Waterlilies and Irises

We have had a perfect day....a morning at the Freshwinds Garden and an afternoon in our own garden, with a glass of Pimms at the end, sitting in baking hot sunshine. What more could you ask for!

The car was loaded up with things to plant out. 

These days it is important to keep to the jobs planned (mainly planting) as it is easy to be waylaid by a myriad of other tasks.

The soil was just right....damp and crumbly.

I had to deal with the watering first. The tomatoes were looking very good and needed tying. I also cleared the bench ready for a growbag. The peppers are not quite ready to plant out yet.

The nursery with a view also needed water. We have tomato plants and plenty of cabbages for sale,

as well as the perenniels.

It was good to chat to some of the campers who enjoyed watching the frogs. They were off to Camber. I heard on the news later, that a film was being made there today so I hope it didn`t spoil their visit.

The colours of this frog completely match the blanket weed and other growth.....such fantastic camouflage.

 

I was thrilled to see the first waterlily. Our next plan for the pond is to buy more plants that will cover the surface by up to a third. This may help to stop the blanket weed. The barley straw floats have submerged further and will hopefully begin to give off the substance which helps prevent the weed from forming.

I felt sorry to pull up the forgetmenots but I have had to make space for bedding,

which is becoming pot-bound.

Here I have planted cornflowers, cerinthe and acroclinium (a flower that can be dried)

They were all covered over before we left.

Steve planted the pumpkins. Here are the courgettes ....a bit battered under fleece which was flapping in the wind in the last few days.

I planted a row of the acroclinium next to the beetroot.

Here is the sweetcorn planted in a square for better pollination.

We did the final planting together....the leeks..... two different varieties....looking a bit pathetic.

Using a dibber we made holes, dropped one tiny plant in each and then puddled them in.

They too, were covered over. I don`t trust those rabbits.

Last year I planted some odd pieces of iris root in the raised bed. They are growing on well.

The lupins.

The aquilegia is particularly pretty.

Finally the broad beans are growing on nicely. They do need weeding though.

Other jobs I noticed needing doing were .....clearing the other length of hedging from nettles and goosegrass,

tying in the sweetpeas, improving the netting on the fruit cage and weeding the side path. I could probably think of a dozen more.

Congratulations to Anne who completed her Three Peaks Challenge over the weekend.

(See the Freshwinds Camping facebook page)