C is for Containers...and Chickens.

The chickens quite like the odd flower - red in particular, so my containers are all off the ground.
Last week I spotted this hanging begonia basket for £5. I take my MIL shopping on a Friday - she likes to go to Asda. The plants and shrubs they sell outside are always very dry - some half dead by the end of the week, so I took pity on this one and decided to give it a new home. I have plans.

Many years ago Jon bought me 3 chimney pots. At the moment they contain Ivy but I am considering using them in plant beds and amongst the shrubs.

                                         

    

Hanging baskets 2 & 3. I did these myself

Appropriately Sadie was eating a courgette whilst I was pottering in the garden.

My rosemary is well and truly active. I have recently planted a herb collection but added some geraniums and gerbas.

As ever the chickens were clucking away in the henhouse - Both Olwyn & Mabel decided to lay an egg! lol!

 

Week C in my ABC contribution. Making my garden tasks achievable. 

Busy in the Garden

This says it all

before....

after

 

B is also for Bev! Of late here.......hogging the egg production section of hen operation unit!

The remedy is to remove her from her eggs(ie she is not laying any and was actually sitting on a golfball!) for a few hors....which I did. Whilst I was weeding by the greenhouse (photos later) I happened to turn round and see this......

 

my lovely hens enjoying the sun!

 

I am late, but a lot has been happening of late, my garden has been a true joy to work with!

 

ABC Wednesday

 

The duty of a responsible pet owner

Ella's health has deteriorated rapidly since I took these photographs a week ago. We must remember Ella is at least 20, possible older than 25. We adopted Ella from a rescue centre and when we got her she was not young.

About 2 years ago we discovered a cyst, which we promptly had drained. The vet explained there was nothing sinister about it, just a build up of fluid. The cyst gradually returned the same time that Ella was due her annual vaccination ready for her spell at the cattery coinciding with our annual holiday. The vet explained that the effect of the  drugs used for her vaccination would be affected if the cyst was drained and recommended we leave the cyst as it was not suspect. We did this.

I must explain at this point that Ella absolutely hates car journeys of any description so we minimise any unnecessary distress - just the one journey a year to the cattery when we go away. This year however a neighbour looked after Ella whilst we were away. The journey to Margaret's house was a matter of a couple of minutes....no cat transporter, just a blanket on my knee. Ella had a lovely time with Margaret who fussed her and as she said "Gave her some love."

Ella had developed a few more lumps, found grooming difficult and was sleeping more and more. I didn't want to distress her by taking her to the vet. She was of a very good age and any treatment would probably finish her off, the car journey alone would be a nightmare for her.

Over recent weeks Ella has slept even  more. For the past couple of days she has not eaten anything, the last she ate was on Friday when I cooked her some liver, she enjoyed it so much. She has slept ever since.

This morning she left her bed and went outside. After a few minutes in the sunshine she returned and drank a fair amount of water. She then made her way to her bed where she sleeps. The way she sleeps indicates she is in pain, I suspect kidney issues, possible tumours and some dementia.

She just wants to sleep.

I made the phone call to the vet this morning and now I await his call. He will call when he is on his way, Jon will come home and we will ensure Ella has no more pain and distress.

Keeping busy.

Thank you for the many comments, they really did make me feel a lot better. It is comforting to know there are others who understand.

Last Friday whilst out shopping I noticed a noise coming from the front of my car - a sort of mechanical noise. To cut a long story short - it was the clutch. The car is now at the garage awaiting a day on the ramp to discover the nature and subsequent fixing of the problem.

The outcome of this means I am without transport as we have no bus service in our village. Jon uses the van for the business and whilst my neighbours would not see me stuck I am making the most of the situation. The dogs have not missed their beach fun as we have been taking them in the van. My shopping routine has changed and I made a weekly visit rather than daily top ups and will do an online shop for delivery later this week.

Today the weather has cooled down, so I decided to take 20 photos around the garden of jobs I need to do over the next few days. No pressure on myself whatsoever - I will tackle as I go along, but I thought this would be a good way to organise my tasks.

So here are the befores.......watch this space for the afters.

Anxiety

Normally I can cope with day to day life here in the Nesbitt household but when Anxiety lets itself in I find the simplest of tasks unachievable, leaving me feeling inadequate. Over the past weeks this has been the case.
The change in the weather means I have been able to do more in the garden, a great place to be.
We have a very large garden which to be honest leaves me feeling rather helpless as there is always a job which needs to be done. Jon's passion are the lawns and we do want to turf a few more areas so the task of mowing is easier.

This is our back garden - the shrubbery recently weeded and awaiting turf.

We have an ASSORTMENT of trees - scattered around the various areas which are as follows:-

 Front Ornamental Cherry Tree Hawthorne hedge Holly Tree

Shrub area Ornamental Grass Lady's Mantle * Aquilegia *

Hedge/Shielding at side of house

 Small boxptype shrub, very overgrown Elder tree x 2 Horsechestnut Tree Sycamore Tree Lilac

In back garden

3 pine Trees Various conifers...dwarf??? 2 established older apple trees 1 younger apple tree (Discovery) Laburnum Tree

Perimeter

Hawthorne May Blossom? About 20 damson/plum trees

Shrubbery

#Euphorbias Escallonia.Crimson Spire? * Hydrangea -  * Yellow Rose - not sure of name * Lady's Mantle * Flowering Currant Periwinkle Sedums

Patio/Kitchen area

Tomatoes  Strawberries  Geranium  Varigated Ivy  Lavender  Rosemary  Chives *Primulus - many of * Violas * Pansies * Basil * Peppers * Rhubarb * Mint Thyme *

 Dry Stone Wall at side of Drive

Various succulents

 

 



 

 

One of my favourite plants is  Lady's Mantle [Alchemilla mollis]

........ A frothy haze of tiny, chartreuse yellow flowers appearing from June to September above softly hairy, rounded, pale green leaves, which catch water droplets like pearls. No garden should be without this charming perennial! Ideal for groundcover or edging paths, it tolerates a range of adverse conditions including heavy clay and, once established, is drought tolerant. Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: moist, humus-rich soil Rate of Growth: fast-growing Flowering period: June to September Flowers: greenish-yellow Other features: excellent cut flowers Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Cut back the faded flower heads and foliage in August and the plant will often produce a second flush of flowers. Alchemilla has a tendency to self-seed freely, so to minimise the spread of the plant remove the seedheads carefully after flowering.


The garden is a great source of inspiration and I aim to have a sense of achievement as I make my way round the various jobs and tasks which need to be done......one step at a time.

ABC Wednesday a new round.