Unseasonable

The weather over the last week has been absolutely glorious. I certainly did not expect to be enjoying a cold kriek (Belgian cherry beer!) on the patio, in the sun, wearing a tank top in march!

Last weekend the seedlings were moved to the greenhouse (following an adventurous clear out and the occasional scream at the size of some of the spiders in there!) I was a little nervous at bringing them out of my spare room...I've grown quite protective of the little baby plants!

This is their new home!











And in this bed went king Edward potatoes and rows of garlic (ready for a few roast potatoes!)






And this is where I plan to read a good book this summer.






Or just drink!





It's an exciting time, with the promise of summer and hopefully even more sun around the corner.

That Friday feeling!

One of the joys of public sector working, as I have recently discovered, is TOIL (time off in lieu), and leaving early on a Friday is one of those perks! It's a gloriously sunny, warm day, and instead of leaving for a weekend away with friends or family, I am far too excited at the prospect of a weekend at home, finally ticking off some of those garden 'to do's'!

The jungle of new growth outside my front door is finally showing signs of bluebells (I was getting worried that it was literally just leaves!)



The hellebores look beautiful...



And look at these primulas....









But this is what I'm most excited by




Yes those patches of raised dirt will soon become a veritable farmers Market (I hope!)

Here's to the weekend!


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Location:Home

I get home from work and it's too dark and dingy to take any decent pictures of the pretty spring flowers blooming in the garden, so this will have to do...


I've been lucky enough to rent a house with a large greenhouse already, but after winter, it's looking less than inspiring and is in need of some TLC. To prepare for a Mediterranean micro-climate (the aim of my greenhouse this year), and to display my array of different tomatoes, bell peppers, chilies and herbs, I've done a little research as to steps to take!

A few weeks ago I burnt a sulphur candle in there. This is supposed to kill any diseases that may hurt any plants growing, and kill any bugs or pests. A word of warning...run from the candle and shut the door tight...it stinks! Sulphur candles are available from most hardware stores and garden centres for around £7.99.



I have dug in manure and blood/fish/bone to the soil in the bed in the greenhouse to ensure suitable nutrition.

Some tips I have picked up from various sources:
1) keep the glass inside and out clean- to allow as much light into the greenhouse, and to prevent pests and diseases.
2) inspect the glass and the aluminium frame for cracks and gaps that could let out valuable warmth. I thought an idea could be to fill gaps with bubble wrap or some old cloths
3) clear work space- sounds fairly self explanatory but if I'm going to cram as much in there as I can...I still need a functional work area.
4) general cleaning and tidying, even if it's just to make any time spent in there as enjoyable as possible!

I plan to have a greenhouse sort out over the next few weeks. Before and after pics to follow!

A touch of spring with my coffee

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Location:Surrey

Anticipation

At present I am restricted to either sitting up straight, or laying down completely flat. My lower back has given in and rendered me a slave to pain, involving a day off work to try and get better. When at work normally I fantasise about being at home, using my time to clear out the greenhouse, or dig in manure, instead of reading files on murderers and rapists. I can barely make it to the loo...let alone go outside!

This doesn't stop me from being excited about the little bursts of spring occurring in the garden...and inside my house. Outside a carpet of green leaves have burst through, teasing me with the future promise of little twinkling bluebells. My silvery green tulip leaves are protecting little pale pink buds, and little glimmers of blossom are poking through the trees and hedges.

Inside my seeds are forming into real plants:














And there are promises of pretty flowers




Like this lily of the valley





And this White and soft pink amaryllis.

It's enough to make skip through the garden....*ouch...yelp*....another time!

Location:Home

New gadgets!

I now have an iPad app that let's me 'blog in bed'! That'll make life easier!
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I've been thinking about what I would write for my first post for some time. I've been outside in the greenhouse with filthy dirty hands, surrounded by dirty stacks of empty pots and thinking about introductions and trying to sound clever and eloquent. Unfortunately, due to my excessive thinking about something other than what I'm doing, I've had a few disasters.

I've never really gardened before. When I was a child my parents had a lovely garden in every house we ever lived in, and I would wander around with the hose before I went to bed, watering the garden and pretending I was presenting an episode of gardeners world, chatting away to myself. I moved to the US with my parents when I was 13. Texas heat and humidity was not the prime conditions for a pretty garden, and we all gave up really. I moved back 8 years later, and student houses and small rental flats in the centre of various cities were also not the best place to cultivate growth in any kind of form besides the occasional fresh pot of basil. And so here I am, 28 years old, with my first garden.

My husband and I moved to Wiltshire for his work. I am lucky enough to have also found work in my chosen field of criminal psychology in the area. We rent a house, but this one comes with an enormous garden, greenhouse, vegetable plot, and countryside soundtrack. Who could not be inspired to grow something!?

I've recently been increasingly impatient with it all. English winters leave a sense of desperation; "I need sun", "I need green, and flowers, and juicy tomatoes and lettuce and basil and barbeques and sleeping with the windows open....". We haven't even hit March yet....

I'm champing at the bit to grow something, and some developments have been made so far, but as I said, a few disasters too!

Disasters)
1) I planted seeds about 4 weeks ago (impatient me...that was FAR too early). I put the neatly organised little seed trays in the bottom of my airing cupboard. I checked on them regularly, and one day I went, and they had gone berserk, thin, leggy little seedlings that had overgrown their little plots and hung over the edge. I tried to rescue a few, and threw away most of them.

2) Today I went out to greenhouse to plant a few more seeds. Much better timing I think. Again, I made neat little organised seed trays, filled with seed compost and vermiculite, and little tags telling me which exciting little seed was in which segment. I went to take them inside the house, to nestle them in the bottom of my airing cupboard (for a few days...and no more this time!) and as I went in through the back door.....crash. Seed compost, vermiculite and mixed seeds in a large pile on the floor in my kitchen. I swore out loud...then swept the lot up and headed back out to greenhouse. I've replanted them, but god knows what will now be sprouting up where...a mixture of chilli, striped tomatoes, and regular tomatoes. What a mess.

I know this is all a learning curve....but already I'm doubting if I'm cut out for all this!

In my mind I have visions of baskets of multi-coloured tomatoes and chillis, home grown garlic and onions, small vases of sweet peas and a table centre piece of autumn pumpkins and squashes, like an image in an autumn edition of Martha Stewart magazine. A bit like this....











We'll see how that goes!