"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

greenbee

I'm hoping the roses will work KK - the patio is north facing, so is in shade all winter. But it gets lots of sun from the west. So 8ft post and wire on two sides will create a kind of pergola (I'll add wires as we need them). There's a wisteria already on the corner, and three roses in. I need one more on the 'pergola' and either one or two on the trellis (over the other side of the garden where my office doors will open onto the (vast, grey) patio. Hopefully the roses will be happy and we'll soon be surrounded by pretty, scented plants.

The pots with bulbs in are doing well, although there are tiny slugs having a go at things at night - they took the tops of some of the iris reticulata, but hopefully the narcissi, tulips, and alliums will defeat them. I've lasagne-planted the pots, so hopefully they'll keep going for a few years - I do need to think about what I can add once the alliums are over to keep them interesting later in the year (probably more violas!). I also need to buy two more HUGE pots, and things to put in the pots that don't have anything (that I can see/remember) in them.

Ideas for things to go in the beds include agapanthus, erigeron, cat mint, lavender, salvias, peonies, delphiniums, verbascum… but I do need to think about making sure there is something there all year round. I'll also add some clematis at some point.

KajiKita

Some asters and rudbeckias might be an idea for late colour?

KK

greenbee

Ooh yes, I have LOTS of asters and can probably split them again… the borders down the sides of the garden are essentially nursery beds at the moment. I have lots of hydrangeas and camellias in them, but not in the places they need to be in.

greenbee

Seed compost, compost, cells, and mini seed trays bought. Pots looked at for patio - they confused me, so I need to go back with a tape measure - and a pound coin for the trolleys! It isn't gardening weather today but at least I have the stuff for when it is (plus I really need to get the heated propagator out, and sort out seeds that need to be started).

Stinky thinks it's walk time (he could be right).

As I have a day off today, I need to:

• Chase electrician
• Chase builder
• Make some heat pump decisions - the oil crisis is focussing my mind
• De-bobble some woollens so I can wash them
• Soak some whites ready for when there is enough sun to wash them
• Prep some food so I have stuff to eat during the week (which means digging some leeks and maybe picking some chard and rocket as well).
• Read a book and do some resting

greenbee

Electrician booked, so now need to hope the drain man can get here at the same time/before.

Builder chased - they need to work out when they can come to dig out the footings, then book building control to come out and inspect the footings and tell them what else he wants them to do.

Dog walked, lunch eaten, sun is suddenly shining so I should probably do something about laundry and maybe wander round the garden and dig up a leek or two.

greenbee

Drain man also booked. So just heat pump decisions and project management to deal with on the home side of things. Writing a new JD on the work side.

Despite the forecast we seem to have weak sunshine today, so hoping to get the white wash done and possibly even dried on the line!

Watchman dropped to 3 bars yesterday so I have roughly 300l of oil left. Hopefully that’ll get me through to the end of the month and I’ll have made a decision on the heat pump by then. I think the real issue is deciding on the make/model of pump itself now I have the calculations - then an installer who will do the work the way I want it done!, in the order I want it done!

greenbee

Washed and dried (in the TD as I was worried I wouldn't remember to bring it in on time) a white wash. Put oil on my hair while I went for a walk/talked to my boss, then had a shower. Bath was burping, so have asked the drain man to check the drains as well as swapping the pump out as there's clearly a problem (I also ran the pump for second session).

Lots of solar, so remembered (fairly late in the day) to turn on electric heating. Also chopped up lots of veg and tofu and cooked a whole lot so I have food for the week.

Finished weeding the second asparagus bed and planted strawberries round the edges.

Tulips and fritillaries are coming up in the orchard - despite the state of the grass. I think I'll have to get the gardener to cut the rest of the grass next time he's here (although we have a backlog of compost because he didn't so what I asked and put the well-cooked stuff in one and the less-well-done stuff in the other. I really need to take back control of my compost bins!

Huge amounts to do in the garden - more weeding in the veg plot, clearing paths and laying paving slabs/cardboard/woodchip, emptying and cleaning the greenhouse, sowing seeds both in the house and greenhouse. I feel behind, but know that if I sow stuff and have nowhere for it to go it'll be even worse. But I also know I'll need to grow a lot of veg to supply me, Stinky, and my mum as prices are likely to increase. As most of the beds have onions and garlic in, I need to work out the companion planting. Raspberry frames also need wire sorting out and canes tying in, and I need to put wire for the thornless blackberry and fig on the fence. Plus order and plant some new roses.

And then there's the new job description to write…

Watty1

Your thread is inspiring me to think about getting a gardener again. If someone came along and cut the grass tidied and weeded the paths and pruned that would be a start. I think that might be a plan. I'm sure I would use more areas of the place if it were tidier!

greenbee

Gardener drives me nuts at time Watty, but I couldn’t manage without him. I’m hoping that by the time he retires it’ll all be a bit more manageable.

Sun is shining and electricity is generating, so I need to get on with laundry and DW this morning, while contemplating how to have the discussion at work about the impact of the Middle East conflict on our business. Everyone will grumble that it’s negative, but I’m not sure I can find a positive spin on it right now.

KajiKita

Not negative, realistic! Perhaps focus in on mitigation actions, so people feel a bit less powerless?

I would be seriously tempted to send gardener on a composting course!! What you describe that he does is so funny at times it makes me smile, but I can imagine it must be infuriating …

Perhaps consider what I'm doing now and only self sow really easy things like peas and beans and leave the fiddlier plants (tomatoes, peppers etc.) to a local plant centre? They don't cost much to buy then, there's no waste (only buy what you need) - I'm looking at it as paying for someone to 'babysit' my plants until I / my garden is ready for them.

KK