Saturday 17 May 2014

Catching up.....slowly

 The weather has been good for the last two days.   It has given me time to play catch up.   I have managed to prune Spring flowering shrubs, raise the canopy on some of the trees, also clipped the conifers into shape, that lie in the middle of the garden.   They don't look too bad....I am no expert at clipping.    I have great admiration for those that can make a peacock out of yew etc.........
 This is the view from the deck.    I have planted the troughs with ornamentals.    The plants are tiny at the moment but I am hoping they will put on a good show this summer.   I think I may have overdone the colour combo, my impulsive nature always lets me down when it comes to buying plants.   I see, I like, I buy.......I should have learnt by now :)
 
 One of the prettiest blooms in the garden at the moment.    Rhododendron, you either love them, or hate them.    I love the softer looking flowers and this one is a favourite.   My father bought this for me when we moved to the farmhouse.....he bought me so many plants....I have so many lovely memories.
And finally this is my new gardening friend.     We all have a Robin, I am sure, who follows us around the garden as we dig the soil.     This little chap even comes into the shed to get his breakfast.

The warm weather is set to last for the next few days.   I hope the sun is shining on you, wherever you are :)

15 comments:

  1. Sounds like you are feeling a little better - being outside and doing a bit of this and that always helps. I do love the size of your garden and that you can't see it all at once - just right for a good wander. Love your Robin they are such friendly fellows. Enjoy the rest of the weekend - ain't the weather grand.

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  2. Hi Elaine,

    I feel so much better thank you. Have a nasty cough but that will pass I am sure :)

    I sometimes wonder if I have taken on too much with the garden. What was fine in my 50's, is becoming more of a struggle in my 60's. Time will tell..............

    Robins are the most friendly of birds. They are charming. Sometimes he sits so near my fork I fear I may accidently hurt him.

    The weather is grand......enjoy.

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  3. I love the friendly Robin. We had to cover the herbs and potted plants on the deck last night. Unusual cold spell with frost. Here in mid-May. No sun today, but we are eagerly looking for the sun tomorrow. At least we were able to get the spring pruning done.

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    1. Eeeek frost so late. What crazy weather........
      Lets hope things settle soon and we can all begin to enjoy Summer.

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  4. Love your little Robin friend.. it's a great photo of him. :o) Enjoy this lovely weather we're having at the moment :o)

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  5. Hi Cheryl,

    Well done on getting caught up on your gardening; I've tied to but it's just too hot at the moment so we managed to get most of the hedge done (not so easy as my brother and his girlfriend is here, she wants to get involved but she's never done anything like trimming or mowing and it's taking much longer than normal and also I've got some rather strange 'bald' parts where she was a little heavy handed with cutting. Oh well, it'll grow back!). the hedge at the back is always a nightmare though because it's so tall now, and the garden is tiered there, then of course I have my borders so it usually involves me holding onto Pete or my brother as they lean dangerously to try to cut. Even with a long-reach trimmer, it's still difficult. If only the neighbours behind me would cut it themselves, it'd make my life much easier...

    So, Abby apparently does not want a garden. Although she loves my garden. I think really she just doesn't want grass or hedge - she's from China, and I don't think has ever had a garden or any green space before. Although, to be honest I'd be more than happy not to cut grass or hedges again!

    No Robin friend here; the birds don't tend to follow me at all, Blackbirds don't either. I did once have a silly mouse enjoying searching for food after I'd dug up a border. I'm not sure how long it would've survived the cats if it didn't notice me a metre from it.

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    1. Hi Liz,

      You are very good letting someone help you to garden. I really do not like others helping, they can watch if they like :)
      Grass and hedges are very British don't you think?? Goes back centuries.
      I have left my hedges at the moment. I intend to do them in August. I just cannot face doing anymore cutting back at this time. I feel like I live in a jungle at the moment:)

      Love your story.....made me smile, but then you always do.

      Keep up the good work.......you never know there may be a Robin somewhere out there looking for a home :)

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  6. You've been busy, but we have to make the most of the sunshine while it's here, back to rain in my neck of the woods next week. Love your little robin friend, we had one at our old allotment who would sit on our tools and wait for us to uncover a worm before swooping down. I'm hoping that I can make friends with some of the birds at our new plot.

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    1. How sweet.....I am sure you will find a Robin on your new allotment,,,,,,,

      apparently rain is expected in the SE on Thursday, could do without it really :)

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  7. My word you have been busy but certainly worth it from the view I remember so clearly.

    As to plant buying "it's like being in a Sweetie shop"!

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  8. I share the same problem when it comes to buying plants, Cheryl:) We had such a cold weekend that I didn't dare plant any of the annuals yet, so my back porch looks like I'm having a plant sale. Your little robin is a sweetie; they always amaze me at how brave they can be, coming closer than any other bird, it seems.

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    1. I know Rose, I wish I could control my buying. I know I should not buy so much, then I find myself walking out with enough to fill my car boot.

      The Robin is such a friendly little chap. I can't remember a time I have gardened without a Robin. I can remember Dad and Grandad both having a Robin :)

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  9. We have been having perfect weather here. I hate to say that out loud to tempt the weather gods into punishing me for enjoying this weather too much. ;) Your garden looks so lush. I have been doing much the same and mulching too. I still have piles of debris to deal with. The back is almost finished. I hope we get it done before the heat sets in. I haven't got my pots planted yet. I might not make it this year. Of course we buy what we like and every year over do it. ha... After all we have all winter to forget that we might do that little trick. ha..

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