A Tenacious Gardener and Home Makers Bloggy Blog

May 2011

2011-05-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Have made a little bit of progress this month, but it has been slow going. It is not easy to find time to do the garden when youre a full time mammy!

Corner: pretty bare here, undecided what will happen here.

Have used the bunting I had left from the Royal wedding to add a bit of colour and drama to the back fence! Have made a longer patio area at the back here for my child to play as it's more shady here so better for her.

I took up the path and have put down grass seed today to extend the lawn. Took up the wooden fence and am using lawn edging instead which isnt really staying in very well it has to be said! Have added Pound Shop colourful windmills to make it cheery for my daughter. It's all for her really now as you can see by the bouncy castle and toys!... changed days haha.

My little sitting area tucked away in the corner. Have got dangly teardrop things hanging from the mesh.

Hopefully the weather is going to get a tad better and not be so wet and can get a few more things done. need to sort out the concrete slabs that are piled up, and sort out the graves and also the top right hand corner. I might be having a long shed built one day on the left hand side too.

It's not really about planting this year, more getting the basics right and making sure it's safe for my daughter to play out.

April 2011

2011-04-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

10th April 2011 Havn't reallty done anything today but have taken so pictures to mark where I am at. Mess in top right hand corner of garden, eek

Have dug over a bed to have plants in. I did originally have it this way! Have added some of the decking panels down for my daughter to sit if she wants.

Soil bed for plants to go in. Not sure if I am keeping pots here bit for the time being they help to slow my daughter up and not falling over.

This is where the pond was. It needs building up more. I'm going to keep the path at th eback but hopefully it will be disguised,... somewhere for the cats to chill out and hide.

All the side covering needs fixing up. This is from my cat jumping up. All the mess needs dumping too, then the soil dug over and plants in.

The swing is to go, and the graves to be disguised with plants.

Need to fix up the cat scratch post. Need to get this lawn back on track too.

This side isnt doing too bad, but I lost my honey suckle and a few other plants this winter :(

I think this is where the bench is staying now.

The mesh all needs a close inspection. My ginger cat can get out.

The walls need re painting, might go for simple white this time which will keep the costs down too.

In other news: Have decided to re do my daughters bedroom so have moved some furniture and stuff out of her room to make it more spacious, and have filled 3 bags up of toys and clothes to donate to charity. I think I might be able to get a few more bags bagged up for them if I look hard enough! I have decided to live light and am going to spend this year seriously having a good 'chuck out and sort'. I mean... I don't need to keep piles of birthday cards going back 20 years do I? No is the answer, and it's taken me this long (20 yrs) to say that!! I am also going to try and get some headway with my finances .. NSD's (no spend days) and try and build up a bit of savings for my daughters future.

8th April 2011 - Have been busy the past couple of days getting rid of the pond. I had 8 frogs and a big pile of frog spawn to get from the back to the front garden. My daughters baby bath is now their home but it will just be till the end of the Summer and then it's goodbye frogs.. please find another pond to live in! They should be ok as other people have ponds nearby. I'm so glad it's gone though as it was a worry every time my daughter stood within 10 feet of it!

So... now I have to start planning what I am going to do with the garden...

The graves (there are 2 now) I don't want to stand out as obvious graves now, no need to scare my daughter! They need disguising now with dense evergreens. ...

The lawn too is in a state. I have scattered cat grass seeds down (needs watering and stamping in) but need to buy some grass seeds too, then hopefully that will surfice for this year

The mess, needs to be gone but as can only get in normal bin which will take quite a few weeks...

Saw a butterfly today, first of the year.

The Spring Front Garden, a couple of pics (daffodils and geraniums)The plastic orange flower is my daughters. She is getting a great lesson in gardening and frogs lately. For her birthday I am going to get her her own gardening set.

5th April 2011

Back again, and this time it's almost like starting over.

The garden basically went neglected since I last updated, but my daughter is getting to that age where she wants to be out more so it'll be beneficial to us both to get it nice again.

I have been getting my daughter interested in gardeneing and she loves to talk about when we planted flower seeds in the garden, and how we feed the birds and pick up rubbish for the bin... she likes to feel important with these little jobs and I think it's good for her.

So where am I at with the back garden? Well I will let the pictures say it all, and this was after I have grafted all day in it!

JULY

2009-07-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

3rd July
What happens when you have a baby? Your garden gets forgotton about and is left to just do it's own thing...

Not even sure if these are weeds, can't remember planting any daisies but they look nice at least!

I did get 11 lillies from these 3 plants which was quite something. Only one left now though.
Nasturtiums growing nicely along with marigolds.

Cordalyn being swamped along with rustic cat!

These poppies were red on the packet, so not amused to be having pinks in my oranges and reds colour scheme!

Watching the frogs.

Trying out something modern - ''sticks in a plant pot'' I call it!

Last years geraniums still growing strong.

The poppies are taking over!

The poppies growing so tall searching out the light.

The new grass is growing better than the turf and is a better colour.

March 2009

2009-03-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

Well we are back to the start of the gardening year just about and I am looking forward to getting my seeds sown next month, although I might need help this year as I am due to give birth in June!

This also means I am now thinking ahead and starting to make the garden that bit more child friendly.

I will be keeping the pond but will have to invest in some mesh to avoid accidents, and also have had to rethink the lawn area.

Here's some latest pictures taken yesterday. It hasn't done too bad over the winter, the plants survived the snow we had, even the Geraniums on the step, and I think it's sheltered aspect had a lot to do with this.

The Tulip bulbs I planted last year have just bloomed, and how pretty they look!

The pond. The plants have really established themsleves now and I am loving the little daffodils (couldn't remember planting bulbs there!)

The lavendar always does well, and the Gernaiums should live to bloom another year thanks to their shetered step position.

The little fence has come out and the lawn will be extended as this will be more child friendly.
All the cordalyns are together now at the top of the garden.

September 2008

2008-09-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 20th

Just took some photos in bright sunshine (which lasted all of 5 minutes, now cloudy!)

You can see the marigolds down the border that I planted from seed (right), they are coming out and being put into pots and baskets now. The grass as you can see is looking worse for wear, I think I am going to add in some grass seed. It gets a lot of wear with the cats running about everyday. I'm hoping the fence next year will just be a mass of green and roses.

I bought some new grasses for around the pond after removing the mass of nastertiums and also bought 4 new 'posher' lights, which are my cheapest yet at 89p each from the X catalogue shop!

I moved the cordalyn next to the other one and they look ok together as at different heights. I took out the pansies and replaced that area with the home grown marigolds and also potted up some round the back. I also added in a yellow flowered, almost bush like, plant there as the frogs tend to hang out there so it is good cover for them. They rarely hang out at the pond so it doesn't matter that that area doesnt have good cover I decided! I am hoping the grasses will eventually disguise the fact that I never was able to find matching side stones.

How the back wall is today. Wall hangers have got (you guessed it!) marigolds in them! We also have a new adition to the back door - a cat flap!

Latest in step ornamentation - you mix 2 parts plastic to 1 part real.

My potting corner. I moved the lavendar to here. I also have a curry plant there that I bought the other day when I got the grasses and more pebels.

I am going to go out and plant 'Siberian Wallpflower' which fingers crossed will be flowering April to June 2009, 'Evening primrose, golden yellow' that should be in bloom June-August, and also some Scarlet Gleam nasturtiums just for a little autumn colour.

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SEPTEMBER 15th

Havn't been updating lately due to personal circumstances. The garden got left to do it's own thing and it showed me that you really have to stay on the ball with this as it doesn't take long to start looking wild and messy! I lost my herbs, although the chives might be saveable, but the nastertiums took off too well and have since filled 2 black sacks with them... they were out of control! I had great success with my borders though!

I am currently winding the garden down for over winter and starting afresh in April next year as I came accross some bargain 10p pack of seeds and bought 90 packs for the front and back!

The bugs got to my honeysuckle and made a right meal of it. I have moved it into the soil now and might have to think of making up my garlic spray, and also think about some lawn reviver too, although i have airiated it so hoping the rain will get right into the roots.

My wall baskets though are doing terrific I'm sure you'll agree. This is this seasons new look! It's all the rage I promise you!!

My step as it's looking today. This was a bargain plant at £1.99.

The honeysuckle now at home in the ground with my £1 butterfly.

A climber i had at the front wasn't doing too well so brought it round the back. My hanging baskets are still doing well.

The nasturtiums round the pond in yellows and oranges provide some shelter and safety for the thousands of frogs I now seem to have!

Hunting.

Can you spot a frog?
The cats seem to find them! They are lee than half a size of a pebble!

Good job this one has more sence to hide in the pond all day and only surface at night!
He's a beauty!

My new potting station! Also shows the success of the cat grass. My spring onions seem to be growing...slowly!

Next years bargain seeds and bulbs.

My plans for the back garden are to get it cleared of any mess and rubbish, keep the lawn cut, weed and generally just keep an eye on it. Not planning on doing anything much now. Next year I will think more about winter gardens, and also grow more food, thinking maybe peas and proper onions. maybe even a few pots of potatoes! It would be great if we could just be that little bit self sufficiant in a tiny way!

2009 Garden plan

2008-09-20T06:43:00.000-07:00

a
Front - Bonita mixed marigold (25cm)
2nd row - Dwarf yellow Alyssum saxtile (30cm)
3rd row - Semi tall mixed snapdragon (50cm), Red Tulip Poppy (50cm)
4th row - Tri colour mixed chrysanthemum (60cm), Tetraploide giantflowering snapdragon (60cm)

b
Front - Bonita mixed french marigold (25cm)
2nd row - Dwarf yellow Alyssum saxtile (30cm)
3rd row - Semi tall mixed snapdragon (50cm), Red Tulip Poppy (50cm)

c
Back, Scarlet Gleam nasturtium (60cm climber),
2nd back, Tetraploide giantflowering snapdragon (60cm),
3rd Back, Semi tall mixed snapdragon (50cm), Red Tulop poppy (50cm)
Front, Bonita mixed french marigold (25cm)

d
Back, Scarlet Gleam nasturtium (60cm climber),
2nd Back, Grenadin red Carnation (60cm), 2nd Back, Red Tulip Poppy (50cm)
Front, Tri color mixed Chrysanthemum (50 cm), Front, Bonita, mixed french marigold (25cm)

pots = everlasting flower, Scarlet Gleam nasturtium
baskets = Scarlet Gleam nasturtium, tri coloured mixed chrysanthemum

Frogs 2

2008-09-15T15:25:00.001-07:00

September 2008

Some great night time snaps of our back garden frog. He quite likes my husband and didn't mind posing for photos, they have become middle of the night buddies... I think my hubby finds him more attractive than me! (I can't say I blame him!! He's gorgeous and I am now a frog fan!)
He seems to be well fat! I am not sure if he is a frog or a toad though personally. Either way he is one lucky frog, he has a meshed off garden so no birds can get him, he has moths who were born in the garden and too big to escape to feed on, and as long as he stays hidden during the day he has no cat predators.
I have to take the number of frogs as a great compliment to how good my little pond I built all myself must be!

How fat is this fellow!

Couldn't you just kiss him?

Some of our back garden froggies!

Jeremy Fisher fishing at the pond side. (1 of 3 paint yourself characters)

And a frog from Past Times (£3.99)

Wildlife 7

2008-09-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

September 15th

I decided the front garden wasn't looking too good now so made the desician to completly clear it (bar a few token flowers) and to also make changes to the 'centre piece'. The frogs are not very happy with me right now, but they do have other gardens they can go to! I told them they will have an even better garden next year!

The middle was not very bird friendly so decided to make it bare so they can keep an eye on any predators, plus i am hoping the bird box will be used next year so even more reason to make the bird table a bit more safer to use. I have also moved the bird bath away as the water was just getting contaminated with bird food and snails were falling in and drowning, and that upset me a bit finding them in it.

A reminder of the colours it once had!

Next years seeds and bulbs.

Unfortunately we were greeted by a nasty sight the other week. A large dead frog in the garden which was attacked by Magpies we think. There's nothing we can do to prevent these things happening, I suppose it's nature and I didnt ask the frogs to come, but still it was upsetting. Hoping next year nothing like that will happen again. I suppose if you make a garden that is attractive to wildlife then these things are going to happen now and again.

I am not going to have yellows in the garden next year, just pinks and purples as originally planned.

July

2008-07-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

July 15th, 2008 - warm and dry

Yesterday I planted the cat grass seeds into 3 small pots and have them out of reach. I also planted the spring onion seeds in a pot - fingers crossed it doesn't get pee'd on!
Today I have been transfering plants from the front to the back. The marigolds are flopping all over but I am confident in a few days they will be just fine after a good few waterings.
I got my back door nearly finished, it just needs the putty round the windows sorting on the inside, so as far as I am concerned the outside part of it is as done as it's going to be. I just painted it white gloss in the end, nothing fancy, but looks alot better.

Some photos of the garden today below.

the 4 corners

I'm going to have start planning for Autumn and Winter - I'm clueless so far, but I think I want to try and make it so every season (or at least the same for 2 seasons running only) have a different colour scheme going on.

July 13th, 2008 - warm

Adam the fish didn't make it :o(
He had scale damage which must have come from when he was in the tadpole infested pond, so he is buried now, poor thing.
-----------------------------

On a brighter note bought the cats a puppy tent from the £ shop and they are loving it!

They have got a good game plan going: One goes in the tent while another runs up and hits them through the door, so they run off and another goes into the tent, and then that cat gets ran at and so on and so on!

Below: Bought seeds yesterday : cat grass, spring onions and nasturtiums.
Have planted the nasturtiums already, and am thinking about what to grow the cat grass and onions in.

July 11th, 2008 - wet

Well even though I said how cruel it would be to have fish in my pond... I now have a goldfish called Adam! Strange name for a fish I know, but it is the first fish plus we have a colony of ants who like to spend all day walking accross the pond weed, so Adam and the Ants seemed rather appropriate!
This fish could be called a rescue fish.
It was being tormented and maybe eaten alive by swarms of tadpoles in my parents pond so was transfered to a bowl where it went on it's side and looked like it was about to go to fish heaven, so... being the soft touch I am I started talking to it giving it encouragement and it started making an effort to straighten up, so I decided to take it into my custody against my mums wishes!
Called my husband who carried it to our pond and so far so good.
It spent a long time eating it looked like and surface swimming, but when I went to check on it later it was deeper in the water and looked perfectly fine.
The frog was either happy or upset at the new edition, but from hardly ever seeing it it was acting all excited and I saw it 3 times as it was moving from one side of the pond to the other.
I hope they will become good pals!

below: Adam!
I hope he survives. I know fish can suffer from shock but he seems to be making a good recovery, fingers crossed for him. I know he's just a fish but he's Adam the fish, having a name makes all the difference!

below: So far cats seem oblivious to Adam, I hope it stays this way! Given the choice between being in a tadpole infested pond and taking the chance of being eaten by a cat I think its chances are better with the cats.
I've since removed quite a bit of pond weed as the fish was only swiming where it had clear water, and seems happier for it.

below: The water snail. Now I was watching this today and I think this is what has been confused for a tadpole and the mysterious fish, because it was acting rather excited (I think Adam has perked the pond inhabitants up!) and they aren't the docile slow creatures we imagine them to be. It was nearly doing summersaults! So I think I solved that mystery, although my hubby will swear it was no water snail he saw... Well, whatever he saw I havn't seen it....yet!

I'm getting alot of pleasure just from one small pond I have to say!

July 9th, 2008 cn'td

Couldn't resist doing some more work in the garden, although did get some indoor DIY and housework done too!
Below: Finished the little wall painting, and also dug out the grass and made another flower border.

Below: My current project: The Back door.
As you can see it is in desperate need of a good make over.

Aso got a surprise in the front garden, but will put that under the wildlife section, number 5.

July 9th, 2008 - warm

Below: Last night filled the little wheelbarrow up with Geraniums. Am keeping them in shade as much as possible as I think they will last longer there.
I also went and thinned out some plants from the front garden and placed in the back, and also moved the lillies into the ground now. Not sure if they will flower again but think they will come back next year (?)
Going to spend a couple of days concetrating on my housework, boo hoo, gardening is much more fun!

Am going to start looking for some ideas on what truley makes a very small garden awesome.
Maybe it's just time to let everything grow?

July 8th, 2008 - bright

Below: Nasturtiums I planted a week ago are already showing themselves, so expecting lots of orange flowers around the pond. I've always found these to be a failsafe seed to plant!
Instead of (dead) roses these might become my 'speciality' lol.

below: the window boxes are starting to bloom. I also planted some small sunflower type seeds in here, so hoping they'll start showing soon.

below: the red of the leaves were especially bright last night. I was expecting these shrubs to have been a bit bigger by now, they don't seem to have grown that much since I got them, but they look healthy enough.

below: Oh dear! Who's idea was it to paint the steps cream?

below: Wondering what this poppy will look like!

POND NEWS: Just had my hubby tell me he thinks he has seen a FISH in the pond! It's amazing how life just turns up at ponds. So far a definate frog, a definate tadpole and a possible fish!

below: Looked like we were in for a storm last night ad the garden was a lovely golden colour. My view while washing the dishes (July 2008)

July 6th, 2008 - dull and overcast

It was nearly frog leg supper for my cats last night! I was sat in the sitting room and I thought I was hearing a dog with a squeaky toy somewhere, it wasn't till my husband went in the back garden that I realised it was the high pitch squeels of our frog!
It had decided to take a walk again, and again got cornered by the cats, who were very interested in this creature! So we got the cats in and took the frog back to the pond, but next time this happens the frog is being taken to my parents pond where it will have plenty friends and no eagre felines after it - it's only fair.
Anyway managed to get a half decent shot of our frog as it was cowering and breathing like the clappers after it's lucky escape!

July 5th, 2008 - rainy

Too wet to be gardening today so having the day off.
I have, though, been taking some photos as per usual, and here's a comparison of the front garden. The first photo taken just taken over a month ago - how much the garden has grown!
below: June 3rd

and today, July 5th

And below an aerial view of the back garden and in particular the pond mesh that is making the 'cat cage' - reminds me of a web from a radio active spider!
This photo really shows you just how small the garden is.

July 4th, 2008 - sunny

It's been red hot so havn't been up to that much today, but have been doing a few little jobs in the garden.

below: used up all my seeds and hoping for wonderful flowered borders!

below: experimenting with the ivy again, i think it is staying put here now. When it grows I'll keep wrapping it round the fence so eventually all you will see is the top of the posts and it'll look like a fence made out of ivy! (this is the plan anyway!).

below: Moved the cordalyn from the pot and transfered the conifer into a tub.

Below: Spread seeds at random here, so will see if anything grows!

Below: I need to think of what else to add here as afterall I am after the garden being awesome! It's just what makes an awesome garden? What gives a garden the WOW factor?

Below: Where a cupboard for the tools will be made, right now a junk spot.

July 3rd, 2008 - sunny then rainy

Today I painted the little wall that surrounds the grass, and also gave the grass a trim with secateurs. It's amazing how just a little bit of paint changes the whole feeling of the garden - it's really brightened the place up!

We saw this pallet in a skip so we are going to use the wood to fix up the fence in the front garden. We will also be keeping our eyes open for more so we can build a free garden cupboard!
I am also going to dig up some of the grass and put a flower border along the front.

One of my cats has the nickname 'Monkey Boy' - he loves to climb!
We used washing line to cover the post to make a scratching post.

A sepia photo of the pond after rain in the dark.

July 2nd, 2008 - warm but damp

Excitement a'plenty today! Something happening in the pond!

Yep it's the resident frog! It had decided to take a wander accross the garden this morning and ended up being cornered when the cats were let out, so my husband took it back to the pond but unfortunately he was spotted doing it by the eagle eyed ginger nija! I just hope he gets over the
fascination with it otherwise it will have to be taken elsewhere for it's own protection! (The frog not the cat!)

July 1st, 2008 - red hot

85 degrees!

It's been one of those sort of days where you seem to have been gardening all day yet havn't achieved that much! But I have a good tan coming along so all is not lost!

Below: These roses I have been watering for months. I got them in Lidls reduced to only 64p which I thought was a great bargain!
Well as I say, I have been watering them for months not realising that they were dead!

My dad came to visit my garden today and said it's probably best just to give up on them now, so RIP my bargain roses

Below: My chief blog checker having a well earned rest!

Below: Finding shade

Below: experimenting with ivy

Below: Painted the step cream today (masonary paint) and also re did the walls (not quite finished) and moved matching pots to the step.

The door needs a good pimp too which hopefully will get done pretty soon (as it is letting the side down).

Also bought 3 bags of beach pebels and 4 more wood pavers and now have all the paths done, except for a bit at the back door which will be done later after shaving some off the bottom.

I think the step being painted makes quite a difference. I might end up using gloss on it, will just see how it goes.

Immediate jobs to do: Finish painting walls - Finish painting step - Finish painting railings - Pimp up door!

Wildlife Garden - 6

2008-07-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

July 15th, 2008 - warm and dry

Today I have really thinned out the garden. I also removed alot of orange and red flowers and put them in the back garden - I really want to try and stick to the original colour scheme.

The speed that everything is growing I could do with doing a thinning out every 2-3 weeks.

Lovely pink cornflowers.

The Lidls tubs of mixed wildflowers were a real bargain.
The bees agree!

I did plant some proper flowers in as well though, like the snapdragons below that have just recently flowered.

Got a shock when the frog decided to make an appearance and ran infront of me quite unexpectedly!
Bit of a rubbish photo but I am a bit scared of frogs so took it quick while I could!
I swear this is a different frog to the one seen last week in the front garden, it's much bigger!

I treat the birds to some new food today, it looks rather nice but believe me it doesn't smell nice at all!
None have been to visit as far as I know as I have been in the garden, but I'm sure it will soon be gone!

And here's my bird food supply, It's a large tub. I bought a tub of 50 fat balls for £6 as it works out alot cheaper than buying packs of 6 all the time. The birds aren't feeding as much lately as I think they only really feed when they are preparing to have young and during, but I will still keep a steady supply out for them.

Summer 2008 Memories

2008-07-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Summer 2008 garden Memories

Summer 2008 was the year I started in earnest working in the garden to make it just that... a garden.
The Summer I discovered frogs! The summer I made my first pond.

Stepping out my back door, onto my cream steps (complete with muddy paw prints) I can smell the scent of mint, lavender and basil.

I sit on my bench and my ginger cat cries to play 'Stick' on the lawn.
Another is having a drink from the pond, and another climbing up the scratch post... while the others have their daft half hour run arounds or are simply sunbathing or looking for shade.

I spend my time digging the soil over and moving plants around, as not sure of the best positions. I plant seeds and water dead rose bushes for months! I experiment with ivy untill I decide to make an ivy fence with it, thinking this is totally awesome!

I despair at bees who can't fathom out how to escape from the mesh enclosure and have to get them in my hand and take them out of the garden where I find they don't want to leave my hand! If you talk to bees they wont sting you, or maybe I have a knack with them...

I dodge the spiders who think the mesh is fantastic and build their webs onto what already looks like a massive web in the first place.

Life is living in the garden all around me, from the mesh spiders, to the plants, to the pond - the ant colonoy gets on with it's daily routine and the cats enjoy their bit freedom.

It's now a garden and... it's alive.

It's not awful, but it's not yet awesome, but it is early days. So far I think I have made a pretty good effort.

Wildlife Garden - 5

2008-07-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

WILDLIFE GARDEN - 5
FROG AND WOODPIGEON

So I was sat minding my own business admiring my flowers in the ront garden when something caught my eye.
Oh it's a leaf thinks I - then it moved!
I have a frog living in my front wildlife garden!

Also a rather smart woodpigeon turned up. Must have known I had my camera at the ready!

Wildlife - 4

2008-07-08T05:20:00.000-07:00

WILDLIFE GARDEN - 4
Took these photos last night. Garden needs to be constantly thinned out.
I'm not sure what half the flowers are as they were in the mixed wildlflower seeds, but everything is blooming or just about ready to. It looks kind of messy to be honest, but it's not meant to be a neat and tidy garden, it's meant to be my little contribution to the insects and birds.

What I saw out walking today , 2nd July, 2008.

2008-07-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Walking though the park today I took some pictures (2nd July, 2008)

While out walking I saw...

2008-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

While out walking on 30th June, 2008, I saw...

...beautiful Poppies in reds and pinks

...peach roses

...and a tree I used to have in my last garden

Frogs - June 30th 2008

2008-06-30T10:02:00.000-07:00

Frogs in my parents pond

Saying as my own frog is being very shy I have been reduced to taking pictures of the frogs in my parents pond.

They have too many to count, and tadpoles probably in the thousands!

I could go and help myself to some tadpoles but to be honest I find frogs a little scary personally! One I can handle - 100 no way!

Wildlife Garden - 3

2008-06-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

29th June, 2008 - wet!

The front garden is looking all lush in the rain so thought I'd take a few more photos.

Also some yellow wildlflowers have bloomed that were in with the mixed wildflower seeds.
I didn't want yellows in the wildlife garden originally (like to stick to a set colour scheme) but I guess the bees will be grateful for them - so they are staying.

Urban Fox - not taken in my garden but I took the photo. Cute little baby fox enjoying his dog food! How could people hunt them for sport?! That mindset is beyond me, thank god!

June 2008

2008-06-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

June 28th, - warm but overcast

Plans for July:
+ seed planting in back garden - using up the last of my packets of seeds, will also buy a few plants to fill up the borders a tad, although havn't decided exactly what I want yet.
+ try and get a photo of frog! it's being a bit elusive at the moment.
+ buy hexagonal stones to go round pond to match exsisting ones if possible, if can't get them to try something else to make the pond look finished.

Cheat Herb garden. Basil, Mint and Chives. Plants bought straight from food section in supermarket. Have done this before and they took off great.

More pond plants.

Below: the garden is a ''cage''. It is fully meshed of with pond mesh.

June 27th, 2008 - warm but dull

Just had a look round some gardening forums to see if I would like to join one again, but I'm afraid to say I don't.
So many anti-cat people, and the way they express how they would like to kill them takes the biscuit.
Hmmm, cats have as much right to be on this Earth as anybody in my view.
Why should they be confined to living an indoor life - the planet is theirs.
Gardeners please get over yourselves!
Cats are no where near as bad as humans are!!
I share my garden with many cats and I would choose cats over humans any day of the week.
They poop and pee all over. I pick the poop up and the flowers aren't suffering from their daily waterings are they?
The most destructive I've witnessed have been children, so I propose all those with children please confine them to being indoors, thank you!

June 25th, 2008 - cold, wet and sunny (didn't know what to do)

Below: A day of sticking stones into the ground, what fun! Very boring but rewarding.

Below: Rose bush taking off nicely (1 of 8)

Below: Rain fall for May/June

The Grave (finished)

the pond: added more plants to it and we now have a resident frog! I set the hose up so it is easy to fill up as it is evaporating alot (and being drank!), so will need topped up twice a day.

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COMPARISON SHOTS - Autumn 2007 - Summer 2008

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June, 2008 - a very windy day

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21st June 2008 - pm - a very wet day

Below: This seasons under window baskets.

Below: Livingstone daisies closing in the rain. They open up in the sun and close when it's dark and wet.

Below: 3 miniature conifers. I think they look quite attractive in the metal pots.

Below: The step and my duck boot scraper, never used as I keep forgetting it is there! Also my lavender bush, around 4 years old now, and a cordalyn.

Below: The Grave as it is today. The red flowers are begonias. They were doing poor for months but seem to be coming into their own right now. Everything I plant on the grave seems to do well and lasts far longer than the same plants planted elsewhere...
Have got another cordalyn here and 2 ornamental grasses. The cordalyn can grow tall in this spot, but ideally wouldn't like it any higher than 5ft.

Below: Honeysuckle, that I am wanting to cover a good bit of the wall and fence with. Eventually I will repot it into a larger tub if needed. It's in it's first year, first bloom, and so far has doubled in size in about a month

Below: Cordalyn in brown pot, flanked by 2 brown cats. This is the uneven ground spot, you would never know!

This plant can grow to 6ft, so I will be keeping it in a pot to try and keep it to a more reasonable size. Eventually may need a bigger pot.

Below: What every good 'girly' gardener needs - a pair of pink wellies! Complete with soil to show these aren't for show!

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Before 21st June 2008

Below: The grave.

I was after a cat with wings to mark the grave but couldn't find one, but think this sleeping cat is more appropriate. It looks peaceful and serene.

I have planted heather and mixed yellow and orange flowers, and right now there are grasses which have since been added and a Shepherds Crook lamp.

I think it's a nice little tribute and marks the spot as a little bit special.
It would maybe have seemed less morbid to just make it seem like part of the garden but my cat was special, and my aim is to fully cover the grave with plants and blooms.

Below: The Pond.
A pond on a shoestring! Total cost so far £15 for the liner.
The hexagonal stones were donated for free, and I just have to hope I can buy some matching ones or else I am going to have to come up with some disguising techniques.
The pond plants were all donated for free from someone elses pond.
It's already a popular watering hole for my cats to enjoy. I wont be having any fish in it - too cruel!
You can also see the scratching post, we used washing line for that and it has been well used.
Right now I have a pile of soil that I am going to just scatter everywhere else, so the garden is in a bit of a muddle right now, but it is all on the way to being very awseome!
I also think it is looking bigger than it really is which was one of my aims - it's certainly got some interesting spots to it now and a far cry from looking like it did in 2007.

Wildlife Garden - 2

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Some photos of the flowers in the garden on 25th June, 2008.

Wildlife Garden - 1

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Wildlife Garden - part One

The Birds and Bees

My front garden has been planned so to attract as much urban wildlife as I can.
It is very popular right now with birds and bees.

I go through a hell of alot of fat balls and seed a week! But they are worth it.

So far I attract starlings, sparrows and wood pigeons, and they seem to visit regularly everyday, infact the bird table is rarely free and some have taken to just hanging about on it for an hour at a time!

I think it could be the number one feeding spot in the area!

I used boxes of mixed wild flower seeds and just scattered them everywhere. I have to thin them out reguarly though as they take over a bit too much.

I also have a few 'proper' plants scattered about.

As well as a bird table, I have a bird bath and a sunken bowl in the ground. Because the wood pigeons can't fit on the bird table I have a saucer on the ground for them. They take turns at eating while one keeps watch for cats... so far no casualties!

Next year I am hoping my bird nesting box will used.

Below: Some of my visiting friends, sparrows, starlings, wood pigeons and a bee!

February - May 2008, garden taking shape

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February through May 2008

4 months getting a basic garden together.

- lawn turf down
- fences stained and covered in bamboo and trellis
- back door made
- rose bushes in
- plants, flowers and seeds in
- 4 post structure built to support enclosing mesh
- hanging baskets and wall baskets up
- ornaments, pots and lights
- paths in place
- garden bench

Not the intended finished design, but a good start!

January - 2008

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6th January 2008

Above: An old hut had once been here and the ground was uneven with blocks of concerete. All the concrete was broken up. The ground then had a soil patch and wasn't even.

Above: Showing where the walls couldn't be painted due to wood frame for hut mentioned above. All the wood was removed from the wall ready to finish the painting

Above: main part of the garden left untouched ready to design. You can see how small the garden is in this picture, only 3 and a bit pannels long.

7th January 2008

Bought 4 conifers

9th January 2008

Above: Finished painting the walls.

18th January 2008

Bought wood decking from Argos and 8 garden lights from Woolworths.3 brown plantpots from B and Q nd wood edging, and some garden ornaments.

19th January 2008

Above: Dug soil over and weeded. where the white ornaments are is my cats grave.

Above: More digging and weeding.

Above: Concrete removed and seeing what the fence will look like.

Above: Bought beach pebel gravel. Above is where the concrete was removed from. It solved the problem of the uneven ground very well.

21st January 2008

Above: The decking down for the mani patio area. Each square is a seperate board.

Above: Beach pebels and board path

2007 - How the Garden was, speaks for itself, it was a mess!

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Above: Back of house.

Above Left: Infront of the main kitchen window.

Above Right: To the left standing on the back step.

Above: Looking right from back step.

This is pretty much how the garden was when we moved into the property in 2007.

It is a small garden (20ft x 20ft) but I knew it had lot's of potential.

My Garden notes from the time:

Pointers-

-- height restriction of 6ft so no trees

-- as only a tiny garden need illusion to make it look bigger

-- cat friendly (a pet cemetery area needed)

-- low maintanace

-- minimulist looking

-- somewhere to sunbathe

-- somewhere to sit

30th December 2007 - clearer photos

We had cleared away all the rubbish and I painted the step railings white. We had a blank canvas to work with come 2008.

Before Pics.

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2007