What jobs are we doing in the garden today 2016

Marked out an area for a shed - this is the 9th attempt to find the *right* spot. Bit controversial because it isn't in a corner or against a fence tucked away somewhere but on the right hand side and half way up the garden But, I *think* it would work because then it would create areas of hidden interest. I'm waiting for the idea to take root in Mr M's mind before I buy the shed and expect him to erect it ...
... actually, went ahead and marked out where the new flower bed would go and an arch I've yet to buy ....
... and there may even be room for a BBQ area too

Well, you've got to play around with ideas and as the summer, so far, has been mainly rain stopping play, I've had to amuse myself somehow!

 

Got a few odds and ends done today in between the showers.

Planted out a late sowing of runner beans, to replace some from an earlier sowing which had a few failures.
Did a little pruning here and there, shredded all the prunings and added them to the compost heap.
In the greenhouse, planted a couple of cucumber seedlings into large pots and took a few experimental pieris cuttings from some prunings and put them in the propagator with some gentle bottom heat.
On the pergola at the back of the house, trimmed the virginia creeper, now making its usual summer attempt at world domination.
Mucked out the chickens.

 

First time in the garden all week today, all I seem to be able to do is work and sleep at the moment!

Husband mowed the lawns so I helped edge them. Did lots of feeding, watering and potted on some dahlias and tomato plants. Cut back oriental poppies and hardy geraniums which were flopping all over the place.

Husband kindly dug up the couch grass which had taken over the middle path so there is now a route to my dahlia patch again, yay! I'm only a day or two from blooms there but sadly the grass has housed lots of slugs which have attacked a few of the plants. No major casualties but some won't flower for a while longer now.

 

Had a busy day putting together the raised beds. The stakes are those big three winged plastic ones and about 12 inches had to be pounded into the hard clay. My arms were a little rubbery after driving all 12 of them down. Good exercise because I need to get toughened up and ready for when the two cubic yards of soil arrive and I have to manually move it from the driveway around the house and to the beds.... Thank goodness I'm only in my 60's

 

Actually sat in the garden and enjoyed it
Then only to have it spoilt by the next door neighbour, who I used to get on with before now!
Done a few things over the last couple of months for them. Gave them a double bed, cleaned and fixed there guttering recently all for free. She then has the audacity to moan that I've cut the ivy back too much on our shared front gate
I've left it because I thought that they were going to do it but it was starting to cover the gate (which I paid for) and was getting harder to open and get the bins through!
I said too her politely it will grow back in no time and plus the fact where it grows in her garden it has spread all through to mine and started to cover the out buildings
Ok rant over

 

I thought so, but didn't like to say anything
Besides, it was a lovely splash of colour in this thread

 

Swept up patio and steps - was a bit too vigorous and broke the broom - applied some 'spray and leave' algae killer - moved Alfie into bungalow out of the sun - rearranged the patio furniture - supping a cuppa.

A perfect day so far - now need to start thinking about lunch

 

Here was the "plan" I figured by making an L with the two 4'x8' kits, I would get an additional 4x4 section...

and here is the beginning - just placed the plants inside to get a visual before the soil arrives.

I'm leaving the end off where I am standing while taking this picture. I will access the garden from this end with my wheelbarrows full of dirt. There were two extra boards shipped to me and when I got everything opened, I realised why. Two were broken. I will use these as a walkway in the sunflower section as that will also be the pea and bean area. Also, I didn't realise that some of my sunflowers were so tall until I moved them. They are well over my head - guessing about the 6 foot range.
Can hardly wait for the soil to arrive on Wednesday!

 

Looking good Lori .

 

I've been around the back garden very carefully dotting bindweed with weed killer I *will* win!

Noticed one of the clematis I bought earlier this year has a flower opening ... but, I've lost my piece of paper with the name of the variety written on it Cut back some of the verbena, then decided they might look ok in a vase arrangement, so trimmed those cuttings. Not much else because it's getting quite warm out there. Later I need to water the troughs along the patio fence - despite all the rain we've had, they don't get much direct rain.