Tuesday, 30-05-23

Morning, everyone!  For once, it is a dull and chilly start to the day and, again, it is not expected to be that warm, only up to about 17C with 'sunny intervals' but it is what it is and I'm sure whatever comes will be pleasant enough.

I went out the front and took a photo of the front strip.  On editing/cropping them, etc, I noticed how very tatty it was looking so went back out and did a bit of tidying so, when you look at the below, please note it's a lot neater now, OK?
I don't know the names of everything so maybe some of you clever plant lovers can help.

So, starting at the left - the scruffy end.  The soil is particularly shocking here and there's underlying concrete.  Actually, the soil is shocking all along and I really must do something about it.  I've worked on the back garden soil over time and it's loads better but the front . . . awful.  Solid Essex clay (and concrete)!

Anyway - some poppies which survive anywhere and the bulbs and the lilies of the valley (lily of the valleys?) which have have been absolutely beautiful.  Also, that little bit of pink is a baby dahlia, planted this year, which may or may not survive.  We will see.

I think I must lay a few bricks and put a planter on the bare patch - even weeds are not terribly happy there although it doesn't stop them trying..

Moving right . . . 

At the back, crocosmia lucifer - a taller than average crocosmia with a bright red flower.  They should be sending out flower stems soon and seem happy enough there although they're not spreading all that fast - fine by me!

Then there's more Spring bulbs and lily of the valley plus one little pansy!
The concrete is all but gone but the soil bakes solid in drier conditions.

Shuffling right again . . .

I really should know what the bush at the back it but can't recall it.  Is it a euonymus?  Help, please.

Anyway, it is doing what I wanted when I planted it - giving a bit of height and interest and I love the variegated leaves.  Now it is really established, I need to allow it to grow up but not out - if that's possible.  It should be.

At the front, wee beddings and then a couple of plants too close to each other.  One is a kind of campanula (I think) and the other is the geranium which is flowering its little socks off now and really earning its space.

Moving on . . .

More of the geranium, more lilies and that little daisy thing - felicia - which, I realise, is in totally the wrong place.  Do I move it now or let it have its time in the sun first?  I think the latter.  There is space for it in front of the bush in the previous photo.

At the back, some gladioli which were lovely the year before last but didn't flower much at all last year - maybe the soil is too poor.  I'll see how they go this year.

In front of them is the veronica which has been lovely.  I've cut back the flowering stems now in hopes that it will send up some nw growth.  Fingers crossed.

The bluebells have been a picture this year but they are over now, sadly.  Close to them, the confused dahlia is coming up again, faithful old flower.  It's confused because the flowers are a random mix of pink and white and they are eye catching in what is a gloomy corner.   I thought I might have lost it in the very cold weather but no - there it is again.

There were bulbs too earlier.

And finally . . .

You have seen this plenty of times.  It really brightens up the front door and is doing very nicely at the moment.

Looking at it, yes, I will put a planter the other end too next year - it should make a considerable difference.  

Finally, finally - turning 180 degrees from the planters, this is my 'lawn' - ha ha.

It's never in great shape but it could be worse (and has been, many times) and I keep it because it's a nice little splash of green among the paving.  

After taking all the photos and realising how tatty parts were, I gave it about an hour of attention and it's now looking a bit better.  The grass has been mown but those daisies will be flowering again very soon.  You can't keep a determined daisy down, can you.  I love them!

I do have some soil improver in the garage - I must read the instruction and use it!!

Anyway - there you are.  The front.  Not perfect by a long shot but it's OK.

Today starts off with the first food shop of June.  Yes, I know it's not June yet but the next three mornings are busy and I do like to do my shop early in the morning, before it gets too busy.  I have my list ready and, thankfully, all June's dosh is in so it's ok to bring it forward a bit.
Then, after that's all done and dusted and depending on the weather, I will change my bedding, I think, and continue with the clothes sorting out.  I started yesterday but didn't get that far with it.

And I need to get check over May's Excel page and make sure it is bang up to date after the long weekend.   

After then - meal planning, knitting and chilling, I guess.
How about you?  xx