What would I do without my family!

So it is 3-4 weeks since I had the work done in my garden, normally it would have taken me a couple of days to get it all sorted and planted, but I just can't do it. So I have had to be patient, not something I am good at, but because I physically haven't been able to do things, it wasn't too much of a problem.

So I must thank from the bottom of my heart, both m girls and my lovely hubby. None of this would have happened if they hadn't been popping round to do the heavy work and planting.

So the top bed:-

The Paulowina is off, I have 3 shoots growing at the moment, but I think I will take one off.

The Petasites, still being kept in its trough, but watered and fed regularly has been moved to infront of the boiler to disguise it a bit.

Looking down the garden, past the new bed which has had bagfuls of compost and manure added before the planting began. What I cannot believe is how much of a difference the hedge on the right being cut down to below the fence level has made. The Alliums actually grew upright this year instead of growing out at an angle.

The hedge on the left has also been cut back. This bed all planted up, wait a couple of weeks and it will start looking good.

The new bed, a lot of annuals in here for now, just one or two hardy. I need to get hold of some really good hardy plants.

The Trachycarpus Princeps just to the left of the Cycas is quite small at the mo, but will grow, but not as big or as fast as my other one I have been informed.

I will extend the sleepers, probably next year when I have a bit more cash.

The arid bed, still growing like crazy, I never do anything to it except cover it in the winter and throw some chicken pellets on it during early summer. I do wish I had realised just how big they where all going to get, I would have spread them out a bit. I had no idea just how much they would love my garden.

Opposite the arid bed, looks boring doesn't it, qiute a few hardy plants in this area, just have to wait and see if they come up.

Lower bed on the right, this is an odd part of the garden, the T-Rex, (big leaved plant on left of pic) has been in here for quite a few years now and should be considerably bigger. No idea why it hasn't grown, although I suspect a large orange blossom bush/tree on the extreme left of the pic is taking over this bed. We are seriously considering getting someone in to dig it out!

 The pond area, my 2 Red Hot Pokers have flowered this year, they increase in size year on year, so when I'm dead they should look amazing lol!!!

Raised bed by bottom patio, odd bed? This is were the spider plants survived the winter. We have planted a Passionflower on the right so hopefully that should start climbing this year. This should start looking better in the next few weeks.

Behind the pond, another odd bed, bottom right of the pic below, is another newly planted passionflower. there are some hardy plants in here somewhere but they have yet to rear there heads. Because its up against the fence, I think it stays rather dry during the winter hence the disappearing hardy plants.

The fish pond! The sooner someone invents a contraceptive pill for a pond the better, we reckon there are over 50 fish in here. Flippin things keep breeding!!!

The bottom bed. This is the wettest part of the garden but still the Gunnera refuses to grow, I have threatened to dig it out but hubby says no.The arum lily on the other hand is doing fine. We have planted 2 new clematis to climb up the frame and there is also another T-Rex newly planted here as well.

So there we go, I haven't shown you the bed on the right of this area because we haven't got that done yet. its another difficult bed as my neighbours euphorbia and mint has decided it would much rather grow i my garden than hers. It has become quite invasive really and has spread practically the length of the bed.

I am funny, a lot of the plants I grow can really romp away but I would hate to inflict my plants on my neighbours so I keep these ones potted up. I think I probably think this way because this has happened to me and I don't like it. Maybe I should set them free after all?????

Rain, rain, more beautiful rain!!

Today it is raining!!! But it is currently still warm, so fabulous growing weather. I know this because last Thursday the man came to mend the washing machine, while it was running a cycle he asked about my garden, so he got the grand tour. There where no flowers at all on the Trachy, and today there where loads!!

This is very soon going to be out of my reach and I am not good on ladders, so will have to make a decision on whether to keep or chop!!

I love this part of the garden, we are having a move around as the Rheum has grown beautifully but the Gunnera next to it is definitely dead. So closest to the camera is where we will plant the new Gunnera, and move the waterfall over to where the old one used to grow. The filter box, currently on the decking will come this side and hopefully be hidden by the Gunnera. Well thats the plan.

The blanket weed has had a field day and practically covered the pond, I have used one treatment and it has vastly improved, but I think still need one more dose.

 as to how many fish we have, could be anyones guess, the little things keep on breeding, I am hoping that this autumn my mum stays well and doesn't have any accidents or illnesses, so I can actually be here to do all the autumnal jobs, like cleaning out the fishpond!

My greenhouse is crammed, I could probably fit a few more things in, but whether I would be able to get in to water would be another thing. I still have to take off the winter insulation and clean, but currently that is impossible to do.

I always grow tomatoes during the summer when all the jungle is out in the garden. You can't beat your own tomatoes.

But as you can see they are competing for space, I have managed to squeeze in four small grow bags, but still need another 5. But no space! Not even enough to pot these on!

Now a quick trip around the greenhouse

Maureli growing well,

2 red Tigers, very slow starting

As is the Hiniba

Crammed shelves

 High shelves.

Floor

Crammed to the gunnels!

Garden in Winter

I do not like my garden in winter, it is so dull and brown/grey. But now the evenings are getting lighter I start to get excited about what I have planned!

The bamboo is doing exactly what I wanted it to do and that was hide the water butt

but it is doing it a little too well. As you can see it has spread out quite significantly, when I bought it I was told it was a 'clumper'. I do not want it to break the brick wall, which it is well capable of so it will be coming out, with the help of my birthday present 'money for a gardener' (to do the heavy stuff!

In its place I will move the TRex, provided it comes back to life!

The Tree ferns are doing well, the lower one better than the taller one.

See what I mean about brown/grey!!! That Cordyline was planted as a filler a few years ago and should have died by now (winters) but it hasn't, so before it gets much bigger I (or the gardener)will move it down the garden behind the Phormium!

Trachy is looking pretty good now and must be double my height?

Butia seems ok in the new bed. Just not sure about the bamboo trough, great for winter protection, but???????

The Phormium, has settled well in its new bed, in fact its looking a lot perkier than when it was in its tub, just need to look out for a solar pump for the ball pool, and some rocks.

Cough, cough! a new dumping ground! This is something I am really, really bad at. Space that doesn't have a use becomes a dumping ground! The smaller phormium is coming out and going to my daughters, she has the Hardy Tropical bug too!! But what to do here? Its not big enough for a seat so do I extend the flower bed? Really not sure!

The rest of the flower bed, with the damage panel that is only just hanging in there. The neighbours (its there fence) won't replace it as they can't see it!!! Anyway lots to be done in this bed I really would like the whole lot dug out and gone through to get rid of the bind weed roots. I know I will never find them all but I can certainly reduce them considerably!

Bloomin veg beds! these have not been good for years, so I have seriously thought about getting rid of them. To what though lawn? possibly thats what was there before, but its boring. Sarah Raven has plants for cutting which I think would look fabulous here, but if the veg don't grow would the flowers. Still to be mulled over!

The lawn? well the moss!!! New turf both sides of the path last year, dug and aerated and treated and it still comes back!!! I'm not sure the new fence has helped.

2 years running this has happened so there is no point in growing grass here. The bed below is easily incorporated into the flower bed. But the one above mmmmmmm??? Playing with ideas, I suppose if I got rid of the veg beds turned them to lawn with a small bed along the fenceline for sunflowers, ricinus, foxgloves and other tall stuff. I could use the wood to create a triangular raised bed so it would get more sun for ??? I was just thinking I could make it an 'Arid' bed, more thought needed I think, but I like the idea.

The pond, just look at the state of those fence panels just wish the damn things would fall down. They where put up 3 neighbours ago probably about 1990 they have concrete fence posts. For some unknown reason they never ever get blown out like the others, each year I paint them to hopefully disguise them abit!
Should be interesting to see how the pond has faired this winter. If you remember last year we had lots and lots of baby fish, which will have to be found new homes if they survived.
So far no frogs spawn.

Passion flower still hanging in there.

Olive has been out all winter this year. Not planned just got forgotten, but doesn't look any the worse for it.

This is the bottom bed that backs onto the compost. It gets very damp here so is or was planted with loads of hellabores and spring bulbs followed by 2 very large ferns. The ferns are fine, the spring bulbs are just starting to poke through, but this is the only Hellabore to survive. To be honest I'm pleased I like Hellabores.

So on the walk back up the garden I notice all the new shoots

 So I think spring is not too far away!