What I’m buying and reading

Can’t do much outside, so for once, I’m prepping and buying things I want now. I usually leave it too late and either things have gone out of stock or I have a limited choice.

Plant purchases

Okay, time to fess up on what I’ve already bought.

I’ve pre-ordered some things from Farmer Gracy. Gardening crack. I cannot resist things from here.

Lily of the Valley pips for under the cherry tree at the front of the house

Dahlias. Those who know me will be amazed that I’ve limited myself to only six tubers.

Hosta. So far just one. But I’ve got a very VERY big shady area.

I need to finish pre-ordering 2 sets of sweet peas from Sarah Raven. Cheating this year.

And two roses from David Austin. Climbers for the front of the house. One orange, one apricot.

Gardening kit

I’ve decided that I should probably figure out more about the soil in this garden, moisture levels, pH levels, sun levels. So I’ve bought a sensor to do all that.

I can’t keep sticking my garden shears in my pockets, I’m going to hurt myself one of these days. Plus I need to put more things in my pockets and we all know much room women get in pockets…

Time for an apron with POCKETS.

What I’m reading

Treated myself to Beth Chatto’s Shade Garden which I think is going to become by bible for this garden.

I’m hoovering up ideas from magazines as well:

Gardens Illustrated
The English Gardener
Modern Gardens

Ann

Heading into February

Still not a huge amount to do other than continue to clear out dead growth and uncover bulbs. It’s giving me time to puzzle on a few challenges. And to want to buy too much. Snowdrops We can’t walk on half the lawn for fear of stepping on

January in the garden

In many ways, not exactly the best time of year to get to know your new garden. There’s not much to do, most things are in stasis, waiting. The leaves have dropped, perennials have died back, the chance for identifying things is gone for now. It’s a waiting

The Forge gardens

We moved in to the house in late October, the focus was on the house, getting settled and back to work and hosting my mom who was also moving to Wales. And the Welsh rain started. So no real chance to get into the garden. But I’ve got a

Welcome to The Forge

As its name suggests, this house used to be a blacksmith’s forge and workshop. And not just any blacksmiths, but that of Lord Llangattock aka the Rolls Family aka Rolls-Royce. Here it is in 1904. They’re working on the track for Charles Rolls‘ patent weight-assisted aeroplane launcher. We