Weather Report

Nice.

Been like this since I returned.

Did someone say hosepipe ban?

Progress, but not by me

I'm still complaining about the fact that I have had so few weekends lately. I cannot complain, of course, about the previous two seeing as I was in the Midwest having a wonderful visit with friends and family, but this weekend, here again ...

Being at work today and halfway across London doesn't help of course, but neither does the weather. I see SO much that needs to be done - grass cut, weeding, pulling up the gnarled old rosemary ... the list, as it usually does in the Spring, goes on and on.

However, in terms of landscaping, someone (HWMBO) has been hard at work. Nothing like the threat of new neighbours (within our four-flat building) to spur him on. What was this hideous overgrown back part, which I hoped someday would be a nice gravel patio for all, is less so. Much less so.

I should say this is about ready to lay the ground cover and the gravel! It has been agreed amongst all and so this particular piece of beautification seems imminent.

Result! I even missed the pleasure of moving the compost bin 6 feet over! Although I'm told there is some good, rich stuff in there. I wish I knew where I was going to use it, without a large tomato patch this year. Hmmmm.


So hopefully, the next several weekends, I can get out and do my stuff. It will be May soon, after all - we've had our share of April showers, so here's to some lovely weekends of gardening, and most fun of all, planting!

Virgin Territory

At last. Almost a year later, I was able to plant in this lovely little space. Twelve foot wide, and at the deepest, seven foot down. A small but perfectly formed space which is my parents' new garden. Nothing too arduous or time consuming to look after, perennials the lot of them, to come back and bring joy year after year. My first new garden creation in a long time.

So, off to the garden centre in nearby Palatine, Knupper's Nursery. I highly recommend it if you are in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Fantastic selection of plants.

This site gets some morning sun, and for the rest of the day is in shade, and so needed some shade lovers. I had recommendations; Sweet Woodruff, Columbine. And that's what I went for.

Plus! An Iris, at my father's request. Two Heuchera's, Obsidian (the purple one) and Stoplight Foamy Bells (a lovely green with red accents). A Phlox for the scent. Lady's Mantle, just because (I seem to be repeating the English theme here!). One bunch of Dianthus, again for the scent and the absolute darlingness of them. These are close to the house just in case they can catch the scent when they open the window.

Bugle, Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow'.

My mother picked that out, and a good choice too, as it will spread and be a lovely carpet in that section. That's the one on the right.

First we placed everything out to get the correct layout. Low in the front, higher at the back. That's the fun part.

And then, we began. I couldn't have done this without my little helper.

We started at the left, with the Christmas Rose, the hellebore. We moved across and planted, plant by plant.

And after a while, it was done.

My dear girl, who turned to me at one point and said, "I love gardening" (ah, how wonderful to pass that on), I can trust to look after it whilst I am away.

Some happy customers here. My parents were over the moon. I can't wait to see the progress!