New Year, New Start

Even in this early part of January I am encouraged by the new season and the beauty of the world around us. I have just bought this little book which is a real treat.

I don’t really need encouraging to start sowing seeds but this little book has encouraged me. I’ve spent the whole of Christmas and New Year with a nasty cough and cold and this little book has helped a lot. Do you know you can start sowing seeds in a unheated greenhouse or cold frame now! 🙂 I’ve started sorting my seeds and have taken advise from my little book.

I’ve never done well with Sweet Peas, but there’s always a first time. I needed long pots but not having enough toilet roll tubes I decided to make some. You can get tutorials on line.

I had two half started packets so I used them all up. Let’s see what happens

I’ve laid a piece of bubble wrap over them as a bit of insulation in case there’s a nasty frost.

 

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A New Rockery

For a very long tome there had been a pile of large logs on our front drive which Mr O. was intending to deal with but never got round to it. I came up with a solution for the problem……

…….we now have a rockery! I added some rockery stones to the log pile without disturbing little families which will have made there home in the warm and damp. I now am gradually adding some plants, so now as I drive up to my house it puts a smile on my face! 🙂

Spring is coming

Walking round my garden recently I have been cheered by the promise of spring. (Not that I’m not cheerful anyway, but you know what I mean!) 🙂

Some bulbs I planted in the autumn,

and some surprises coming up in the lawn.

Lovely snow drops, there was only two flowers when we moved in, I know that was a long time ago but I enjoy seeing a few more each year 🙂

Salvia,

Antirrhinums extending there family by shedding their seed,

and beautiful hyacinths in my back porch!

I hope that has cheered you too! 🙂

Seed trays

If you are like me and it is late winter where you are, you will be thinking about sowing your seed, whether flowers or veggies. Therefore how about re-using the meat or veg trays that sometimes are unavoidable when you are shopping.

I’ve got some here, and some seed trays I made a while ago with wood from a broken fence panel. I also re-use trays that I occasionally get from the garden centre or nursery when buying plants.

It does show that gardening doesn’t have to be unnecessarily expensive, especially when you can get free seeds like I showed you in my last blog post! 🙂

Although, if anyone has any solutions on what can be turned into cloches I’d be greatful!

 

Seeds

Oh yes, it’s that time of year when I review my seeds and start planning what I’m going to sow. I just get itchy fingers, only put off by the cold weather!

I had some packets left from last year and bought a couple of magazines which had free seeds with them so I have a good amount of seed to go on with. All I need is some winter sunshine to get me out to prepare for sowing! 🙂

Happy New Year

Well after having a long break from my Simple Life Blog, I’m hopefully back with vengeance! 🙂

Even though it’s only the beginning of January, the sun is calling me into the garden! I bought these ‘Helleborus Niger’ plants a couple of days ago and couldn’t wait to plant them out. I’ve paired this up with cleaning and tidying my little laundry because the spot where I’ve planted them is the view from my laundry window and so adding a little motivation for both jobs 🙂

A Beautiful Day

At last, here in Fakenham, the garden is calling. I do love spring and there are many signs that it’s coming. I’ve been outside today starting to tidy up and do some sweeping in anticipation of growing things. It’s been fresh, but sunny and when I was doing jobs around the garden I was warm enough in my jumper.

Here’s a peak, I couldn’t resist posting because I was so enjoying the sunshine!

My first bit of colour.

These two are enjoying the weather too!:-)

New Flower Bed

Here’s an idea, why not make a flower bed out of an old table? Well I have! I had a very sad looking garden table, turned it upside down, cut it’s legs off and now I have a quite spacious but manageable flower bed 🙂

That old table now contains, lavender, seedum, geraniums and some tulip bulbs for the spring., I’ve never started a bed from scratch like that before so I’m very pleased 🙂

Fakenham Market Finds

I was really pleased with what I found on the market last week. I bought these silk flowers and vase for only £3.00 🙂

Enjoying my Cactus

This is the second year this cactus has flowered, isn’t it beautiful? I don’t know what it is called, I think it’s too early to be a Christmas cactus.

It is obviously very happy there on the window sill and I thought I would share it so as you could feel the pleasure too! 🙂