thecompulsivegardener

runner beans

2009-09-02T04:33:00.001-07:00

Not only do I like eating runner beans; i think they are lovely decorative plants too!

July 15th

2009-07-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

The vegetable patch has come on quite a bit since last month. I am quite impressed with the sweetcorn and pleasantly surprised that the cabbages (see below!) are doing well, as is the rhubarb. The broadbeans are so far as disappointing as they were last year!

Here is one of my little pots on the patio; brilliant red geraniums are my favourites! They remind me of Austria where every balcony has window boxes full of red geraniums.

The runner bean wigwam is spectacular; I've just pinched off the tip as it had reached the top of the poles. Next to it the tomatoes are also coming on nicely.

This is the seating area just outside my back door. i like seeing this every time I open the door to go into the garden.

I recently emptied this planter (I have one either side of the back door) and replanted it with this dwarf verbena and some geraniums and lavender.)

Here is one of my courgettes!

I have been busy attacking (I mean PRUNING!) bushes today and am covered in scratches; plus I have greenfly in my bra!

2009-06-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Tomato plants and runner beans...

The vegetable plot - cabbages, onions, sweetcorn, rhubarb, broad beans plus chives inpot and courgettes in growbags.

Garden update - late August!

2008-08-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

My blue agapanthus was lost in the front garden so I moved it to a pot.

The whites have been in pots all along and are doing much better! Wonder if they prefer pot life?

I am regularily getting delicious tomatoes from the garden. The runner beans are doing well but the broad beans were a disaster.

I bought this in Tesco but forgot what it was called! It's really spectacular, about 4' tall. Any ideas what it is?

Our water lily is doing really well! This is the third lovely bloom it has produced.

The front garden, and Kate's rowan!

2008-07-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

Two photos from my garden - the above is part of the front garden and the second is a rowan tree we bought and planted just after Kate was born. It had been struggling the last few years because we'd underplanted it with a juniper that had grown huge and was obviously sucking all the life out of the rowan. It's doing much better now! Even the berries have gained in colour and shine!!

July 22nd garden update

2008-07-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

The border that we decimated last year is coming along quite nicely!

Lots of tomatoes on my plants...we just need some sun to ripen them!

I think the broad beans are doing ok....

....and the dwarf runner beans are flowering!

Growing!!

2008-07-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

My little peppers...and my tiny tomatoes!

Exciting...!

2008-07-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

This evening I noticed tiny fruits on my peppers!And the start of tiny tomatoes!!

A brief spell of sunshine...

2008-06-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's not been very summery the past few days! On Wednesday we had some extremely heavy rain. However the sun came out a bit late afternoon so I took a few snaps of the garden. I've been so busy taking photos I've not had as much time for gardening but I have got more growing than this time last year. Above are my six tomato plants in their growbags. In the pots next to the beige duck I have a pepper and a chilli plant.
We made a quick trip to B&Q for a new bolt and latch for the back gate. I spotted this striped ceramic globe and had to have it for the deck :)

Since the New Year I have been trying to think and act more positively. One of my gurus, Susan Jeffers, is very fond of the "Laughing Buddha". I have several buddhas now and I can't look at them without feel cheered and encouraged to appreciate life and its many gifts. Here is my garden buddha by the pot pond.

In these growbags I have dwarf runner beans and broad beans grown from seed.

My IKEA box is a blaze of colour. I love the pillar-box red geraniums so much.

My salad leaves are going well. I've been picking and eating them for a couple of weeks or so and they still keep producing more leaves.

Busy days...

2008-06-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

I am so delighted with these alliums planted in pots on the deck. They are spectacular, especially when wet with rain!

As I sort of have two jobs these days life is very busy! Last week was a holiday and I spent some much needed time in the garden. I have replanted my IKEA box with lobelia, ivies and a bright red geranium.

I am trying my luck with growing two different types of chilli pepper; one hot and one mild.

Tomatoes! I am growing two types but have forgotten which ones and which is which...have three of one type and three of the other!

My salad leaves are sprouting well. The front pots are runner beans (dwarf!) and broad beans. Not much doing with either yet...

2008-05-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

A very wet week in May

After the glorious sunshine we had earlier in the month, my week off is proving to be a real wash-out. I'm consoling myself with the thought that all the rain is great for the garden :) ANd certainly everything seems to be thriving. In a gap between downpours today I ventured out into the garden with the camera.

My honeysuckle which died suddenly last year has made a recovery - see below.The alliums I planted in pots on the back deck are absolutely beautiful. I am already planning on planting more alliums next year; I am in love with these spectacular plants.

A close up...I have some of the more compact ones in the front garden.

I have six tomato plants in growbags, my salad leaves are already starting to sprout and I have also planted some dwarf broad beans. I need to get some dwarf runner beans too.

Pots updated!

2008-04-21T06:12:00.001-07:00

Back in late August 2007 I planted this row of pots. The tulips are now in full bloom and looking lovely!

Garden under snow!

2008-04-07T04:19:00.001-07:00

The view from my bedroom on Sunday morning!

First lawn cut of the year...

2008-03-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Although wintry showers and temperatures on -8C are forecasted for Easter, today was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. It was good to get outside and give the lawn its first cut of 2008.
I was happy to see Button's Bush is loaded with its colourful spring berries. Buttons was one of our cats and this bush marks his grave so I'm always cheered to see it thriving.

The anenome blanda are looking great; I really like these little flowers. The dwarf tulips have defied the slugs and are growing well.
The frogs are behaving oddly; they are depositing frogspawn on the gravel or the path beside the pond as well as in it. I don't know why....! I put it in the pond if I see it in time but it's really weird that they are doing this!

March update!

2008-03-05T13:47:00.001-08:00

I didn't know slugs eat tulips! Luckily they didn't get to this one growing in my window box!

I planted lots of these pretty anenomes after a suggestion from Ruth. I am really happy with how they look! Plus I'm delighted to see the first frogspawn in the pond!

Green Thumb Sunday October 28th

2007-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, another late GTS post!

I had a very busy Sunday as we had been away and had no time to take any garden photos until today! There are some beautiful colours in the garden just now...so vivid!

I spotted this shield bug (I think!) on my pyrancantha when I was bringing in the milk. This was just a quick snap but I couldn't resist getting the macro lens and tripod and trying some close-ups (click here for the reults!) He was very accomading and didn't seem to mind having his portrait taken.
The holly bush in the back garden is a mass of berries. Some people say this signifies a cold winter to come. I hope so, I'd rather have some cold weather than our usual mild damp winters.
Happy gardening everyone!

Green Thumb Sunday 21st October

2007-10-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a GTS post for a while now as things at home have been pretty hectic. i have been busy in the garden planting agapanthus and alliums and various other things. I've still got tulip bulbs to plant and will do them early next month. I still have nasturtiams in flower and I like the way dew collects on the leaves.

One of my geraniums is also still flowering; what a beautiful pink it is. This is the planted silver bucket from IKEA which has been one of my favourite displays of this year and is still looking good now!

I was really pleased to see that my honeysuckle which i thought had died is showing new growth again! I'm glad I didn't pull it up and throw it on the compost heap!

This final photo is of my yellow nasturtiams in my fence-mounted box, again from IKEA. The colour is so vivid in the sunshine.
Happy gardening everyone!

Green Thumb Sunday 7th October

2007-10-07T02:35:00.000-07:00

A group of us spent Sunday at Chester Zoo, taking photos and chatting and generally having a great time! It was a beautiful day. My own garden is looking a bit drab right now so I thought instead I'd show you some of the zoo gardens this GTS. For me, one of the best things about the Zoo is not the animals but the wonderful gardens and the imaginative planting. I really enjoy a section of the Zoo planted with many different types of grasses which rustle and wave beautifully in the slightest breeze, and then there are the floral displays - imaginative and colourful.

We were all very taken with these mesh figures in various poses that appear in these flowerbeds. We weren't sure if they are going to be topiary figures eventually but even now they are eyecatching and effective. If a bit ghostly!

Finally, these wonderful purple flowers really caught my eye! I'd like some of these in the garden for next year...now can anyone tell me what they are called?

Happy gardening everyone!

2007-10-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

"Please Remember"

Time, sometimes the time just slips away
And you're left with yesterday
Left with the memories
I, I'll always think of you and smile
And be happy for the time
I had you with me
Though we go our separate ways
I won't forget so don't forget
The memories we made

Please remember, please remember
I was there for you
And you were there for me
Please remember, our time together
The time was yours and mine
And we were wild and free
Please remember, please remember me

Goodbye, there's just no sadder word to say
And it's sad to walk away
With just the memories
Who's to know what might have been
We'll leave behind a life and time
We'll never know again

Please remember, please remember
I was there for you
And you were there for me
And remember, please remember me

Please remember, please remember
I was there for you
And you were there for me
Please remember, our time together
The time was yours and mine
And we were wild and free
And remember, please remember me

And how we laugh and how we smile
And how this world was yours and mine
And how no dream was out of reach
I stood by you, you stood by me
We took each day and made it shine
We wrote our names across the sky
We ride so fast, we ride so free
And I had you and you had me

Please remember, Please remember...

Leann Rimes

Green Thumb Sunday 16th September

2007-09-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

My back is hurting today but I swallowed some painkillers and pressed on with the gardening! I bought a tray of 30 violas earlier in the week at Tesco, and added some to my Ikea box on the fence. it still looks pretty lively with the last of the nasturtiams and the ivy doing well (above).

In the front garden the pyracantha in the pot by the front door has some wonderful orange berries.

I sealed the leak in the birdbath and it is holding water again. The prairie grasses I planted look nice swaying in the breeze, and the stepping stone looks nice now it's had a good scrub.

This streamer was a birthday present from my Californian friend Anisa. I love it!

My tomatoes had finished so I replanted this trough and a pot with allium, anemone blanda and some more violas. The fence is looking very green after our wet summer! It was hard taking photos today as it's so windy.

I love this deep purple viola in the kitchen window box. It seems to be doing quite well.

Thanks to Ruth for identifying Verbena Bonariensis from my description. I bought one at a garden centre yesterday and planted it in the front garden along with some tall allium. Hope everyone is having a happy and productive Green Thumb Sunday! Happy gardening! Now I'm off to bring my garden logbook up to date :)

Green Thumb Sunday 9th September

2007-09-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting: I was working Saturday and away Sunday!I haven't really done anything much in the garden except water since last week! Oh, I forgot, I planted two clumps of prairie grasses which look lovely swaying in the wind - and sealed a leak in my birdbath!

I have been given a beautiful garden log book to help plan my gardening over the season. I'm really looking forward to using this lovely book over the weeks and months, especially during the winter! I took a photo of it surrounded by plant labels and seed packets! It has space for photos and lists - perfect.How do you all plan your future gardening?

The other picture is from Sonoma County Fair display of competition gardens... I think this must be a librarian's garden and as I'm a librarian I couldn't resist it!

Green Thumb Sunday 2nd September

2007-08-29T03:30:00.001-07:00

After tearing the garden apart it was time for some replanting. I have changed the plants in my window box - the dwarf conifer in there was starting to shut out light from the kitchen window. In the box now is a viola, some aubretia, an ornamental grass and a hebe.

I planted this row of pots with some more grasses and a conifer and they will go down the bottom of the garden near the compost bin. They are replacing the half-dead Southernwood I dug out last week. The pots and the window box are underplanted with dwarf tulips. I've also bought some alium bulbs but haven't planted them yet. I'm quite excited as this is my first foray into bulb planting and I also plan to get some agapanthus, more tulips and more alliums. I'm going to replace my non-flowering lilies with agapanthus as I no longer want lilies growing in the garden as the pollen is poisonous to cats.
Some time ago I photographed a plaque which my friend A from California had given me as a gift. On my recent visit to Petaluma I was able to pop into the shop where it came from (Tuscan Gardens) and picked up these two little creatures which now sit on my patio table.

I was given these tomato plants by a library customer and when I saw the colour of the fruits I thought I'd done something wrong as they refused to go red! Luckily some one told me they are a YELLOW variety and very, very tasty. These toms are actually better cooked and I grilled some earlier this week...very delicious flavour!

Hope everyone has a wonderful gardening Sunday! I am just off to brunch with my friend :)

Green Thumb Sunday 26th August

2007-08-26T09:55:00.001-07:00

Today I decided to enlist the help of my "slash and burn" other half as the garden needed MAJOR blitzing. We bought a rotary clothes airer as we can't fit enough washing on our line but we felt the bushes to the left side of the lawn would snag the clothes on the airer. Also we wanted to get rid of a monster juniper that was threatening to take over. Anyway, whilst Phil attacked the bushes I tackled the pond area. Above is the prunings on the lawn before bagging. It took several trips to cart them all away!

This is a bush I've cut back hard and hope it will recover. I need to plant something small where the juniper was. Something that doesn't dominate and fight back. We needed the help of our friend Andrew with his chain saw and brute strength to get up the stump and roots! I'm also going to plant some bulbs in this border now there is space...

My southernwood was on its last legs so that went too. I'm going to plant some grasses and dwarf conifers in the pots along the side here.

Today was a big day for Basil (above) as we let him outside for the first time. He loved it! I think he really enjoyed going "potty" in all the soft earth instead of the litter tray indoors. Here he is looking with interest at the pond...

I bought two new containers for my bird food. I couldn't resist the sunflower shaped peanut holder! I hope the birds like it too. My honeysuckle next to the back door has died so I threw it away. I'm sad about that; it seemed to be some sort of blight.

Hacking through the undergrowth I discovered my bird bath completely overgrown. I hauled it out and relocated it next to Buttons' bush. I hope the grass recovers. The juniper overhung a lot of lawn. Phil has sunk the hole for the airer and concreted it. It can be removed when not in use so my garden will no longer be draped in washing line. I also managed a little work in the front garden so all in all it was a VERY successful day! Thank goodness the weather was perfect, sunny with a little cooling breeze.

Now I'm off to take a well earned shower and later I hope to visit some gardening blogs. Hope your gardening Sunday was as good as mine :)

To buy:
Bulbs
Dwarf Conifers/grasses for pots
Two SMALL shrubs
Cat statue for Ollie's grave
Weedkiller for path
Sealant for bird bath
New climber for planted by back door

Green Thumb Sunday 19th August

2007-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

I came from holiday to discover the garden looking a bit the worse for wear, and this week has been wet so I've not had much of a chance to rectify things. So here are two pictures I took at the Sonoma County Fair; they had wonderful garden displays. I loved the baseball themed garden above and was also delighted to see this big stone artichoke - I ate my very first artichoke on my visit to California! Hope everyone has a happy gardening Sunday :)

Green Thumb Sunday 14th July

2007-07-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry I am late for Green Thumb Sunday this week...

I FINALLY managed to cut my lawn; it was actually dry for most of Saturday with a bit of a breeze and I didn't tear the grass to shreds too badly. It's nice to see it looking like a lawn again and not a meadow. This pink plant is doing well in my borders; I've forgotten what it's called :(
Another unknown plant fills my old Belfast sink. I love the tiny and delicate white flowers it produces.
The Rose of Sharon is cut back HARD each year but it never bears grudges and keeps on glowering!I always remember how my mum was laid up for a month trying to dig up a Rose of sharon bush she no longer wanted! It taught me that these plants fight back!
I liked the way the sunlight was playing through the leaves of some of my grasses.
The herbs are doing better for a cutback but I think my mint has had it! I stuffed a big handful of herbs up my chicken's bottom before roasting it along with a lemon...mmm, smelt delicious!!

We have lots of tiny frogs in the rockery! Smaller than my little finger nail but so perfect. I love them!

This will be my last post before (hopefully) going away; it will be mid-August before I'm back. Take care and happy gardening!

Green Thumb Sunday July 8th

2007-07-08T02:50:00.001-07:00

I can honestly say I've hardly been in the garden this week! A combination of terrible weather, a full day at RDA on Wednesday and a longer than usual working week has put paid to any gardening. I'm in despair over my lawn; it is so long now and yet still far too wet too cut! Yesterday was dry but it rained over night. I'm hoping if it's dry today I can cut it this evening.

For some reason my hydrangea is doing really well this year. Maybe it's because I took out the overgrown cotoneaster and the dead fir tree that was its immediate neighbours! Anyway, it's a mass of pink blooms which cheer me up despite the rain.

Happy Green Thumb Sunday everyone!

Green Thumb Sunday

2007-07-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Raindrops on the smoke bush

Tiny rosettes

Well, here we are, the first Green Thumb Sunday in July and I'm not sorry to see the back of June! It wasn't flaming June but soggy June instead! All the rain has been good for the garden BUT it's been so wet I have hardly been able to get out in the garden at all. The grass is in desperate need of mowing and the weeds are growing really fast.

I hope we see some sunshine in July and a reduction in the torrential rain that has caused so much flood damage in the UK. I feel so sorry for people whose homes and gardens have been ruined by the recent flooding.

Happy gardening everyone!

Alchemila in the rain

2007-06-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Just about the only plus side to our torrential rain is the beautiful sight of raindrops on flowers and foliage! This lady's mantle is so pretty!

Green Thumb Sunday 24th June

2007-06-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

My dear friend A from California gave me this lovely plaque for my garden when she and her fsmily came to stay with us two years ago. I really treasure it. It's now under four weeks until we fly out to the US to see her again :)

Nasturtiams are blooming! My Ikea box has really come on in the last week and I was thrilled to see some blooms appearing.

This metal bucket has really turned out well. The geranium is flowering beautifully and its leaves are so pretty. I also like the dark grass in the neighbouring pot. Just peeking out from behind the pots you can see a clump of stray lobelia that self-seeded itself from last year. It's a beautiful deep blue. There is another by the back door but my photo of it came out too blurred to post :(

My curry plant is blooming. I love the smell of it especially after the rain. We have certainly had lots of rain this week. It's been quite warm too so everything is growing like mad. Sadly that means the weeds too! My next door neighbour on one side is elderly and has more or less given up on her garden and it's full of weeds that seed themselves merrily in our garden. I am plagued with those mares tails weeds that are almost impossible to eradicate. Apparently their roots can go down 7 feet! I am dreading our return from the US as I know the weeds will be rampant all over the garden.

I will sign off with another picture of a nasturtiam. I hope everyone has a wonderful gardening Sunday and that the weather where YOU are is better than it is in gloomy old England right now!!!

Green Thumb Sunday 17th June

2007-06-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Tomato!

The tomato plants I got free from work are doing well. This one already has fruit on it though it isn't very tall. I have no idea what variety of tomato I have as the plants were freebies. Does anyone else love the smell of tomato plants? I do! I love pinching out the side shoots too.

Window box growing well!

My nasturtiams and ivies are growing well. I have both upright and trailing "nasties" and they are filling the box out very well indeed.

The acer is looking much happier!

I don't know what it was I did but it's putting out lots of lovely fresh new leaves and seems much healthier. Those leaves are such a pretty and delicate shade of pale green.

Geranium in bloom...

Looking a little battered by our recent heavy rain but still pretty. I'm very fond of geraniums.

Bottlebrush plant

I don't know the official name for this but I do love it. It was an impulse buy from a DIY store and was quite expensive but it's given me so much pleasure. I've not had a huge amount of success photographing it especially as it blows around so much in the slightest breeze.

It's been a strange week for weather. The first couple of days were very hot and sunny then Wednesday evening the rains came. Much of the country has been flooded but despite our garage floor being awash otherwise we've escaped fairly lightly. The garden seems to have really sucked up all the rain.

Happy Green Thumb Sunday everyone!

Green Thumb Sunday June 10th

2007-06-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

These two photos were taken on our visit to Grange; there were lovely borders planted along the promenade. I don't know what either of these are but I'd like some in my garden!

The acer is doing much better and is putting out new leaves. I have been given 4 tomato plants - someone brought a load into the library and begged us to give them a new home!! We divided them up between us. Oh dear, WHAT is my neighbour going to say when I go away?? I'll have to buy him a really special present in return for all the watering he's hopefully going to do for me!

Have a wonderful gardening Sunday folks!

Green Thumb Sunday June 3rd

2007-06-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

In praise of aubretia...
I really love this cheerful little plant. I've never managed to make it grow as rampantly as other people seem to, but even my own modest show pleases me a lot.
last night we ate salad from the trough of mixed leaves Talj gave me. It tasted delicious!
The acer is looking better. There is another one in a garden around the corner which looks exactly like ours. I'm encouraged to see some new leaf growth pushing through.
This week I've done some weeding in the front garden. We really need to get some more plants for the acer corner. Oh deat, what hardship, ANOTHER trip to the garden centre....poor me!
Have a wonderful gardening Sunday everyone!

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Poached egg plant?

2007-05-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

I thought this was what this was but now I'm not so sure!

I saw slugs on the acer earlier so I'm off to get rid of them!! It's sunny and I hope to at least cut the grass today.

Alchemila in the rain

2007-05-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

I love the way rain collects in these leaves....

Geraniums and Buttons' bush...

2007-05-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

I really love the leaves on these geraniums and the way the contrast with that acid-green conifer! This little planter is coming on nicely :)

Below is a flower from Buttons' bush in the garden - it's very pretty.
The rain and sunshine has made the grass suddenly shoot up about 3 inches but it's too wet to cut right now. The forecast for the remainder of the week is not looking conducive to much gardening I'm afraid.

My honeysuckle by the kitchen door is blooming. Also, after rain, the curry plant on the other side of the door smells delicious.

Window box and duck weed!

2007-05-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

T got these wonderful window boxes for her balcony and I had to have one for my fence. It's planted with ivies and trailing nasties, and I also put some Tom Thumb nasties in as well. So much for my resolve not to plant up too many pots with our trip coming up! I'll have to pray my neighbour is willing to water!

The duckweed is rampant AGAIN. There really is a pond under here believe it or not!!

Green Thumb Sunday May 27th

2007-05-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

I'm absolutely thrilled with my flowering yucca. It looks so beautiful i can't help admiring it every time I go outside or look out of the windows. Especially when the light catches it in a certain way!

My chives are also flowering. I know I should remove the seed heads but they are so pretty. The garlic chives are coming up well but are not really photogenic right now.

I have a challenge for everyone....help me name my new gnome! I bought him on my trip to Leeds to visit Talj. I liked him because he's reading book and I'm a librarian. I'd love a really suitable name for him so I thought I'd ask for ideas.

Talj gave me a container of salad leaves she has grown but has no room for plus a sage plant in a beautiful blue pot. I'm looking forward to eating home grown salad! Do you pick the leaves by hand or cut them with scissors? And will they grow up again? (I've never grown salad before!)
Hope everyone has a happy gardening day. Forecast here is for wind and rain so I doubt I'll be able to get outside much :(

Duck and basil

2007-05-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Basil from Talj

Talj grew this basil from seed for me and she's decided he is old enough to leave home and move to Helsby.I hope he settles down here ok and is happy being at ground level instead of viewing the world from his 6th floor balcony!

Talj and I went to B&Q for some ivy and fuschias and while we were there I spotted this sad little face peeping out at me...couldn't resist him so now he's sitting on my deck!

The acer is infested with greenfly which may be why it's not been looking too happy. Have sprayed it so fingers crossed...

Green Thumb Sunday

2007-05-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

Two photos of some clumps of ferns that just appeared in the garden next to the pond! i'm so glad they arrived; seemed to have settled in well and are thriving!! However the Japanese Acer we planted is not looking too good - the leaves are turning yellow, curling and then going brown.

My gnome

2007-05-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

P doesn't approve of gnomes but I sneaked this little chap into one of my pots. I used to have a bigger gnome and P would hide him if we'd had a row...used to drive me demented!! I feel the need for another gnome coming on ....

Hawthorn Tree

2007-05-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is the view from my attic bedroom. I really love this tree. I can't remember it looking so magnificent before. The birds love it too and it's like having some real countryside in my back garden.

I wish I could find some way of stopping Shea chasing frogs! I don't think a bell on a collar would help the way it does with birds. I just have to keep rushing down the garden to check on him...alternatively I could arm the frogs with pepper spray perhaps??

2007-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Rowan Blossom

I took this the other day with the Olympus. This tree is doing so much better no the juniper is gone from below. I'm thrilled to see it putting out lots of leaves and blossom again. And am looking forward to a nice crop of berries!!

After all the rain we are now getting some sunshine so everything should be growing like mad!

Green Thumb Sunday May 13th

2007-05-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

What a difference in the rockery in just a few weeks!! I am very pleased to see I have some ferns growing. Am off to take some photos of them now!

Green Thumb Sunday

2007-05-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

Some of my favourite things in the garden...

The marsh marigold growing in the pond...past its best now but still lovely.

The ivy that covers an old gate completely and is now growing up one of the hawthorn trunks....

The hawthorn itself; hedge and tree. Especially wonderful when in flower.

We got some rain today; good news for the garden!

Hope everyone has a wonderful gardening Sunday!

Help Ruth!

2007-05-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

These blue flowers pop up every year all over the garden; sometimes they die down and then flower again in late autumn. Both P and I love to photograph them but can't remember their name. I'm sure Ruth (or someone else!) could help.

It's a beautiful day here again. I'm off to plant some nasturtiam seeds soon. The indoor chives are doing well; the outdoor ones may be about to sprout!

Is this the most beautiful spring EVER?

2007-05-02T01:04:00.001-07:00

I can't get over how glorious the countryside and the gardens are looking. It's the most beautiful spring that I can remember! My smokebush (below) is fully out now and the leaves look beautiful against the blue sky.

I have noticed the indoor chives have sprouted whilst the outdoor ones have not!

We planted this rowan tree (below) when Kate was born. We planted a juniper underneath it which got a bit out of hand over the years. The rowan seemed to struggle the past few years. We just got rid of the juniper and the rowan seems much happier! We haven't had such lovely leaves for quite a few years!

Green Thumb Sunday comes early......

2007-04-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

As I am away for the weekend from tonight I thought I'd better post my Sunday entry early!

This is a real first for my garden!

I was looking out the kitchen window this evening and I noticed something strange in my yucca (well, I think it's a yucca...)- what looks like a flower spike is developing! This is something quite out of the ordinary; it's never flowered before!
I have a small clump of bluebells next to the compost heap too. It's not a wood but i like it all the same.

Happy gardening everyone :)

I wish I could remember plant names...

2007-04-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hopefully my garden blog will help me to note down and remember plant names. I get so frustrated when I'm trying to describe a plant that I love but whose name completely escapes me. This purple leaved plant is a good example. I bought it many, many years ago in a Leeds garden centre. It's deciduous and produces big umbrella-type deep purple leaves and delicate sort of seed heads but I can't remember what it's called. It responds very well to being cut back and I'm very very fond of it; it's like one of the family. So I'll never let Phil near it with the pruners....

Ruth kindly reminded me this was a celandine - it's done really well this year. Another plant that does far too well in our pond is the awful duckweed. While we were away in California the first time it arrived and on our return the pond was a carpet of green. We scoop as much of it away as we can but never get rid entirely.

Shea is terrorising the frog population; I keep rescuing the poor little things. he doesn't hurt them just scares them into a stupor. I suppose I should be grateful he's not catching birds. ollie did until I bought him a collar with a bell. It totally cured him and after six months I took the bell off and he never caught another bird! He never caught the mice in the shed either; guess he decided the life of a hunter was not for him...

The name of the bush below also escapes me. its leaves have a lovely smell when crushed...

Lots of planting...

2007-04-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning Phil took me to the nearest Wyevale Garden Centre.We had a lovely time choosing some new plants. We had cleared out a dead conifer and a dying cotoneaster in the front garden and wanted a tree to replace it. After much deliberation we bought an Acer Brilliantissimum. It's described as " a distinctive small tree with glorious shrimp-pink young spring foliage that later changes to pale yellow green and then green." We bought some dryopteris Ferns to go nearby but that corner still looks a bit bare so "watch this space"! The photo below shows Phil trying to avoid having his photo taken....

This next photo shows him putting bonemeal into the hole he's just dug for the new tree!

I bought this cordyline at Morrisons and got the pot last Sunday - I love the colour and shape of these plants, and this one stands out well against the fence just opposite the back door.

I bought some more mint. I was going to plant it in an old welly boot but changed my mind. This pot may SAY biscuits but it actually CONTAINS mint now. I'm glad I didn't throw it away when I discovered it didn't keep biscuits from going soggy very well at all....

I used to have an indoor plant in this zinc Ikea pail but when we re-arranged the study it had to go. I punched drainage holes in the bottom, planted it with one of my favourite acid-green conifers and some geraniums, then put some gravel on top and I like the way it looks :)

I found the Skimmia I wanted for Ollie's grave. It looks really pretty. I didn't see any cat statues today but no matter; I can keep looking. I'll know when I see the right thing. The skimmia is a hermaphrodite as it has both male and female characteristics.

I bought a plastic trough for my garlic chive seeds, I'm so impressed with Talj and Ruth growing so much from seed I feel lazy in comparison So I'm having a go with the garlic chives. I also planted some indoors as it will be interesting to see which do the best. I was desperately wanting to buy tomato plants but resisted as I won't be around to look after them for so much of the summer. I also planted some garlic - another first :)

This last picture is of the rockery behind the pond; Phil has just planted some heathers and a saxofraga "Red Pixie". We had some rain on Sunday afternoon and you could almost hear the thirsty garden sucking it all up!

The ENTIRE time we were outside the yappy dog next door but one was yapping. It's very distressing; this Westie is confined to a small area of the garden and he runs a sort of circuit around it; with frequent stops for loud yapping at nothing sessions. It's like watching a wind-up toy :( He doesn't get taken for walks much, if ever. It's tricky as the woman who owns him got him after she was widowed so i don't want to upset her BUT he yaps from dawn to dusk. It's so loud and goes on so long you literally can't hear yourself think or speak. She makes no efforts to tell him to be quiet. I think if it carries on I'm going to have to go to see her but she's likely on past experience to tell me to go to hell. I don't want to involve the council but I think the dog is both a noise problem AND is not being properly taken care of......his behaviour is very odd.

Green Thumb Sunday

2007-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Camelia

This is my first "Green Thumb Sunday" post :) Today we are off to a garden centre to choose a skimmia (I hope I can find the one I want!) Am really looking forward to this visit as Phil is coming too. I also need a big bag of potting compost and something to contain my garlic chives which I'm planning on planting later. Maybe I'll find that little cat statue also...

Gardeners, Plant and Nature lovers can join in every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.

Skimmia

2007-04-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Ruth suggested a skimmia for Ollie and I saw LOADS in a garden centre last Sunday. Decided to do a little reasearch before I picked one. The type mentioned here sounds like it might be good...

There are numerous lovely skimmias, generally from the Himalayas and the Far East, and these form evergreen shrubs of varying heights. Most are dioecious, meaning they have male and female flowers on different plants, and both sexes must be planted to ensure a crop of fruits. The subspecies reevesiana is an hermaphrodite and will therefore produce plenty of berries if planted on its own, although the display is even better with a male pollinator nearby. The berries, bright red in conspicuous clusters, last all autumn and winter, often until the neat shrubs are in bloom again.

Will have a look tomorrow when we are going to another garden centre :)

More parts of the garden

2007-04-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is my second white planter, with my lucky Chinese cat standing guard. As well as the conifer and some ivy, I have honeysuckle growing up bamboo poles at the back. It smells lovely when the back door is open during summer evenings.

I really like the acid green of these conifers so there's another one the other side of the back door. My small collection of herbs (chives, mint, thyme, curry plant, sage) grows here too, where they are easily accessible, although the big bay tree, more sage, santolina and rosemary are by the back gate.

I liked the way the sun shone through the Yucca leaves. I can just see the blue flowers of the vinca beyond, and the hawthorne hedge just starting to leaf. When it's fully in leaf you can't see the houses behind us.

A bush for Ollie....

2007-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Buttons' bush

Buttons was one of the first cats we ever owned. We got him just before Tiggy right after we were married. He was a lovely black and white moggie. Buttons had lots of funny habits and was especially fond of hiding in boxes. He was never a healthy cat, regularily getting viruses etc and one day he got one from which he did not recover. He was eight. We buried him in the garden and planted this handsome bush on top of him! as you can see it is growing really well and Phil is going to have to cut it back a bit as washing gets caught up on it now!

Phil buried Ollie here on Monday. I had already trimmed the overhanging bush back on Good Friday. I need a plant that is not tall, doesn't mind a bit of shade and that is quite wide, as a bush for Ollie. Any ideas? I have also seen some little sleeping cat statues that I would like for him.

The day looks set to be beautiful and I have to go to work :(

Pot lady

2007-04-11T11:50:00.000-07:00

I bought this little person when at a garden centre in Leeds with T. I thought it was a male person but T said definitely female and that she looked like me; I cannot really see the resemblance at all...

Below are the grasses now planted in their pots....

I love my big glazed ceramic ball (behind the pots). I keep meaning to get another one.

Gardening as therapy

2007-04-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

I had a little drive out to B&Q today and bought some compost and a few plants for the garden. I got several different grasses, some thyme and a single tray of geraniums as I'm really NOT going to be able to go to town on bedding plants this year due to the US trip. I was tempted by some seeds as Talj is doing so well with hers but again I'm not sure I will be able to see them through to maturity! I also got some liquid feed and water retaining granules for the pots then had a pleasant time potting my new aquisitions and deciding where they should go.
Before our friends came over from the US to visit us in 2005 I bought a couple of these white planters. One is outside the back door and I use this one as an attempt to conceal the two wheely bins (garden rubbish and household rubbish) that live outside the back gate. I grew trailing nasturtiums in this that first year and they looked fantastic!

Our front door. Again for the visit from our US friends I bought two beautiful tall dark blue glazed pots and planted them. A couple of weeks later, I drove my car into the drive...just a bit too far! There was a loud crack and my beautiful pot fell apart!! A few days later, parking my car on the other side of the drive, I neglected to put on my handbrake properly and the OTHER pot bit the dust. The remains can now be seen in my compost corner partially buried in the ground where I can at least still appreciate their lovely colour. I replaced them with cheapo but less fragile brown plastic pots :(

The brass plaque on the wall to the right of the door reads "Beware of the cat".

Getting started....

2007-04-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

Busy Good Friday...
About half way through the day I took this photo of the mess I'd created in the back garden. There were heaps of clippings everywhere. I'd pruned several shrubs quite severely as well as cutting back loads of vinca which was over-hanging the rockery. It's so vigorous and I quite like it but you can have too much of a good thing!!
I gave P the task of getting rid of a huge cotoneaster in the front garden. He wasn't pleased as he still remembers the effort it took getting rid of the same shrub in the back garden a few years ago. But he fought bravely and WON.

The hedge cutter did a great job on my hawthorn hedge in the back garden on Wednesday - he cut back most of the overhang and took off just a few feet in height so we still get lots of privacy.

As we are going to America for three weeks in the summer I won't be planting up my usual pots, troughs etc with bedding plants as I can't ask my kind neighbour to water them for three weeks - it's too much! I thought today I might plant some of my pots with ornamental grasses that will look nice but won't need the intensive daily watering that the bedding plants would need. I think I might also spend some of my cash on some more garden ornaments as I'll be saving on plants.

I feel we've got a lot done today so i'm off for a shower!

A view of my the back garden.

2007-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

It was really too bright for good photos but I wanted to show the garden in sunlight after the snowy pictures. This set of photos will show how the garden looks at the end of March and I'll try to keep the blog updated as things change and grow over the ensuing months.

There's Shea near the compost bin. I love my compost bin but whichever design I've tried it's always proved almost impossible to actually get the compost OUT of it easily. It's full of worms which I think is a good sign...the brownish plant at the front of the picture is southernwood, which my parents called "Old Man". We had a clump growing by the front door in the house where I grew up and when I smell it I'm transported back to my childhood.

This plant is growing beautifully in our pond but I can't for the life of me remember what it is! Can anybody help? The frogs love it and hide away in its foliage. You often see a little face peeping out at you!

This is one of my favourite plants growing on the deck just under the kitchen window. It cost quite a lot but it's well worth it. It has bright red flowers that look like bottle brushes. You can see I've not yet uncovered the patio table although i think if the weather's good this Easter weekend it will be time to do so.

This is a view of the side of the deck.In the big glazed pot is my mini-pond which grows water plants pretty successfully. I have lilies in the two matching deep blue pots although the past couple of years they've fallen victim to lily beetle! I've also some ivy and an ornamental grass in a couple of other pots.

This is a Belfast sink that was left behind by the previous owners. I've tried to grow all sorts in here but most things have failed except this prolific little thing that has a mass of white flowers in Spring. You can also see a little statue I picked up while shopping for garden stuff with T in Leeds. i think T actually paid for it so thanks, sweetie!

Well, that's how the garden looks at the moment.

The garden in winter!

2007-03-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Garden under snow.
I like the way snow transforms the garden. Covering up a lot of its faults and making the architectural shapes of some of the plants really stand out. I like the way the bench by the pond suddenly became much more elegant too! This is a view from the first floor back bedroom window.
I converted this picture to black and white as I thought it enhanced the old fashioned feel to it.

The yucca looks really amazing here! the snow didn't seem to do it any harm, luckily.