Outside Potential

One of the things I love about this time of year is the subtle shift of focus from indoors to outdoors. It's still a bit early here to spend any great length of time outside, ie it's still bloomin' cold! But I am starting to spend little pockets of the day out in my backyard, pegging out the laundry, checking over my rather forlorn pots, pottering about with Little B. And it feels rather good.

I had a good squizzy into all of my pots this week to see what's alive and what's not. I'm happy to report that the honeysuckle is re-sprouting, as are the chives. The rosemary has bright new tips growing, and the mint is having a good think about waking up. Not too sure about the rest, lots of dead looking stuff, but then I did have a lot of annuals in the pots that are not supposed to carry on.

My Creative Mind is starting it's familiar annual journey into all things Outdoors. My head is buzzing with the possibilities, and it's simultaneously thrilling and exhausting. I am conjuring up all sorts of mental images (my Minds Eye is boggling!), plans to prettify. I'm thinking new bunting. Crochet seat pads. A bench (with cushions). More vertical planting involving trellis. More big planting involving erm..Big Things in Big Pots. Shrubbery? Small trees? I am hugely excited about it all.

One thing I think blogging is especially good for is Recording Progress and documenting Before-and-After endeavours. So with this in mind, I took a few photos in my back yard yesterday, even though at this time of year it all looks a bit grim. Consider this the "before" element of a work in progress.

I stood on a chair in the corner with the camera held above my head to take a photo so that you can get an idea of the scale. It's L shaped and tiny. Each stone square measures 60cm, so I've got about 12m² in the main bit as you come out the kitchen door and then a little bit more under the kitchen window.

This is the view directly out of the kitchen door. I love that old stone wall, although I would equally love to see some greenery scampering up there. Ivy perhaps?

This is the outer boundary wall that you'll probably be familiar with as this is where I plant up and photograph most of my summer annuals. Funny, I remember writing about this wall in one of my early posts about the back yard...here it is, June 2008. The ideas I had back then for topping the wall with a bit of fence and creating a narrow raised bed to grow climbers in are still in residence. I'm currently looking for a builder who can do clever things with stone as I've decided the raised bed must be made of stone. Like the house.

This is the view down to the teeny bit of "working" space I have outside, where I keep my pots and tools and gardening paraphernalia. It's not very pretty. But I'm visualising (in my busy Minds Eye) a weeny potting shed at the end there. Painted aqua blue and strung with bunting. Can you picture it?

And now we're looking back again, into the main square of space. To the left is the window into the dining room, my desk is under that window. I'm thinking of moving my herbs and putting a wooden bench under the window, as the sun hits that spot just in time for early morning coffee in the summer.

I have to say, although this is a small, humble little space, I really do quite like it. It has potential to be an awful lot more than it is, and isn't the Thought Of Potential one of lifes most exciting things??

J very frequently says how much he misses our old garden, which was quite a substantial corner plot. Lots of green hedges and flower borders, a large lawn, apple trees, a playhouse for the Little Peeps, a vegetable bed. Of course, he forgets how much work is involved with a garden. He forgets how irritated he used to get when the grass needed mowing and the hedge needed trimming and the large shrubs needed pruning. He says he feels guilty that Little B is growing up without a garden to play in. Pah, what rubbish I told him!! So to prove my point I took a whole load of photos and some (very sweet) video footage of Little B at play last week, to show him just how much fun can be had in our small back yard.

I filled an old washing up bowl with warm soapy water, and out came the watering can. Lots of watery, soapy fun was had.

The dumper truck was also brought outside, I wish you could hear the babble that accompanied this play. It was joyful!

A little water and a few pebbles, what good, clean fun.

We pottered and played with the water for a  good while, then I decided to introduce a bit of dirty fun.

Ahhhhhhh yes, lets get dirty! Digging and filling up pots with damp earth, it was wonderful. A lovely little time spent outdoors before cold hands, wet clothes and sleepy eyes told us it was time to head back inside for afternoon nap.

And just as I was packing the play things away, I happened to notice the fresh buds on my sweet Little Nut Tree. Oh joy! I was given this small sappling in the summer when it was in leaf (it's a hazel tree) and of course being a deciduous tree it lost all it's leaves when the weather turned. I was very worried that it might've died, but I hoped with all my heart that it was just going to sleep. I am soooo excited about those leaves coming back again.

In fact, I am excited about an awful lot of things right now. So much Potential, so much creative fun to be had in the great outoors. I am brimming over with the thought of it all to come.

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Comments

[Heather]

I've been plotting yardy-garden things lately ... my mum and Alice are coming up next week and I have Thursday booked off so we thought we might pootle over to the Plant Man's nurseries and get some goodies. Then they can pot it up on Friday when I'm at work and make it look nice ;-)
xxx

[Margaret Powling]

Lovely to see your back yard. Yes, there is potential there ... you could grow things in grow bags, troughs, etc. Much depends, though, on how much light you get in this area, and whether it's south, north, east or west facing. It will be fun to see how you develop this space.
Margaret P

[happy litttle cottage]

Hi Lucy! I think your outdoor space is the perfect size!! And I love all the old stone! Enjoy all the plotting and planning! xoxo Debbie

[Libby]

Your back yard is full of potential - doesn't it have a lovely feel to it? I love my climbing hydrangea - no leaves in the winter but fab in flower. I recently planted a clematis - Montana, I think. It is a rampant grower and a beautiful flush of pink in the late spring. Ooooo, the possibilities....

[Rosie]

The park, the walk along the canal, the castle grounds - they are the kids' backyard as well - the green, grassy part.

[lynne at Textile Treasury]

I wouldn't mind a small courtyard type garden, myself, though we are lucky in that we have a reasonable sized cottage garden. I'd love to see the stone raised bed when it happens!

Oh and just to say, my BOOK arrived today, which I ordered on your recommendation - and I've done exactly as you did, because stuff was happening when it arrived I couldn't dive in straight away. Been out for a music lesson (100 mile round trip!) so am just finishing lap-top stuff then I shall settle down and really enjoy it!

[Adaliza]

I built my own walls a few years ago - with many raised eyebrows and sharp intakes of breath from our builder who'd just built our extension! They're still standing despite his scepticism and I mixed paint specially - I wanted them to be perfect vanilla ice-cream coloured, with brick topping! I'll take some photos. I've been out pruning roses back today - aided by 2 collies & Flora the duck! Happy Spring days!

[Helen]

You might find that dwarf fruit trees are suitable for your little courtyard. They are purposely grafted to be grown in pots and in some instances you can get two or three varieties grafted on one plant, ie lemon, lime & orange together, stone fruits such as peach and nectarine together, and apples and pears together. It is only the plant that is dwarf, not the fruit. You may have to search out a specialist nursery however.
xXx Helen

[Mrs Tiggiewinkle]

You have really inspired me to get out into my own little patch and start preparing for spring. Thank you.

[Jennie]

HI Lucy- Love this post 'cause I can so relate to the excitement of outdoorsy things and the great Potential in the mind's eye! Last week we had sun and warmth and I started the gardening cleaning and got dizzy with the excitement of possibility- then this week? Rain and even some snow! But the ideas don't stop bubbling, do they?

[Karen]

Hi Lucy,
I love you! Not in a weird-call-the-police way, just in an I-love-what-you-do way! My daughter says we should be friends because we like all the same things! Bless!!
I discovered your blog during february half term. I was feeling poorly and had packed my daughter off to Grandma for a few days. While snuggled on the sofa I decided to google "how to crochet flowers" and found you!! I have been knitting for years and a friend taught me to crochet about 3 years ago but I could only make granny squares. During my few poorly days I learnt (you taught me!) to make flowers, to ripple and to make hexagons!! Oh how I love the hexagons :)
I also loved reading the things you had written, I clicked a few links, read a few different posts and then decided that I just had to start at the beginning! So I did. I have spent the last 5 weeks working my way through ALL your posts! Not entirely sure how I found the time?! Even though I clearly knew you had 3 children I was still SO excited reading your posts about expecting Little B :)
Anyway, I could waffle on all night about crochet, gardens, pyjamas, flowers, jugs, socks... I have to confess to being reassured that someone else gets just as excited as I do over little things like balls of wool, new socks or fresh flowers -- my other half thinks I'm a bit mad!!! I'm waffling again already :(
I just wanted to say hi, to say that I love your blog, that you have taught me so much and inspired me even more. My "things to make" list has grown a lot in the last few weeks:)
with love from Karen xxx

[Lozzie B]

It is indeed an exciting time of the year - with thoughts firmly on long, lazy, sunny days in the garden. I love looking at pretty gardens but sadly I am not a very successful gardener :(.
I can't wait to open my summer house - it's full of vintage treasures that I haven't seen for a few months. Good luck with your garden xx

[Stephanie]

Hello Lucy,

A jolly thorough post! I am reassured to read I am not alone to become lightheaded and giddy from the POTENTIAL of spring. I lived two years in Greece (lucky me although it certainly wasn't all plainsailing) and I experienced the power of the sap rising in warmer climes and found myself to be pretty powerless to its charms ;-) Back to normal life I know that when spring comes knocking I sleep less and my mind bubbles over with creative projects. Exciting? Most certainly. However it does makes me feel sometimes as if I've drunk a few too many strong lattes. I want to make so many things and yet, like you, a mother of three I know I have to limit myself otherwise I run the risk of burning myself out.

I wouldn't change this spring fever for anything!

[Holly McLean]

I love reading about your day in a far off land and I cannot wait to see what you do with your space.

[Deco Cat]

Space for a table and chairs and some playing is all you need. I think your yard will look beautiful when it is wide awake and full of flowers and bunting!

[Lucy]

I can remember playing in the back yard, nearly forty years ago, it seemed like the whole universe when you are tiny. What more do you need? :) x

[Caroline]

I have seen beautiful stone walls like yours with a big pot of scarlet runner
beans climbing up. They are pretty to look at and you can eat the beans.
We have had snow the past two days here in Seattle, Washington.

[Miranda]

I think small courtyard gardens can be really well used. I like your idea of looking out on your little garden while you're having your morning coffee/tea - with the light hitting the plants - a good moment to give yourself. Here is a link in today's Melbourne Age on DIY small gardens.
http://theage.domain.com.au/diy/diy-get-out-into-that-garden-20120313-1uxps.html

[deanne]

how lovely your garden is i cant wait to see it in bloom
we have a ridiculous huge garden that at the moment i dont know what to do with it, the previous occupiers planted this and that in all the wrong areas, so lots of moving around to be done

the best thing my little one loves to do in the garden, a bucket of water and a paintbrush to paint the walls, keeps him entertained for a very long time whilst more tedious jobs that i need to do in the garden can be done

xx

[Sandra (Cherry Heart)]

You are so right, as always, potential is one of the very best things! I think that's why spring is my favourite season, all those burgeoning buds and new growth waiting to burst forth. Wonderful! I love your little space, I don't doubt it's potential one bit, I can't wait to see what you do. I love how much fun Little B can get from it already and living in such a beautiful area, with lots of lovely space nearby for running around in hopefully makes up for not having your own personal acres!!

Good luck with it all!

S x

[magsmcc]

I think most of all I love your optimistic zing!

[Just Gai]

Back yards like yours (and mine!) never look very good in the winter but with time and effort can look gorgeous in spring and summer. Your bunting adds a splash of colour, as do your blue painted shelves. What material did you use for your bunting? We have a white plastic table and chairs which don't rot but don't look very pretty either. Is your garden furniture weatherproof? You have inspired me to take a few 'before' photos of my garden as well. Thank you.

[Sandra Scott]

I've been pottering on the deck (8x10'), as things are beginning to bud out. Still very wet and chilly out there, however!

[Sarah]

Thank you Lucy for being so positive always. Our garden is on 3 different levels and I always let it get me down. I dream of a big stretch of lawn accessed straight from the kitchen for my children to run around on and no steps. I need to take a Lucy-look at it and see it's potential and my good fortune at having any outside space at all. So looking forward to seeing what you get up to in your back yard. With love from Sarah in Brighton x

[Helen Welsh]

It's a wonderful time of year isn't it? Your back yard definitely has a lot of potential & is a great size, you don't have to be a slave to it! We had a small outdoor space at our last house & my little people loved drawing on the paving slabs with chalks &, on a dry day, painting on them with pots of water & a paintbrush. All great outdoors fun & no mowing required! Have a lovely week :) Helen