We visited a couple of garden centres on Saturday to replenish stocks of compost so that I could get at least some of my tomatoes in to their final positions. I haven't yet dealt with the cordons but the bush varieties are now in their permanent pots. Whilst I was at the garden centre I noticed they were selling off their dahlia tubers and couldn't resist this Blue Bell for the princely sum of 50p. I got it potted up straight away so I hope it hasn't been planted too late to flower this year.
I finally got round to sowing my beans. I'm growing three types of climbing beans this year, St George runner beans and Cobra and Blue Lake climbing French beans. I also sowed some more mixed lettuce seeds to keep a succession going as the ones I sowed earlier are coming on well and I sowed some purple sprouting broccoli. I've gone for Early Purple Sprouting and Purple Sprouting Late to, hopefully, give an extended cropping time.
Daniel bought me some willow tea cups for Christmas and I thought they'd look nice as herb planters so whilst I was at the garden centre I picked up some plants. I've gone for lavender - Papillon, common rosemary, lemon thyme and sage - Tricolour. I hope the plants will put on some growth but they'll be happy enough in these planters until they do.
Whilst I was at the garden centre, I came across a yellow aquilegia, something I've been coveting for quite a while so I couldn't resist. I'm very pleased with this purchase.
I also managed to get other seedlings potted on, the potatoes in containers earthed up and carried out a general tidy up. The next job is to get the squash bed dug over at the allotment so that the plants in the greenhouse can be planted out. Whilst there's still lots to be done, I feel much better for making a start.
I've sown some yellow aquilegia seeds so I wonder if they will turn out like yours,
ReplyDeleteHope that you have a quieter time hospital wise,
I've been after a yellow aquilegia for some time so I'm pleased I've got one at last. I'd quite like for this one to set seed and grow true. I'm hoping that my mum and dad manage to stay away from the hospital for a while now, we've seen too many hospitals just lately.
DeleteIt's a busy time for gardening. Sorry to hear that your parents have both been unwell and hope their health stabilizes. We are also catching up with house and garden after a time away. We enjoy talking gardening with family who are keen gardeners. Our Berks daughter is waiting for her yellow aquilegia to flower again which it did for the first time last year. I like your willow containers and the idea of planting up with herbs and lavender.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a busy time of year where gardening is concerned. My mum and dad are both on the mend now, I'm just hoping that they can stay well for a while now. I think herbs look lovely planted in willow, these will probably grow out of the space quite quickly but I can always take cuttings to grow in the teacups.
DeleteOh no - I'm glad to hear that your mom only had a short stint in the hospital and is on the mend. What's that saying...when it rains it pours? Hopefully you & your family have an extended bit of sunshine from here on in.
ReplyDeleteBoy, you certainly do get the bargains! I for one can't resist a good deal . I actually haven't gone to a garden center lately for precisely that reason - I have so much on my plate already and the temptation is just too much. Those willow planters are lovely, btw.
We're getting a bit tired of all the hospital visits now so I'm hoping we've seen the last of them for a while. I've been really lucky with the bargains I've picked up recently, I wasn't looking for another dahlia but I couldn't leave it at that price. Daniel often buys me gifts for the garden, I really like these willow planters, they look lovely now they're planted up with herbs.
DeleteNice post and lovely pictures. I like the willow tea cups, which will look even better once the herbs have grown a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with my teacup planters, they look great now they're filled. They were a lovely gift from Daniel.
DeleteI love your willow tea cups. We have willow growing in the garden and my husband likes to try making things with it. I must mention tea cups to him!
ReplyDeleteI've never made anything with willow myself but it's nice and pliable so ideal for making things like teacups with. I'm really pleased with them.
DeleteHope both your mum and dad are feeling better, love your plants and your teacup and saucer planters. The yellow aquilegia is stunning, I love mine.
ReplyDeleteThey're both much better than they were but old age has certainly crept up on them. I was so pleaed to come across the yellow aquilegia, I've been wanting one for quite a while.
DeleteSorry to hear about your parents not being well, hope they are recovering quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe willow tea cups are really nice planted up. Sure the weather has been chilly so you're garden jobs might not be as late as you think.
They're both well on the way to recovery now. I think you're right about the weather being chilly, I doubt I'd have got many plants out even if I did have the time. I need to make a bit of an effort at the allotment now to get the beds ready.
DeleteHope this comment appears as I left one on your last post and your other blog, but for some reason they disappeared. You seem to be doing well in the garden despite all the other things happening around you. Looking forward to seeing the produce coming along and some pretty flowers too, in the warmer months. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI've checked my spam folder and there's nothing there so they must have gone missing somewhere. It's all about catching up with jobs now, if only the rain would stop for a while. We could do with some good weather.
DeleteGood choices in respect of the PSB! Love the yellow Aquilegia too.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd get an extended harvest between the two psb varieties though it sometimes doesn't work as out we expect, we'll see. I'm really pleased with my aquilegia purchase, it's a beautiful shade of yellow.
DeleteThe yellow aquilegia is lovely Jo.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen them for sale that often.....good buy.
Also like the Dahlia........and the willow cups :)
I just came across the yellow aquilegia, I think it was fate as I'd had one on my wish list for a long time. I wasn't in the market for any more dahlias at all but I couldn't leave it in the garden centre, not when it was only 50p. I just hope I've got it planted in time to flower this year.
DeleteI love the teacups! I hope your parents both recover soon, elderly parents are such a worry aren't they.
ReplyDeleteThe teacups look really lovely now they've been filled with herbs. My parents are a constant worry now that their health is deteriorating, it's sad to see.
DeleteI hope that your Mum will be OK. Sending you and her all good thoughts. It sounds as though things are going well in your garden, with lots of lovely things to come! xx
ReplyDeleteMy mum's now on the way to recovery though this latest episode has really taken it's toll. It's a busy time in the garden but I'm sure we'll catch up eventually.
DeleteMay has been such a horrid month, weather-wise, that I think you are not the only one who feels 'behind'. Hope both Mum and Dad continue to make good progress.
ReplyDeleteMay has been a terrible month in more ways than one but I'm hoping that's all behind us now and I can start to catch up a bit. My mum and dad are both much better now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they continue to stay that way.
DeleteSorry to hear the news about your mum and dad Jo - hope they both continue to improve... and reading through some of your comments / replies they seem to be doing OK, which is good news.
ReplyDeleteI love the willow tea cups, good choice from Daniel.
Hope your weekend is going well.
All the best Jan
My dad's just about recovered now, keyhole surgery is such a great thing. My mum wasn't in hospital very long but it knocked her for six, she's making a slower recovery but we're all looking after her. Daniel chooses some lovely gifts for me, he knows that anything for the garden will go down well.
DeleteOh noooooo....sorry to hear about your mum, if it rains it pours eh? I hope all is well with both of them now. How worrying for you!!!
ReplyDeleteWell. I haven't even potted my tom seedlings yet, so worry not, they always come good in the end, remember yours from last year?
Bluebell is such a good buy, as is the yellow columbine, you sure know how to pick a bargain!
Those willow cups are beyond cute!xxx
My mum's still not very well but she's taking it easy. I have to say that my tomatoes are looking really good so far this year, I just wish the wind would die down so that I could get them in their final positions. I don't really want to put them outside until we've got some better weather. I seem to do really well with my bargains, I guess I'm just lucky and I'm in the right place at the right time.
DeleteSorry to hear that your mum has given you a scare this time Jo. Sometimes it all happens at once :( I do hope that the rest of the year is smoother for you. That dahlia is a most attractive colour and well worth a gamble at that price.
ReplyDeleteMy mum's on the mend now so I hope we've seen the back of illness for a while now. I'm not sure whether the dahlia will come to anything this year but as you say, it's definitely worth a gamble for 50p.
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