A New Month, A New Start

JULY IN THE VEG PATCH

A few pics to show the state of the veg patch at the end of June. The amount of rain and lack of sun have had quite an impact, but things will still grow.

Potatoes, cabbages and lettuce. Look very closely

Bed 3

 you'll see a wispy row of carrots too. My third 

attempt as the previous two rows were eaten as 

soon as they put their heads above the soil.

Raspberries

Fruit! Hooray! Planted in the back bed and basically left to their own devices apart from an occasional weed. I'll need to read up on pruning though. Plus i suspect they'll need sturdy supports in the coming years...probably should have put those in first?!

A sorry looking row of onions, donated by my neighbour Sue. I've planted broad beans there, and carrots, but am beginning to suspect that there's a veg-patch soil monster that just loiters there waiting for my next donation to it's dinner...

Bed 2

Bed 1

Beans - beginning to climb

Broccoli seedlings in cold frame

Artichoke cuttings from open garden

Beetroot and Chard seedlings.

squeezed in between the rows of spinach that are ending having fed us for two months.

Sowing seeds

SEEDS

 These seeds were a thoughtful gift from Loveday, given instead of a bunch of flowers. A lovely idea and one that I will try to remember in future when I visit keen gardeners.
The Dill and Borage would look lovely in a pot on the balcony where the breeze would cause movement in their tall colours.
I already have a pot of chives, the original plants given to me by friend Madelaine years ago. Every time I snip them to use on potatoes or in salads I think of her. These seeds will go into a patch of garden and be allowed to flower.
The Bergamot is a new one to me, I've never used it, but it's so colourful I'm tempted to put it in the garden too rather than the veg patch.

A treat to myself to make my first year here growing veg a little easier. Must confessed I was seduced by the tin ...

Sarah Raven's website is a delight of colour and healthy vegetables. I love the way she gardens in a dress too, with a pinny, and am determined to adopt this idea as I too love a dress. Maybe I could make a pinny now that I have a sewing machine.

Exciting Parcel

FRUIT GARDEN

Yesterday an exciting parcel arrived. The unprepossessing box contained 3 gooseberry bushes, 6 raspberry canes, 2 blueberry bushes and 12 strawberry plants...

Had a simply wonderful time outside getting them all settled. I already knew where I wanted the raspberry canes as there is a long bed at the bottom of the veg patch that I have earmarked for raspberries, globe artichokes and, possibly, asparagus.

The gooseberry bushes were destined for the rhubarb patch; a bit of a squeeze but there are posts in place so that netting can be added when needed.

The greenhouse is beginning to take shape with shelving salvaged from all over the garden. so the strawberries and blueberries went in there. For now. Later I plan to put the strawbs in the guttering on the side of the shed. The blueberries may end up in pots.

The ingenious device for taking the hose over the path. I intend to get a water butt to collect the rain from the sheds but this does the job of delivering water down to my growing veg patch until then.

Snow

 Like much of the country we had snow fall at the beginning of the month. The view from the balcony was a scene of Narnia. The Douglas fir, a ready-made Christmas tree.
"We may get snowed-in," gloomed BH.
"Oh, I do hope so," was my instant retort.

Spot the snowdrops

Freezing rhubarb

Veg patch

Clearing the Veg Garden

Veg Garden Prep

I've been lucky enough to inherit a ready made vegetable garden here. It has three raised beds, a long bed at the back and the remains of a cold frame.

I spent a happy and satisfying few hours trying to clear the beds and remake the cold frame. Body aching and I'm feeling my age. Feels good to be active and outside.

Remade cold frame

Leeks - how Welsh can you get?!

                             

Feels like coming home.

Coming Home

After more than five years in the Big City I am pleased to say that we have moved back to the Country. We managed to move in a week before Christmas and within days this house felt more like home than the London house had in years. I truly felt as though I had come home.

This feeling was cemented over the festive period with the visit of out three children, so we celebrated our first Christmas here with the core family and, of course, Tova-dog. 

All the kids approve of the new place and wish us heartfelt happiness here. It was lovely to wave them off as they left to go back to their own lives, then close our red front door, light the log-burning stove and settle into a life with just the two of us plus Tova-dog.