What are we doing in the garden 2024

Like that very much @Plantminded.

I didn't get out until after lunch so just had time to rub down and put two coats of clear quick drying varnish on the handrail we had installed last year when I was somewhat immobile.
Hadn't occurred to me that muddy gloves = muddy handrail!!! Got one more coat to do tomorrow.
Then I cleaned up 6 Victorian fireplace tiles from a house I once owned. Used the Stovecleaner someone on here recommended some months ago - it's brilliant. Used them to decorate a sloping side bed near our front door.
Finally I fed and watered the majority of our roses.

 

That's pretty @lizzie27.

 

I've gone into overdrive the past couple of days love the late evening come in a 10pm today the midgets were getting on my wick . I've emptied all the pots / troughs now and planted most of them up with summer plants just holding fire on the last few in case something takes my fancy and I want it in a pot . Mowed the lawn planted out nearly all the dahlias , planted out some aster glow in the dark to replace some monarda ( lost all monarda in garden this year , have a couple in pots fortunately ) . Weeding - taking cutting of penstemon garnet - mulched a couple of borders - emptied a bed full of tulips and replaced with antirrhinums all 36 . And popped to the GC and picked up some osteospermums .

 

Well done. Exhausted but happy now?

My garden looks a mess. I have managed to peel about half the weed matting pathway, collected the thatch and put it n the compost heap. Have given the matting one sweep but it needs doing again, now I have 3 piles of dust to go on the bonfire to burn the zillions of grass seeds. I have also had a funeral for the many potted plants on the patio, so many drowned during the winter and fried in the recent heat wave. I have put the contents on the veg patch to remove the soil before committing the corpses to the compost heap. I have potted up the rest of the Mouse hostas for my daughter's birthday present, they are all very cute with dinky flowers coming. I have managed some clearing of the pond, pulled out the dead watercress and some of the oxygenating plant which is so invasive but does a great job. I disturbed one of the fish so must begin feeding them again.
Half the garden is full of wafting field grass and the rest looks as if a flame thrower has been through it leaving a scorched earth look.
The quince tree is struggling again. It keeps producing a few flowers but a lot of the foliage is showing signs of scorching, it has dropped quite a lot of its leaves as well. It does not look happy.
The Queen of the Night cactus has a single flower bud again. I have no idea when it will open, I do not feel like sitting in the conservatory every night waiting for it to flower. The Brodiea bulbs I planted a couple of years ago seem to like where I put them, they have multiplied and are a lovely patch of blue, I might buy some more to add to them.

 

Thank you @lizzie27. Your tiles complement your Heucheras well!

 

Thank you @Goldenlily26. Yes, I'll be taking some time off today !

 

Today is my birthday

To mark the occasion, I've just picked my first very first sweet peas to take inside the house.

The smell is amazing!!!! I've also picked sugar snap peas and strawberries for lunch today.

It's put me in a very good mood and I've given myself a pat on the back for what I have achieved in my first gardening. The joy that it has given me, but also the peace and much needed focus is provided is unbelievable after a good few torturous years.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me over the past week or so, I'm only gutted that I did not find Gardeners Corner sooner.

Claire x

 

Was doing the usual aimless pottering around this morning, then decided to turn the compost from one bin to the other. Half way through I dug up the Okatsune secateurs I lost a few weeks ago, I thought to the council green bin but apparently it was to my own! Have given them a good scrub but they are still a bit worse for wear, let’s see if they survive.

 

Thank you @Busy-Lizzie and @Plantminded - I'm pleased I've found a home for them at last after at least 17 years in a cupboard! Must remember to uplift them before the winter though.

I plan to put the 3rd coat of varnish on the handrail, paint a small outside table and if I'm feeling fit and brave enough may even paint the arbour while the weather's good. It's getting up on a ladder to paint the top of the arbour roof that is a bit problematic.

@latimer I'm glad I'm not the only one, I found my lost small vegetable knife in the toolbox a few days ago!

Happy Birthday @PetalPushingNovice, those goodies look luscious and well done on your first harvest.

 

Happy Birthday @PetalPushingNovice, your gardening efforts have paid off very well. Enjoy them!

 

Well done @PetalPushingNovice , have a lovely day

 

Well done @PetalPushingNovice have a lovely birthday.

 

Picked some more fruit, redcurrants,pink currants and black currants. Guess which is which?

 

Errr,

 

Happy birthday @PetalPushingNovice
What a grand day to enjoy those strawbs.

We noticed balcony pots in Aldi on Friday and wondered if they'd fit the caravan deck.
They do! So we went back for more, plus plants.
At least old dog cannot eat the flowers there!
Once they get established, it should look pretty.