The side border by the washing line also got some attention, with the bulk of the fern removed (I'm sure I missed a bit), and the ornamental grass which wasn't very interesting to look at. In their place have been planted Penstemon, Rosa 'Brother Cadfael', Achillea 'Cloth of Gold', and Papaver. I have done quite a lot of weeding further down but have yet to make a decision with how to shape the planting here.
Unfortunately the neighbourhood cats realised there was fresh earth so have been digging and pooing liberally; this resulted in me covering part of the side border in a netting tunnel, and putting chicken wire, pots and other obstacles in as many gaps as possible or over new plantings. I like cats really, but these ones are a nuisance. I bought a Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' forgetting that it's common name is Catnip. The cats discovered it and nearly destroyed it in their excitement, so it is now growing in a hanging basket and appears to be recovering slowly. I managed to rescue some stems so took some cuttings too.
In the vegetable garden the broad beans are flowering prolifically. Slugs are still an issue, so I made a beer trap out of a takeaway tub which caught a few. I have been harvesting purple-sprouting broccoli for a few weeks, and it tastes delicious. The strawberry plants are putting on nice fresh foliage, and the Swiss chard is growing still. I have sown some French Beans in pots in the lean-to but nothing has appeared yet.
The area to the side of the shed was filling with rubbish, so I managed to book a slot at the dump and got rid of several bags of garden rubbish, lots of wood from wardrobes and beds that couldn't be burned, old paint pots from the previous owner and broken garden things I had accumulated. I am considering closing in the ends of this area and turning it into a lean-to polytunnel. Perhaps.
In the lean-to by the house, seedlings of Alexanders (Smyrnium), Nasturtium, black hollyhock, sweet peas, Wisteria, lavender, hellebores and chives are emerging. Many others have been sown but are taking their time to emerge. It is still chilly though. I have rooted cuttings of Hydrangea, Honeysuckle, purple bugle, creeping jenny, daisies, dandelions and herb robert. These latter plants are from the garden and for a project; I have troughs at the front of the house on the wall, installed by a previous owner, so I thought I would turn them into an elevated verge and plant with some wildflowers. I will sprinkle some marigold seeds in too. It may or may not work, and will undoubtedly annoy someone!
Some leisure time has been spent outdoors too, sitting on the patio and watching the local birds in the sunshine; my favourite bit was discovering that a local pair of Jackdaws were pruning dead wood from the the neighbours Ash tree and flying off with twigs for their nests. I have never noticed this behaviour before. Fascinating! My inherited, rusty chimenea has had the top removed as it was gradually rusting through, and I am left with the base to use as a small firepit. It is so lovely to sit by a fire with a friend of an evening putting the world to rights.
After a suggestion by a friend, I have drilled some holes into the conifer trunk and the wooden uprights by the (now sprouting) Gingko. I don't think any bees have moved in yet but they have definitely shown interest.There is, as ever, plenty more to do, but as the days are getting gradually warmer and longer I am sure I will be out there doing it soon!
