The very bottom tiny lawn which I sowed with wildflower seed in November had already started to look pretty shaggy, so I decided to gamble that my seeds would have started to root, but not be tall enough yet to have the tops chopped off, and mowed it. With luck this should let some light in to the seedlings and not just hoover up all the seeds I ( Read more... )

In a fit of optimism, I have dug up all the self-seeded thistles in the small triangle of actual lawn on the lowest level at the back of the house, and planted a Welsh Meadow mix - this is locally harvested seed from Pembrokeshire & Ceredigion, so should in theory be right at home. I bought them from Read more... )

Saturday was Pp's birthday. I had promised to make a cake and a meal, which I did, with some success in the most important department (taste) but less success in the visuals. I intended to make a chocolate tower-cake, but my tower proved structurally unsound, and even the addition of a bamboo skewer did not entirely prevent listing and eventual ( Read more... )

 Although the weather has been kind the last few weeks, and it was really warm today, the garden is definitely feeling the impact of the storms still.

The apple trees aren't yet visibly budding at all. One of the three rowans is tentatively bursting into leaf, but the other two have just slightly swelling buds, in the manner of trees who have felt ( Read more... )

There is not a lot of soil in this garden for trees, but there were a couple of spots where I really wanted to plant an apple tree - partly because apple trees are so nice to have with the blossom AND the fruit, but also to provide a bit of screening.  I have already planted a Cornish variety, and now I have planted a Bardsey Island apple.  I am ( Read more... )

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I forgot to take photos of two of the Garden Features : the anchors.  These were discovered on the estuary floor by the previous owner of the house, who was a diving instructor.  I've taken those rather ugly plastic pots away and filled them with pelargoniums now.


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This is what we started with on the lower side of the house.  It's rough concrete, a bit cracked, and with no fence or gate onto the lane on the right-hand side.

I strung some wire across the driveway so I could at least let the hounds out without them running for the hills, and put down a roll of sheeps-wool garden felt - I was intending to put ( Read more... )

I keep vaguely thinking 'I should do a post about that' and not doing it. So to get back in the swing I shall just do a bulleted list of Things in no order.

• Today we went to Lawrenny Quay, which is a lovely place some distance up the Cleddau river, looking out onto the resoundingly named Black Mixen Pool. There's a nice cafe, but rather a lot of ( Read more... )

I don't seem to have posted for ages. A month ago, we had just put our house up for sale : this Friday, the painters finished painting it, and today we have (I hope!) sold it. It does look good with the sun shining and the paint all new!


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