Sunday, 25 April 2021
At home
I love this view from the east window by which I eat my breakfast.
I planted seeds of shallots, night scented stock and Vates collards and then filled some more containers in preparation for some planting that will happen after the weather warms up some more. One such spot was a winter cold frame in which I think I will grow courgettes or cucumbers this summer. Allan brought me a couple of bales of raised bed planting mix from the garage, but I spotted a problem.
Don’t worry, I got him to move before filling the planter. There’s no good reason for dividing into three areas with cardboard. It’s the leftover of an abandoned idea about planting three different things. In winter, I’ll dig it out to be a cold frame again.
When filling containers in the veg enclosure behind the garage, I disturbed another sleepy critter where I plan to plant runner beans.
In the fish totes, I don’t know why one of my broad beans almost looks like it is getting black mold. Or is it supposed to look like this when making beans?
Here is a gold plant that I got from Jane, the Mulch Maid.
Behind that garden bed, I found a display of dandelions. I am sure bees have been enjoying them.
I trimmed up the phormium planted in a small metal dustbin that is slowly tipping over. Its overhanging foliage has smothered a nice Pacific Coast Iris that was planted below and that did well till the container started tipping forward.
Little tragedies happen in a garden when attention is not paid to everything. We could rope the dustbin to the tree behind it before it falls all the way over.
I was thrilled to find that my Descaisnea fargessi, blue bean shrub, has survived a rash transplant made last year.
I loved it in my old garden, where it made a small tree with gorgeous dangly yellow flowers and then blue beans. It is also rather grimly known as dead man’s fingers.
I was also pleased to see that Cyclamen ‘Lil Silver’ looks happy.
I dug up some and potted some impatiens omeiana for my plant sale. It has big roots for such a delicate plant.
Allan took our recycling to the bins at the east end of the port, where he found that someone’s romance with romance novels was over.
When he returned, he found that Skooter had gotten into a Catio and wanted out.
In evening light I admired Allan’s garden…
….and the front garden.
Faerie had plumb worn herself out playing on the catios.
Allan had done this to his boat. His hatch needed a waterproof flat surface but the deck was curved. This resin will be sanded smooth soon.
…and I was well chuffed with the look of the to do list that I had made for today.
Tomorrow begins an actual work week of perhaps four days of work!
So many beauties that I hardly know what to comment on! That Skooter has quite the presence, doesn’t he?
LikeLiked by 1 person
He does, both good. And naughty, when indoors and wanting out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is always sad to see books just tossed and destined to be pulped. Our city recycling depot has an enclosure for books, and my feet and hands twitch whenever I am there as I try to resist the urge to ignore the signs and rifle through the books.
Geoff Stonebank, who has the utterly charming Driftwood Garden in the UK (he has a series of short youtube videos on his garden – worth checking out) said he was told by the NGS, before his garden was accepted as tour-worthy, that it must have 20 minutes of interest. Your garden has hours of interest, especially to a plantaholic.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you and I must check that garden out. I do remember reading or maybe hearing on Beechgrove about the twenty minutes of interest! Thanks for the reminder!
LikeLike
I, too, love the view from your east window. Your garden looks so lush, and I agree with the comment above that your garden has more than 20 minutes of interest. I laughed when I saw Skooter sleeping in that box. He honestly is an integral part of the garden. I look for him in all of your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is kind of like Monty Don’s Nigel in that way.
LikeLike
Very successful to do list. Congratulations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
That is a lovely view to admire while having your breakfast. So many pretty plants in your garden, and Allan’s, too! I love the intense red tones that pop against the green leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLike
Descaisnea fargessi? I had to look that one up. I remember the name ‘dead man’s fingers’, although I am still unfamiliar with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cats always find a good cardboard box. And I like that little frog. I find them in the porch planters here from time to time.
LikeLiked by 1 person