D'you think I'm overfeeding our birds?

Lol, no it's not a giant blue-tit, but a gift given to me by my husband and daughter a few years ago. I couldn't resist taking this photograph. :)

Well, apparently the U.K. is in for a 'big freeze' over the next few days and the way the weather has been of late, I don't think the 'weathermen' (oooooops, weatherpeople!) are telling porkies this time. It was dry and bright today so I spent a few hours in the garden, catching up on jobs that should have been done but couldn't get done because of the rain. It was great! I love it when I can get outside and get on with things. I managed to get the rest of the rocks (from the wall I dismantled weeks ago) down to the bottom of the garden and I have to say, I sincerely hope that the person who invented the wheelbarrow was given a knighthood or something. I've borrowed our neighbour's and decided that a wheelbarrow is definitely a necessity!

The plants in the greenhouse were re-organised. It was supposed to make things more efficient, but there's less floorspace than ever now...... then again, I did pot up some more plants. I potted up some rhubarb and asparagus. Really they could just have been put straight into the garden, but ours are going into pots until they're big enough to withstand the onslaught of being trodden on by our three dogs!

The rest of the time was spent what I call pottering...... hoeing round the plants and filling up the bird feeders, etc., anything I can think of to do so I don't have to go back indoors. Alas, dusk arrived and I had no choice. I must follow up my husband's idea of getting a helmet with a lamp on it. :D

Peek-a-boo! Can't see me, can you!

Gardening in Babysteps ~ Part 1

Do you admire other peoples' gardens and think, "Aww, wish I could do that." Many people never try gardening because they think there is some special talent or mysterious magic needed to be able to grow beautiful flowers and vegetables. I can tell you now that no one need be excluded from gardening and the only magic needed is provided by Mother Nature herself. You will never know if you can grow things unless you try...... I expect even Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock were beginners at some point in their lives. Alan didn't just step outdoors and grow the perfect border on his first attempt and I bet it took Charlie some time to get her first water feature just right! Anyway, come on..... time to give it a go. Rather than growing in the open garden, for a first attempt grow some seeds in a large container. There are plenty to choose from; perhaps a plain and simple one like this.

........ or an ornate one like this. You can choose any pot you want.... it's your garden and you are the designer.

Next you will need a bag of multipurpose potting compost which you can buy from garden centres and diy stores. Fill your container with the compost to within about two or three inches from the top and water gently so that it is just damp and not sodden. Using a watering can with the rose/sprinkler attachment will make it easier.

Now you want to think about which flowers you'd like to grow. Try something really easy first, seeds that will germinate readily and quickly. By trying something that needs more attention, you could be setting yourself up for possible disappointment.

Here's a pretty annual I would recommend. By 'annual' I mean that it is sown, flowers and dies all in one year. It wont appear again unless you plant more seeds the following Spring. The good thing about annuals is that they are so easy to grow, just what we want, and they put on a bright and colourful display. This one is called Nasturtium (pronounced nastursh-eeum). They come in shades of red, orange, peach and cream. The seeds are about the size of a pea so they are easy to plant. All you have to do is push the seed about half-an-inch (1.5cm) below the surface of the compost. In a container the size of the ones shown, you will be able to grow three nasturtium plants. Keep the soil damp and don't let it dry out. It's best to wait until the weather is brighter and warmer before planting your seeds. Mid to late Spring is best and you will see your 'baby' seedlings push their way through the soil in about fourteen to twenty-one days.

This is another annual called 'Love-in-a-Mist' or to give it its latin name, Nigella damascena. The blue-purple is gorgeous and there is another variety called Nigella Persian Jewells, the flowers being various shades of pink, lilac, blue and white. Very pretty. Follow the instructions I gave for the nasturtiums, filling your container with the compost and watering it just enough to make the compost damp. Nigella seeds are much smaller so instead of pushing them below the surface of the soil, just sprinkle them on the surface. You can mix a little silver sand in with your seeds to make it easier to see where they are being sown. That way you will get a more even sowing. All you have to do now is sprinkle a fine covering of compost over them and keep the compost damp as before. Your little Nigella seedlings will make an appearance in about eight to fifteen days. Put your pots of flowers in sun or part-shade and they will bring some welcome colour to your garden or patio all Summer long.

Other easy to grow annuals are Cosmos, Bells of Ireland, Larkspur, Sweet Pea and Marigold.

Finally, there are no rules when it comes to gardening. If you like a certain colour combination or the way certain plants look together, that is all that matters. Personally, I think Dandelions look great with Purple Honesty. :)

My first seedlings of 2009.

From the trays of seeds I sowed on January 1st, only one is sporting newly germinated seedlings. This photograph was taken about a week ago, so it took them roughly 18 days to germinate. The seedlings are Sweet Alyssum, an annual that has many uses. It's mostly used for edging paths and borders and is also a good filler plant in containers and hanging baskets. It's not a showy plant but is wonderfully sweet-scented. I've often walked down the garden on a still Summer's day and wondered what the beautiful scent was that filled the air. Looking for something exotic, only the little alyssum was present. It's humble appearance belies its sweet perfume.

Alyssum

As usual I was being over optimistic in setting so many seeds away early in January. Although we have a paraffin heater in the greenhouse, it is only enough to keep it frost-free. It's still really cold, suited only to the hardiest of plants. However, perhaps February will see signs of life appear in the remaining seed trays.

My garden box of memories.....

What do you do with all the little plant labels you get with the plants you buy? I'm not a hoarder so it's quite possibly some kind of idiosyncrasy, but I cannot throw them away. It would be like discarding a part of my friends! The plants I have collected over the years are special and I like to hold on to the labels. I keep them in the box you can see in the photo and every now and then, I enjoy sifting through them. There are all sorts in there. Just to list a few:

• French Lavender
• Lobelia
• Geranium
• Foxglove
• Petunia
• Aubretia
• Primula
• Pansy
• Verbena
• Thyme

Every one of these labels represents a lovely day out somewhere, either to the garden centre or to some well-known garden. Most of the plants are thriving in my garden, some I've given away and, unfortunately, some haven't survived. Well, I never said I was another Percy Thrower! But the labels remain to remind me of sunny days (and some not so sunny) pottering around shelves of plants, choosing which ones would be coming home with me.

A few I wouldn't be without.

This is Mimulus or Monkey Musk. It's an incredibly easy to grow perennial and will self-seed itself, though not invasively. When you look at the flower up close, it looks just like a small orchid. It grows to a height of about 8ins (20.5cm), in clumps producing many flowers. It's well-known for growing round ponds, but I have it growing in the borders and between rocks. Mimulus is also very easy to grow from seed.

Here's the Alpine Strawberry, another plant that is easily grown from seed. I have this growing in the wildlife part of our garden...... the mice and birds need something to eat, don't they! :) It is low-growing and spreads and looks pretty alongside the blue Speedwell. The tiny white flowers are adorable, as are the small jewel-like fruits. You could eat the little strawberries if you wanted to...... they're quite tasty, but tiny!

This plant literally caused me to gaze in awe when the first buds bloomed. It's the Fuchsia, 'Trailing Millenium'. Fuchsias are amongst my favourite flowers and if you've seen this one, you'll understand why. The sepals are a carmine pink and the corolla (the part we think of as the petals) is the darkest of purple. To look at it you would swear it was made of velvet. With a name like 'Trailing Millenium' you'll guess that it's ideal to grow in hanging baskets which is fabulous because you can then situate them somewhere at eye level and gaze at them for ages and ages! :D

Lamium 'Beacon Silver' is a member of the Nettle family but, don't worry, it doesn't sting. In fact, it's one of the prettiest plants you could ever have in your garden. The pink flowers contrast beautifully with the silver and mint green leaves. Not only that, but it flowers all the year round! Admitedly more profuse in the Spring, Summer and Autumn, but there are still a few flowers on our plant today in January. This hardy spreading plant seems able to grow anywhere. I have it in the borders in full sun and growing in semi-shade under a weeping Birch tree. It will also provide a welcome source of food for the bees in your garden.

Ah well, better tidy up and put all the labels back in their box...... wonder which ones will be joining them this year!

More Photos of Whitworth Hall, County Durham

This is part of the Woodland Glade. It's an absolute paradise for birds and other wildlife....... and pretty good for people too. :)

There's a photo of the old Water Wheel in my previous post. This is it taken from a different angle. What a gorgeous piece of Victorian machinery! There's a lovely atmosphere round about it as it's now clothed in all sorts of greenery, which makes it look even prettier.

This is the pet cemetery where household pets from the old manor were buried. It's a pleasant little corner and not at all scary like the one in Stephen King's novel!

This is the Hall itself. It's now a hotel and a popular venue for weddings. You can imagine the beautiful wedding photographs that are taken in the grounds.

Here he is, stag of the manor! Whitworth Hall keep herds of deer, some of which will feed from the hands of visitors, albeit timidly. Bags of special food can be bought for that purpose. I was lucky to be able to take this photo as the stag is very rarely seen.

These photographs were all taken last year and, as the Spring approaches, I'm so looking forward to more visits.