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!