Today I introduced Little B to the idea of planting seeds. We had this great conversation on the way to nursery about how things grow from seeds and he told me all the things he would love to grow in our back yard. Watermelons were top of his list (they are his favourite fruit) followed by Elder flowers, then bananas. Oh dear. I felt really bad telling him no, nope, er-noooo to his three most favourite requests and seeing his enthusiasm dwindle in front of my eyes. But when he hit upon pumpkins as his fourth choice, well that was just brilliant. YES! Yes yes yes, let's see if we can grow a pumpkin! So on our way home from nursery we stopped at the shops and purchased a packet of Mammoth Pumpkin seeds. Slightly worried about the Mammoth word, but we will cross that particular bridge if and when we come to it.
He couldn't wait to get started, oh such excitement!
I gave him a flower pot, then he went to fetch his old plastic spade. I said he could use his hands for the compost but he was insistent that he do some proper shoveling with his spade, so I stood aside and let him do it His Way. We used an old plastic spoon as a dibber, and very soon three hopeful pumpkin seeds had been planted and carefully watered in.
We found a lolly stick and I told him the letters so that he could write his own label.
It was super sweet, a real delicious part of an otherwise ordinary, fairly mundane Monday. The whole experience reminded me of a very similar time with Little Lady six years ago, and also reminded me that I still have many of the very same seed packets lurking in the cellar!
I fetched them outside and we had a good look through the packets, opening them up so that I could show Little B how different all the seeds look. He was so full of excitement and begged for us to do some more, so I thought, what the heck, what have we got to lose? These seeds are old and I've got no idea whether they will actually work or not, but hey ho, we will give it a whirl.
We planted yellow and purple beans, cosmos (for Mummy) and two varieties of sunflower. Now I really must remember to water them (!)
It's coming together out here now, slowly but surely, although I would still love some bigger greener stuff. I keep visualising some huge pots filled with big lush green things, but those ideas will just have to wait a while.
For now, I'm really happy with my little pots filled with cheap n cheerful annuals, and somewhere cosy to sit a while when the sun is shining. Now then, here is a question for you.........
........shall I paint that wall????????????
It's in a dreadful state of disrepair and falling to bits, really it needs completely re-rendering and my idea is to eventually have a narrow raised bed built against it (using stone to match the house) for some permanent planting. But I'm toying with the idea of a quick fix for this summer and slapping on some paint.
Maybe white, or maybe a soft blue??
Or shall I just leave it be?
x
Don't paint the wall. It's gorgeous, btw.
Posted by: superyards.ca | October 24, 2014 at 11:42 AM
Very cute. I love your house by the way! At least what I can see of it.
Posted by: John | August 28, 2014 at 11:34 PM
pumpkins grow on a long prickly vine and take up a lot of room.But well worth the effort.better in an allotment or spare ground.I was once asked ny a lady from Ulster what they taste like my best description was a cross of carrot and potatoe mashed together.They are great in a roast or make fab soup.Just add a potatoe and an onion to them and boil.when cooked blitz them and serve with a dollop of sour cream and crusty bread
ENJOY!
Posted by: JAN | July 13, 2014 at 03:17 PM
HI LUCY I HAVE JUST FOUND YOUR PAGE AND REALLY LOVE THE WORK YOU DO.i AM AN EXPAT FROM BURNLEY LIVING IN AUSTRALIA.HUBBY IS FROM LUDDENDEN FOOTE NEAR HEBDEN BRIDGE.WE HAVE VISITED SKIPTON ON OUR 2 VISITS BACK HOME.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND I'LL KEEP LEARNING FROM YOU.BEST WISHES JAN
EMAIL ADDRESS LANCSROSE@HOTMAIL.COM
Posted by: JAN | July 13, 2014 at 03:10 PM
I would try using reclaimed wood to make a sort of wall cover-something that could be used to put wall hangers on. Or even recycled doors, in all manner of colors!
Posted by: Miranda wert | July 09, 2014 at 11:23 PM
Leave the wall. Paint the chairs and gate.
Posted by: Fiona | July 07, 2014 at 06:05 PM
nooooo don't paint the wall!! please,
Kat
Posted by: Kat | July 07, 2014 at 05:26 PM
No don't paint it. It's lovely
Posted by: Sue | July 07, 2014 at 10:32 AM
[ Smiles ] There is nothing quite as personal as planting a seed, seeing it sprout and grow into something beautiful.
Posted by: Renard Moreau | July 03, 2014 at 04:05 PM
You're doing so well with the colors Luψυ, will certainly find something to suit!
Posted by: Mitsa Xida | July 02, 2014 at 10:10 AM
Hi,
what a lovely Idea - i would suggest to paint it in light blue - probably there is a tint near the effect of chalk a your place too -here in Germany it's a really new trend. Hope my english is understandable ....;-)))...
your Blog is great - stay happy with your Kids
Love
chrissy
Posted by: Christiane / crissybaer | July 01, 2014 at 08:01 PM
Love your post! Your wall would look lovely painted mediterainean blue! and then plant sunflowers against it, the to colours look great together!
Posted by: july | July 01, 2014 at 05:08 PM
Hi Lucy, have been following you for a while now, and have completed several of your blankets, your patterns are so easy to follow, I am doing the Ripple at the moment. Having just move from the UK to rural Spain, I enjoy your pictures of the English countryside and life in general. Now I am retired I have plenty of time to complete more of your projects. Good luck with the shop as well
Posted by: tanya Stevens | July 01, 2014 at 01:09 PM
Oh no Lucy please don't paint it! I know that what we say in no way can dictate what you do with it in the end but I've fallen in love with your whole back yard and the walls are part of the whole love affair, colour, exposed bricks and all. It's absolutely charming in its own way ♥ Love your blog as always!
Posted by: Bea | July 01, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Yes paint the wall!! But do a few large ish test patches out on pieces of wallpaper first and hang outside to observe how and when the light falls on the area. I personally would say no to blue as our British light intensity can't really match that of the Mediterranean to be honest . Try muted terracotta or cream or very pale green or pick a colour of one of your pots. Raised bed sounds good for permanent planting. Which way does the wall face Lucy? Good gardening Janette
Posted by: Janette Surtees | July 01, 2014 at 10:33 AM
I am a Designer from Québec/Canada and I would love to see your wall in a darker shade...like BLACK! The colors of your flowers would stand out beside that neutral. Use a STAIN for the concrete only and leave the original red bricks exposed.
Good luck with the projet & Be Happy!
Posted by: Aucube - Manon Brochu | July 01, 2014 at 01:53 AM
i think that a pale lavender or baby blue would look brilliant. it would make your lovely flowers pop against the pale colour. you could also strip it down to the brick for a gorgeous backdrop. my favourite choice is probably the lavender. have a brilliant day. xx
Posted by: lottie bennington | June 30, 2014 at 10:01 PM
Nooooo... don't paint it, leave it be. Let the splash of color be the flowers that adorn your pots.
Posted by: Gale | June 30, 2014 at 03:25 PM
Don't paint the wall the real charm is on the mosy green and the contrasting colors on the flower pots it is beautiful.
Posted by: patricia | June 30, 2014 at 04:46 AM
So fun! I'm torn between a nice blue wall and the natural wall with all your color accents. What about painting the pots?
Posted by: Lizy Tish | June 30, 2014 at 12:17 AM
I think your patio / garden has character. Leave the wall as is. How nice Little B is planting seeds. Hope he raises a HUGE pumpkin.
Posted by: Rural TN | June 29, 2014 at 08:02 PM
Hi Lucy, I think a color you will love looking at, perhaps a warm color. A lattice could be attached to the wall creating a way to hang more flower pot or hang glass jars with little votive candles (the battery votive ones).
Good Luck,
Loretta
Posted by: Loretta Little | June 29, 2014 at 06:53 PM
Don't paint it. It's lovely and rustic as it is. Painted white you will notice the crumbly bits more. How much light do you get there? A trellis with a honeysuckle climber would be lovely to screen your wall and give you something cheery to look at, vertically. Also, you sure you want a permanent planter? It will need to be 400-600 wide at least and will make your little courtyard smaller...
Love that your little b planted seeds and I hope that the mummy seeds grow nicely!
Posted by: Twolittleflowers | June 29, 2014 at 09:39 AM
I love it just as it is, don't paint it. Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | June 29, 2014 at 03:23 AM
You can either paint it blue (great idea) OR choose colors for stripes, just like you chose colors for your poncho. I love the patio-it looks like the south of France.
Posted by: Sandy Guderyon | June 29, 2014 at 03:13 AM