We had a dry day today and I spent from 1 o'clock until dusk out in the garden, yay! I dug over the part that gets flooded (read about that here) and found that there were paving slabs underneath the soil with just gravel thrown on top. I know that next-doors pipes will still cause problems until they are fixed, but at least with the removal of all the submerged slabs, the water will have somewhere to go and it mightn't be so bad, fingers crossed. It was hard and heavy work, but I feel all the better for it and so glad that a start has been made. It's time to stop feeling sorry for myself and just get on with it.
I also managed to tidy up a bit - when we moved in we had so much to do that the plants in pots were just littered around the garden. I've retrieved the ones that haven't been squashed to death by Big Foot Benji and put them in an orderly fashion, somewhere out of his reach .... I hope.
Big Foot Benji (in our previous garden)
My next job is to prune the shrubs and climbers on the fences before the new Spring growth appears. The garden may look like a disaster area just now, but I'm happy to see that there are quite a lot of good shrubs already here, ones that I would have chosen myself, such as pyracantha, buddleia and winter jasmine, etc.
It's been such an enjoyable day and the icing on the cake was looking up to see some long-tailed tits feeding on the fat balls I'd hung out. I also saw one of the wrens (hubby's seen two in the garden), bobbing about in amongst the shrubs, a blackbird winked at me from the fence (honest, it did!) and a collared dove sat atop next-door's roof calling to its mate, "Oi, it's Lesley.... we've found her, the grubs over here."
Illustration by Annette Abolins ~ to see more of her work, go here.
I'm back to being a happy gardener..... bring on the Spring! :D
It sounds like your new garden is going to be lovely. It will be exciting for you seeing what plants come up and where. Pleased the birds have found you...I love long-tailed tits...they look so small and delicate.
ReplyDeleteWell I am happy to read that you are once again a 'happy gardener' :), it will be lovely to see what plants you have in the Springtime. You have certainly been busy but I think we all feel better after spending a day in the garden,I love being out in the fresh air (on cooler days) amongst my plants. Gardens are like sanctuaries for the soul, all of the shades of green, the flower colours, the birds and the insects, all important for out well-being.
ReplyDeleteHave fun dear Lesley.
xoxoxoxo ♡
What fun to get some time out in the garden!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best in 2011.
Hi Helen. I had insomnia last night.... it always happens when I start getting excited about the garden! :O)
ReplyDeleteHi Dianne. That is a lovely expression.... sanctuary for the soul. It's exactly what a garden is. :) I prefer cooler days outside as well, and tend to retreat into the house in the height of Summer.
Hello Debbie, thanks for stopping by and all the best to you too for 2011. :D
I'm so pleased for you that you enjoyed your first real day of gardening in your new garden, the thought is always worst than the deed and now you've got renewed enthusiasm there will be no stopping you as spring encroaches.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. Yes, I'm all fired up now! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your garden problems, Lesley.
ReplyDeleteHopefully things will stay dry and you can enjoy it from now on! ~Deedee
Hi Deedee. It will all work out in the end I'm sure. :)
ReplyDelete