In a Quandary

Well I have been working here,



but before I show you let me show you these



my alpine beds planted up, quite pleased



be much better when they have spread out



no I didn't plant him, thats his favourite spot, bless him.



Anyway back to where I was working, you may remember it had a trellis with a rampent Jasmine growing up it and also my baytree, which died this last winter.



I planned to clear it all away get rid of the stump, encourage the jasmine to go along the fence, then do one of 3 things, stack the pre-packed coal here or move the T-rex and the bamboo here or re-route the path so we couldn't see right down the garden.
Unfortunately the Baytree lives!!!!!



and under everything I found this chap..



Now what do I do? I am not sure it will put on enough growth to get it through the winter? But I do like the Bayleaves for cooking. Its a nicely sheltered corner so I thought it would be good for the T-Rex oh my goodness, choices..choices!!!!!

Well whilst we decide I sat and had a cuppa and this is my view



and right next to me



its a lovely day, a bit to hot to work though!!

This and That!

Lots going on in the Garden plus some big changes (hopefully)

My Bromeliads are shrinking?? not quite, these are all the babies from the plants overwintered in my heated greenhouse, I really must try and get some different ones.



Pleased with how this is looking, would look better if we had a bit more warmth!!



This is a very neglected spider plant, since I planted it outside, it has 'greened' up alot, you never know it may do it some good!!



Recently our village had some of its gardens opened, it gave us a chance to see behind the high walls eat some homemade cake and buy some lovely plants. When the organiser heard I grow some tropicals, she asked to come and see. So last Sunday found her walking round the garden asking me if I would open with the gardens next year. Quite difficult really as they open in June, too early for my tropicals to be at there best, but she was very insistant that it would be fine as it shows different types and sizes of leaves. So I have tentively agreed.

So we bought these boxes for ontop of the coal bunkers which have always been a 'problem' area with the thought of planting alpine plants in them unless someone comes up with a better idea.



Everything growing like crazy!!





I have always been disappointed how slow growing my Trachy is. Then I did some reading up and I think the poor thing has not had enough water, so I have had the hose on it for quite a considerable time....... now I have 4 spears pushing out!



I am quite sure this 'Indian Bean Tree' is supposed to be green.



The newly planted Cottage Garden by the veg beds, should be good for next year!





My most favourite place in the garden



I have planted 2 Passion Flowers, having been told they are not hardy :o( like most things in my garden they have 2 chances, but having said that they are on a south facing fence and I shall prop some winter protection over the roots this winter, you never know.





I really must try and hide the filter box, I could probably get away with moving it back under the Gunnera?



This is from the other side



Now this is where things are going to change, lots of moving around and construction, now hubby is self employed I have to put up with all his books, folders,papers, files, more books and even more books.... to be honest we don't have a big house so we are having an office constructed, yipee!!! I think we will call it the 'Dog House' lol!!!




In the Greenhouse a Strelitzia Nicola a baby at the moment but hopefully will be big.



First ripe tomato, mmmmmmmmmmm





As its Wimbledon, anyone for strawberries?

Jungle Planted!

We have had a hectic couple of weeks, last weekend we drove from our house to my mums (Cheshire) to the coast of East Anglia, for a funeral, back to Cheshire then next day then back home the day after. 4 Days of driving certainly takes it out of you! Especially when there where accidents all over the show!!!

Anyway hubby promised me this weekend for 'jungle' planting! So we started at about 8.30am today clearing all the bark chipping and laying out all the plants we have to go out.

We started first with the tree ferns. This is the advantage I have compared to other 'jungles' I can change mine every year, move it, within reason to where I fancy it, which to be honest suits my personality. Anyway, a friend from a forum I go on gave me a wonderful idea as to what could be done with a dead tree fern, so I wanted this to be Incorporated with the living tree ferns, and you will see it develop over the next few months!



Then came the planting of the main plot



most of these are reasonably easy to plant its when we get to the big 'nanas' things go pear shaped!



The banana in this pic has been in that pot for 2 years now, so we decided it needed to have its soil refreshed. It was so difficult to get out and nearly killed us! but during the re-planting we found that the centre of this seems to be totally rotten, but yet it keeps growing. I have no idea why, but we shall see, I think next year we will start again I am not sure we could move it again!!



This is the root growth of my Tetrapanax Papyrifer Rex it had only been in this pot 4 weeks. I had planned to put it in a larger pot so today was the day and it surprised us both at the extent of root growth!





This is the rest fo the plot, not so many 'nanas' this year!



If you had seen my Caster Oil plant a month and a half ago you would have said like me 'that's had it!' But as you can see it hasn't at all it grows with great gusto!



This week I got my knee brace, this is to help reduce the pain I have been getting! Its by no means heavy, but I have found I am walking funny, not deliberately it just seems to be happening, anyway I have an appointment with the physio and orthotics lady I was seeing before I was referred on the NHS, this week.
It makes my leg sweat and to be honest I never thought my leg sweated before, but it does now, then it feels wet, cold and slimy!!!!!
I know it is something I will have to get used too. On the plus side, the pain has eased in my knee but increased in my right ankle and hip! I suspect because I am walking differently! We will persevere!!!