What are we doing in the garden 2024

What a lot of activity going on amongst you all! I had a non day, it was too hot and windy.

Found one of my remaining two "mouse melon" seedlings out of its pot and chewed, the dog had tracked down the FBB I sprinkled around it and decided to have a snack. I sorted out some veg. seed to sow when it is cooler, parsnips, beetroot, spinach, kohl rahbi and moogli radish, climbing beans.

 

Sadly I think she will take off all the custom made shelving for all my books and ceramics that the father in law made five years ago...but once the cash comes in, we don't care @fairygirl but it was great to see the emotional attachment the buyer had to our place, much needed reassurance when we are the middle of the chain.

As for slugs and snails...been pretty bad here too but gave been culling them in night raids and it's improving.

 

When I sold my last house the buyers told me and the estate agent the garden sold the place to them, so many unusual plants etc.
When I went back a couple of years later to visit my old neighbour my garden had gone. Almost everything taken out. My neighbour was bereft for me as we had enjoyed comparing gardening notes over sundowners, swapping plants etc.
When I went back a couple of years later to visit my old neighbour my garden had disappeared, almost everything had been taken out. My neighbour was bereft as we had been keen gardeners together, comparing notes, exchanging plantsking su etc.

 

It's a shame isn't it? I suppose sometimes people just can't keep up with the maintenance and give up on anything too messy or complicated to deal with...unlike most of us here, many don't want to give their time to their plants. @Goldenlily26 it's been a joy and a learning curve to make something out of nothing, really hope some of it survives as most of our neighbours have zero to offer to birds and pollinators.

 

Cleaning up my gazebo, setting up the solar fountain. Just for reference point, the gazebo is 100 paces from our house back door. We call that area the back valley garden area.

 

Weeded out the area where the dahlias are. I don't lift them just leave them and over the years they have continued to flourish. However all said the slugs/snails have had a great time so clearing away hopefully will allow them to grow.
Then tackled the plants that want to grow on the pebbles instead of in the ground nearby.
Used the brush cutter to tackle the overgrown grass at the sides of the orchard.

 

Lovely gazebo @redstar ! I wish I had somewhere I could put a garden building like that. My garden is relatively small, and the woodland I have beyond it is too muddy to consider for sauntering out to sit and enjoy a glass of something!

 

I had the afternoon in the garden, preparing the soil for the two salvia plants we bought yesterday. Either side of, and slightly behind, a white rose.

We (my wife) chose Salvia Nachtvlinder and Salvia Purple Queen. They are only small, so won't flower properly until next year.

The desired location was in soil currently housing various irises, bluebells, ivy, bindweed and goodness knows what.

I merrily forked the soil over, then knelt down to remove the unwanted growth and roots and bulbs. I'm a little shortsighted, but suddenly felt stinging sensations up my arms, legs, and inside my gloves.

#*&@##*# ants, biting!! The ground was alive with them!! Wife kindly brought a kettle of boiling water, but under no circumstances, was I to come indoors until I was clear of the little buggers.
How does one ensure that one is free from them?! Thank heavens for high surrounding bushes, and neighbouring properties being bungalows!!

 

The annual forget-me-not removal is almost over, and I've planted out some of the plants that were waiting to fill the spaces.
Now having a cuppa while I summon up the energy to dig out the (hopefully) finished compost from the final bin ready for a bit of mulching while I can see spaces between plants. It's a big rectangular bin with a smallish hatch at the bottom so it's an awkward task to get the stuff out. There's a chance of some rain tomorrow but if it doesn't happen I might need to do some selective watering before mulching later in the week.

 

Took the spring bulbs and polyanthus out of 3 big tubs and put in each a standard fuchsia, trailing fuchsia, snapdragons and Erigeron.

 

I planted the last 2 dahlias today, but found there were 2 in each pot, so 4 dahlias! Also planted a lantana and did some weeding.

 

For last few weeks we have been redoing our long and wide border .it hasn't been refurbed for three years so it had got very out of hand . We moved and cut down the few shrubs reshaping the edge of the lawn inn curves to accommodate the overhanging shrubs. (I never did like the straight edging of the lawn !!!!)

So I have put in all the spare plants I have got going from cuttings done over last few years from my mums plants and shrubs .

But I still have more patches of soil showing.thought about sprinkling some seed to fill in gaps , but is it too late.??

If not what can I put in to hopefully flower this year ?
From what I can see I need a mixture of different heights et c

Suggestions please ..............

 

I buy annuals to fill in gaps. Some annuals, like salvia farinacea and cosmos look good with perennials and flower for a long time.

 

A lovely spot @redstar - shade from too much sun, and dry if it's raining.
Not sure what I'll do today. Bit wet and windy for much outdoor activity. Yesterday was hot but with a good breeze which helped. I got stuff potted on, glued a tray which had a split at the side [a very useful tray!] and emptied a pot that had bulbs in it. I had no idea what they were as it had been round by the shed, and mainly covered up with branches etc all winter and spring. I thought they ewre probably daffs, but they're mostly small and look like tulips, so they've all been stuck in smaller pots [labelled!] and tucked away - not under branches....

Re viewers of houses praising everything - don't forget that it's often a ploy, so that you consider them to be the best candidate for selling the property to. Doesn't always mean they're genuine and will keep everything as you had it.