Getting organised

Yesterday was an organising day - not exactly intended, and with the weather being so gloriously sunny would have been better spent on the plot BUT - sometimes you just have to do what's in your mind to do. With summer arriving (though hard to believe with yet another frost on the ground this morning) and activity becoming more frantic and haphazard; a look at the shed situation seemed justified - though to call it a 'situation' is perhaps a little over dramatic!

Andrew would say this ritual is an annual pleasure for me and is dreading the words "its no good - the shed will have to be moved!". Well not this time - but the hoard of garden paraphernalia had to be shifted around and humanely culled or relocated to accommodate the huffing lawnmower that is currently residing in a friends shed due to us not being organised! A seemingly simple task but as these things go became a right faff! Anywho - I managed in the end and feel better for it so rewarded my order and efficiency by planting the sweet peas I sowed back in November(?).

I sow sweet peas in square pots (9cm) with four seeds to each pot. In most cases, they all germinate and I have a lovely full pot of well established peas to plant out. I never bother separating them as most sources say they dislike root disturbance and this way I have much quicker coverage of my chosen supports. This year I have some stems from a coppiced Cornus perhaps 5 1/2 ft tall which I wombled from a pruning job I was doing. It's great when you can think of practical uses for garden waste products and it's fast becoming my mantra for the allotment!
Although reasonably sheltered in our back yard and the peas have been well hardened, I am perhaps a bit premature in planting them out (last night's frost proves it). Rather than risk failure after such loving attention, I cobbled together a makeshift 'rocket' cloche, with some corrugated plastic sheet (re-using again) and the help of an oddly impressed husband!

And here are some pics of the completed greenhouse.....

....the first salad crops sown ....

....the beginnings of my plant minions!

We have glass!

Last night we drove back from Peterborough with the glass for the greenhouse in the back of the van. We had blizzards though, and it was a bit scary when the wind blew and nearly caused us to change lanes on the motorway!
So now we have the glass, but as you can see in the photo below, conditions in the garden are far from favourable!

A New Year and a re-cycled greenhouse

It's only recently I've realised just how much pleasure I procure from pottering in glasshouses. I'm sure I've always known, (yet not acknowledged) that I'm not just happy but in a state of bliss! And yet, I've never had my own....until now. Lucky for me then that my folks agreed to give me theirs as they plan to move house this year and it seemed (I think) a good reason to get rid of the junk (their words, not mine) which had accumulated over the years.

Well that was back in November that father and I dismantled the frame and we drove it back to Ipswich. Once unloaded, it has remained in pieces every since. Not that I was completely idle, mind - I took some time considering exactly where to build it, carefully measuring and levelling the area, (observed and photographed by my paparazzi husband) and eventually had a base I was happy with. Now winter is turning it's cold and miserable corner I was keen to get on with the project knowing it would have to be done in two stages, seeing as the glass is still in Peterborough.
Surprisingly, it took my Dad and I only 5 hours, give or take, to rebuild the frame - and despite my limited building skills, my base was 'near as damnit' level!! Scoooooore!

I think it has to be said - the little achievements you make every day are the reason it's worth living. Thanks Dad!

A Greenhouse, A Mission, Some Photos

As you can see in the photo above we haven't had a lawn at the bottom of our garden for many years. Emma decided she didn't wan't a lawn but formulating a plan for the end of our garden appeared to be so low I assumed she was leaving it all up to the fairies that live down there. Sadly I think the high volume of cat crap may have driven the fairies away long ago, I just haven't the heard to tell Emma that.


At the weekend we took our new tiny little van up to Peterborough to pick up the greenhouse that Emma's parents no longer want. This is not a task I was looking forward to, as you may be able to tell in the above photo!

As traditional on these occasions I helped Emma and her dad the best way I could, by staying well out of their way!



It was my task while Emma and her dad were playing reverse Mechano to fit a stereo in the van, a task at which I roundly failed! In the photo above Emma has noticed that the rear panel in the tailgate of the van is held on by gaffa tape!