Water Painting

It is amazing how much amusement you can get out of a bucket of water and a few paintbrushes. With the gorgeous weather yesterday, Isobel and Elis were very determined and painted great lengths of the fence, much of the garden furniture and some of the back deck. This was a fabulous tip from Granny. I think Elis loves doing the activity with Isobel..... and to a point being ordered around:

Not sure what was being discussed here, but the expressions are priceless:

I was so excited to see the first of my seeds peeping through - snails better not venture near....

  

And next door's apple tree, because I can't get enough photos of blossum.....

  

 Here's to more sunny days this bank holiday weekend.

Getting Warmer....

The last couple of days have been warmer for which I am grateful and the end of the week is set to be mid-teens - whoo-hoo! In a spontaneous walk to the shops with Elis yesterday we made it to the garden centre in an attempt to spruce up the dried out pots at the front of the house. White polys and some tete-a- tetes - hoping we will be able to see the daffodil heads wavering as we sit inside. It was just warm enough for Elis to briefly sit in his bouncer by the back door whilst I whizzed around and planted them up - it felt very theraputic:

There is masses to do in the garden and I am itching to go through my seeds to see what might be used this year (ie what is in date - bit like my spice rack....) and decide on what planting to attempt this year. Spotted a gorgeous black aquilegia in the garden shop yesterday. But before then a good old hack is needed....

Sad and frost bitten...

Still, until then we can enjoy some colour from the daffodils inside!

Home Grown

With all the rain and sunshine we have been having the garden has gone slightly crazy - particularly the potatoes - aiming to take over and the hollyhocks are reaching for the sky. Isobel has been enjoying picking the home grown vege - sometimes without me knowing! Makes for a good dinner time as she eats up the courgette risotto, purple beans or baby potatoes:

Today's pickings - some of which we enjoyed this evening - the flavours were just yum!

And some snaps of the garden:

Hollyhock flowers emerging

Scented Sweet Peas - the birds are going mad for them

Cornflowers under the cherry tree

Delphinim Spire

Scarlet Runner beans - perhaps out of control?

Black Nigella - I adore this colour against the other white flowers

Gardening Sunday

It was time to plant out the courgettes,  runner and french beans (my broad bean seeds have turned to mould so starting again....).

Using a pot for the French beans as have run out of bed space....we could have been much more economical with our vege bed. Still, we will know for next year.

Runner bean canes placed at the back  -  hopefully this front bed will become a tall jungle before too long. Richard also planted some tall verbena and grasses at the back of this bed to create a hidie place for Isobel.

Beautiful peonies about to burst forth.

Delicate roses coming back to life after nearly 3 years of being rammed into a pot.

Potatoes, Pak Choi , Rocket and toms all growing! Hoping we can eat the Pak Choi very soon. The Rocket is delicious for lunch!

Rest of the vege bed - with an added pot of garlic in an attempt to keep carrot fly at bay.

And I love having the bath of herbs near the back door - so nice to be able to pick, cook and eat.

Easter Weekend

With such glorious weather forecast for this weekend I was really looking forward to making a dent in our garden. Here are some snaps over the past few days:

I love these alliums and had planted them in combination with Queen of the Night Tulips as the colours are so sumptuous, but sadly a little person decided to get picking.....

Perhaps a little OTT on the plant buying front.....still have yet to plant them all!

Helping with making the Easter tree. I feel it is important to hand some traditions down and this is one of them!

Relaxing in her new chair

Basket of goodies

The usual cake.

Newly planted vege bed although I am wondering where the runner and broad beans, tomatoes, courgettes, artichokes etc are suppose to go. Hmmmmm!

And after three years of being dormant, the herb 'bath' has been given new life by the back door.

Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow......!

New Tree

A couple of weeks ago we planted a new tree in our embryonic garden. After quite a bit of research we ordered an ornamental almond tree, but I have a feeling it might just be a cherry......I am amazed how quickly it has settled in:

New leaf shoots are springing up:

And most exciting of all are the little blossom buds - so lucky to get them this year!

Even our mini magnolia which we have had for years in a pot has decided to put on a performance having been planted in the ground:

And when the sun shone yesterday the scent of the hyacinths reached you at the back door - delicious!

A hint of Spring

The temperature climbed into double figures last weekend. OK - only 11 degrees, but with the sun it made a huge difference after what seems such a long winter. Having stared at our 'garden' for weeks on end, and with some bare root peonies sitting in a box waiting to be planted, Isobel and I spent Saturday afternoon outside digging over one of the flower beds. Not sure if they have been planted 'just right' - and didn't help with Miss Isobel moving the labels, but we'll see. They are suppose to eventually look like this.

I discovered some neglected peonies in pots which are starting to push through so time for them to have some attention:

Even the bulbs I planted in errr....January (well overdue) are coming up:

And then it was time for tea.