AN IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION BY WENDY
Well, before we go any further - and I don’t mean into September or October - I have made an executive decision with regard to the top/bottom of the garden.
The bottom of the garden - which is the top according to Trevor - can only ever be the bottom because that’s where you find fairies. When do you ever find fairies at the top of the garden?
Phew! Glad we’ve got that one sorted.
So from now on the silver wedding decking, or should that be Mum’s decking is at the bottom of the garden.
Wendy
"I SHALL GO DOWN TO THE SEA AGAIN
TO THE LONELY SEA AND THE SKY"
"DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE LILAC WHEELBARROW, WENDY?"
A few weeks ago Trevor and I went down to the beach to get some washed up seaweed. We usually take half a dozen carrier bags, but this time himself had the wonderful idea of taking the wheelbarrow to fill.
The trouble is he was pretty disgusted with me when I was sent to buy one (for when said decking was being constructed) and I returned with a lilac one.
Well fancy sending me, you think he’d know better. When do I ever do dull and boring? I, on the other hand, was equally disgusted because they had run out of pink wheelbarrows.
Anyway, off we trotted to the beach and duly filled the (lilac) barrow with some of nature’s finest when the lovely RNLI lady came to have a chat with us, as she usually does.
She couldn’t wait to point out how impressed she was with not only the colour of the barrow (I won’t tell you what T said) but how my t shirt and gardening gloves all matched.
Well, that did it. T was not a happy penguin. On the other hand, I informed said lovely lifeboat lady that we aim to please, and living in Bull Bay one has standards to maintain.
I must point out however before you have visions of Hyacinth Bouquet, that I was wearing my tramp like gardening clothes, as was Trevor.
Thinking about it, anyone passing on the A5025 probably thought we were a pair of tramps and had all our belongings in a lilac wheelbarrow.
Anyway, after all that the raspberry canes were very impressed at my thoughtfulness and are blooming and smelling beautifully.
TREVOR RAISED THE CANE
A Bad Springsteen Pun
The pond is still a massive work in progress and it has taken T weeks to dig out the two huge clumps of bamboo, which were getting Hugerer (that’s a Wendy word but does describe them very well).
As you can see from the photograph the two corners now look ten times worse than before the bamboo was dug out. But, rest assured, we have plans!
Also round the pond area there is some untreated panelling, a brown bench and some brown decking. Well never fear, Wendy and her Cuprinol garden shades are here, and it’s (well nearly all, but we ran out!) a fab new colour called Summer Damson.
It’s to die for, and when all is painted I shall take a photograph as it really is very effective.
I also ended up having to email the Cuprinol customer services as I somehow managed to get the Summer Damson all over my best ironing board cover. Don’t ask. All I will say is that I’m blonde!!
"LOOKS LIKE TREVOR'S AT THE NYJER FEEDER AGAIN"
DOVETAILED TO PERFECTION
I was lucky enough to have the camera on hand in the kitchen when I spotted the collared doves in the birdbath together. I do hope that they are married!
They just looked so cute and like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Wouldn’t they make a good pair of bookends?
I cannot take any claim for the tables with the fuchsias on because Mike and Joan the previous owners built them to hold the same type of plants.
As I also love fuchsias I made good use of the tables and when in full bloom the plants look lovely. It’s a bit of a pain having to re-pot them all in the Spring yet well worth it in Summer.
Whenever I remember they have a good drink of tomato food.
Other than that I just turn the hosepipe on them every few days.
Easy Innit!
"I WISH YOU'D DONE YOUR NAILS BEFORE WE CAME OUT."
I took the photograph of the blue tits on the Nyjer seed feeder because they aren’t meant to eat the stuff. Or so I have been reading on the Tinterweb.
Apparently, it’s pretty rare, so I took the photo through the kitchen window.
I’ve decided that the Blue Tits in our garden are just plain greedy as they now have fat balls, peanuts, general feed on the ground feeder, fat candles and now Nyjer seed.
Trevor is forever complaining that they are better fed than him.
"CHEZ WENDY POTATO HARVEST"
POTATO SALAD IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
The potatoes have been brilliant this year and looked pretty fetching sharing a bed with Sunflowers. I think they are called Teddy Bear.
Some poppies that have just appeared and are a fabulous dusky pink.
RHODOHYPOXIS
PHOENIX PLANTS
The tiny pinky reddy flower surrounded by gravel is pretty amazing. It’s called Rhodohypoxis and I’ve been trying to grow it for years. It never seemed to wish to come up again the following year.
When we had all the snow and frost last year I thought that I could kiss it goodbye and give up forever. I’m sick of buying them and nothing happening after a season.
Well, blow me down! Up it came again this year. Isn’t it a little sweetie. It flowered from May and is still flowering even now.
THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED 'LADYBIRD POPPY'
Another small flower I love and never even knew about it until last year is the Ladybird Poppy.
They look amazing planted on mass. However, as I’ve found out, they don’t seed well to come up again the following year.
So...... this year - after having to buy more plants again - I’ve taken all the seed heads off so I’m hoping that I can keep the seeds in my wonderful new potting shed and sow them next Spring.
OXALIS SHASTA DAISY
NEXT SPRING...
NOW THAT'S GOT A BITTER-SWEET RING TO IT
As gardeners we plan mostly one year to the next and hope that plans extending a few years on can be realised.
We spend hours and hours in Winter preparation for Spring, which is then upon us too quickly. From then onwards all is fraught as Summer rushes past us at a ridiculous pace.
We must make sure that it’s not all about plants and colour but creating opportunities for contemplation of the present and reflection on the past to remember important values to drive us forward.
Never mind the above. There's still at least two months of colourful gardening joy and outcome ahead before Spring's the next objective. That, and the Snow.
Life, eh? What’s it all about? (rhetorical question)
Take care and happy gardening.
À la prochaine
Wendy
FLOWER - SEDUM
HERBACEOUS DELIGHT
LATE SUMMER SUNSHINE ON DEMAND
Do you have any questions for Wendy
or want to share some thoughts?
It's good to share, especially if you can spare someone's feeble back with your magical advice.
I am so delighted that Wendy has decided to write her articles and to share the challenges and delights of her gardening adventures.
So if you have any questions about how to engage with Nature to transform your garden into the best room in the house, then do get in touch.
If you have any photographs then we'd love to see them.
North Stack Fog Signal Station, just south of the Port of Holyhead, offers astonishing coastal walk and beautiful views of rugged Anglesey coastline.
Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Astonishing coastal beauty. Award Winning Anglesey Green Flag Country Park. A superb green space for family fun and walks
White Beach really, really is a hidden gem. By that, I mean it is really, really well hidden. Dinner plate pebbles, nice picnics, CRAZY HORSES and some pretty good fishing.
