Mulch

 What to do on a hot sunny day, I checked my mulch bins, this is free brown goodness, all we do is shred our huge magnolia leaves and dump them in black dustbins, I have two, then forget about them. Each bin starts full and shrinks down, other than the initial cost of the bins, rest is a bit of work. I did get heavy duty black bins, hubby drilled holes about 2" from base, I put all wire rack in the bottom, much cleaner than black bin liners.

I spread about half of the bin on the bare patches in my square bed, protecting the transplanted plant in the middle , I did the same to my poorly Astilbe, it does not look well, I've not given up hope yet, it's been fed and I water daily. Gladiolas are beginning to bloom, I've got more than last year, but not as many as I planted.

I am not to bothered in getting the temperature on my hotbin composters up into the green section, my older bin hovers just below the premium range and still make great compost quickly.

When our local council stopped collecting our garden waste bags back in 2021 and proposed to charge us for collections from a wheelie bin, which we would need to purchase. We decided we did not want a third bin, so we purchased my first hotbin, a shredder and the two black dustbins, the money we saved covered the cost of the items in just over two years, and with the cost of my second hotbin, we have still made savings and I get brilliant compost and leaf mulch, I still need to buy more but I do like using my own. 

It's the way my dad ran his garden, the only thing he ever added was farmyard manure from our local farmer, he would deliver a load to the fence at the top of our garden, still in his field, dad and my brother brought it all into the garden, dad had a huge composting bays as well, nothing was wasted all reused back into the soil.

I have lovely memories of long neat rows of veg, living in the country gave us a huge garden, it was all veg beds, feeding us all was a huge job, seeing rows of peas, runnerbeans, carrots, potatoes and loads of other things, dad and my brother Mel were always working outside, Mel started to grow different veg to dad, bringing in modern things. They grew enough for mum to freeze or bottle loads to last through the winter months. 

I do feel blessed with so many happy childhood memories, it's not the case for everyone, we were neither rich or poor, my parents both in their own way gave us a happy childhood, rural Somerset was a wonderful place to grow up, so much freedom back then. It's my mums birthday today, she passed 20 years ago and is still missed.

We had twenty minutes of heavy rain at 6am this morning, I'm sure as I lay in bed I heard the collective sigh of local gardeners, knowing they could stay in bed and rest longer as the gardens were getting their drink naturally, we have had a second sharp short storm since, I'm pleased, water buts will be full.

Too hot

 I searched out some old plastic nets, they have not been used for a few years, a perfect solution for the greenhouse. I managed to clip them to the frame, in previous years our Magnolia tree shaded the greenhouse, we had it cut back last year, whilst it shades the veg beds in the mornings, it no longer reaches the back of the garden. It does not look too bad and the temperature inside has dropped.

I was surprised to receive a message on Wednesday, my new hotbin was out for delivery, so I swept the area behind the garage, it fitted into the space, I put all the bits from my two tubs and the bag of plant material which came with it inside. I will continue to fill the new bin to enable it to heat up and start working.

It's begonia time of year, I have 4 different plants plus bedding plants, I love these blooms which keep coming until the end of summer and beyond if it stays warm. These will return every year, which makes them a great plant to have, the bedding plants in the chimney will return if our winter is not to cold, they can survive in well drained pots. 

The garden is starting to suffer from all the heat, most flower beds get shade at some point in the day, the square garden is in the sunniest spot, with my trees either side and all the overgrown vegetation behind the fence, it's a very dry garden. Just a few flowers hanging in, still loads of colour about.

My newest plant is doing well, I love these tiny flowers, it's a gaura I now have two plants, this is the bigger plant, 

My hosta leaves have been munched, there are 5 flower stalks on this one, I love the pale shades, both plants flowered this summer, which is good as I transplanted them into this tub.

I have agapanthus in different spots in the garden all from the same original plant, these are looking good. I am very pleased with the ones in the corner beside the raspberries, they are in a pot and fill the space. 

Nothing much is happening here, watching tennis is the main theme, both hubby and I are enjoying the matches, the ladies draw is wide open, two very different semi finals. The men's draw is getting very interesting, I have everything crossed Sinner will dispatch Djokovic in the semi's, he is playing so very well. I would love Alcaraz to win, but I think Sinner will beat him in the final, Fritz is playing well, I can't see him in the final. 

The heat has brought us inside again, I am not reading much, I do have some sewing to start, hopefully next week I will have time to get it done. I am watering every day whilst we can, Southern water is already talking about a possible hosepipe ban, locally different originations are asking questions about the huge amount of water lost in leaks, Southern water is  as always ducking the questions.

I started to write about way we as a country are heading, GDP down again, doctors due to strike again and more, it's just too depressing, I will stay at home and ignore as much as I can. 

My happy place

This is probably the last image of this Amaryllis looking good, I'm not complaining, it has preformed very well, I did cut the first stem back, to keep it looking good. I will miss these huge blooms in our sitting room.

My other six amaryllis bulbs, I have taken out their pots and removed most of the soil, I will let them dry for a while and then brush all the rest of the soil from the roots. I have no idea if this is correct, they are in a wooden box on shredded paper to keep them dry. One bulb I purchased as a bare root and it flowered well, so I am hoping this might work and I get flowers again, they are all mixed up, so the blooms if they grow, I won't know the colours, I do have more white than colours. 

I am taking a risk here, I have planted 8 Nemesia plants, they are a bit small, but this area is sunny and raised off the ground, they only cost me £2.50, so if they work it's a bargain. The wire trays are to stop the cats digging in  the soil, all the tiny bulbs are also dug in here. I do have my old greenhouse plastic door, which sits ontop of this bed and makes it into a cold frame overnight.

This back section is working hard, I will need to dig out my compost soon, I am hopeful I get some lovely rich compost, it has been digesting all the kitchen and garden vegetation waste. Both dustbins are breaking down well, I don't add anything to the bins through the summer months, I am making leaf mulch to spread in the cooler months later this year. The green trays in the front have all my spare plastic pots in, smaller on the bottom level, keeps them tidy and out of my greenhouse. 

I spent an afternoon in the greenhouse, just working on one side, moving things around, placing all my tiny bedding plants, now potted up into induvial pots, placed in the huge black potting tray, I don't keep compost in this tray, it works better in keeping my bedding plants in one place and easy to water. The metal corner shelves have some plants which I purchased from Wilko's, they have started well in here. 

The garden is looking good, it does look much the same as last year, but for three days this week I have trimmed, and sorted plants, moved a few pots as the early spring blooms die back. As yet I have not moved the bird bath as yet, I need hubby to lift the heavy parts, he is still decorating, so I won't bother him.  

I have ached every evening this week, but it's a good ache, my hands are sore, I now always wear gloves when gardening, which causes the ache, being out in the sunshine has been wonderful, I feel so good, there is nothing big to do here, just loads of normal late spring jobs, to ensure our garden looks good this summer. Yesterday was dull and wet later on, today is the same, so we are off to a huge supermarket for a big shop, not done one for just over a month, getting ready for the Easter weekend. This afternoon is crafting time. 

What, no shed.

Behind the garage has been cleared of my shed, the base is still tidy, so just a brush off, and it's ready for it's next adventure. It's not a pretty spot but it can't be seen from the house, so it's going to stay a working area.

When you have a small garden, nowhere stays empty for long, The water butt is in it's place, it works well in the back corner, hubby just swapped the down pipe from the front of the garage to the back, there might have been a few cross words uttered. My composter is next to it along the garage wall. The dustbins are for leaf mulch, hubby got a second bin, which will take all the leaves from the garden. The small shelf unit with the pots on will go into my greenhouse, it's a bit too wide here.

In the scrappy corner where our neighbours fences don't meet I have popped in 3 plants, one will grow tall and be good for birds and bees, it's from a cutting I was given years ago, but I can't remember what its called. I have also put a holly there, which should stop cats and foxes digging and a grass which I'm not too keen on, they should fill this corner. We fixed a heavy net above to hopefully stop foxes getting into our garden. I am hoping all my shrubs will fill out along the two exposed fence panels. I prefer having a natural barrier than another fence panel.

The shed is starting a new life in a different garden, the couple were very pleased with it, the damp in the back corner was not too bad and they should be able to treat it and get years of service. We have done all the big jobs, I just need a day in my greenhouse, to clean and tidy, I have already popped some tender plants in there. Hubby did say these task would take a while and then proceeded to get everything done I'm not complaining, its lovely to see it all done. I'm away from home for a couple of week's, hubby has a couple things he wants to do inside the house, whilst I'm away.

Daughter has had a small operation, so I am staying with her for a couple of weeks, I am doing the school run and be on hand for lifting and other things until she is healed, timing was bad as her hubby is away for two weeks with his job. So two weeks of cuddles, splashing at bath time, books at bedtime  and very little of not eating the meals I cook, tantrums and naughty little ones. I am enjoying evening chats with daughter. And early mornings, 6am most days.

Bottom of the garden

The greenhouse was emptied recently, I have english marigolds growing in the long pot, and loads of black hellebores on the shelf below. Everything else has been planted. It was given a big clean out in here when hubby replaced my glass, so everywhere is looking tidy. 

Both tomato plants have flowers, but one plant is not looking too healthy, there are a few flowers on the cucumber, my cut and come again salad leaves are in full harvest. This should be a productive space. 

My spring pots have been tucked along by the composter, these can't be seen from the house, they will stay here all summer. Plenty of room to walk, to compost all the garden waste, the path should now stay clear.

Out side the greenhouse along the back fence, my blueberries have loads of flowers forming, I have cut it back, so the crop won't be as good this year. The flower tubs look good, the white daisy shows and can been seen from the house. 

These steps I do like to keep clear, I am up this area a few times each day, the plants along the garage wall are all healthy, the butlers sink has my smaller grasses in, the trio of acers are still beautiful, the smaller one in the front pot has grown loads. 

I have sorted the centre of my shed, it's clear and I can get to everything inside, but I do want to pull things out and give it a good clean, there is no rush, I like it done once a year. In my photo above you can see a rusty hanging stake, I forgot to bin it. These few dull days are helping my new bedding plants as they can settle in and not dry out, I am watering the garden a couple times a week, having so many pots always ensures I have to water, but I don't mind I find it relaxing.

Our plan to save money with the composter and shredder, is a long term plan, the cost of the composter would take 2 years saving on council waste system, so beginning of 2023 will see us in savings, the shredder is almost 4 years, so we should be saving money from 2027. Gardening is never a quick fix, but the bonus is we deal with all our waste here, no trips to the tip, and no extra big dustbin. Plus we get free compost and leaf mulch each year. 

Both grandchildren are much better, we are just hoping they stay that way, last week was really frightening, how quick they both became ill, they both have fallen over in the last couple of days, as they both become mobile accidents will happen. We have not done much in the last couple of days, reading and knitting, lovely simple calm days. Hubby's eldest son is visiting tonight, he has motor biked it over from southern Ireland, he and hubby are heading off for a few days, they will meet younger son and travel around Devon and Dorset, hubby should be home on Monday. So I am planning a crafty weekend, top of my list is making bunting, I have everything I need. 

Gardening

I dug out my composter for the first time this weekend, I really thought it was going to be wet and smelly, but luckily for me I got lovely compost, a bit too many woody bits, but it's a learning curve, I used it on my side bed as a mulch. I took out the bottom third. 

Hubby got a new toy, a shredder, it will help with the woody bits when we cut back shrubs and branches from the tree's, he trimmed the twisted willow as we don't want it getting huge. All the bits have been put into my black dustbin, in hope it will add to the leaf mulch I am making. So other than thicker branches (and we don't get many of them), everything can now be reused in the garden. 

On a sunny day everything looks great, I have all my bedding plants out now, the greenhouse is almost empty, I sorted all my plastic pots and cleaned them ready to reuse next year. 

Our bench is being used every day, we do love to stop for a coffee outside, it's nice to sit together and chat, another small plan is forming, not too much work, just sorting an untidy spot. Here you can see the shade forming from the garage, lovely spot for a hot day, it's always sunny in the morning and shady in afternoon. 

This is now my herb section, I have loads here, chives, thyme and parsley in the big black tub, and in pots I have bay, rosemary, mint, 2 x sage, lemon balm and marjoram. I have seeds sown for basil and some cress on wet kitchen towel. The bay has been cut right back, I am training it into a ball top. 

The beds are starting to look good, I still have a few gaps, but once everything has grown it should look full, I have cut back on my forget-me-nots in hope I get a second lot of flowers. 

Saturday was a working day, I don't think of gardening as work, it a passion of mine, hubby was happy to use his new shredder, the twisted willow looks a better size for our garden, we both are pleased we can reuse almost everything in the garden, without using the council expensive garden waste system. There will be times when we have branches thicker than we can shred, I am hoping I can pile them in a corner to rot themselves down. After 12 years here working outside, we don't get many weeds, I do keep an eye out and pull any when they are small, all our plants are healthy, so nothing is a chore. I have even decided to get rid of 2 big pots, they are not needed with the new garden bed giving us loads of colour. 

Sunday was a lazy morning, I went out for an afternoon tea lunch with youngest daughter, it has been planned for ages, it was a fundraiser for Portsmouth Downs Syndrome charity. Our host was daughters hairdresser, he is gay and has a cross dressed alter ego, he has been fundraising for a couple of years, he's such a fantastic person. 

Bottom of the garden.

 This end of the garden is my working area, it's not that big, everything has to work hard to be here, I love my greenhouse, summer and winter it's always in use. The fruit tubs are doing well here, it was a good move. 

 

The raised bed is just giving me the blooms I have been craving, filling this corner with colour, this is often the dumping spot in the garden, normally filled with pots and my garden waste bag. 

 

My shed is a storage space, I have loads in there, in the winter months I store loads more and it's hard to get inside, but I don't normally need much during the cooler months. It does need a paint, I will have a go when the next few sunny days arrive. I love the mix of pots and plants here, it's also the best spot for my Hosta's. 

I have loved my wormery, but it's not big enough for all my garden waste, I have decided to clean it and sell it on, these are not cheap, the plastic is very sturdy, so there is a good 2nd hand value. My new composter will just fit in the space.

This is my new system, I am really excited about this hot bin, it's much smaller than normal composers and just fits into the only space I have, I can put bigger quantities in here and more diverse kitchen waste, with the hope of compost and still worm juice (liquid fertilizer to the rest of you). 

The bin had a 14 day delay stated on the website but was dispatched 2 days after placing my order. I am very hopeful this will help keep our footprint much smaller, all garden and kitchen waste will be made into compost, less purchasing compost in plastic bags, I'm pretty sure I won't make enough compost to stop us having to purchase it. 

I have had plastic compost bins before, but nothing like this, I was pleased to be able to get one with a base, we do suffer with mice in the garden and on occasions rats, and loads of flies, this bin once lid is shut is sealed, and reviews state it works well.

I have watched video's of how to set it up, read on how to keep it hot, we will have our own supply of shredded paper, and dried woody mater (from hubby's blower/sucker machine, which shreds when sucking), we can use the coffee waste from our pot and tea bags, egg shells and fruit skins and cores, and more food items, not that we waste much food. 

Thank you for all your comments regarding the new look to our home, I am much happier with the look, hubby loves his very different garden to mine.