Hanky Panky in the Garden!!!

We have been having a move round of water butts down by the sheds. The small one that was next to the greenhouse has been moved as a second one at the end of the shed.

Mainly because it has been an absolute pain to get round the back of the greenhouse then up the side. So now I will be able to go straight down the left hand side, provided I don't fill it up with rubbish.

We have been turning the compost today. This compost has not been doing well at all so as we bought a Hotbin Composter at Gardeners World Live. As we dug down the bottom of the compost is riddled with tree roots, so we shall be putting down slabs to stand the composter on.

Now are little robin was very happy with mouthfuls of worms and caterpillars, but what we found interesting is he would go into the greenhouse with a mouthful and come out without? So we believe his nest must be in there somewhere.

Hubby watched him hop under the potting bench so I got this pic through the glass, maybe, maybe not, but I wont move anything.

Then during a coffee break the pond was alive with activity.

A lot of Hanky Panky going on here and not just with the Goldfish, we could be getting a new breed of fish as they don't seem to stick to their own kind!!!

The view across the pond.

Loads of buds on the Passionflower, can't wait to see them flower.

Watching Paint Dry!

So today I decided to paint the front door! Something I do every 4-5 years, I knew it needed doing as the paint was lifting in the bottom corner of the door. I know we could get a UPVC door, but they look odd on a 1860 cottage, how do I know, because my neighbour has one! It looks far too modern.

So unscrewed the bottom of the stable door, scraped and sanded to find there is some rot, so trotted off to the DIY store, got some wood hardener and wood filler then set about sorting it out,

Now being an impatient person, I put the wood hardener on which you have to leave for 2hours, so I painted the rest of the door except this bit in the corner, 2 hours later I came out and filled with the wood filler. I would much rather use a flexible filler as this always cracks when you shut the door.

Of course all the little black flies love my yellow door, but I don't worry, cos I leave it until its totally dry then brush them away and you can't see there feet!! Is that evil?

So while this dries for 4hours I pottered down the garden and did a spot of pruning. The Oputunia, should have been pruned when I planted it, but I never got round to it. It has lost alot of sections and some where looking pretty ropey.

So I chopped this lot off, and was pleased to see how much it is greening up!

Think that looks alot better now.

The Gloriosa to the right is much improved, so fingers and toes crossed it should start growing again!

I am so pleased how much this has grown.

 So many cactus flowers

I've just been to check and the paint is still not dry!!! Maybe its not hot enough!!!

Now the last one is not looking too good is it? Anyway it has all had a feed this week so we shall see.
I may have to put a hair dryer on the paint!!!!

Work Like a Trojan!

Such a busy week this week, last weekend we went to Toby Bucklands Garden Festival at Bowood, a couple of minutes drive from here! Then Sunday went to get the new filter for the pond, which took a whole day to set up and when it did work it was faulty, to be honest I was re leaved as I didn't like it. We returned it to the shop and they took it apart and it was broken inside!!! So got our refund and went to Gardeners World Live on Thursday with the free tickets I won from Alternative Eden blog!

I think its about 2-3 years since I went and it has changed alot, it was enjoyable, but then again it wasn't. I found it didn't flow and in fact we missed a part of it totally, but came back with some nice plants, a pond filter (saving £100) a hotbox for composting and some ideas. It was very hot and very busy and sadly I am not good in or with either!!!

So meanwhile back at home just some of the plants I bought, the rest are in the garden.

Usually I go to Quilting on a Friday, but my car was playing up so had to go to the garage, so I took the opportunity to go mad and plant as much out as I could before the forecasted rain downpours arrived.

My garden enjoying the rain but not nearly as heavy as predicted!

I did alot of planting yesterday then after that I did alot of watering too, just to make sure it rained!!

I can't believe we are in the middle of June and how small everything is.

Moved some of my Black Grass to the front of this bed.

The new bed with the Butia in seems to be coming along nicely.

I do like this part of the garden, I may make some raised beds so I can plant the Arum Lilies

New this year Green Goddess, I think she is stunning!

Hubby helped me plant this, that is why its all higgledy piggledy!!! He is such a kind, caring and generous person, but when it comes to listening, I often wonder who has been giving instructions on where to put things???

Inthe back corner of the above pic can you see?

here it is Variagated Bears Breeches or Acanthus 'Whitewater' isn't it beautiful, should be quite spectacular as it gets bigger.

This is most definately not the tropical bit  under the weed membrane is the old lawn I forgot I had done an order for £10 through the 'Money Saving Expert' quite awhile ago, fortunately they turned up yesterday I got, a Clematis, Alstroemeria, 2 Hydrangeas, 10 Begonia bulbs, 10 gladioli bulbs and 20 seed potatoes. The first 4 I have planted plus some of my own dahlias, the last 2 I have given away. I hate Gladioli with a passion, always remind me of Dame Edna Everidge!!!!!!!!!!!

The pond is surviving, we await delivery of the new filter, I have a large air pump going and we have to monitor water levels. I have a feeling it may not be the filter thats leaking, I think we may have a leak in the liner. But its slow enough not to cause any problems. If we have to redo the liner, I may hang on to September when the gardener is back and make it bigger, but don't tel hubby, I have yet to break it to him!!

Whilst planting I have found a number of TRex pups, I must admit I had a feeling the gardener hadn't dug out the majority of the root,which creates a forest of TRex pups!!! I shall bring them on then probably sell them on.

These are my other buys from Gardeners World. I have had them before and managed to kill them, mainly because I did not know how to look after them. But now I think I understand.
My Nana, grew a Venus fly trap, I can remember always being fascinated by it. I think she would have approved of these too.
I think back with fondness about my Nana, I remember going to Chester Zoo with her and when we came back she had a handbag full of cuttings!!!!!!!!!!!

Little Visitor

When I went down to the greenhouse this morning I noticed we had a little visitor.

Probably enjoying the warmth in there as the wind is bitter today!!

 This robin has been about in the garden alot this year, they are such sweet little things!!

As you know I do most of the gardening myself, in fact most of the DIY too. Hubby does not enjoy it probably because he had a wicked (as in not cool) woodwork teacher who never let him get past joints in 5 years!! It has been a hard few months in the garden and I must admit I am running out of steam!
Not helped by the fact that the pond pump packed up over the weekend, so we had to do a mad dash to buy a new one. This was sooooo complicated it took me over a day to set up and all I can say is thank god I read the instructions. 'Do not turn on UV light until the pump and filter have been running for 24 hours to check all electrics are dry'!
10 seconds was what it took for the water to flow right through all the electrics. So it is now uninstalled and ready to go back from whence it came!!!!! I do have a pump running but not nearly big enough.

Plant Murderer!

Thats me.

Before the murder

and after!!!

The rheum was definitely taking over, so I decided to cut it right back and give the Gunnera a chance. Can you see how small it is, such a shame as its a beautiful plant, I much prefer it to the Rheum!

Its got to be a big plant, if I decide to take it out I won't look forward to it,

so the 'current' plan is to keep the Rheum cut back hard all summer to give the gunnera a chance and see if it can come back to how it used to be.....

this was over 4 years ago before hubbies office was built and when the pond was tiny! I would love it to be like this again!