Living in a Box

Mystery Rose

The Mystery Rose is in bloom. Isn't it beautiful ? But...it's still a  mystery. Does anyone have any idea where I could research what it is ?

Garden 2008

Garden 2008 ???? Yes...well...I've been planning !

Now that my little patch is filling up - I can see the mistakes. I can also see the plants that are working. I'm sure I will notice this more and more as the season wears on. I sat outside yesterday in the cool breeze with a pen and notebook in hand, and started to write down what I plan to do next year (by observing this year's garden). Always a sensible thing to do I think. Then I decided to record my notes on here, more as a reminder to myself than anyone else. I can add to the notes as the year progresses, and then resist all temptation to repeat the same mistakes as this year (yeah right). Make sense ?

1. Plan - I had no plan this year, none at all. We only decided a couple of months ago that we would convert the back patch to a growing garden, and I rushed, in my eagerness to get stuff growing. I'll make a proper plan, on paper, and stick to it.
2. Vegetables - grow less in the garden, and more in containers. I am a vegetable gardener at heart. I come from a long line of successful veggie growers - and would really love to concentrate on this, but this is a rented property, and I know the owner would not be pleased if I turned the whole garden over to veg. I am enjoying growing the few veg that we have at the moment (and so are the grandchildren) - peas, broad beans, lettuce (various), tomatoes, radish, peppers, aubergine. But...in reality...the garden is just too small for any serious sowing. If I want a proper veg garden, I would have to build raised beds as the young couple over at Fresh as a Daisy have done. (They're doing really well - worth a visit !) The peas 'n beans take up too much room. I only have a few plants of each growing and the yield will just not be worth the room they've taken up. I am still patiently waiting on the allotment list !!!
3. Roses - I love, love, love roses. I only have 2 - in containers. I want more roses next year. I'll continue to grow them in containers so they can move with me when we buy our own home.
4. Height - Add more plants for height next year.
5. Sweet peas - my few sweet peas will be blooming soon. I love these plants, and didn't put nearly enough in. I didn't prepare the ground well for them either. They are so easy when good prep. has been done, so I'll grow more next year, along the sunny-side fence.

Those were my thoughts yesterday. I'll keep adding to this category as I make my plans.

Waiting !

There's only so much you can do in the garden (particularly a garden as small as mine) and then you have to w..a..i..t. It's unavoidable - and I can't stand it ! I'm not the most patient person in the world ! Mind you, I have always been very patient with people - always give them plenty of time, and many chances. And with the children and grandchildren - well...I'm a saint ! So why is it that I am spending my days checking the garden to see what's changed, and willing everything to grow faster ? Grow...grow...come on...grow !  I notice every new leaf, every single bud, every inch up the little trellis. I really should keep a chart and tick off inches as they go by !! LOL !! No...it's not that extreme. Hubby said this morning "Stop rushing things - you're wishing the summer away. It'll be winter in no time and then you won't be able to do anything out there !"

He's so right. So...it's time to slow down now - sit back on the little patio, and really appreciate what I've done so far. Not bad either.  It's a glorious day today - absolutely perfect for doing just that.

Mystery Rose

Do you remember the mystery rose (below) I bought a while back ? I got it very cheaply because it's label had fallen off and no-one at the Nursery knew what it was.

Well - the buds are about to open !!

But...alas...it will remain "The Mystery Rose" because I'm quite sure I won't be able to identify it from the blooms !!

The Rain Continues.......

Warning - lots of photos - please be patient while they load.

It rained for most of the day today. But we had a few hours of sunshine this afternoon, and I dashed out to the garden to see what was happening. I even managed to take some photos.

Lupins that I grew from seed - I'll plant them out later in the year ready for flowering next year.

Courgettes are doing very well and are ready for big pots (I just don't have any to put them in, but I'll remedy that at the weekend).

And what have we here ?? Is that a pea I see !! Yummy.

Lovely spinach growing well between the lettuce. We eat some of this lettuce every single day, and it never seems to end. Not bad for just a few plants.

And goodness !! Look how many flowers are on the beans ! I so enjoy watching the bumble bees flying around these flowers. They really do "bumble" along.

This little tomato is the Tumbling Tom - full of flowers.

And how do I know that there are no snails in my garden ? Well, look at the back left corner. There is a hosta and a lettuce growing happily side-by-side and neither one has been touched !! If there were any snails they would have been the first plants to go. But...it's early days yet, and I'm keeping my eyes peeled.

   

Vegetable Gardening Forum

I recently joined a new Vegetable Gardening forum. It's run by Adam Fletcher and Lesley Jay. I'm not a member of many Forums/Fora? - but this one looks as though it's got great potential. Take a look, and join up. We can compare beans and lettuce...and have a good chat about our veg !

Mimulas

Michelle, of All Things Michelle, saw a photo of my mimulas on this blog the other day, and asked about them. They are really pretty aren't they ? Their common name is Musk or Monkey Flower. It's the first time I've grown them here in the UK. In Africa where I lived I had a wild variety in my garden. There is a page here on Wikipedia about the different varieties. They grow to about 12inches in height. Mine are growing in morning shade/afternoon sun.

I hope someone who knows more about them will let us know. If you are a blogging gardener who grows them, please give us more information.

Update May 2008 - I have written another post here with more information on Mimulas for those of you who are searching for info.

Rainy Days

The wind is howling, and it seems to have been raining non-stop since Friday !! There is nothing at all I can do in the garden. I had a quick look around this morning - under an umbrella - and everything seems to be growing away very well. But I also noticed a few plants that will need some support. The wind and rain has left them leaning heavily. This weather is set to continue for most of this week - so some of us will be suffering withdrawal symptoms. Maybe it's time to give some attention to the houseplants !

Back to normal - sort of !

Well...what a week I have just had. Thank goodness I am feeling a lot better, and hope to get back on track this week. So many neglected jobs, both in the house and garden.

I took some photos in the garden late yesterday - then the batteries died on my camera. I really need to get some rechargable batteries. The garden is flourishing. We had some good rain at the beginning of last week, and then lots of lovely warm sunshine over the weekend, so everything is shooting up !

We will soon be eating........

Peas........

.......and Beans......

......and Tomatoes.

Mims are doing what they do best............

Saxifrage is flourishing..........

And........we had a little visitor....who has decided to stay. My granddaughter loves her !

   

   

Wonderful Weekend

It was very much a gardener's weekend ! On Saturday, the Grove Horticultural Society had a plant sale in the Village Hall - a few doors along from my front door. It was great to see all the plants that the members are growing, and I picked up a couple of bargains. (I am only buying bargains these days - I've spent far too much on the garden lately !!)

I got this little fern.

And a few daylilies.

Yesterday (Monday) was a holiday here. What a wonderful afternoon we had. It was the May Fair in our village of Grove, and the whole village turned out. I just love this time of year - there is so much going on in the community. The highlight was the Wantage Silver Band.

Marvellous. The sounds of a brass band really make me happy, and when it's playing on the village green on a beautiful sunny day - well...I couldn't ask for more !

The weather was perfect, although a bit windy. There were stalls of home-made produce, loads of bric-a-brac (old junk !), foods to eat and, of course, plants to buy. So I bought a few. I bought a couple of Foxgloves that should flower this year, and they went into the back of the little raised bed.

I also bought a hydrangea. I have grown them very successfully in the past, and have wanted some since we got here to England, but am not prepared to pay the Nursery prices - they are so expensive. The stallholder had just one little hydrangea in a pot and I grabbed it for £1. Bargain !! I'll nurture it, and love it, and keep it in the pot. It's going with me to my own home one day.

I also bought this Sea Holly. I've never grown this before, so any info would be appreciated before I plant it out.

After my browse around the Fair, I walked home (about 100 paces), made a cup of tea, and played in the garden for the rest of the afternoon - accompanied by the brass band ! Joy !!