Blue Blue Sky and Mini-Forests

Both Steve and I were excited to visit the plot today because we have been very involved installing our new kitchen. It was a very welcome break. And the sun was shining. We were determined to make the most of it.

Half of my time was spent on the fairy garden and the other half on the shrub bed. In between we had a good catch up with Anne at long last.

The forsythia was in full glory. What a sight against that blue blue sky.

I added a mini-pond to the fairy garden, found more moss and the fairies returned.

There are still a couple of tiny shrubs to add. We will be on the look-out for new fairies and animals to add through the summer.

 Earlier I spotted the tortoises, just woken up from hibernation, this one caked in mud.

Later Anne brought some warm water and gave him a  wash.

 

 We harvested broccolli at long last, and leeks. We also had the first rhubarb. Yummy with yoghourt. The broccolli was eaten with a cheese sauce.

This is the first rhubarb for two years as we moved and split the crowns two years ago. We needed to leave it to establish itself again.

On the cob shed roof self heal is flowering away. This is an incredible little plant and is one of the first nectar sources for bees.

Elsewhere on the cob shed roof is a scene from a miniature forest. Anne had to take this photo. She is a lot taller than me.

 

A lovely visit and well-deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"March"ing On

Well this month is "March"ing on relentlessly. We are only just getting to grips with the seed sowing and today onions and broad beans have gone in.

On our visit today the sky was so blue, even the compost heaps looked good. I am pleased to say they are decomposing nicely. Corncockle have seeded in front. It will be quite a sight when they flower.

The pulmonaria is in full flower ... a startling electric blue.

And the helleborus is looking good.

The rhubarb has come on in leaps and bounds. We should be able to harvest some this year.

 

The new grass path has thickened up very well. I hope to let it grow wild this year.

My main job was to create the new fairy garden, still in the old renovated trailer. The path has a layer of sand with crushed seashells on top. The edges are lined with glass pebbles.

The bricks in shade, around the garden, have sprouted a great deal of moss so I have used it to soften the edges.

I had a good inspection of the fairy garden components and decided quite a few of them need a fresh look. I brought the house home for some new thatch. The birds tend to peck at it for nesting material.

 

 

Elsewhere around the garden I heard a frog plop into the pond.  Looking at the sturdy willow, next time I will cut some for the next batch of wands.

 

The honeysuckle is twining its way along the tortoise run fencing.

The forsythia is budding up nicely.

This shrub is largely out of fashion these days but I love that splash of gold.

Happy Mothers Day to any mums reading this blog.

This vase of camellias is in memory of my own Mum.

 

 

 

Pastel Eggs and Cheerful Chickens

March has arrived but very few signs of spring .... in fact we are due for some snow tomorrow.

Steve and I went for a walk yesterday in the nearby woods and found not one wild flower. This time last year the wood anemones were out. We were a little upset to see our favourite bluebell walk in such a state. I know the purpose of coppicing but this all seems a shame in this beautiful part of the woods.

I have started my seed sowing but all is safely inside the propagator.

Now on a more cheerful note, here are my latest crafts.

Seeing as the Valentine worry worms and soft hearts went down so well at the school, I tried some Easter items .... pompom keyrings and pastel worry worms. Hopefully there will be a fund-raiser at the school for the end of term.

 

I found a very simple crochet pattern for an egg and having sorted out a box of pastel wool, proceeded to make some. I didn`t seem to be able to stop myself.

I decorated them with daisies, flower sequins and tiny pearls.

Each one has a silver thread to hang it by.

 

Another pattern I remembered from years ago was a knitted chicken that fits over a chocolate cream egg. After trying the knitting and not being so keen, I made up a similar pattern in crochet, using multi-coloured wool.

Here is the result.

I have yet to ascertain that a cream egg actually fits inside but they are on the shopping list. If necessary I will thread cord elastic round the base.

The egg pattern comes from

ZEENS AND ROGER.