Spring Bulbs, Pretty eggs and Free chickens

I have been collecting spring bulbs since September, in the end, I had around 600.

The plan for the garden is to get rid of the raised beds that were here when we moved in, extend the border that we made last year, to all along the outside of the garden, and turn it into a cottage garden. 

Re-turf the grass, to get it looking lush again and add a few more seating areas, as well as a little play area for Bea.

Bea is forever my little helper and was very keen to get her hands dirty.

I dug the holes and she popped in the blubs.

Some of the Bulbs that we planted;

• an array of different types of tulips
• Alliums,
• Daffodils,
• Iris,
• Hyacinth,
• Spanish bluebells,

I still have a few more to plant but I'm very hopeful that the new borders are going to look amazing in spring.

Once winter is over we will get onto the turfing and other bits in the garden.

This year my advent calendar is a seed advent from the Rose press garden.

 24 packets of seeds that I can add to my spring and summer borders.

I cannot wait to get sowing them in the greenhouse.

The chickens are nearly all out of their autumn molt and some are back laying.

Ivy my olive egger hasn't laid in months and she is back giving me the most gorgeous olive eggs.

Lilith my dark brown egger has even started to lay again, she had a really hard molt and I wasn't expecting to see her eggs till spring.

This time last year they were all locked up due to bird flu, so it is lovely to still have them out and about in the garden, they are all looking really good and I'm keeping my fingers crossed we won't have to deal with another flock down.

xxx

 

Dahlia season 2023

Dahlia season 2023 is over and I thought I'd take a look back at a few of my favourites from this year's collection.

Some of the dahlias are from last year and a few are new ones that I bought last autumn.

Fuzzy. 
This was its second year and it did much better than in 2022

Mikayla Miranda.
This was a new one for this year and it was stunning, I can't wait to see it come back next year.

Café au Lait Twist.

Another new one for this year, I fell in love with café au laits last year so was very keen to add a few more this year.

Labyrinth Two Tone.
Again another newbie for this year, but completely perfect.

Islander.

The original Café au lait. 

One of my favourites for this year definitely has to be Café au lait twist. Everyone is different and perfect in their own way. I think I'll be buying another just in case my one doesn't overwinter well.

The biggest bloom this year came from Penhill Watermelon.
Which is an XL Dinner plate variety.

Dark Spirit.
The only non-pinkish Dahlia I had this season. 

I loved having a different bunch of flowers in the house every week during the summer.

Eveline.
A pure beauty.
The first and last to bloom.

This has been my second year growing Dahlias and I have loved every second of it.

I have dug up all the tubers, and they are drying out in the greenhouse before I store them away for winter.

We are having a big garden makeover during the winter, taking away all the raised beds, replacing the lawn with new turf, and making borders.

I am going for the complete cottage garden look.

I have already pre-ordered more dahlias for next season, and I have flower seeds overflowing in my seed box.

The above Dahlias are a mix of Farmer Gracy and The Rose Press Garden tubers.  

 

Mushrooms hunting, bread making and potty training

It's been a while, I know, but helloooo.

October / November is always mushroom season hunting for us, we love getting out to the woods to see if we can find our favourite fairy houses.

Bea really got into it this year and loved running around trying to find all the fly agarics, she is even spotting all sorts of different mushrooms on the school run and it has helped with making her walk rather than being carried!

As well as doing lots of mushroom hunting, I have been trying out different styles of bread to make, as for some reason my sourdough isn't really doing what I want it to do and it's just becoming a disappointment every time I get it out the oven. I think I am going to have to re-jig my starter, I have been trying to play around with it but I think I need to be a bit more drastic with it.

But for now, I am enjoying trying different loaves of bread and I love seeing how all bread styles are completely different, some are winners and some are massive fails!

As well as being busy in the kitchen baking bread, I turned all our plot tomatoes into yummy tomato sauce.

We didn't get as many tomatoes this year as we usually do so we didn't want the ones we had to go to waste.

I boiled up two big pans full of tomatoes and let them bubble and soften then I added sugar, water, and some salt.

Really simple but extra tasty, and we have plenty of pasta sauces ready to go.

The days are finally getting colder and the evenings are darker, it is the perfect time to get out for sunset walks.

The kids all love letting off steam, the dog gets a little walk - he can't walk far now so we have to keep the walks short and sweet.

We usually say hello to the wild ponies and then head back home.

Dahlia season is finally over and it was pretty sad to pick the last bunch of flowers from the garden, but I am really excited for next season. We are re-doing the garden over the winter and turning it from random beds into a cottage garden with borders and a lovely lawn.

I really cannot wait, I have a giant bag full of sprint bulbs ready to plant and seeds coming out of my ears!

Dalia tubers are dug up and dried out before I store them away for winter.

I love it when the weather turns, I am definitely a winter girl rather than a summer girl,

I love being able to have fire days, snuggling up with a blanket and a good book whilst it's chucking it down outside.

We have two working log burners in the house and we try to use them more than the actual heating, with all the work we had done in spring (internal wall insulation)  and then the new windows and doors fitted in the summer the house is ten thousand times warmer.

Bea started going to nursery for two-morning sessions at the start of October and has been loving it, we also attend two toddler clubs during the week - Hartbeeps and Baby Ballet.

She loves being active and can easily get bored, so we try our best to keep her busy.

Not only has she started nursery but just recently she decided she no longer needed pull-ups.

She has been dry for a week now and has only had one little accident.

Next, we will try to get her dry at night, but I think for that to happen she'll have to drop her nighttime feeds,

Update with the boys, Noah is in year 11 and about to do his GCSE mocks,

The twins are now in year 7 and loving it.

Ru is in year 5 and is about to collect his first pair of glasses, he had an eye test last week and he's short-sighted just like me, but will only need them to see the whiteboard at school and for when his eyes are tired.

He is over the moon and cannot wait to collect his frames this evening. 

xx

 

Hens and Flowers

Dahlia season is in full swing and the garden is just popping with these beautiful blooms.

At the end of last season, I dug up all my tubers and stored them over winter, I wasn't sure how they'd hold up so I went a little crazy and bought a few more (when I say few it was a fair few.) just incase they all went rotten.

Thankfully they didn't, I think about two rotted away but the rest stayed in good condition, so I have ended up with 21 Dahlia tubers in total.

One didn't make the bloom.

It just didn't end up doing anything and doesn't look like it rotted so I'm not sure what happened with that one.

The main ones that have opened up so far are ones from last year, the new ones are taking a little bit longer to open, but I can see that there on their way.

Café au lait is definitely one of my all-time favourites. I have some other dinner plate varieties this year, so I cannot wait to see what they look like.

Eveline is one of the new tubers for this year and she is just beautiful!

Copper Boy has come back even stronger this year and I've had loads of flower heads already.

The hens are happy to be back out and about, they are still suffering from feather loss and a meanie in the flock but slowly their feathers are re-growing and with the extra vitamin boosts and high protein treats they are getting I am hoping by the end of the summer their full fluffy bottoms will be back!

Another bloom that is doing better this year is my sweet peas!

Last year I think I got one flower head and just a load of leaves. I sowed a fair few back in the autumn and they have done ok, but the ones that have been really successful are the ones I sowed by seed directly into the ground in the spring! They are beautiful and full of sweet scents, every time I pass under the arch I get a great sniff of perfume.

Even though the girls are busy growing back their feathers, we are still getting around 3-4 eggs a day.

Lovely orange yolks and healthy shells, so I know they are feeding well and are happy.

Last year I fell in love with cosmos so I made sure to overdo it with the seeds this year, and get a few varieties and they haven't disappointed.

I have them planted up by my greenhouse and in one of my main Dahlia beds.

I'll be sharing more of the garden flowers, once they are in full bloom.

I'll also be sharing what's growing in the greenhouse in a week or two.

x

 

Summer Is Just Around The Corner, It's Time To Get Your Property Ready

 

Many families are spending more time in their gardens as the weather improves, kids in the yard playing, and adults having a BBQ with some "bevies." 

Summer is most definitely on its way; now is the ideal moment to consider preparing your garden and home for summer evenings!

Give your garden a fresh look by changing it. If your garden needs improvement, now is the time to do so. Here are a few ideas for getting your property in tip-top condition before inviting guests over the summer:

Considerations When Making Garden Improvements.

Garden renovations may increase the value of your home and make your gardens more pleasant for entertaining.

Add a garden room to your property

Garden rooms/offices are extremely popular at the moment as a result of the UK's pandemic-induced shift in working habits. What about a garden bar? Perfect for summer BBQs! Consider a summer house or gazebo if you don't want to build a garden room. These may be utilized for entertaining guests or as an additional seating area.

Seating Area And Patio

Patios and sitting areas may also be a good place to start when it comes to quick improvements since they are so easy to maintain. For example, patio cleaning with a pressure washer is simple and will greatly improve the appearance of your garden while freshening it up for summer. After being cleaned, you should consider applying a weather sealant to the surfaces to prevent the growth of moss, algae, and lichens in the future.

Enhance your existing UPVC windows and doors

One of the most significant upgrades to your home that may enhance its worth is UPVC Window Spraying. Even though doors and windows on your property are typically one of the most expensive things to alter and improve, window spraying has grown in popularity in recent years.

At the moment, replacing your windows' colour with a more fashionable hue such as Anthracite Grey or deeper tones of grey appears to be an "in" thing. 

According to Genesis Collection's study, changing the colour of your UPVC windows may raise the value of your property by £61,000 in some cases! As this is a more complicated solution it would require a professional spraying company such as Spraylords.

Gardens that require minimal maintenance.

A low-maintenance garden may also add value to your home if you want to sell it. After all, they don't need cutting, so replacing your grass with fake grass is a good idea! There are many different grades of artificial lawns available to suit any budget. 

They do however come in varying qualities and with different "pile" lengths, similar to buying a carpet.

Another excellent strategy to cut maintenance is to be inventive when it comes to the plants you choose for your planters. Here's a list of low-maintenance plants that are great for your garden, depending on the colours you want to use.

Privet hedges, while beautiful, can be a pain to maintain since they require constant trimming. If you want to create a low-maintenance garden, composite fence panels might be a better alternative. Composite panels are generally constructed from recycled plastics that are long-lasting and require no upkeep. The same may be said for decking boards.

Garden Furniture Ready For Summer

Furniture in your garden is an important aspect of making it the ideal location for entertaining throughout the summer. There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to garden furniture, if you have children do you need some hard-wearing furniture? Children play in the yard utilizing the table and chairs as "garden forts"...

All of this can make the garden a lot more pleasant to sit and relax on, including rattan furniture sets, fire pits, etc... All of these things can improve the comfort level in your garden.

Weeding and Plants

It is the time to weed. Weeds tend to be dormant throughout the winter, waiting for spring weather to improve so they may burst into life again after it arrives. Because weeds grow rapidly, maintaining a weeding schedule is critical. 

Maintaining a minimal amount of weed growth might be difficult, but it will certainly make your garden and outdoor area.

Now is a good time to begin preparing your flowerbeds for the coming months. Adding fresh mulch to the beds, which will aid in weed suppression and moisture retention, is a great place to start.

It's also a good idea to start pruning any bushes and trees that need it now, which will encourage new development and make the plants appear neater. If you have any climbers or vines, now is an excellent time to begin training them in the desired direction.

Finally, after the winter season, clean up your garden and remove any leaves and debris that have accumulated. This will make the garden appear cleaner and more appealing.

Exterior Painting

Painting your decking, fences, and garden walls may be a time-consuming job, to put it mildly. Rather than spending time in your garden painting when the sun is shining, wouldn't you rather be outside in your freshly prepared garden enjoying that sunshine instead?

Exterior painting is often completed every few years, and it's one of the most time-consuming tasks when taking care of your outdoor spaces and property's outside appearance.

Outside Lights

Even though the hours of daylight and temperatures are increasing, summer nights are still warm. By installing exterior lighting on your property, you may extend the amount of time you spend outside. 

They might be wall lights, decking lights, or garden spike lights, each of which may enhance the ambiance in your gardens significantly. 

Summary

It's time to get your home and garden ready for the summer! 

There are several things you may do to increase the value of your property and make it more appealing to potential buyers. 

From UPVC window spraying to low-maintenance gardens, there are plenty of options for adding value to your house.

There are a variety of activities you can do to get ready for your guests, such as weeding and cleaning up seats, and it's also necessary to prepare to entertain visitors during the summer.

We're getting chickens...again!!

 Ever since I sold my last gang of chickens I've deeply missed them, to the point where I dream about having to collect their eggs and find them shut in a horrible coop, it's awful and I do regret selling them but at the time it was the right decision.

So when we found out we were going to have an allotment I knew instantly I wanted to get chickens again.

Chickens are definitely my happy thing and do wonders for my mental health.

The plan was to pop a chicken run and coop on the smaller plot along with some beehives and flowers, but during the storm Eunice the polytunnel in the garden got damaged and we were just left with the metal frame and I thought to myself that would make a rather good run for the chickens, and having the chickens at home meant I wouldn't be worried about people pinching the eggs and I could get some fancy birds again and aim for rainbow eggs.

** Rainbow eggs are different coloured chicken eggs - different breeds lay different colours.**

Previously I had olive green, pastel blue, white, brown and light brown.

So after sweet-talking Jon we went ahead and bought a coop suitable to 5-8 birds, My plan is to just have 6 this time.

I've found a really good chicken farm not too far from us that sells the chickens that I want, and they'll all be fully vaccinated and wormed which is an added bonus as before when I bought some of my previous girls they weren't too healthy when they arrived.

I've painted the coop a sweet pea pink (obviously Jon had no say in the colour choice!) and Jon is putting up the chicken wire around the run, the woodchip is down and I've planted up some herbs at the front of the run in the giant pot ready for the girls.

The boys are all excited to have chickens again and I can't wait to see what Bea thinks of them.

I have a few more chicken accessories to buy still but hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I'll have some new girls to introduce!