Lazy fingers!

Too lazy to write....so busy planting and growing....more pics later!  I got some more compost as I am almost out....water butts are almost empty as we have had nothing but sunshine and it has been so beautiful!!!  The trees are all blooming all over....bluebells in season....just fantastic! I am watering like crazy!!  Ok....uploading the pictures was a chore enough...last weekend I:

• planted the runner beans and green beans and squash
• planted my seedlings (like gaillardia, etc) in beds
• planted seeds (beet, radish, dill)
• Lars put up my trellis for sweet pea that we can see from the kitchen window...
• protected more plants from slugs
• planted some more kale and chard in herb garden
• now have more parsley and some burnett planted in herb garden
• organized more pots....fertilized plants...
• planted pepper plants in window...nurturing lemon basil along with globe basil too!
• planted some seeds for purple
• just piddling!!!

Anxious to see burnet in bloom!!
http://gardenblog.projo.com/2009/09/burnet-sanguiso.html  

Herb garden running away!

Garden growing in front of our eyes!

Forget me nots...

Greenbean in the garden in his favorite place....under the umbrella

The best Mom in the whole world....

Mom and Lucy...

April Flowers......bring more May flowers :)

Pansies in Full Bloom!

Corner planter (DIY in work) with Acer Japanese Maple...

I have no idea......looks almost like a tomato.....

Blue bells....

Mexican Orange Blossom | Choisya ternata hedging

Choisya ternata is a hardy, aromatic shrub with dense, swift growth. By itself, it naturally forms an attractive mound and it will happily grow into a decent hedge. The white flowers begin to emerge in mid-Spring and their honeyed orange aroma is a real joy. The evergreen leaves are bright and glossy - they also give off a pleasant, basil like smell when you clip them. Used as a hedge, Choisya ternata's fragrance will infuse a small garden and it is ideal to plant around a seated area. They are resistant to most British plant diseases and pests, including Honey Fungus. They can handle a bit of shade, as long as the soil is rich and well drained.
Once Mexican Orange Blossoms are settled in and flowering away, they can be coaxed into blooming again towards the end of the Summer. Deadhead flowers as soon as they drop their petals and select a third to a half of the flowering stems to cut back. Trim them by approximately 25cms/11 inches once the flowers have faded. Your local bees (the Blue Orchard bee in particular) will thank you for increasing the amount of autumn flowers. This is all the pruning care your plants need, unless they have been damaged by harsh frosts. In this unlikely event, you can prune them as hard as you like to get rid of damaged branches - do this anytime in Spring. A light trim to keep your Choisya ternata hedge in shape can be carried out at the end of June.

My raised bed for veg......good ole mustard greens and collards!!!

There's life in them there bags...I promise!  (taters)

My wild bed around the apple tree....all sorts of bulbs!!

Another pretty daffodil

POLEMONIUM coeruleum Alba

(Jacobs Ladder)...fantastic flower...

http://theseedsite.co.uk/profile224.html

Beautiful weather!

Ah....the clocks sprung forward....and we get to enjoy all of this light...in great weather!  I have enjoyed all of the cherry blossoms....daffodils...yellow forsythia.....and the bluebells are soon to come!  I need to take more pictures!  I have planted so many seeds...and replanted, and built the raised beds...and done so much...but so much more left to do!  It's seed mania....and I have so much coming up from bulbs in the beds...in the yards...and plants I dont know what the name is! And a beautiful peony to bloom....and apple trees that are starting to leave......went to Wisley gardens ....so magnificent....just have spring fever!!!!

Spring has begun...

Proofs in the Pansies!

 So, after seeing another blog showing the beginnings of spring...I thought it would be nice to also document the first spring in our new home....

Planning paid off!

Bleeding Heart has arrived!

Herb garden looking shabby, but beginning to resurface!

Wine barrel and pyramid for runner beans and french beans!

Beautiful Sedum with red stems

Roses coming to life!

Polenium (white) just planted!!

Dead :( cordyline....guess just too cold this year...

New surprises....grape hyacinths peeking...

Daffodils in the garden!

My first Peony (came with the house!) & Eryngium

Not much to look at...but my beautiul rudbeckias...(black-eyed susans)

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' ...like thistle...so stunning!

All kinds of surprise bulbs under the apple tree!

Another Rudbeckia (super tall)

Side bed yet to plant in....surprise bulbs!!

Another corner in the works...

Hostas coming up!! (cats stay out!)

First seedlings getting adjusted to cold weather!!!

Diary- Seed Planting

I realized that if I dont start documenting what I have planted in seeds quick, it will start to go crazy and I will lose track (like I do in many years)...from planting to seed, then transplanting, to moving to the garden...things can get confusing!! So, here is a list of what I planted when...(even the mystery plants) and what is remaining.

• Greenhouse:  I am using window sill plastic seed starters in the upstairs bedroom, right above the radiators and below large windows for light (northeast facing).  This has worked wonderfully for seed starting!

• Labels: I have used a label maker this time to label the seeds on the outside package (sometimes identifying the number of cells..)
• Mats: I bought some capillary mats and placed under the seedlings like this mats dont know if it helps to keep retain moisture
• Soil:  I bought seed starter mix this year, rather than trying to use compost.
• Seeds:  I separated my seeds for February/March/April and then had a few seed bags of stuff Ive collected with no name!!! So, I planted them too!

February:
Tasks:

• Cut back some of the garden
• bought raised beds for greens with liners and one with cover
• moved wine barrels to the back
• watching daffodils come up!
• rotating pansies so they are in full flower!
• 
  

Plants:

• got potatoes for chitting
• shallots 
• rhubarb

Seeds: 

(Beginning of February:) 

1. Mustard Greens (broadleaf)
2. Collard Greens (Georgia Southern)
3. Swiss Chard (Rhubard Red)
4. Tomatoes
•  Alisa Craig
•  Gardener's Delight
•  Golden Sunrise
• Super Marmelade
5. Marigolds
6. Nicotania Fragrant Cloud (white/cream flowering tobacco)
7. Carrots- Early Nantes (in their own container)
8. Dill
9. Nasturtium
•  Summer Carousel
•  Salmon Baby
• Moonlight (climbing)
10. Matricaria
11. Lychnis (unlabeled)
12. gilia
13. Sweet Pea (Perfume Duet (grandiflora))
14. Sweet Pea (Heirloom mixed)  later in toilet rolls

Early March 

Tasks: 

• replanted nasturtium in some larger peat pots to make room for more seedlings

beginning of March:

1.  Spring Onion
2. Chinese Chives
3. Spinach (beet)
4. Basil (minette)
5. Lovage
6. Spinach (oriental Mikado)
7. Sorrel
8. Kale (scarlet)
9. Kale (black tuscany)
10. Forget me not (Blue ball)
11. Gaillardia (summer fire)
12. Alyssum
13. Amaranthus (red love lies bleeding)
14. Bidens (golden eye) 

Clematis!!!

Clematis are wonderful for the garden!!!  I was thinking of a flower to climb up the old apple trees...and I found these... I've got the Alpine spring vines, and the summer and double flowering clematis....the should get better with each year!  I didnt get the montana or jackmani variety as they grow to fast, it appears...

Clematis Multi-blue

Clematis Alpine Willy

Clematis White Columbine

Clematis Bill MacKenzie

http://www.howellsonclematis.co.uk/Pages/Gnews13.html