A Year In My Garden

Its been so long

2011-09-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Gosh it's been so long since my last update i'm such a naughty blogger and i have no photo's for you... but i can tell you i have had some fantastic results this year with the veg plot, i have just dug up 6lb potatoes, picked 3lb runner beans, 3 red peppers, 2lb tomatoes and about 2lb strawberries, mind you i got a telling off as i am recovering from an operation and i'm not supposed to be digging the garden yet but i was itching to get out there and what with the lovely weather at the moment it just had to be done.

Over the season i have harvested loads and am really pleased with the results.

I will try and get some new photo's for you maybe when i have planted all the winter/spring plants and try not to be such a bad blogger TTFN

Strawberries are go

2011-06-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Well i have now got a new veggie patch and a strawberry patch and new fencing to keep the pooches out, my poor hubby has worked so hard for me the last few months good job i'm 60 only once lol
so here are a few photo's of my latest project.

Courgette

2011-06-13T04:03:00.000-07:00

My first courgette of the season can't believe how big he is yum yum weighing in at 1lb 9oz can't wait for tea time.

Update on pond

2011-06-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Just a few more piccies of how the second pond is coming along

All we have left to do is the electrics for the pump & filter then i can add plants & fish.

New Pond Day 1.....

2011-06-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hiya

Well as it's a glorious day today i managed to persuade hubby to start on my new pond, well i started it and he felt guilty and joined in lol, when we did all we could for today i sat there looking at the strawberries i have in a pot thinking i wished i had a strawberry patch well.....that was it up came some more of the old patio and i now have a strawberry patch ready to be dug over lol here are a few photo's taken on day 1......
Where the pond is going

Where the Strawberry patch is going

Not many ripe ones as i keep pinching them every morning lol

Just a few plants in bloom around the garden.

Quick update

2011-05-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

Morning all

Well we have had some glorious weather lateley which has helped the veggies come along nicely here are a few photo's of what's happening here in Brum land

My first lettuce and it tasted gorgeous

Present from Helen & Gavin he is solar powered and lights up at night.

Waterfall at night with it's new lighting

So Pretty

Veggies growing nicely

In a months time i shall be entering into the age of not paying to use the bus and i can get free prescriptions yay, i have asked for a new fish pond to go along side the one i already have so i will take photo's of before during and after so keep watching.

Waterfall

2011-04-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Hi all

We have decided to have a new waterfall for the pond, a couple of weeks ago the filter wasn't working so we thought it was time we had a new one the one we had was a good one but it was getting on for 20 years old so its about time we changed it don't ya think lol, anyway we changed it from a gravity one to a pressurised one all seemed fine for a couple of days then we noticed the pump was making some funny noises so hubby checked it out and found that it was broke so now a new pump was needed, well we thought we've gone to all this trouble we may as go all the way and have a waterfall something i've always wanted, but then we couldn't agree on what type was it to be a slow meandering one or stepped one or a cascade one.
I've taken a couple of photo's of our progress

This is of the new filter fitted.

How it looked before we added the new waterfall

My wonderful hubby Jim making the new box

Hubby recieving help from our wonderful Son-In-Law Gavin

Fitted but needs a lid

Finished all but for the staining and waiting for the water to find it's natural balance again after we had to refill it.

Tomatos are go

2011-04-18T00:30:00.000-07:00

Greenhouse all planted out with tomato's, last year i planted several varieties of tomato's to see which were the best so this year i have gone for 3 varieties that i felt were the best...and the winners are........Sun Baby a yellow very sweet tomato these are definitely my favourite, Gardeners delight & Money maker.

I've also planted Lettuce, cucumber & corgette.

A new season begins

2011-04-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Been a long time since my last post think i hibernated this winter lol but heres a few photo's of the flowers in bloom and what's been going on in the veg patch.

veggies planted so far this year potatoes, carrots, beetroot, peas, beans, summer cabbage.

We are in the process of making changes to the koi pond as the filter decided to stop working so we got a posh new one then after we fitted it the pump decided to stop working too so that had to be changed, we are now trying to install a waterfall but can't make up our minds how to do it but when we do i will take some photo's to share with you.

* Update *

2010-10-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

Ohhh i have been a very naughty blogger it's been a while since i last posted but i do have a good excuse i have been very busy helping with the arrangements for our Daughters wedding which went beautiful plus i laid a new floor in my craft room yes i did say i lol but more importantly i have been kept very busy eating all my fabulous veg can't believe what a success i have had in my first year, overloaded with runner beans and the peas never even made the saucepan lol i just sat in the garden eating them mmmmm lovely.
I have planted out some spring cabbage, still got carrots and parsnips to come up but my sprouts I'm sad to report have not done very well at all, will maybe try again next year.

A white Dhalia that my daughter gave me out of her garden

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* Delicious *

2010-06-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

I must say i am rather chuffed to bits with my crops so far, lettuce beautiful and sweet, raddish coming out of my ears and now i have new potatoes this is my 3rd crop i can't wait to eat them i keep forgetting to take a photo lol and now i have cabbage, purple brocoli and peas which i am going to devour tonight for my evening meal but i have to say i think i have been very good especially with the peas as i love to eat them straight from the shell but then again its not evening yet is it lol hmmm will they last till then i'm not sure :o)

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* Radish & more Radish *

2010-06-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

What a lovely crop of radishes i've had, i've got them coming out of my ears there's that many and they are really tasty, also i'm picking a lettuce every week scrumptious... really pleased with the progress of my little veggie patch.

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* Catch up *

2010-05-24T04:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all
Just a quick catch up of whats been happening over the last month, the salad patch has really taken well, all the seeds i planted are growing fast will soon be eating healthy lol.

The veggies are growing well too after a shaky start, i went away for a weeks holiday only to come home and find the pidgeons had had a party with my veg but they have picked up well again.

Potatoes

Tomatoes

And here are just a few of my lovely plants.

Lilac

I'm not sure what this is called but i love it, it comes up every year and is just a ball of pink

Azalea

Chocolate hookera

Planter

I had a lovely suprise when i saw a pair of goldfinches land on my feeder i just about managed to get the camera and take a couple of piccies, they must be nesting nearby as they are now visiting everyday.

And here is a blackbird hoping for a drink, hubby took this photo

* Tomatoes are go *

2010-04-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Another lovely day and the greenhouse has had its anual clean and is now planted out with tomatoes and cucumbers, i decided this year to try out several varieties of tomatoes so that next year i can just grow the ones i like the most.

* cheeky pigeon *

2010-04-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

Managed to get a photo of this cheeky pigeon trying to pinch the sunflower hearts, at one stage i thought he was going to get his head stuck.

* veggies in full swing *

2010-04-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Well what a differance a couple of weeks can make!! beautiful sunshine although a little chilly in the wind.

My little veggie patch is coming along nicely with Runner beans, peas, cabbage, sprouts, purple sprouting brocoli, potatoes, carrotts, parsnips, radish, spring onions, beetroot, lettuce and mixed salad leaves all planted and growing lovely, can't wait to harvest them.
The potatoes, carrotts and parsnips i am growing in large tubs so when the potatoes are ready i can lift the plant, take off what i need and the replace the plant.

I'm pleased that my magnolia has survived its move, something i didn't want to do last year but had to so it was a case of move it or loose it altogether and although it hasn't as many flowers as usual at least it didn't die.

The flowering cherry is full of buds this year i'm so looking forward to seeing this in full bloom.

* Spring has finally sprung *

2010-03-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Well today is 21st March officially the first day of spring also today is my 40th wedding anniversary and they said it wouldn't last.

The daffys in the garden are now doing really well after a very slow start, so are the miniature daffys but i don't think you can see the differance in the photo the top photo are the mini daffs.

And the fish have awoken from their cold winter slumber and seem to be very hungry

* Bit more done *

2010-03-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Wow!!! what a change in the weather, we've had a glorious few days sunshine although still very chilly but i'm not complaining and it's so lovely to hear all the birds twittering away.
Managed to get a bit more digging done on the veggie patch just need to get the fertiliser worked in now and with the help of hubby we put some fencing up to a fashion to keep the dogs off... a bit more work to be done there i think but it will do for now, i'm fed up of mopping the kitchen floor of muddy paws lol.
Remember that old fer tree stump i found behind the aviary well its now a bird feader am chuffed with it i just need to get a couple more hangers for it but the blue tits love it already i had 7 all at once on it this morning thats a record for me, no joy as yet with my nest boxes though but i'm still hopeful.
Sadly we lost one of the large white goldfish today.

* Snow more snow and still more snow *

2010-02-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

I woke up to the white stuff again this morning, we've had more this time than a couple of days ago, it's still snowing and we have lots more to come today and tomorrow.
Here are a couple of photo's taken at 6:30 this morning.

* Work in progress *

2010-02-15T05:51:00.000-08:00

It started out quite a nice morning yesterday so decided to start digging the new veggie plot, pleased with the amount i managed to dig but,Oh boy am i paying for it now i ache in places i didn't know i had places to ache but its getting there slowly as i'm only allowed to do a little at a time in case it makes my MD flare up.

Shame i didn't have my camera handy whilst digging as i had a very friendly spectator waiting for the odd worm to be snaffled up...yep you guessed it a robin..

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when we dismantled the aviary we found this fern tree trunk, i'm hoping to make it into a new bird feeding station with the help of hubby of course.

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On my wander around the garden today i spotted some new begginings so spring is definatley on it's way at last...

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* In Retirement *

2010-02-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

A bitterly cold day today and so i have decided it's time to retire my last remaining Cockatiels, they have been brilliant parents to many chicks over the years along with other Cockatiels i have had in the aviary, but this pair are my only remaining pair and so thought it time to put them into retirement, they have a nice new cage for them to share and i think they will be happy together in it.

So now the aviary has gone i have a spare plot of land to which i intend to put to good use and make it into a veggie patch so watch this space lol.

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My fabulous hubby has put me a new tit box up and i'm so excited as this one has a camera in it now all i want are the birds to take up residence.

After sitting watching the garden birds today i was pleasantly surprised to see a coal tit i know these little birds are doing well in the wild but i have never had one in my garden so either i am doing something right with what selection of seeds and nuts i am putting out or they are having to look father a field to find food (not sure which) but hope its me.

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* RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch *

2010-01-31T02:29:00.000-08:00

A very frosty cold morning here and so i decided to do my 1 hours watch, got the heating going in the conservatory, my bino's, pen & list, hot cuppa tea and the rug settled down to watch the birds and guess what....it started snowing.. but never mind i was by now nice and warm just in time to watch next doors cat arrive in the garden along with his mate.. then the grey squirrel arrived to take his share of the offerings but i did have a pleasant suprise during my hours watch.. a song thrush appeared i haven't had one of these beautiful birds in my garden for a very long time so i was thriled, i tried to take a photo but my crappy little camera was not powerful enough to focus on it, never mind i had a really enjoyable hour.
Here are my results

Blackbird...4

Collared Dove...1

Dunnock...3

Great Tit...2

House Sparrow...13

Magpie...2

Robin...2

Song Thrush...1

Starling...4

Woodpigeon...2

Blue Tit...3

Oh What a Sky!!!

2010-01-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

I managed to get this photo the other evening..nearly gave my self heart attack as i had to run up stairs to get my camera but it was well worth it.

Got a bid fed up yesterday so hubby took me to the garden centre and treated me to 3 new nest boxes and other treats... can't wait to see what takes up residence i'm hoping it will be either the Robin or the Dunnock and Blue or Great Tits in their little homes.

Well it seems that the fish have survived the winter i am pleased to say and with no ill effects, my Cockatiel was quite chirpy this morning too doing a bit of necking with his mate.

I've printed off my counting sheet in readyness for the BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH for the RSPB this weekend 30th-31st Jan Everyone is invited to spend just one hour during the weekend to count the birds that visit the garden, never joined in before so i'm quite looking forward to it.

* January Journal *

2010-01-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Afternoon all

Bbbbrrrrr this cold weather is still with us and we are expecting lots more snow over the weekend.
This is my calendar journal i am making hope you like it.

Take care out there peoples xx

* January 5th 2010 *

2010-01-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

Well what a great start to the New Year the coldest it's been for many many years and wow!!! what a lot of snow.. i think everybody in the uk must have had some snow this winter so here are a few photo's of my poor garden during the big freeze.

My poor fish pond is completley frozen over hope the fish are ok don't want to loose my beautiful koi carp.

The last photo is a view from the front garden which was taken after just 10 minutes of the snow falling.

* Happy New Year *

2010-01-01T01:59:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone

Happy New Year to you all and welcome to my new blog.

A friend of mine started a blog journaling her garden through out the year and i thought..what a great idea.. so Lesley i hope you don't mind but i've pinched your idea o:)

I know theres not a lot going on in the garden over the winter (well not in my garden as i don't have many winter plants)but will photo some soon