WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2021

Well they look good to me Vicky.... but I am due an eye test!!!

Got side tracked into doing other chores today so only managed a hour and a bit in the garden this afternoon. Deadheaded the Bellis removed the fading Tulip heads, cut back the yellow Allysum to prompt a 2nd flush. Watered all the plants in the Greenhouse.
Went on my daily hunt in search of signs of life from the Dahlias that I left in the ground ,... I have spotted 3 more to add to the one I found the other day!! Still have more to show their faces......if they are alive that is.

 

So good to see they came though the winter and are smiling as they greet the Spring.
Lovely....
♡♡♡

 

Mowed the lawns this evening while it was trying to rain again , every day this week I've been drenched . Took some tomato and cucumber plants round to one of the neighbours and then some round to my mum , also took a Veronica Schefsajkkgjkg what ever the hell its called and some Echinacea magnus round which I dug out earlier today to mum garden and planted , I am changing the Echinacea magnus to Pallida.

 

It's rained nearly every day here since the beginning of the month so nothing done outside. The lawns which were over due for mowing are getting to the point of needing strimming before mowing. The grass has seed heads now.

Today I sowed another 2500 Aubrieta seeds in trays totalling 5500 in all. A number of the first batch didn't germinate so if these all come up I will have to find homes for some of them.

 

Had planned to make a start on cutting grass yesterday morning but . Yesterday evening I planted 3 dwarf sunflowers given to me by a friend. She also have me 3 Borage plants, so looking for somewhere to put those. Emptied out 3/4 of spent compost from half whiskey barrel and back filled with soil/ compost mix before replanting the Cranesbill geranium. Gave a Hebe the gentlest of haircuts. Peered into the 2 mini ponds, snails in one, snails and baby diving beetles ? in the other .

 

Given it is calm, raining and the same temperature pretty much inside and outside greenhouse. I've put peas, beans and some overwintered shrubs out of the greenhouse to start hardening off.

 

I suddenly remembered I hadn’t sown sunflowers or french beans which I should have done 2 weeks ago. So I have sown them today. I think I still have enough time to get a decent crop.
Rusty

 

Mowed the lawn again today inbetween showers. It seems to be growing so fast. I did a lot of weeding (the mares tail is back ) so trying to pull it out as it appears. Planted out some Delphiniums as they are romping away (the dog ran off with 1 in a pot and I couldn't catch him before he pulled the leaves off it Noticed the first rose on the houseplant I planted out last year (with advice from here) its almost 2ft tall now and seems to be happy where it is.
I had to bug spray 2 of my acers that were covered in black fly. Hate spraying stuff but even the jet on the hosepipe wasn't shifting them.

 

Planting out some Cosmos today and this little chap popped out to help. He just sat there - about a metre away - looking at me

 

So far today I’ve just been “playing in the compost heap”. AKA - the second bay has been turned into the final bay, with layers of fresh compost-ables, and wood clippings. The second bay has had a base of 3 x 40l sacks of wood chippings spread along the bottom, so it should be easier to tell that I’ve got to the bottom, next time I empty it. The third bay has been covered, and I’m taking a break before turning the first bay into the second one.
Not as much wildlife spotted as normal, although lots of little holes and tunnels - just the one large slow worm. I’m glad to say s/he was not near the fork action, so slipped away when I paused for a minute.

This afternoon will be topping up the pond. Despite the forecast rain, I can’t see that there is 10cm due, so I’d better get it up to level, especially as the heron came inspecting this lunchtime! I’ll also plant out a yellow courgette, and I might sow some french beans....

 

Was in the garden 2-1/2 hours (in the shade of the Alpendre 80% protection), had a cheese and onion sandwich, deadheaded some Hibiscus and Geraniums. Potted up the Pink Brugmansia which had rooted in water but keeping it in the shade till it roots more.

 

Nice weather for daytime hardening off of those indoor tomato and squash seedlings that are getting too leggy. Showing the Wiri Wiri seedlings the wider outdoors to today, hope they don't get to afraid.

 

Managed to get most of the afternoon out in the garden , but didn't really get down to doing what I had hope to do. I always go out with a list of 'to do's' but my eyes always hone in on other unforseen tasks......I need some blinkers!!!


Cheese and onion sandwiches are one of my faves too.Vicky. Yum ,yum. !!!

 

Oh, what a day... I have hand-weeded the prime lawn (pulled out two large dandelions I left in to mature for the Degus to enjoy), re-arranged and optimised the side water feature fountain in the herb grove area (stuck my arm in the pond and re-attached the solar power pump to it's slate) and harvested the thank you note from the aviary wildlife I have been favouring with nutritious feeds during the precious time they have with their young families (found a shiny twopenny coin in the middle of the lawn- I knew this would pay off eventually).

Two minutes well spent!

OK, it has been a bit hard week at work, I'm hoping for decent weather for the weekend to get some more lovely jobs done.