Back Yard Busy

Aren't the above little flowery pansy faces adorable? They don't belong to me, I spotted them in my neighbours front garden this morning and tiptoed in to photograph them. It's been a terrific day here, really, really lovely! Not only was it dry for the whole day, but it was also properly warm for the first time in many, many weeks. It felt absolutely wonderful to walk across town in the late morning with No Coat for a change, gosh I even rolled up my sleeves to let some air to my skin. The warm sun and blue sky made me want to skip with happiness, truly it did.

I had an hour or so to myself this morning with Little B away at playgroup, so I made the very most of the weather and decided to spend it being busy outside. Pretty much as soon as I walked back through the door, I dumped my shopping bags, flung on my dirty gardening apron, rolled up my sleeves and got stuck in.

I've been wanting to get going with my back yard for weeks, but the weather has not been kind. As I am currently shed-less I cannot carry out garden tasks in the wet. It just isn't doable. I do have this ok little area with benches and stuff to work on, but it would be so much better if there was a roof.

But today I didn't need a roof and it was perfect for a little bit of Back Yard Busy.

My first job was to pot on my lovely basil seedlings, oh I've been worrying my heart over these little things as they began to grow leggy and crowded in their small two inch pot in the kitchen. I desperately needed to give them room to stretch their roots and grow, but I've been scuppered by not having any compost (not an easy thing to cart home in the pushchair), and not having the right weather to see to them. Thank goodness they now have a bright yellow pot each, and their new greenhousey home to keep them snug for a few more weeks until it warms up a bit outside.

My nasturtium, cosmos and morning glory seedlings which were sown in March were also in dire need of more space. They germinated and grew well on my kitchen windowsill, but had become a little lanky and spindly (should have been potted on weeks ago of course). So I'm hoping that they'll be OK now that they also have new pots and a cosy home on the greenhouse shelves.

After the emergency re-housing of seedlings, I was still buzzing with the joy of being outside with the sun on my face and my hands in the soil.  I wanted to plant more seeds, but time had run out and I was forced to wash my dirty hands and dash across town to collect Little B. I couldn't wait to get back and pick up where I left off, this time accompanied by my Little Helper.

I decided to go with some edibles today. These seeds are all left over from previous years, and I can't tell you how good it felt to be actually Doing Things with them instead of just gazing at the packets. Yippeee for Actually Doing Things!!!!  So yeah, edibles....I planted some dwarf French beans look, purple and yellow ones (variety Purple Queen and Sonesta)....

...I also sewed some rocket seeds and some kind of mixed salad leaves that I found. Looking forward to a little bit of scissor-snipping in weeks to come, I am really rather excited at the prospect of eating my very own Home Grown produce.

A few more flower seeds were sown into my windowsill pots too...Nigella (variety Midnight Blue) and Rudbeckia (variety Rustic Dwarf). Busy-busy in my backyard today folks, I was really on a roll. Oh and I also sewed some sunflower seeds into my collection of empty toilet roll tubes. These were also seeds that I bought last year but failed to open, and they are not your average sunflowers. Nope, these are red ones called "Evening Sun", and I am so willing them to work out. I need them in my life, I really do.

This is my new greenhouse in action, and I am sooooo pleased with it! It cost £10 from a local discount shop, and is just perfect for what I need. I took some advice from friends and a) lined the shelves with bubble wrap to keep off the chill (our nights are still very cold here) and b) weighted the whole shebang down with a few spare bricks and bags of compost to prevent Blowing Away accidents.

Awwww my little plantlets look so happy in their new cosy home! Grow little plants, grow.

I love it when a day turns out to be so full and productive and satisfying. Sometimes being Busy is really very good indeed, especially when it's the outdoor variety.

Tiring though, cripes, I was proper worn out by 2.30 when all was done and dusted. Thirsty too, I was overcome with a sudden craving for a cold glass of juice, and I never normally drink juice at all. So I walked with Little B down to the newsagent at the bottom of the street and purchased a bottle of Robinsons apple and blackcurrant. He was thrilled at the whole idea of buying and drinking juice as it's normally strictly water and milk here. His juice-drinking face was a picture of pure pleasure, I wish you could've seen him. The juice was good I have to say. And I loved the colour of it glowing all pink in the sun.

Sigh. It's been such a lovely day, did I say that already?

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ps suddenly had this warm fuzzy thought about going outside in the morning to unzip my greenhouse and chat to my plantlets/seeds. Can't wait!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[One-oh-four]

Jealous! I was stuck indoors all day at work. Glad you managed to make the most of a change in the weather.

[Annie]

Gosh, you have been busy, and how promisingly gardenful it all looks. I can't wait to see how it looks as the summer rolls on :D

[Ellie]

Oooh looks like it's going to be good. Keep us updated as it all springs into life!
Ellie
x

[Deco Cat]

It looks as if your garden is all coming together! I have so much to do but the weather here has been poor. At least my seedlings are sprouting in the greenhouse.

[Claire]

Those Pansies are awesome, love Pansies. My favourite are the Purple and White ones. Looks like you had a productive day!
Claire

[Lucy]

Oooh you put me to shame. I must get out in the garden. 'As you sow so you reap'. :) x

[Mary P]

I know this is going to sound like a silly question, but how do you make your coffee/tea. When I see your drink in your lovely cup it seems to be frothy and yummy. So, how do you make it?

[Kate - The Garden Bell]

More juice, more juice, spoil me bad. Too cute, but you are in for a long summer, sweetie. I'm doing much the same thing here. But, I haven't found a great discount greenhouse like that. I'm going to be keeping my eyes peeled here that's for sure.

PLANT ON, Kate the Garden Bell

[bloepper]

*sigh* such a lovely post. talk to your plants AND to us!

[Dinahsoar]

Sounds like a lovely day. The juice is beautiful. Wish I could get it here in the states. I can just see Little B loving the juice. I've seen little ones get their first taste of soda, faces red up to their eyebrows, it almost takes their breath away, yet they scream for more when when it is taken away. You are a smart mum to promote milk and water and make juice a treat. Best to eat the whole fruit. You're children are young but when they are old enough I hope they realize what a treasure you are.

[Kate]

I'm WAY behind with seeds and things- been so wet and cold I've hardly been down to my greenhouse. Wake up feeling planty guilt every morning- hoping to get stuck in over the weekend though... before June arrives...aaargh!

[LIly]

I have just pulled up and dug in dwarf beans greenery as compost - they were most successful, even at the end of summer and so delicious in the stirfrys we often eat. Sunflowers are very successful here in Australia, in our extreme 35+ degree summer days; I love the tall-ness of them and their happy faces.
About to start a baby blankie, having finished all my other projects first - never happened before as I usually have several on the go at once - low boredom threshold!

[Pamela Tomkins]

Hi there Lucy, love reading your blog, you really bring a ray of happiness to a shed load of people, thank you thank you thank you" I noticed that if you hover over your pics it gives a number and it may be the total number of pics on your blog!!! If it is then its 6895 isn't that amazing!!!!

[Jenny]

So glad you got some nice weather. Your little greenhouse is fantastic. I need to find one like that! We aren't clear of frost danger until June 1 here usually, so I start running out of window sills for the tomatoes and whatnot.

[Rachell]

You really could surely send hubs out in the morning with a shopping list at times? ie: come home with a bag of compost in the car please? Why struggle with the pushchair? That's what the partnership is all about. :-)

Beautiful day here too, just gorgeous xx

[Seaweedandraine]

Your green house looks so cheery with all it's little occupants! :) I hope they have a lovely time in there and grow like crazy. Yay for growing things yourself! :)

[Rose]

How excellent and just what I needed Lucy! I was feeling a tad sorry for myself this morning as it was only 10C when I got up. Reading through your garden rambles (as it was nice enough for you to be outside) reminded me that's what it's like here most days so now I've got my act together.

[WoollyBudgie]

You've been busy! Your seedlings are doing really well! My basil ones aren't looking so great! I've been busy in the garden as well this week and it is so satisfying!

[Louise]

Thank you for the lovely smile you put on my face whilst reading your delightful post.

[Angela]

Love your little greenhouse! What a great idea!

[val]

Yes,lovely to get outside,lifts the spirits. Lets hope for lots more warm sunny days to come.

[Ashley]

I adore your blog! I did individual greenhouses out of used plastic milk cartons, but I love your new greenhouse. There is something so rewarding about growing your own plants from seed.

[Kelly]

Oh Lucy! I love your little greenhouse. I want one! I also love Morning Glories and Cosmos. These are two of my favorite and I just transplanted some into my garden too. :)

[Ipukris]

Oh Lucy. I just wish the good weather will go on.
I have been reading your blog for years now and and it's is the one of the best things in life, I have to say. Always, after reading your blog post, the world seems one piece of better place and I am so grateful of you and your posts;)

[Carine_07]

No cherry tomatoes to go with the basil? ;)
Oregano is also a useful aromatic plant with tomatoes.
Is that parsley or coriander near your chives (second picture)? I like coriander: first the leaves with cheese, then the beautiful flowers for the eyes, and finally the seeds that I grind in my UK grinder for the meat :)
What about radishes for your little helper? He would be so proud with his first vegetables.
I do not see pots of marigolds. You should sow some as they give so many "sunny" flowers until frost. Please send me an email with your address if you want some seeds.