A Very Useful Grandson.,..

..,.Comes to Stay for a Week...&...

...Does Several Jobs around The Garden for me!

Euphorbia characias wulfenii

I don't know how I would get the jobs done if he didn't regularly turn up with a smile, willing heart and loads of ability.

Thank you so much Chris.

March...spring...is such a busy time...so it was great to have Chris to give a hand.   Last year he said he thought he could fix 'Old Bench', which had a couple of rotten seat planks.

Rotten struts too a bit of getting off.

Getting those planks off was awkward...we had to ask a neighbour to help remove the rusty bolts.

Contortionist

 Thank you to the person who left me that set of box spanners.  They certainly helped make the job slightly less frustrating.   See the new planks in?  Now all it needs is a new lick of paint.

Chris and Barney test the bench for strength.
Perfect!

Job well done.  You thought you could fix it Chris, and you DID.  I'm fond of that bench it is about 12 or 13 years old, seen some wonderful summers supporting family, friends and me.  Amazingly we had a week of clear, dry weather, though it was still pretty cold.   But dry and clear helps the outside jobs go more easily.

 Another job that Chris did was assemble the pond that S & R had so kindly given me, it used to be theirs and I was always envious of it.   It isn't a huge pond, about 2 meters across at the widest point. Small but perfectly formed.  This will be big enough to add that bit of water the garden needs to bring in even more birds, bees and little wildlife.

Pond assembled but not filled.
 Net on top for protection of small children and small puppies.

The reason for not putting mains water in it is because I am hoping that before the plants arrive it will rain enough to fill it up (plants - by end of April by mail order from specialist wild flower growers).  And the reason why I'd prefer rain water is it will not have any chemical additives.  Rain water should be better for any plants.  If I get the balance right, the oxygenators should keep the pond clean and clear. Certainly, I managed this in Dorset with my pond there without using a pump and filter.   The pond will look great when it is planted up.   But there is lots of work to do in the corner where it will be situated.

Another garden job Chris and I tackled was putting up a reed screen fence  over a particularly ugly bit of concrete wall that was also overlooked by my neighbours...this now gives both them... and me... privacy and it does look much better than concrete....especially when the honeysuckle grows over it this summer.

Reed screen by garden gate.

While Chris was at it he also put in a couple of strands of wire for the grape vine to climb up.  There in the front left sheltered by the willow wind protector. OK, so you can't see it just yet as it is still dormant but in the next week or two leaf buds will appear.   So all good timing to get these things done now.  It's March - crucially they have to get done now.

Last year, months ago I made a driftwood sign that encapsulates the way I feel about gardens...no, more than that ...it is how I feel all life should be lived (not saying I'm successful at living up to it all the time though!).  I couldn't get the sign up as it is too heavy and awkward for just one person to handle on a ladder.   Before I show you the sign I must tell you that originally I was going to incorporate graffiti in the garden, but I couldn't find a way to make it work.   This is the compromise...not in the meaning, but in the execution of the message.

One side of the driftwood...

...and the other side of the same piece.

I think once the Grapevine, Virginia Creeper and the Dog Rose are over the pergola later in the summer, the sign will work in with the growth.

Well, that was the construction and repair work.   There was re-roofing the little shed still to do... but we ran out of time.   It isn't yet urgent.  We did what we could and more.

Not only Chris and I working hard in the garden during the week but plants pushing through and coming into bloom.  That is, those blooms that dodged two rumbustious puppies bouncing around.

Always good at this time of year, Euphorbia.

Anemones 

Multi-headed miniature daffodil (on JP's grave)

Purple Hyacinths - and the daffodils
in this container will be out this week.

The winter salad leaves are going to seed in the warm greenhouse now.   They kept me in salads through much of winter.   Not every day, but regularly.

Mixed winter salad leaves

So, looking ahead to this week...

Seeds to sow.   I bought a packet of mixed sweet-pea seeds today.   I didn't save seed from the sweet-peas last year - stupid of me not to.   Last year the sweet-peas flowered from July to October.   I wonder if that will be possible again this year?   Other seeds needing to get sown this week are the little marigolds - to use as pest control in the greenhouse, I want to try that this year.   I also have some tall delphinium seed - Pacific Giants.   I would love to get these back in my garden.  They were lovely in my last garden and I have missed them.

I think it was a very successful 'garden week' last week.   I really am so grateful Chris and I hope you managed to get in enough 'fun' time to make up for all the hard work you put in for me.   If any of you would like to see what we did for relaxation you will have to read the latest post in Molokolo News which I will tap later this week.

Hyacinths spreading their aroma on the patio

Happy gardening, delightful digging and sweet sowing in the week ahead everyone.