the view from the house. Most of my beds are too small for summer and winter plants, but I'm happy to see the garden in it's sleep mode. 

Friday we popped to Dunelm, we needed a new kitchen bin, hated the cheap ones, others were very expensive, so hubby agreed to look online, we got a nice small suitcase for me, we have two weekends away soon. Went into Home bargains and found a perfect kitchen bin at a price we liked, also got the last bits off my Christmas list. I passed by all the decorations, some are beautiful, but not needed.

Saturday, hubby was home alone, so loads of laundry was done, the day was bright and breezy, and sudden heavy storms, hubby made the first batch of mince pies, a real treat. I went to our local craft shop to work, just 9am to 4pm, longer than I will normally work as Liz was off. I loved interacting with the ladies in the shop, swapping idea's and generally being helpful, the time passed very quickly. Later watching Strictly whilst knitting more of my sock.

Sunday I got up a bit later, had a lazy start to the day, it was sunny and breezy, so late morning I went outside, I needed to support my broad beans, the heavy rain was beating them down, I have popped in extra supports in hope they say upright. I also dug out the tiny bed by our back door, the fuchsia's are still in bloom, but I did need to get them into the huge tub, all the spare soil from the bed I put on the side bed. It was cold outside, but nice to have sunshine, I have now finished all the jobs ready for the paving to be done later this month. 

Summer blooms

My begonias are the stars at the moment, busting into flowers, from deep red, through pinks and oranges to pale petals as the different plants open around the plot, it's fun and beautiful. I still have 2 plants to form buds, so I don't know their colours yet. 

By the back door one of my fuchsias is flowering, I swapped these 2 plants around when I dug out the bed, this is the taller of them, it going to be great by the gates, plenty of room for it to grow. The coleus are both doing well as are the Nemesia. 

My new daisy has not drooped at all, the amount of rain has helped, and being by the Magnolia tree, its not water logged. My Chinese Witch hazel loves this spot and pot, it's getting huge.

This part of the side fence which we don't use is looking good, 4 different begonias in this area, all in pots, which I find works for good growth. The big blue pot under the acer was planted earlier this year, it fills the corner and looks lovely from the sitting room.

I can't see any new growth from the cut back willow tree stump, which is good, I have everything crossed we are able to kill it off. The trunk is in the garden, ready for a trip to the tip, even though its been cut down, there are new shoots, which have gotten bigger in the last week, it's a hardy plant.

The garden is doing well, we have had almost double the rain fall in July and its been very windy, so I'm pleased the garden is still looking good, my cucumber plant has died back, just not warm enough, typical as it was the first year of letting it grow outside, I have a glut from 2 tomato plants and the other 2 are full of green tomatoes.  I am picking blueberries and raspberries,  a nice steady harvest, fresh fruit most days. Our cut back blackberry bush is full of green fruits, I won't get a big harvest this year.

Everywhere is full of colour, I do have a couple spots starting to go over, the raised bed has colour but the bedding plants are past their best. My sweet peas have done well, I have been picking only small bunches, it's the best year so far for them. I have purchased a pack of 12 Violas, I love the tiny flowers, I have popped them into bigger pots, to have stronger plants for the garden. 

Hubby was not happy with the rose in his front garden, it grows fast and tall, which is not great on a bungalow wall, I suggested he could move it to the side, pop it in front of a hole in her jungle next door. It could grow up and hopefully we would get loads of flowers, it might backfire and she could cut back any growth on her side. I was meaning to move it later in the year, hubby set too and sorted it, it's a tough plant having been moved a few times. 

They are promising better weather next week, but first we need to get past this weekend, here is very wet, windy and cold, I'm wearing trainers, jeans a jumper and cardigan, it's more like late September than high summer. We have had pockets of sun shine, hence the photo's above, but really it's August, can some one tell the jet stream to move on up!

Summer colour

Roses are blooming, the dark red one is in it's second year, still quite small, but enough buds for a beautiful show. The yellow flowers have been here over 10 years, the pink flower was planted a couple of years ago as a gift, we did struggle to place it in the garden. 

Pots are looking good, these are just some of my favourite ones, all summer heat loving plants, it's a perfect year for them.  

The Acers are just brilliant. 

My Hosta looking good, 

so far not snail food, sat in an old bronze coal bucket.

Some flowers are better, this tiny cucumber plant is doing well. 

The Olive tree is full of bloom, when sat at the table the blossom floats down in the breeze, feels like your sat in a summer wedding. 

The side bed is filling out well, this year along the front I have Bizzy Lizzies, I purchased 4 plants and grew them on, I also took cuttings, so loads of plants at different sizes. The climbing rose is tucked by the garage, I have popped in a honeysuckle rooted cutting, in hope they mingle. 

This Agapanthus has 18 flower heads, I can't wait for them to open, from this plant I have separated roots and have two other plants around the garden, both have flower spikes. I will separate it again after flowering, I have a spot for it in our old herb bed.

The back bed, this is the last year it will look like this, next year it will become a fruit bed, everything which survives the winter will be transplanted into the new bed. The raised bed is full of colour, again we are pleased with it. 

The old herb bed, looking good, I have loads of smaller new plants which will come back every year, to help fill this bed, but for this year, it's all bedding plants. 

I did watch Gardeners World last Thursday,  it was at Adam Frost's home, very nice to see something different, I loved the water garden. I am back home for the weekend, and return to daughters on Tuesday when SIL goes away working, for the past week I have been sleeping at home but now I will move in with daughter for as long as she needs me, I am mainly doing the school run and bedtimes, daughter is doing the cooking and other things. 

As hubby and I sat on Saturday morning drinking our coffee in the shade, we both agreed the garden was full of colour, it's what most gardeners want, we both like our gardens neat, hubby loves straight lines, hence all the edging around the gardens. All I had to do was dead head around the plot and plant three small plants I purchased in the village, which was useful and it was so bloody hot. We popped to our neighbours at the bottom of our garden for a BBQ, the house is shared by three men, they are brilliant neighbours, they were very helpful through lockdown. 

We are fighting flies again, they are again this year huge bluebottle type, our patio doors are never opened, we leave our kitchen door open with a full length net. I have made a net curtain for our top opener in our bedroom window, it is working, we are getting less flies inside. Where we now sit, there are more flies, but less than on the other side of the garden.

We have purchased another water but, this one is 200ltrs, so will give me extra storage. Hubby is going to have another go at mending the leaking one, he thinking he should be able to fix it, with a different solution and he has a spot at the front of the house, useful for watering in the front garden. 

Looking better

This was at 7.15pm on Saturday evening, over an hour past Georges bedtime, at this point he had got up for the third time, and was hoping Grancha was going to save him from Nanna, 10 minutes later he went back to bed and was quickly fast asleep until 7.20am Sunday morning. It's the first time of sleeping in a bed here. 

After my huge sort out last month, George knows where all the different toys are, this visit he wanted all the cars and trains, we don't have so many as I threw loads of damaged ones away. It's been ages since he had a sleep over with us, Will was sleeping at Grandmas and Grandpas house, so mummy and daddy just had Molly. 

I have re-potted both these plants. The white Camelia has not stopped flowering and still has loads of buds. The pink and white Azalea looked worse for a while, the flowers faded, but there are new buds and they are red and white, not this pale pink. 

I pulled out loads of cactus, most not looking healthy at all, I had decided a while ago to cull the numbers, to give me more room here in the greenhouse, everywhere has been swept, I will clean the glass once all my summer plants have been placed in the garden. I have 2 tomato plants in the big bucket.

This is looking much better, the plastic sheets will go back along the greenhouse on Tuesday once the fence is replaced. I still need to dig out my compost bin, but it can wait until next week, I have cuttings in the yellow bucket, which will go into the composter once I have room. I have a cucumber in the big bucket, which will go in front of the greenhouse, all my small spring pots will stay here through the summer. 

The whole area has been swept, and a few pots moved around, my hosta is looking good, it's in a copper coal bucket, which keeps slugs and snails away, got it second hand, very cheap. This view from the house is stunning, so many different textures and colours. 

This section is really looking good, it's taken years to get to this point, the heavy clay is finally breaking down and plants survive the wet winter months. The big bucket is full of stones from beside the greenhouse, here is where the last 2 panels are being replaced. This is our rabbit garden, there are four you can see, with another 2 all out of shot, these are the best types of rabbit all resin, George and Molly love the native animals around the garden. 

The weekend has been brilliant, George is so much fun, like any little lad who is three and a half, he knows what he likes and enjoys playing, mummy packed his new hearing aids in hope we could get him to wear them, and be just like Grancha, he was very interested in hubbies, have a good look and checking hubby's ears, but sadly he did not want to wear his, which have been made to fit into his ear with the battery pack behind the ear. We went to our local park twice, popped to the village, watched his new favourite TV programme Bing, I popped him home for lunch on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon was outside, hubby painted the metal frame of our Pergola, I worked in the back section, our neighbours tree has dropped loads of tiny leaves, which are now all in the composter, I could have done more, but it's best to take my time and not over do things, I've not had any issues with my back and I want to keep it that way. 

Today we are going shopping again to look for suits, hopefully he will find one he likes, I am home alone in the afternoon, no plans as yet, I have a choice of sew, read or garden. 

Garden dreams

The garden is untidy, we had a delivery of fence panels and post on Friday, we moved the bench, hubby propped the panels along the garage wall and painted them, 3 times. Pots are all popped up by my greenhouse, it's messy up there. Nothing much on the metal table, it's too wet for my summer pots to come out of the greenhouse.

The bench will stay here, to stop me from tripping over the post and kick panels, everything will be fitted on Tuesday. All the bulb leaves are going over in the side bed, soon I can get some plants in, I just want to see colour.

I just love this tiny section of the garden,

it makes me smile every time I pass. 

New strawberry tower is much better, I have stronger healthy plants with loads of flowers, 5 levels, a total of 16 plants, I have not put strawberries in the bottom layer, I have a few rockery plants there. 

All these were cutting, which I popped into my Sphagnum moss, which I keep very wet with rain water, it's in a big plant pot saucer in a corner of the greenhouse, and is thriving and roots the cuttings quickly and strongly. I got just one packet of moss from a licenced supplier in Northumberland a couple years ago, it is going to last me years, 

We spent Friday morning in the garden, I planted some bedding plants in the old herb garden, I also potted on a few plants, my new Azealia was pot bound, so I was pleased to get it sorted, the plant has loads of buds on. It looked like rain,  so we rested inside all afternoon, me sewing hubby reading, no rain it just got really cool.

I have mentioned before I dream of my perfect garden, which would mean the garage knocked down and a new building which incorporated a greenhouse and potting shed, along the back fence, it's never going to happen, but I can dream. One job hubby wants done next year is to remove all the decking and have paving, which is making us think, sadly we rarely use the wooden table and chairs on the decking the flies and smell from next door is bad in the sunny hot weather. 

So being me I threw a completely new idea to hubby, which moves the patio to infront of the garage, on the other side of the garden, just have a wide walk, in paving outside the patio doors, and move the lawn down closer to the house and make it wider, with a flower bed at the back. That would give me more space at the back of the garden, room for a couple of small raised veg beds. 

Hubby is still talking to me, we have paced it out, it could work, we could reuse the decking boards to make raised beds, use some of the fake grass for paths in the veg section, lots of the work we could do ourselves. Just new paving and grass, all costing a bomb, so we would have to save like mad. If it went ahead I would want it done next spring, so I can move plants before they are in full growth, hubby is still talking to me, I can see him working out how much work it would take.