Garden Blogs

It's delightful how things seem to have grown in the last few weeks, helped by the rain I think! There are some poppies growing in one of the borders which have snuck in while my back was turned and a rescued pink (I think) that was three inches tall last summer and is nearly 3 foot tall now and about to flower! I am very glad I left those mysterious weed-like plants that were growing abundantly around my herbs...they are borrage! I planted one straggly plant last year because I thought the flowers were lovely - I hadn't a clue about it but was disappointed to find out it was annual. However, that one straggly plant has self-seeded and I now have a patch about 1 metre square of much bushier borrage! First beautiful blue flower has opened today. I hope this means it will happen again next spring as well - saves me having to buy new stuff! My curry plant has flowered and the scent wafts over the patio - great if you're hungry! Plums and apples are on the fruit trees, my thornless blackberry is flowering, stawberries are forming nicely (no bird worries as no birds! Cats and dog see to that!). And, the rhubarb (that I thought had had it because I didn't plant it out for ages) seems to be having a new lease of life! I have finally planted out my lavenders that I grew from seed so that, hopefully, they will grow up between the rosemary and the deck. I also put out two tiny little chives that I grew from seeds I took from my old chive flowers. Hopefully they'll bush up a bit - two short chives per plant is a bit disappointing! Tomato plants are coming along well. I have removed the old windows that were sheltering them to "see what happens to them". We have so many I will need more grow bags! My daughter is looking forward to doing some more planting. Wildlife check list this week - grey squirrel on the fence outside our kitchen window (they don't normally venture over our way - so much for me encouraging birds back to the feeder!) - woodpecker on the support post of my apple tree - deceased mole upside down on the lawn like he'd just had enough darling and keeled over! - hundreds of bees on two evergreen bushes that have blue flowers that remind me of the Licorice Allsorts that are blue and pink with little bits all over them! If the dog counts as wildlife, he caused a stir by finally working out that he fits through the bars on our gate and chasing one of the cats off down the lane! This meant that my planned relaxed reading evening turned into a rain soaked chicken wire fitting session to stop it happening again! Garden party for our daughter's 3rd birthday this weekend with tents all over the garden so no gardening will get done I don't imagine! Until then...