What have you done today in the Garden?

The kindest thing was done by Hubby yesterday for my garden. It came at great physical effort and discomfort for him due to some covid delayed much needed surgeries, which saddens me. However he dissapeared for a few hours to build this step. It is not a door often used, except when I transport plants to hang out in the greenhouse for the day. We have been delaying a proper step as a big cedar tree needs to come down in the area, and we were unsure if we would put a hot tub in this space one day.

It's temporary, but so so much safer and sturdier than the milk crate I've been using. I used to dread using the door, which is closest to the greenhouse.

This is what he did for my garden, and my safety. I'm so touched and so excited that I had to share. Sometimes it is the small things that mean the most.

 

It looks sturdy

 

That’s a good job there. Of course was it a nice thing to do for you, but most importantly, it is safer.
Perhaps when you become older you can get a handrail as well. Chuckle.

 

That is no small thing! Husbands can be so thoughtful, so caring, and it seems that yours is. Enjoy your steps!

 

We do have lights in our garden,

5 porch lights, 2 illuminated Japanese lanterns, two low voltage spotlights, three sets of fairy lights and an illuminated fountain, all controlled by four switches behind the lounge curtains, via an armoured cable that runs under the patio from the house to the garage. There's also three PIR security lights.













But to be honest, we rarely turn them on, "as the neighbours complain that the street lights go dim when we do."

 

Of course it is, not everyone would think of that. Well done!

My wife has had MS for forty years. That's why I built two shallow steps from the French windows down to the patio, plus I installed a hand rail on the left hand side. This was when we had patio doors and that was the side that opened. I can move those pots if she wants to come out.



There's another hand rail to the side of the back door.

When I built the 5ft deep koi pool. I built this pergola with a balustrade, so that was no chance she could fall in when I was at work. There's two shallow steps up to the path from the patio.



The koi pool was filled in three years ago but I kept the balustrade. It's still helpful if she wants to walk down to the lawn.

 

Well the yellow and zucchini courgettes are planted. Okra also. I have been randomly transplanting tomatoes and peppers everywhere. This year I am not using hillrows and am overplanting where the cool weather crops will end come the heat of May. In fact we we will be closer to 90f by Sunday than I would have thought.

 

Those Wisteria clusters are to die for.

 

This year will be one of their best years given the number of blooms that will be coming out.

 

That's a lot of work, @Melody Mc. Your garden will flourish.

Yesterday I had a Dr's appointment and wound up getting a shingles shot. Everyone is different but this one through me for a loop - much more than "that other" shot did.

I did manage to plant the other potato bag. This time with midseason Soraya.



I hope the rains pause and this shot illness lets up soon. Then I can move on from spud planting to other things.

 

Oh Riley mine were set for an exceptional year as well. It was a painful loss for me, but I can still enjoy your beautiful display. I am so taken with your aWisteria display that I completely forgot to commend and compliment your professional work with those hurdle-like structures for your better half’s safety. Superb work there. Yes, not only protective but also nice to look at even after the pool was filled.

Sorry that you are having such a reaction to your shingles shot. I wonder if the reaction is worse than the shingles...one thing for sure— the reaction will last shorter than a shingles attack. On that covid shot thing— my Bride and I were so lucky and had no adverse reactions to any of those.

Daniel, that bag looks good planted-up and with some soil.I think that you may have a good harvest. Tell me about the soil. Does it have some nourishment in it?

Another thing that I thought was inspired with your project was how you made drainage holes in the bottoms. A really good idea. Respect.

 

Our wisteria is like Sjoerd’s. Last time that happened, it had a later and less magnificent flowering, so maybe yours will flower later in the season

 

@Sjoerd, I take a chemotherapy that, among lots of other effects, makes me more susceptible to infections such as shingles. I've known others who had shingles in their eyes and lost their vision. The shot is preferable over the infection. I just need to get over it.

The potato soil a mix I bought by the pickup truck load three weeks ago. It contains topsoil, humus, some sand, and I'm not sure what else. I mixed in an organic fertilizer according to manufacturer recommendations (Dr. Earth). As I fill around the plants, I'll add more. If the potatoes plants are not richly green, I may add some tomato fertilizer.

Today I'll rest some more and may plant the last of the spud trenches. I'd like to finish that job.

 

@Melody Mc. your hubby built a very nice step and landing. It looks solid and will last for many years. Every time you step on it, it will be a little reminder of his care and creativity.

 

Today, finally, a firm came in and cut ten feet off the top next door's trees. This will give our garden more light. The tops were leaning about five feet over our garden. I get fed up with clearing the catkins that fall in our garden in the spring and summer and the leaves in the autumn. Anyway, things should improve. They left quite a few lower spindly branches hanging over above the fence, but I was able to remove them with my telescopic Barnel pruner. I'll prune off more back to the fence line as they grow.



Potted out the twelve primroses that had been in the bowl shaped tubs on the patio steps. Hard to find spaces for them. So six went either side of the pagoda the rest in the long border betweeen the cyclamen.




Tomorrow afternoon I plan to get into the rockery and weed out the grass.
Why is it the grass will grow easily where you don't want it to?

I'm pleased with the progress of the six roses in tubs in "the alley of shame" (the drive along the side of our house). These are the ones my wife doesn't particularly like, or did not perform well enough last year to deserve a place on either of the patios. There's also two Mayleen clematis. I like this to cover just the trellis on top of the fence to give the roses more light.








I've reduced the number of roses in tubs on the patio in front of the French windows to four, increasing those on the new patio to twelve. I'm hoping that now there's more space we might get the garden chairs I bought two years ago out of the garage and have yet to use, for my wife to actually sit out on the patio on a few warm days, if she feels up to it. But it might not happen.